5.4      QUALIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE/ACADEMIC OFFICERS

The institution employs and regularly evaluates administrative and academic officers with appropriate experience and qualifications to lead the institution

JUDGEMENT

Compliance     Non-Compliance     Partial Compliance

NARRATIVE

North Carolina A&T State University has qualified, experienced, and competent administrators who effectively lead the institution. As outlined in the UNC Policy Manual, 300.1, senior officers of the university include the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellors, Deans, and the Directors of major administrative, educational, research, and public service activities. Other senior officers of the university are associate and assistant vice chancellors, and associate and assistant deans. The Chancellor is the CEO and administrative head of the University. The UNC Policy Manual—“The Code” 200.8 defines the formal process of selection and evaluation of the Chancellor. The the process involves public forums, screening by an Executive Search Firm, and interviews by the Board of Trustees and various constituents on campus to ensure the selection of the most competent individual.

The current Chancellor, who was appointed on June 8, 2009, has had a distinguished career as both a professor and university administrator. Prior to his appointment as N.C. A&T’s 12^th Chancellor, which followed an open and competitive search, he served as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of North Carolina System and prior to that as Chancellor of Winston Salem State University.

Senior administrative and academic officers of the university are in two groups: (i) the Chancellor’s Cabinet and (ii) the academic deans.  Both are Tier I employees, with the Cabinet mostly reporting to the Chancellor and all the deans as well as three cabinet members reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.  The university’s Tier I organization chart is provided.  All of these officers are highly qualified for the roles they have in the University, as is demonstrated by their position descriptions and their CVs, shown in Table 5.4-i.  All Tier I positions are currently filled with qualified personnel, who have been serving in their positions for more than two years.  The list of the Chancellor’s Cabinet members and the deans can be found online and in Chapter III of the Faculty Handbook.

All searches to fill vacant positions are done by broad-based search committees that are trained by the Division of Human Resources and are assisted by a search firm.  The search committees help to ensure that the qualifications of all finalists are well aligned with the position descriptions.  All Tier I employees are annually evaluated.  The Cabinet members are evaluated by the Chancellor, except for the three who are direct reports of the Provost—the Vice Chancellors for Research and Economic Development, Information Technology, and Student Affairs. All deans are annually evaluated by the Provost.  Annual evaluations are conducted in June.  A standard evaluation form (designated for Tier I employees), designed by the Division of Human Resources, is used in each evaluation.  Two copies of evaluations are shared (Dean, Vice Chancellor)

Table 5.4-i:  Tier I Employees (Vice Chancellors and Deans) with Linked CVs

Names	Units	CVs
Chancellor’s Cabinet
Dr. Harold Martin	Chancellor’s Office	CV
Dr. Beryl McEwen	Provost/Division of Academic Affairs	CV
Ms. Erin Hill Hart	Chief of Staff	CV
Mr. Earl Hilton	Director of Athletics	CV
Ms. Tom Jackson	Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Services	CV
Ms. Melissa Holloway	General Counsel for Legal Affairs	CV
Dr. Melody Pierce	Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs	CV
Mr. Robert Pompey	Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance	CV
Dr. Eric Muth	Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development	CV
Mr. Kenneth Sigmon	Vice Chancellor for University Advancement	CV
Ms. Erickia Elbert	Interim Vice Chancellor for Human Resources	CV
Deans*
Dr. Robin Coger	Dean, College of Engineering	CV
Dr. Abdellah Ahmidouch	Dean, College of Science and Technology	CV
Dr. Kevin James	Dean, Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics	CV
Dr. Paula Price	Dean, College of Education	CV
Ms. Vicki Coleman	Dean, Library Services	CV
Dr. Sherine Obare	Dean, Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering	CV
Dr. Frances Ward-Johnson	Dean, College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences	CV
Dr. Lenora Campbell	Dean, College of Health and Human Sciences	CV
Dr. Mohamed Ahmedna	Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences	CV
Dr. Clay Gloster	Vice Provost for Graduate Research and Dean, The Graduate College	CV

*All deans have very similar job descriptions, so just one is provided.

In terms of qualifications and experience, the Tier I employees average well over 10 years of relevant work experience.  And, more than 50 percent of them hold doctoral degrees.  These include the Chancellor, the Provost and all deans except for the Dean of Library Services.

The “At Will” clause in each person’s contract allows for ineffective performers to be moved out of their leadership positions at the will of the Chancellor or his designee.  An executive leadership development program, in addition to a variety of other more discipline-focused professional development opportunities, help to ensure that all Tier I employees are growing in their roles and are able to serve the university effectively.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

1. The UNC Policy Manual, 300.1

2. The UNC Policy Manual, 200.8

3. Organization Chart showing all Tier I Employees

4. List of Chancellor’s Cabinet in Faculty Handbook

5. Tier I Employee Evaluation Forms

a. Copy 1 (Dean)

b. Copy 1 (Vice Chancellor)