BP 2410 Board Policies and Administrative Regulations

Reference: Education Code Section 70902;ACCJC Accreditation Standards IV.C.7, IV.D.4, I.B.7, and I.C.5 (formerly IV.B.1.b & e)

The Board may adopt such policies as are authorized by law or determined by the Board to be necessary for the efficient operation of the District. Board policies are intended to be statements of intent by the Board on a specific issue within its subject matter jurisdiction.

The policies have been written to be consistent with provisions of law, but do not encompass all laws relating to District activities. All District employees are expected to know of and observe all provisions of law pertinent to their job responsibilities.

Policies of the Board may be adopted, revised, added to, or amended at any regular board meeting by a majority vote.  Any adoption and/or approval of new Board policies or changes to existing Board policies must take place as part of a two meeting approval process. The first meeting will be considered the "FIRST READING, INFORMATION ONLY" of the policy or change to existing policy for the purpose of review, questions and answers, and other considerations of the recommendation. At the second meeting, it will be considered the "SECOND READING, ACTION ITEM." The Board will consider the item for action, which may have been modified at either the first or second reading.  If the modification at the second reading is major, as determined by the Board, such a reading will be termed a first reading and introduced at a subsequent Board meeting as a second reading.  The Board shall regularly assess its policies for effectiveness in fulfilling the District's mission.

The Chancellor is authorized to amend policies without Board approval for the following reasons:

• Correction of typographical errors,
• Revisions/additions to statutory and regulatory references.
  
  The Chancellor shall notify the Board when these corrections or revisions are made.

The RSCCD Board of Trustees believes that a major trustee role is to set policy for the District. In setting policy, the Board wants to create and work within a participatory environment with respect for students and all employee groups. For developing policies regarding the academic and professional matters numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8, the Board will consult collegially with the faculty by relying primarily on the advice and judgment of the Academic Senate (per previous agreement with the Senate).*

For developing policy regarding the other five academic and professional matters, the Board will consult with the faculty through the mutual agreement process previously agreed upon. At RSCCD, the mutual agreement process is the use of the shared governance structure consisting of councils, committees, and the District Council. Further, representatives of staff and student groups are encouraged to work within the established processes to address the issues of the District.

The Board of Trustees values consensus building; however, it realizes its legal responsibility to make final decisions regarding policy.

*For the following items the Board of Trustees will rely primarily upon the advice of the Academic Senate:

1)  Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines;
2)  Degree and certificate requirements; 3)  Grading policies; 5)   Standard or policies regarding student preparation and success; 8)  Policies for faculty professional development activities;

For the following items, the Board of Trustees will come to mutual agreement with the Academic Senate:

4) Educational program development; 6) District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles; 7)  Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self study and annual reports; 9)  Processes for program review; 10)  Processes for institutional planning and budget development.

Administrative regulations are to be issued by the Chancellor as statements of method to be used in implementing Board Policy. Such administrative regulations shall be consistent with the intent of Board Policy. Administrative regulations may be revised as deemed necessary by the Chancellor.  The Board reserves the right to direct revisions of the administrative regulations should they, in the Board's judgment, be inconsistent with the Board's own policies.

Copies of all board policies and administrative regulations shall be readily available to District employees through the District website.

Revised and Retitled:  June 15, 2015 (Previously BP9001 and BP9023)