This section outlines the structure of governance at Meridian Community College. The duties and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees and the President are described here as well as policies regulating board membership.
2.1 Overview of Organization
Accomplishment of the mission of Meridian Community College requires a structure which provides for effective and efficient management of the College and which offers opportunities to all personnel to share in the responsibility for achievement of the institutional goals. Thus, the formal organization of the college exists to provide support and coordination to those activities that lead to the achievement of the college’s mission.
All professional personnel employed by Meridian Community College are provided a written position description that details the purposes, general tasks, and specific functions of each position. Those personnel with responsibility for supervision of various work groups are considered administrators.
An organizational chart depicts the areas of programmatic and supervisory responsibility. Meridian Community College organizational charts are maintained in the President’s office and the professional staff job descriptions are maintained in each division’s office and in the Human Resource office.
Shared governance is a tenant of the College. Faculty involvement in management activities is sought through Faculty Senate, Faculty and Staff Association, and various institutional committees. Student involvement is sought through the Student Government Association.
Purpose of Policies
The organizational structure of the college also includes policies or guides for decision making or action. These policies include various appeals procedures available to all persons associated with MCC. The purpose of these procedures specifically including the Faculty Grievance Procedure and the Student Appeals Procedure is to ensure due process for members of the college community.
Policies of the Board of Trustees and the college are contained in the MCC Policy and Procedure Manual. Issues of concern not addressed by policies in this manual should be raised with the appropriate officer of the College.
2.2 Board of Trustees
Meridian Community College is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. The organization and duties of the Board are outlined in this section.
2.2.1 Board Membership and Organization
2.2.1.1 Appointment of Trustees
The control and operation of the Meridian Community College District shall be vested in a Board of Trustees appointed by the City Council of the City of Meridian. The Board of Trustees of the Meridian Community College District shall consist of five (5) members. Members of the Board of Trustees of the Meridian Community College District are appointed to staggered five (5) year terms in accordance with Section 37-29-505 of Mississippi Code. Members shall serve until they resign, are removed from office or until their successor is appointed. All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms by appointment by majority vote of the full members of the Meridian City Council.
2.2.1.2 Organization and Officers
The officers of the Board of Trustees shall be chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary. The chairman and vice-chairman shall be elected annually at the regular meeting in June or July and shall serve for one year unless replaced earlier by the Board. The secretary shall be the president of the college or his designee in an ex-officio capacity.
2.2.1.3 Conflict of Interest
Board members should maintain the highest levels of integrity in the performance of their duties. Accordingly, all members of the Board shall avoid any conflict of interest or appearance of impropriety. Any member who has direct or indirect interest in any matter presented to the Board shall notify the Chairman of the Board of that potential conflict and shall not participate in any discussion, decision, vote, or proceedings of the District Board in connection with that matter. Board members sign a Trustee Pledge and submit an annual report to the Mississippi Ethics Commission to confirm these commitments.
2.2.1.4 Quorum
Three members of the Board of Trustees shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
2.2.1.5 Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board will be held on the second Tuesday of each month provided a quorum can attend. When a quorum cannot be achieved, the President may determine an alternative date for a regular meeting to be held. The media is notified in advance of the change in date. Special meetings may be called by the President or upon request of three members of the Board. All meetings of the Board of Trustees will be open to the public. The Board, may, in its discretion, enter into executive session when called for by a majority of the members present. When an executive session is held, the Board shall reconvene in a public meeting for the purpose of taking official action. The Board may determine to hold recess meetings of the regular monthly meeting for the purpose of completing unfinished business.
2.2.1.6 Agenda
The agenda will be prepared by the community college president or his designee acting as secretary of the Board prior to Board meetings. Any other necessary business may be considered by the Board of Trustees and may be placed on the agenda at the request of any member of the Board of Trustees.
Persons who want to appear before the Board should make a written request to the community college president or board chair to be placed on the agenda. The request should describe the nature of the business to be presented. Prior to placement on the agenda, the Board requires that all requests be reviewed by the appropriate administrators. The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that administrative remedies have been duly pursued.
2.2.1.7 Removal of Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees may be removed for the following reasons: (1) Upon conviction in any court of this state or other state or in any federal court of any felony other than manslaughter or any violation of the United States Internal Revenue Code, of corruption in office or peculation therein, or of gambling or dealing in futures with money coming to his/her hands by virtue of his/her office or if a Board Member is found to be of unsound mind during his/her term. (See MS Code § 25-5-1); (2) Willful neglect of duty or misdemeanor in office pursuant to Section 175 of the Mississippi Constitution; or, (3) Failure to devote time to the performance of his/her duties pursuant to Section 267 of the Mississippi Constitution. (Board approved 10/10/00)
Recommendation to remove a Trustee must be submitted in writing to either the chairman of the board or the president of the college. This request must state the reason for the request as well as any supporting evidence as to why the board member should be removed. Once the request is received, the chairman of the board must notify the board member of the complaint. If the complaint is against the Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman will be responsible for further proceedings. Both the board member in question and the complaining party have a right to address the concerns at the next board meeting. After hearing both the complaint and the board member’s response, if provided, the board can then choose to take action. For the board member to be removed, a quorum, not counting the member in question, must be present and a majority of the quorum must approve the action.
2.2.1.8 Evaluation of the Board
The Meridian Community College Board of Trustees will conduct an annual self-evaluation to assess the performance of the Board. Each Board member will be asked to complete a questionnaire which will be compiled by the Board Chair and then shared and discussed with the Board. Upon identification of areas of improvement as a result of the self-evaluation, the Board will devise a process and appropriate measures to address these areas. The completed questionnaires and compiled results will be kept on file in the office of the college president for the five most recent years. (Board approved 6/11/19)
2.2.2 Powers of the Board
2.2.2.1 As Outlined in Mississippi Code
(1) The Board of Trustees of the Meridian Community College District shall have the power to do all things necessary for the successful operation of the district; and, the duties of such board shall be the general government of the district and the direction of the administration thereof. (2) The Meridian Community College District shall have all the powers of other junior and community colleges and junior and community college districts in the state of Mississippi; and, the delineation and enumeration of the powers and purposes set out in Sections 37-29-501 through 37-29-515 shall not be construed to restrict the powers of the governing authorities of the district so as to deny to the district any rights, privileges and powers enjoyed by other junior/community colleges and junior/community college districts in the State of Mississippi. (3) The Meridian Community College District shall remain subject to the jurisdiction and control of the Mississippi Community College Board as now established or as the same may be hereafter changed by law and shall be subject to all rules and regulations and all statutory limitations which are now in effect or may hereafter be imposed, except as the same may be in direct conflict with the provisions of Sections 37-29-501 through 37-29-515 (MS Code § 37).
2.2.2.2 Preparation of Budget
The Board of Trustees of the Meridian Community College District shall on or before the twenty-fifth day of June each year prepare and file the annual budget of the district (contingent upon the state legislature passing an appropriation bill in its regular session). The budget shall contain a detailed estimate of the revenues and expenses anticipated for the ensuing year for general operation and maintenance and shall set forth reasonable requirements for anticipated needs for capital outlays for land, buildings, equipment and major repairs, a reasonable accumulation for such purposes being hereby expressly authorized. Funds derived from the levy for capital outlay shall be kept in a separate account and expended for capital outlay purposes only (MS Code § 37-29-511).
The Board charges the president with the responsibility of preparing an institutional budget. It is the practice of the college that no outside individual or group will be allowed to exercise any control over the budgeting process. The president delegates to his/her cabinet the responsibility of soliciting departmental budget requests which result in part from institutional evaluation instruments, i.e. PEAP Sheets, Unit Planning, and Program Reviews. This process allows for broad-based input from faculty and staff. Once all departmental requests have been submitted, they are compiled by the Assistant to the President for Finance/CFO. The cabinet members then convene as an institutional budget committee, chaired by the Assistant to the President for Finance/CFO, during the spring term to formulate, by consensus, a draft of the budget. The draft is reviewed by the president before being submitted to the Board of Trustees for final approval in June.
In order to allow time for review, the proposed budget is given to Board Members several days in advance of the June Board Meeting. As the budget is a planning tool and the needs of the institution change on a constant basis, minor revisions may be made that result in a “Net Zero” effect on the overall budget with the approval of the President. (Board approved 6/8/99) When changes are material to the operation of Meridian Community College, budgetary revisions will be brought to the Board for approval. A system for budgetary control exists to ensure that all areas of the College comply with the approved budget and is outlined in Section 7 - Section 10: Fiscal Management .
2.2.2.3 Taxation
After the annual budget has been prepared, the Board of Trustees of the Meridian Community College District shall certify the same in writing to the city council of the City of Meridian and shall certify to the number of mills of ad valorem taxation required to make provisions for the revenue required in said budget. It shall thereupon become the duty of the City of Meridian to levy taxes upon the Meridian Community College District in the amount specified by the Board of Trustees. The tax levy for maintenance and operation of the Meridian Community College District shall not exceed three (3) mills; nor shall the levy for construction exceed an additional three (3) mills (MS Code §37-29-513). In addition, State Law 37-35-3 provides that community colleges may levy up to one mill for adult education.
2.2.2.4 Fiscal Management
On or before the thirtieth day of each month, the City Council of the City of Meridian shall transmit warrants constituting all of the revenues received from taxation for the prior month for purposes of support of the Meridian Community College District to Meridian Community College. Such warrant or warrants shall bear indication of revenues received for general support and maintenance and revenues received for capital outlay purposes. All such warrants evidencing income from the authorized tax levies shall be deposited forthwith in one (1) or more banking institutions and public depositories previously selected by the Board of Trustees of the Meridian Community College District and spread upon its official minutes. Such funds shall be paid out of the depository by order of the Board of Trustees for lawful purposes only (MS Code § 37-29-515).
2.2.3 Employee Contracts
It is the policy of the Meridian Community College Board of Trustees that no employee of the college shall have more than one contract of employment with the college. In the event additional duties are assigned to an employee for additional compensation, such duties and compensation are to be incorporated within the employee’s sole contract of employment as an amendment thereto. In no event shall such additional duties and compensation be considered to constitute a separate contract of employment between the college and the employee, which is expressly prohibited by Section 25-5-105(3)(a) of Mississippi Code.
2.3 President
(1) The Meridian Community College District shall be under the executive direction of a president elected by the Board of Trustees of such district. (2) The President of the community college shall be the general manager of all fiscal and administrative affairs of the district with full authority to select, employ, direct and discharge any and all employees other than faculty. He shall have the power to recommend to the Board of Trustees all faculty to be employed, and he may remove or suspend any member of the faculty subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. The President shall have the authority, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees, to arrange and survey courses of study, fix schedules and establish and enforce rules and discipline for the governing of faculty and students. He shall be the general custodian of the property of the district. (MS Code § 37-29-509).
The Board of Trustees employs the president of Meridian Community College. The policies of the Board of Trustees and state statutes assign to the president specific responsibilities and powers. In the discharge of these responsibilities and powers, the President is responsible to the Board of Trustees for the promulgation and enforcement of all institutional policies, rules and regulations, practices, and procedures.
Among the president’s specific duties are:
- To serve or appoint a designee to serve as recording secretary at the Board of Trustees meetings.
- To provide leadership in developing excellence of educational programs and services.
- To provide leadership that, in the development and maintenance of an institutional climate, gives primacy to human values.
- To provide leadership in the procurement and administration of financial resources necessary to accomplish the mission of the community college.
- To provide leadership in the management of programs and services designed to carry out the mission of the community college.
- To provide leadership in the development of an adequate, efficient, and attractive physical plant.
- To foster positive relationships between the college and its constituents.
- To exercise appropriate administrative and fiscal control over the institution’s intercollegiate athletics program.
- To provide oversight in the institution’s fund-raising activities, exclusive of institution related foundations that are independent and separately incorporated.
2.4 Administration
All personnel with supervisory responsibilities are considered administrators. Chain of command is reflected by the institution’s organizational charts. The President appoints a cabinet of senior administrators to assist him/her in the management of the College’s day-to-day operations, oversee the implementation of school policies, and provide counsel on any campus and/or community issues impacting on the College. The cabinet meets periodically each semester and consists of administrators who are responsible for the various operational units of the College and who act, in the President’s behalf, in supervising these units. The administrators are the Vice President for Financial Services/CFO, Vice President for Institutional Advancement; Executive Director of the Meridian Community College Foundation, Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, Vice President for Workforce Solutions, and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
2.4.1 Absence of the President
In the absence of the President, the Vice President for Finance/CFO will assume responsibility for the operation of the College. In the absence of both the President and the Vice President for Finance/CFO, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will assume responsibility for the operation of the College. In case of an extended absence of a member of the President’s cabinet, the President may choose to make an interim appointment. (Revised 8/10/2021)
2.5 Faculty Senate
The Faculty Senate meets monthly to provide input to the administration on institutional issues and policy development. The Senate shall be a deliberative body focusing its attention primarily on the aggregate concerns of the faculty. The Senate is provided an opportunity to report to faculty and staff during “Workshop Week,” a time set aside for professional development activities at the beginning of each regular term.
2.5.1 Faculty Senate Membership
Full-time instructional faculty (academic, workforce), including full-time librarians, counselors and full-time instructional faculty in the adult education and continuing education departments are eligible to serve as members of the Faculty Senate. Faculty who are eligible to serve are also eligible to vote in Faculty Senate elections. Administrative staff and others in non-instructional roles are not eligible to serve as Senators.
2.6 Other Organizations
Other organizations that play a less prominent role in governance but do have a vital role on the campus are listed below.
2.6.1 Standing Committees for Institutional Effectiveness
In an effort to have continuous improvement based on assessment, the college has appointed various standing committees. These committees are charged with evaluating programs and administrative functions and providing input on improvements that might be considered. A complete list of the standing committees and their functions can be found in the College’s Handbook on Institutional Effectiveness. The committee member list is distributed in the fall of each year.
2.6.2 College Activities Board (CAB)
The College Activities Board consists of a diverse population of the student body, faculty and staff who meet to plan, promote, and supervise a variety of social and educational activities for MCC students.
2.6.3 Meridian Workforce Council
The Workforce Council was created by the Workforce Education Act of 1994 to advise the colleges regarding workforce development issues. Through legislation this act provided for the creation and development of a system for non-credit education and training that can respond to Mississippi’s workforce and employers’ needs in a timely manner while maximizing state wide resources. Council members are recommended to the president by the Vice President for Workforce Solutions for approval. The council also serves as the Workforce Education Advisory Council.
2.6.4 Advisory Committees
Each Workforce Education program is supported by an advisory committee comprised of citizens knowledgeable in the program area. These committees are comprised of both men and women, persons from diverse racial/ethnic groups, and persons with disabilities. Committee assignments are recommended by the appropriate program coordinator and appointed by the Vice President for Workforce Solutions with approval from the college President. The purpose of these committees is to assist in reviewing and developing specific programs. The role of each advisory committee is available from the program coordinator.
Additionally, ad hoc citizens committees are used to review specific College concerns. Examples include recent developmental program advisory groups and the advisory group for the Arts/Letters Series.
2.6.5 Inter-Agency and Inter-Institutional Relationships
As a community college, Meridian Community College has many formal and informal linkages with community and governmental agencies. The basic goal of Meridian Community College in these relationships is to make the resources of the College available to this community and to make the resources of the community available to Meridian Community College. Cooperative relationships which maximize use of public resources, and/or enhance College or community programs and services, and/or enhance social, cultural, or economic development are not merely welcomed but are actively sought.
These relationships, whether formal or informal, are developed and monitored by the college administrator responsible for management of those resources of Meridian Community College that will be impacted by the relationship. Thus, each new relationship is developed in consultation with the administrator who will monitor the agreement, the Vice President for Financial Services/CFO, the President, and other college staff whose work may be affected by the agreement.
Questions concerning existing or proposed inter-institutional agreements or arrangements should be directed to the appropriate college administrator.
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