Board Operations

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD AND INDIVIDUAL REGENTS

Adopted: February 10, 1989

Amended: October 10, 2003

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY

Page 1 of 3

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD

AND INDIVIDUAL REGENTS

Subd. 1. Responsibilities of the Board of Regents. Responsibilities of the Board of Regents (Board) include the following:

(a) Clarify the mission of the University of Minnesota (University) and approve

programs necessary to fulfill that mission.

(b) Monitor and evaluate the performance of the institution in achieving its goals

and fulfilling its mission.

(c) Appoint, monitor, advise, motivate, support, evaluate, and, if necessary or

advisable, replace the president.

(d) Approve major policies, long-range plans, educational programs, and annual

budgets, while clearly delegating administrative responsibilities.

(e) Accept fiduciary responsibility for the long-term welfare of the University.

(f) Ensure adequate resourceshuman, financial, physicaland effective

management of those resources.

(g) Preserve institutional autonomy, recognizing that the preservation of

autonomy requires accountability.

(h) Foster collaboration with other educational systems and institutions,

consistent with the University's mission.

(i) Serve as a court of appeals when appropriate.

(j) Enhance the public image of the University.

(k) Regularly evaluate the Board's performance and strive to improve it.

(l) Ensure that the University remains an equal opportunity institution.

Board Operations

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD AND INDIVIDUAL REGENTS

Adopted: February 10, 1989

Amended: October 10, 2003

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY

Page 2 of 3

Subd. 2. Individual Regent Responsibilities. Responsibilities of individual members of the Board include the following:

(a) To support the mission of the University.

(b) To maintain loyalty to the entire institution rather than to any part of the

University or constituency within it.

(c) To maintain the highest ethical standards, abiding by Board policies with

respect to ethics and conflicts of interest.

(d) To seek to be fully informed about the University and its role in the state and

in higher education and to be responsive to the changing environments that

affect it.

(e) To speak forthrightly at Board meetings and to support Board decisions when

determined.

(f) To understand that the Board's role is policy making rather than involvement

in administration or management.

(g) To strengthen and sustain the president while being an active, energetic, and

probing Board member who exercises critical judgment on policy matters.

(h) To communicate promptly to the president any significant concern or complaint

for administrative disposition.

(i) To defend the autonomy and independence of the University.

(j) To represent all the people of Minnesota and no particular interest, community,

or constituency.

(k) To enhance the public image of the University and the Board.

(l) To recognize that authority rests only with the Board as a whole and not in its

individual members.

Board Operations

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD AND INDIVIDUAL REGENTS

Adopted: February 10, 1989

Amended: October 10, 2003

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY

Page 3 of 3

(m) To recognize that the president is the primary spokesperson for the University,

and the chair of the Board is the only other person authorized to speak for the Board.

(n) To foster openness and trust among members of the Board, the administration,

the faculty, the students, state government, and the public.

(o) To maintain respect for the opinions of Board colleagues and a proper restraint

in criticism of colleagues and officers.

(p) To recognize that no Board member shall make any request or demand for

action that violates the written policies, rules, or regulations of the Board or

the University.