Policy Title:  College Board Purpose and Operations

Policy Number:  1.1

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Purpose: 

The Eastern Wyoming Community College District, which operates Eastern Wyoming College, is a legally defined area including all of Goshen County. The Board of Trustees shall exercise general supervision of the District and retain full legislative and judicial authority with the Statutes of Wyoming.

To ensure equitable representation on the College Board, the College District is represented by all members elected at large.

The business and affairs of Eastern Wyoming College shall be managed by the College Board. The College Board has full powers of organization and government of Eastern Wyoming College subject to such control as the Wyoming State Legislature and the Wyoming Community College Commission provide.

Members of the College Board are elected by the voters of the College District. The number of members of the College Board shall be seven members. The term of office of each elected member is four years. Four members are elected in years in which there is a presidential election, and three members are elected in years in which there is a national election but no presidential election. The College Board shall fill a vacancy in office as provided by law and Board Policy 1.3.

The College Board may appoint an advisory member to represent the constituents of Converse County as it relates to the operation of the Eastern Wyoming College Douglas Branch Campus. The College Board may request the Converse County Commissioners appoint an individual each December to serve in this capacity. The Advisory Member may attend all regular or special board meetings either in person, by telephone, or by video conferencing and shall not vote on issues coming before the College Board or participate in executive sessions without Board approval.

Governance Philosophy

On behalf of the district’s citizens, the Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees is entrusted with the authority and responsibility for the effective governance of the College which include:

  1. The Board of Trustees connects the College to the community to ensure outcomes of the institution match the expectations of the community.
  2. The Mission, Vision, and Strategic Directions for Eastern Wyoming College are guided by the community. These Strategic Directions are also shared by the Trustees, President, and college community of faculty, staff and students.
  3. The Board of Trustees is intent on meeting the expectations of the community through evidence-based, informed practices that support the learning and futures of our students.
  4. The Board of Trustees believes in a culture of transparency and inclusion in setting the direction of the College.
  5. Board members shall have authority only when acting as a Board in session and conducted in accordance with Wyoming Open Meeting statutes (W.S. §16-4-401 through 16-4-408).
  6. The Eastern Wyoming College Board of Trustees is committed to active involvement of all internal College constituencies in the governance of the institution. This is provided via an ongoing participative process of shared governance. The Board of Trustees affirms this belief by supporting the right of faculty, staff, administration, and students to express ideas and opinions with the assurance their opinions will be given consideration regarding decisions of the College via their respective alliances.
    1. Shared governance provides an avenue of shared commitment for continuous improvement in both college effort and resources. Shared governance provides for all major constituents of Eastern Wyoming College to contribute to policies, procedures and practices. The Board of Trustees is the ultimate decision- making body and the Board entrusts the President with day-to-day administration of the College.
    2. The Board of Trustees establishes the Office of President and delegates to the President the execution of its policies. The President is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the organization and operation of the College, the execution of the College employees’ duties, and the welfare of the student body. The President is expected to perform duties contained in the President’s job description and fulfill other responsibilities determined in annual goal-setting or evaluation meetings. The President has the authority to delegate to employees the responsibility for all or portions of these responsibilities; however, these responsibilities to the Board of Trustees reside solely with the President.

 

References:

Wyo. Stat. §16-4-401 through 16-4-408; Wyo. Stat. § 21-18-308 and 22-22-101 through 22-22-304

 

Original Adoption Date: 8/13/91

Revision Date(s): 11/8/05(RF), 5/11/15, 10/10/17, 10/13/20, 8/13/24

Date(s) reviewed, no change: