As KSU and the Kentucky State Board of Regents prepare for reaffirmation, the Kentucky State University Board of Regents should review The Principles of Accreditation as well as the Resource Manual in preparation for the Board’s 2018 self-evaluation.

SACSCOC GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES1

The newly revised Principles of Accreditation now mandates that governing boards define and regularly evaluate its responsibilities and expectations. The Comprehensive Standard set forth in Section 4 of the Principles of Accreditation is of particular importance to a governing board because it relates to governance:

The institution’s governing board holds in trust the fundamental autonomy and ultimate well-being of the institution. As the corporate body, the board ensures both the presence of viable leadership and strong financial resources to fulfill the institutional mission. Integral to strong governance is the absence of undue influence from external sources.

1. The institution has a governing board of at least five members that:

  • is the legal body with specific authority over the institution.
  • exercises fiduciary oversight of the institution.
  • ensures that both the presiding officer of the board and a majority of other voting members of the board are free of any contractual, employment, personal, or familial financial interest in the institution.
  • is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or institutions separate from it.
  • is not presided over by the chief executive officer of the institution. (Governing board characteristics) [CR]

2. The governing board

  • ensures the regular review of the institution’s mission. (Mission review)
  • ensures 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)

1The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement (Sixth Edition), p. 13 (emphasis added). See http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/2018PrinciplesOfAccreditation.pdf.

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