Board of Trustees: Bylaws: Article III, Obligations

Section 1. Obligations of the Board

A.	Elect and remove the president.
B.	Assess the president’s performance.
C.	Adopt, revise, or reaffirm the mission, goals, objectives, and priorities of the institution and approve long-range goals.
D.	Ensure that the university programs are assessed, including approval or deletion of programs.
E.	Ensure financial solvency and protect and preserve the assets of the institution.
F.	Preserve institutional independence.
G.	Maintain appropriate relationships between the university and government authorities, other educational institutions, and the public.
H.	Support, monitor, and achieve affirmative action and diversity within the university environment as permitted by law.

Section 2. Final Authority Reserved to the Board

The Board of Trustees, having the overall authority and responsibility for the governance of the university, retains ultimate responsibility for all university matters and reserves authority over the following policies and processes, together with all other actions over which the Board chooses to exercise authority or to delegate authority:

A.	Develop procedure for assessing periodically the performance and functioning of the president and of the Board of Trustees in consultation with the president.
B.	Establish opportunities for dialogue and discussion between the Board and the president about Board functions and other concerns of mutual interest to the Board and the president.
C.	Adopt and modify the bylaws of the Board of Trustees.
D.	Adopt the bylaws of all Western Michigan University foundations, and all other associated and related entities.
E.	Confer degrees and grant diplomas.
F.	Name facilities and memorials.
G.	Determine compensation and benefits for the president.
H.	Adopt and approve operating and capital outlay budget requests submitted to the state.
I.	Adopt and approve the annual university budget.
J.	Establish, review, or rescind all fees.
K.	Accept all private, state, federal, and institutional grants and gifts to the university.
L.	Establish endowments and make decisions to return endowment gifts or to seek changes in restrictions imposed by the gift instrument.
M.	Appoint the university external auditing firm.
N.	Accept the annual audit of the university financial report.
O.	Establish investment policies.
P.	Authorize university property and facility leases for more than one year’s duration.
Q.	Authorize the sale and purchase of real property.
R.	Approve the appointment, promotion, and separation of Board designated personnel.
S.	Approve the tenuring of faculty members.
T.	Approve sabbatical leaves and leaves of absence.
U.	Approve contracts with all recognized bargaining units.
V.	Establish the contracting authority policy for university personnel.
W.	Approve policy governing intercollegiate programs, including intercollegiate athletics.
X.	Approve policies pertaining to students.
Y.	Define residence and nonresidence classifications for the purpose of assessing tuition.
Z.	Approve admissions and retention policies.

Section 3. Ineligibility of Board members

III.3.1

No member of the Board of Trustees shall be eligible for appointment as secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, or assistant treasurer, or to be an employee of the university.