Section 4 of The Principles of Accreditation outlines requirements for an institution’s governing board, including its legal authority, composition, oversight, and evaluation. During the On-Site Review, the Committee will confirm MTSU’s compliance with the following standard from this section:
Standard 4.1:
The institution has a governing board of at least five members that
(a) is the legal body with specific authority over the institution
(b) exercises fiduciary oversight of the institution
(c) ensures that both the presiding officer of the board and a majority of other voting members of the board are free of any contractual, employment, personal, or familial financial interest in the institution
(d) is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or institutions separate from it, and
(e) is not presided over by the chief executive officer of the institution. (Governing Board Characteristics)
Core Requirement
How does MTSU demonstrate compliance with this standard?
MTSU is governed by the Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees (MTSU Board), first established by the Focus Act of 2016. The MTSU Board holds all statutory powers and duties granted under Tennessee Code Annotated and exercises complete financial oversight, responsibility, and control over the University. The Board and its four standing committees, Audit and Compliance; Finance and Personnel; and Academic Affairs, Student Life, and Athletics, are subject to Tennessee’s open meetings and public records requirements, with all official acts occurring at public meetings.
Effective May 9, 2025, Tennessee law mandates the MTSU Board be composed of 12 members (11 voting members), with six voting members required for a quorum. Ten Trustees are appointed by state leaders from a broad range of industries, along with one faculty member and one student member. MTSU’s President serves as the university’s Chief Executive Officer but does not preside over the MTSU Board nor vote on Board matters. The Board elects its own presiding Chair and Vice Chair from among its voting members, and these officers are responsible for presiding over all meetings.
What questions might the On-Site Review Committee ask during their visit to confirm MTSU’s compliance with this standard?
- What is the structure of the governing board and its committees?
- How are governing board members and the presiding officer elected or appointed?
- How are board members apprised of their responsibilities, including fiduciary responsibilities?
- What evidence is there that the governing board controls the institution?
- How often do the governing board members meet, and is their agenda appropriate for their responsibilities?
- What is the process to vet board members for their possible financial interests in the institution?
- Who keeps track of this information?
- Is there an executive committee? If so, how does the executive committee report to the full board?
- How is a quorum defined?
- What safeguards are in place to prevent control of the board by a minority of members?
- How is the board’s presiding officer selected, and who is the presiding officer?
- What is the relationship between the institution’s chief executive officer and the institution’s governing board?
Recent Standards Showcase Features
- Standards Showcase Section 13: Financial and Physical Resources
- Standards Showcase Section 14: Transparency and Institutional Representation
- Standards Showcase Section 12: Academic and Student Support Services
- Standards Showcase – Section 10: Educational Policies, Procedures, and Practices
- Standards Showcase – Section 9: Educational Program Structure & Content