2010 Rhode Island Code
Title 16 Education
CHAPTER 16-59 Board of Governors for Higher Education
§ 16-59-6 Commissioner of higher education.

§ 16-59-6 Commissioner of higher education. – The board shall appoint a commissioner of higher education, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board, provided that his or her initial engagement by the board shall be for a period of not more than three (3) years. For the purpose of appointing, retaining, or dismissing a commissioner of higher education, the governor shall serve as an additional voting member of the board, and provided that in the case of a tie, the president of the senate shall cast the deciding vote. The position of commissioner shall be in the unclassified service of the state and he or she shall serve as the chief executive officer of the board of governors and as the chief administrative officer of the office of higher education. The commissioner of higher education shall have any duties that are defined in this section and in this title and other additional duties as may be determined by the board, and shall perform any other duties as may be vested in him or her by law. In addition to these duties and general supervision of the office of higher education and the appointment of the several officers and employees of the office, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of higher education:

(1) To develop and implement a systematic program of information gathering, processing, and analysis addressed to every aspect of higher education in the state, especially as that information relates to current and future educational needs.

(2) To prepare a master plan for higher education in the state; to coordinate the goals and objectives of the higher public education sector with the activities of the independent higher education sector where feasible.

(3) To communicate with and seek the advice of those concerned with and affected by the board of governors' determinations.

(4) To implement broad policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives established by the board; to enforce standards and to exercise general supervision over higher public education in the state and over independent higher education in the state as provided in subdivision (11) of this section; to assist in the preparation of the budget for public higher education and to be responsible upon direction of the board for the allocation of appropriations, the acquisition, holding, disposition, and general management of property.

(5) To be responsible for the coordination of the various higher educational functions of the state so that maximum efficiency and economy can be achieved.

(6) To assist the board in preparation and maintenance of a five (5) year funding plan for higher education; to assist the board in the preparation and presentation annually to the state budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4 of a total public higher educational budget.

(7) To recommend to the board of governors, after consultation with the presidents, a clear and definitive mission for each public institution of higher learning.

(8) To recommend to the board of governors, after consultation with the presidents, tables of organization for the public institutions of higher learning.

(9) To annually recommend to the board of governors, after consultation with the presidents, the creation, abolition, retention, or consolidation of departments, divisions, programs, and courses of study within the public colleges and universities to eliminate unnecessary duplication in public higher education and to address the future needs of public higher education in the state.

(10) To supervise the operations of the office of higher education and any other additional duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the board.

(11) To perform the duties vested in the board of governors with relation to independent higher educational institutions within the state under the terms of chapter 40 of this title and any other laws that affect independent higher education in the state.

(12) To be responsible for the administration of policies, rules, and regulations of the board of governors with relation to the entire field of higher education within the state, not specifically granted to any other department, board, or agency and not incompatible with law.

(13) To prepare standard accounting procedures for public higher education and all public colleges and universities.

(14) To carry out the policies and directives of the board of governors through the office of higher education and through utilization of the resources of the public institutions of higher learning.

(15) To direct the office of higher education to compile and analyze the following information for presentation to the speaker of the house and the governor by May 1st annually:

(A) A detailed departmental breakdown of all faculty members employed at each state run college and university by rank (including all professors, associate professors, assistant professors, lecturers, instructors) and tenure (tenured and non-tenured, other) and by race (African American, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian) and gender.

(B) A detailed report on current student enrollments for each class at each state run college and university by race and gender, by academic department, and by outreach program (e.g. talent development), guaranteed admissions program, and the current levels of funding and staff support for each of these programs.

(C) A report on the current status of the African and Afro-American studies programs at each institution and a five (5) year budgetary history of the programs along with projections for budgetary support for the next two (2) years.

(D) A plan for recruitment of African American and Hispanic faculty into tenure track positions at each institution with specific reference to and planned involvement with the New England higher education's minority faculty recruitment and development plan.

(ii) Certified copies of the report shall be furnished to the board of governors and the presidents of the state colleges and universities.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1981, ch. 32, § 3; P.L. 1987, ch. 596, § 5; P.L. 1991, ch. 266, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 54.)