Role of the Chancellor
WCU’s strategic planning and institutional effectiveness framework is also configured to respond to the direction set for the institution by its Chancellor. The Chancellor of WCU is expected to set directions for the institution as the administrative and executive head of the institution and “shall execute complete executive authority therein subject to the direction of the president” (502 A). The chancellor is responsible for carrying out the policies of the Board of Governors and of the board of trustees of the institution (502 A). As the official leader and spokesperson of the institution, the chancellor is expected to promote “the educational excellence and general development and welfare of the institution; shall define the scope of authority of faculties, councils, committees, and officers of the institution; and all projects, programs, and institutional reports to be undertaken on behalf of the institution shall be subject to the chancellor’s authorization and approval” (502 D.1).
As part of his opening address each semester, the chancellor focuses on the current mission-related strategic directions, goals, and key initiatives of WCU and its aspiration to be a “premier regional university with nationally and internationally recognized teacher-scholars dedicated to student learning” (Mission statement, 2006-2011). In addresses, meetings, and forums, the Chancellor reviews the achievements and challenges of the previous year. The Chancellor also discusses this progress in special sessions with the Board of Trustees and Executive Council and through formal and informal feedback processes from the three primary governance bodies (Faculty Senate, Staff Forum, and Student Government). These participatory sessions enable the chancellor to clarify direction for the coming year by garnering the feedback from the units through executive council representation and their respective action planning processes as well as the campus community. The discussed priorities/needs typically help to (re)focus WCU on the current strategic goals and activities as denoted in the Strategic Plan, legislative mandates, and new directives from the State of North Carolina. These goals are also reviewed at the chancellor’s Summer Planning Retreat in July/August with executive council and at the board of trustees Retreat in November.
Additionally, the Chancellor of WCU has also established a Faculty Senate to “ensure the establishment of appropriate procedures within the institution to provide members of the faculty the means to give advice with respect to questions of academic policy and institutional governance, with particular emphasis upon matters of curriculum, degree requirements, instructional standards, and grading criteria (502 D.2). Additional standing and special committees utilized for consultative means in the development of the strategic plan at WCU included the University Advisory Council, Staff Forum, Council of Deans, SACS QEP, Compliance, and Leadership Committees (http://www.wcu.edu/uac/; http://www.wcu.edu/stforum/; http://paws.wcu.edu/sga/; http://www.wcu.edu/provost/CouncofDeans.htm; http://www.wcu.edu/chancellor/trustees/index.html).
While the planning and budgeting processes are participatory and feedback is solicited in a systematic and timely fashion, the ultimate responsibility for budget prioritization rests with the recommendations/requests from each vice chancellor to the chancellor and final decisions occur between the respective Vice Chancellor and Chancellor as determined through WCU’s budget hearing process.