5/7/04 Deedie Dowdle/David Granger, 334/844-9999
AUBURN, Ala. -- The Auburn University Board of Trustees on May 7 unanimously
adopted two resolutions clarifying its roles in governance and athletics.
One resolution stated the commitment of the board and the university
to the accreditation process, and the other redefined the board's responsibilities
for intercollegiate athletics.
Interim President Ed Richardson said officials at the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools have indicated that the measures would help
satisfy requirements for the removal from probation of Auburn's membership
in SACS.
"What we've done today will go a long way toward our having the
sanction of probation removed by SACS," Richardson said. "But,
beyond SACS requirements, I believe that these resolutions are the right
thing to do, period. By passing both resolutions unanimously, the board
has shown its commitment to move Auburn University in the right direction
for the future."
Richardson has until May 14 to file the university's response to the
probation imposed by the accrediting agency last December. SACS will
send a delegation to Auburn this fall to review compliance with the
agency's criteria and will vote in December on the university's request
to lift the probation.
The resolution of commitment to the accreditation process strengthened
and renamed as a "Code of Ethics" a conflict-of-interest policy
adopted by the board in 1991. The Code of Ethics addresses questions
of minority influence on the board, personal financial gain through
board action, potential conflicts of interest, disclosure of confidential
information regarding board decisions and commitment of compliance to
the code by individual trustees.
A key component of the resolution is creation of an audit committee
- organized by the board - to ensure individual and group compliance
with policies to prevent interlocking relationships or personal financial
gain by board members.
The resolution on athletics defines the board's role in athletics as
policy-making and places full responsibility for implementing policy
in the hands of the president. As part of the changes in the policy,
the board abolished its athletics committee and spread responsibilities
among several other board committees.
Several of the changes followed guidelines recommended by the Association
of Governing Boards, a national organization of boards of trustees.
Although the changes are in response to criteria cited by SACS, Richardson
said the new policies would benefit the university under any circumstances.
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Auburn University
Office of Communications and Marketing
Fact Sheet
For information, contact the Office of Communications and Marketing
at 334-844-9999.
AU BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES RESOLUTIONS
The Auburn University Board of Trustees unanimously approved two resolutions at its May 7 meeting which significantly change the Board’s committee structure and confirm the Board’s commitment to the accreditation process.
One resolution, entitled “Commitment to the Accreditation Process:” reaffirms the Board’s commitment to “the principles of institutional governance, self-regulatory accreditation and the accreditation process” as required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), amends the Board’s former Conflict of Interest Policy, adopted in 1991, renaming the policy “Code of Ethics,” which addresses the issues of minority control, financial gain and disclosure of a member’s business or economic interests regarding matters before the Board, recommits the Board to the “Policy on Trustee Administration Communications,” which was adopted in 2001, and calls for the creation of an Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees. A charter for the establishment of the Audit Committee will be proposed for Board consideration at the annual June meeting. According to the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the role of the Audit Committee “is to provide oversight of the institution’s financial practices, internal controls, financial management, and standards of conduct.”
A second resolution, “Board Responsibilities for Intercollegiate Athletics,” dissolves the Board’s Athletics Committee and disperses oversight of Auburn’s athletic program policies to four other Board committees - Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Finance, and the Executive Committee. The resolution adopts a new “Policy on Intercollegiate Athletics,” which clearly delegates to the University President “the full conduct and control of Auburn’s athletics program…” while placing the responsibility for oversight and monitoring of athletic policy and practice with the Board.
Auburn University
May 7, 2004