3.2.7  

The institution has a clearly defined and published organizational structure that delineates responsibility for the administration of policies.

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Nashville State is administratively structured as shown on the college organization charts [1].  Organizational charts are maintained and disseminated through the Office of Human Resources.  They are published in Public Folders under Human Resources. The Faculty and Staff Handbook is a major source of information on policies of the institution.  The Handbook is maintained by the Office of Human Resources and is also available to the entire college through public folders. 

The President is responsible for all hiring decisions [2] and for compliance with TBR hiring regulations, while specific responsibilities are detailed in the job descriptions of individual employees.  There are five offices that report directly to the President:  the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Director of Human Resources, Internal Auditor, and Assistant to the President. 

Within Academic Affairs, there are eight major areas.  Planning and Assessment is headed by an Associate Vice President [3], while the other seven areas are headed by deans.  Five deans provide leadership to instructional divisions of: Business and Applied Arts; English, Humanities, and Arts; Math and Sciences; Social and Life Sciences; and Technologies.  The Dean for Student Services is responsible for Admissions, Financial Aid, Records, Advising, Disability Services, Veterans Services, Career Employment, and Student Life.  The Dean for Learning Resources is responsible for Library, Learning Center, Testing Center, Instructional Services, and Distance Education [4].  The Director of Developmental Studies, which is not a full-time responsibility, also reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Within Finance and Administration, the major functions are Budget, Controller, Payroll, Bursar, Maintenance and Facilities, Property, Security, and Computer Services.  Job descriptions delineate the responsibilities of these offices [5].

The Director of Human Resources is responsible for Personnel and Affirmative Action [6]

The Assistant to the President oversees the Foundation and off-campus Centers [7].

Major institutional policies are reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee [8]. The Executive Committee, which is chaired by the President, meets monthly and includes representatives from all employee groups within the College.  In addition to the President, the Executive Committee includes the vice presidents, the Faculty Senate Chair and Vice Chair, the Staff Assembly Chair and Vice Chair, the Administrative Assembly Chair and Vice Chair, the AAUP Chair, and a representative from the Student Government Association.  A policy can be brought to the Executive Committee through any of these constituencies.  The proposed policy is then distributed campus-wide through Executive Committee members for discussion and vote.  Following that campus-wide review, the Executive Committee votes on the proposed policy and makes a recommendation to the President. [9]