Accreditation - Hartnell College!!

Institutional Self Evaluation – 12-05-12
Planning Agenda
None.
IV.B.1.c
The governing board has ultimate responsibility for educational quality, legal matters, and
financial integrity.
Descriptive Summary
The California Education Code (Ed Code 70902) and Title 5 establish trustees‘ ultimate
authority in educational quality, legal matters, and financial integrity of the college. The
Board exercises this authority, which is memorialized in Board Policy 1005 (IV.B.21), and is
reflected in the minutes of Board meetings.
That policy (BP 1005) also clarifies that the Board has such authority only as a collective
unit. The Board of Trustees operates as an independent entity that establishes policy based
upon knowledge of the institution, relying on constituent bodies like the Academic Senate
and other senates, as well as participatory governance entities, where appropriate.
The college‘s financial integrity is reviewed by the Board on a monthly basis. At each regular
meeting, the Board reviews reports on funds maintained by the District and approves
disbursements and budget transfers. The Board also receives quarterly financial reports, and
is engaged in learning about all aspects of community college finance. The Board attends
budget workshops provided regularly by the chief financial officer (CFO) of the college.
Two members of the Board meet quarterly with the CFO and the controller to review
financial information in the quarterly reports. These Board members also meet semiannually
with auditors, independent of college staff, to review the audit prior to submission. (IV.B.26,
Board minutes; check Jan-Feb.) These auditors from an independent accounting firm prepare
an annual audit of all District funds. The audit firm‘s reports are presented to the Board for
information and receipt on an annual basis.
The Board has ultimate responsibility for legal matters, and consults legal counsel in closed
sessions as appropriate.
The Board also takes ultimate responsibility for the education quality of programs and
services. Curriculum committee actions, including course revisions, modifications, and
deletions, and degree and program revisions, are ratified by the Board. Each regular meeting
of the Board includes reports from the academic and student senates. The Board‘s monthly
development meetings include reports and workshops on educational programs and services,
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