Chapter 1
Overiew and History

 

1.2 Organizational Structure and Governance

While the mission of SVSU is similar to that of regional universities in other states, SVSU, like all Michigan universities, is constitutionally autonomous. Because of the state structure, the system of governance at SVSU is independent of the system of governance at other institutions. The university is governed by the SVSU Board of Control, appointed by the Governor. The Board in turn delegates administrative responsibility to the President. SVSU participates in statewide Councils at multiple levels through regular meetings of all 15 state university Presidents, all chief financial officers, and chief academic officers. Academic officers engage in program review and information sharing. It is the responsibility of the SVSU Office of Academic Affairs to garner internal commentary on other institutions’ programs and present proposed new SVSU programs to the statewide body. Decision-making within these state groups, however, is often competitive, since there is no state plan that would place each state university and its programs within a larger context. Thus, SVSU planning over the past decade has been guided by two factors: internally, by Next Steps 2000-2005; externally, by state budget allocations.

Within the institution itself, decision-making and implementation are carried out in traditional patterns. Resource allocation is centralized; planning is not. The formal SVSU organizational chart below identifies the structural units of the university and their relationship to each other.

Organizational Chart
Figure 1-8
(Enlarged graphic - .pdf format)

As the chart indicates, essential university functions are carried out within five units, headed by four Vice Presidents and an Executive Director: Academic Affairs, Administration and Business Affairs, Public Affairs, Student Services & Enrollment Management, and Information Technology. (A more detailed discussion of Organizational Structure and Governance will be found in Chapter 3). Each unit carries out its appropriate responsibilities.