ADMINISTRATIVE ARCHITECTURE OF WVU
The architecture of WVU administrative structure has been designed to cater for its immediate and long-term needs. It combines a mix of society Aristocrats, academic scholars, professionals and technocrats. And, this has afforded the multiversity the cutting edge for stability and ease of transition from one developmental stage to another.
The Governing Board
The responsibilities of the Governing Board, apart from hiring and supervision of the University’s President, include preservation of the purpose of the University’s establishment, curriculum planning and reviews, fiscal oversight, student affairs, institutional performance evaluations, fundraising and developmental strategies. The leaning of this collegial body of erudite and pedagogic persons points the entire body structure in the direction of organizational behaviors that shapes the polity, being its regents and the one in possession of the fundamental legal authority. The University’s President is a member, along with 20 others who have been carefully identified, nominated and appointed into this august body by not less than 75% of its standing members. The tenure of members is for a maximum period of 10 years, with an initial period of five years and renewable, if no reason to the contrary, for another two consecutive terms of three and two years respectively. The quorum for its meetings is 60% of its general members.
The President
Appointed by and reports to the Governing Board, the President, who is the highest ranking executive officer and fundraiser of the University, presides over both academic and administrative arms, carries out his tasks by providing leadership to the University Community and provides the necessary link between it and the Governing Board. With his lieutenants’ support, the President, being the image maker of the institution, works with The Management Team to foster an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning. The tenure of appointment is for a maximum of eight years of two terms.
The Management Team
Responsible for running the day-to-day affairs of the University, its main tasks include collaboration with such external authorities as state and federal political leaders, community organizations, and members of the public, as well as business interests and philanthropic foundations. These external organizations routinely interact with and shape the policies and procedures of the university’s internal organizational structures. Principal Officers, Provosts of Schools and Deans of Faculties, led by the President, are members.
Some of the shared responsibilities of TMT include:
- Admission of students into the various programs of the University;
- Supervision of academic affairs such as hiring, promotion, tenure, and evaluation, with faculty input where appropriate;
- Maintenance of official records, supervised by the Registrar;
- Maintenance and audit of financial flows and records;
- Maintenance and construction of campus buildings;
- Maintenance of the campus grounds;
- Safety and security of persons and property on the campus;
- Supervision and support of campus computers and network;
- Fundraising from private individuals and foundations;
- Research administration (including grants and contract administration, and institutional compliance with federal and state regulations);
- Public affairs (including relations with the media, the community, and local, state, and federal governments);
- Student services such as disability services, career counselling and library staff.
Academic Senate
The Academic Senate is led by the President and comprised of Provosts of Schools, Deans of Faculties, Heads of Professional Programs and the University Registrar. Within this academic administration, the President presides over a hierarchy of senior officers. These academic administrators are traditionally drawn from the faculty ranks, where departmental leadership positions serve as preparation for university-wide academic leadership roles.
The Faculty
Faculty members are ranked, in descending order, as Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, and Instructor. Faculty of various ranks may or may not be tenured. Faculty members can be dismissed from their posts unless and until they have been granted tenure, a term denoting a measure of academic job security that is earned through a combination of demonstrated teaching, research, and service contributions. The faculty generally has significant influence over the hiring of new faculty members, tenure and promotion procedures, the university curriculum and graduation requirements, and admissions criteria.
The Chief Financial Officer
The managerial cohort of the institutional administration is led by the CFO and various senior executives. This principal officer provides leadership and direction to a host of administrative functions that generally includes student services, institutional support, maintenance and operation of the physical plant, and auxiliary enterprises.
Administrative Staff
The University’s administrative staff, reporting to the President, Registrar, Provosts of Schools, Deans of Faculties, and Departmental Chairs facilitates the jobs and responsibilities of their principals. They include Front Desk staff, Admissions staff, Graduate and Undergraduate Student Advisors, among others.