Policy Updates Proposed for March 16-17 Board Meeting

In keeping with a recent effort to review and update Board of Trustees policies to align with current law and practice, below are Board Policy amendments planned for presentation to UA System trustees at the March 16-17 regular Board meeting.

Feedback regarding the proposed changes can be submitted to feedback@uasys.edu or through the General Counsel’s Office. Click the links below to view the proposed changes in red. The proposed policy amendments include:

Revised Board Policy 230.1 Authority to Commence Legal Action (incorporates current BP 220.1 Restraining of Disturbances and Demonstrations)
– The proposed amendments combine two policies that delegate to the president the authority to institute legal action on behalf of the Board with specific limitations. The draft raises the limit on damages or relief involved for the President to consult with the Board chairman from $10,000 to $25,000. Regarding restraining disturbances and demonstrations, the draft provides that a chief executive of a campus may institute such legal action in consultation with the General Counsel if the President is unreachable.

Revised Board Policy 340.1 Related Entities
– The proposed amendments add to the requirements in current policy regarding the creation of related entities to support the campuses, divisions and units of the UA System. The amendments require any officer or employee seeking to explore the formation of such an entity to notify the chief executive officer of the campus, division or unit. The amended policy also provides that dissolving a separate legal entity owned or controlled in part by the university must be done with consent of the president who may bring the matter to the Board for approval. The policy draft also gives the president the authority to establish procedures regarding related entities.

Revised Board Policy 475.1 Emeritus Status
– The proposed amendments allow emeritus status to be granted to a retiring employee at a rank or title previously held for a substantial period where appropriate, and specifies that a chancellor or CEO may be awarded emeritus status when they conclude service in that role. The amendments also update language regarding retirement incentive programs to align with current terminology and allow campuses to establish policies regarding benefits of emeritus status.

Revised Board Policy 505.1 Awarding of Degrees and Participation in Commencement (incorporates current BP 505.2 Approval of Conferring Degrees at Times Other than Regular Commencement)
– The proposed amendments allow degrees to be dated to the date of fall commencement and merges in the language of 505.2 which authorizes the president to confer degrees at other times, provided degree requirements have been satisfied.

Revised Board Policy 720.1 Naming Buildings for Individuals or Entities
– The proposed revisions reference Arkansas law regarding building naming and establish a formal process for naming buildings for individuals or entities including requiring review of potential legal issues involved with naming a building by the General Counsel’s Office before such naming is submitted to the Board for approval.