Chairperson's Role

Policy Number
BP 2211
Policy Category
Chapter 2 - Board of Education
Adopted
Last Reviewed

The chair assures the integrity of the board's process and the only person authorized to speak for the board.

Accordingly,

  1. The chair shall ensure that the board acts consistently with its own rules and those legitimately imposed upon it from outside the organization.
     
    1. Meeting discussion content will include only those issues which, according to board policy, clearly belong to the board.
       
    2. Deliberation will be timely, fair, orderly, and thorough, but also efficient, limited in duration, and kept to the point.
       
    3. The board's policies concerning individual and group conduct will be enforced appropriately.
       
    4. The chair is responsible for setting the board meeting agenda and facilitating the board meeting to ensure that the board remains proactive, forward-looking, and value-added in its deliberations.
       
    5. Orientation for new board members will be conducted as stated in BP 375.
       
    6. The board chair will explain at the outset of Statements from the Audience that the board may not respond directly to any issues raised but will refer those issues to the president for appropriate action (see BP 305 – Agenda Planning).
       
    7. The board chair shall have the authority to appoint ad hoc committees as required.
       
  2. The authority of the chair consists of making decisions on behalf of the board consistent with any reasonable interpretation of board policies on Governance Process and on the Board-President Relationship, except where the board specifically delegates portions of this authority to others.
     
    1. The chair is empowered to chair board meetings with all the commonly accepted power of that position (e.g., ruling, recognizing).
       
    2. The chair has no authority to make decisions about policies created by the board within Ends and Executive Limitations policy areas. Therefore, the chair has no individual authority to supervise or direct the president.
       
    3. The chair may represent the board to outside parties in announcing board-stated positions and in stating chair decisions and interpretations within the area delegated.
       
  3. The vice chair will assume responsibilities of the chair in the event of the chair's absence or inability to serve.
     
  4. The chair and vice chair of the board will be elected at the annual meeting in July.
     
References

Board Policy 2340 - Agendas

Note: This policy replaced retired Board Policy 320, which was last reviewed March 5, 2025. The language from the former three-digit policy was adopted without change as this new four-digit policy number.

Board Policies are adopted by the Lane Community College Board of Education and establish the College’s governing principles and institutional direction. These policies are reviewed by the Board at least every five years or more often as needed. Board Policies are distinct from College Operating Policies and Procedures (COPPS), which provide operational guidance and are developed through governance processes and by responsible managers.