ACD 103–02: Responsibilities of the Arizona Board of Regents

To describe the responsibilities of the Arizona Board of Regents

Arizona Revised Statutes § 15–1626

Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual - 6–201

Among the responsibilities of the Board of Regents are these:

1. to appoint the president of the university and, upon the president’s recommendation, to appoint all other officers of instruction and administration and to prescribe duties and determine salaries; and to “enact ordinances for the government” of the university
2. to appraise the educational needs of the state and, in the light of these, to formulate general policy concerning the purposes, organization, and operation of the university

   and

3. to approve the university budget and to authorize the expenditure of all funds.

The Arizona Board of Regents is entrusted by the people of the State of Arizona with the responsibility for developing a system of higher education that provides an opportunity for education to all persons, explores and expands the frontiers of knowledge, and serves to improve the quality of life for the people of the state. In pursuit of these responsibilities, the board endeavors to develop and maintain an excellent educational system marked by sound academic programs, distinguished faculty and academic professionals, institutional diversity, fully equipped facilities, and an open and stimulating environment for learning, teaching, research, and service to the public.

It is the policy of the board to make this system of education available to all qualified persons in Arizona, to provide equal employment opportunity and due process for its employees, to promote freedom of inquiry, search, and exposition of truth, and to involve the faculty in the formulation of educational policy and the governance of the universities.

The board recognizes that Arizona universities have long adhered to an honorable tradition of academic freedom in teaching, research, and service and reaffirms that faculty participation and consultation in matters of academic policy is a valuable tradition that must be preserved. The faculty and academic professionals of the university have a correlative duty to share in the responsibilities and obligations of governance and administration.

In support of the university’s central function as an institution of higher learning, a major responsibility of the board is to protect and encourage the faculty and academic professionals in their teaching, learning, research, and public service. The authority to discipline faculty members and academic professionals in appropriate cases derives from the recognition shared by the faculty, the academic professionals, and the board that the purpose of discipline is to preserve conditions hospitable to these pursuits.

The board is charged by law to exercise control and supervision of ASU and its property. Any authority delegated by the board shall always be subject to the ultimate authority of the board. The board retains the right to periodic review and modification of all aspects of governance of the university, and the right to enact such rules, regulations, policies, and orders as it deems proper.