BACKGROUND: Kentucky State University (University) acknowledges the statutory authority of its Board of Regents to adopt University bylaws (both academic and non-academic) that govern the University.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: Pursuant to SACSCOC's newly adopted Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Section 4(2)(b), a Governing Board must:

[ensure] a clear and appropriate distinction between the policymaking function of the board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement policy. (Board/administrative distinction)

The rationale behind the requirements for Section 4(2)(b), is outlined in the Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditations, published in March 2018. The Resource Manual’s rationale and notes as it relates to Standard 4(2)(b) states as follows:

Effective governance includes clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of the governing board, administration, and faculty and ensuring that each of these groups adheres to their appropriate roles and responsibilities. While it is important that the overall mission and overarching policies of the institution are approved by the board, the administration and implementation of the general direction set by the board are carried out by the administration and faculty in order to prevent the board from undercutting the authority of the president and other members of the administration and faculty, thereby creating an unhealthy and unworkable governance structure.