Position Description

President 


Pursuant to Article VII, Section 2, of the Bylaws of the Southern University Board of Supervisors, the President of the Southern University System shall lead the University as follows:

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Southern University System and shall serve as Secretary to the Board.  The appointee shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board and be compensated at a salary fixed by the Board and recorded in its proceedings. The President shall be responsible to the Board for the conduct of the affairs of the University System. The appointee shall execute and enforce all of the decisions, orders, rules and regulations of the Board with respect to the conduct of the University System and shall be governed by all laws pertaining to the Southern University System. 

The President’s discretionary authority shall be broad enough to enable the appointee to meet the extensive responsibilities.

The President shall attend meetings of the Board and its Committees.

The President, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, shall make nominations for appointments, suspensions, and dismissals of all administrative officers holding positions at the pleasure of the Board. Upon recommendation of the Chancellor of each Campus, the President shall have the authority to make all other appointments, promotions, transfers, suspensions, and dismissals of academic and unclassified employees, subject to the approval of the Board. The President or his/her designated officer is authorized as the appointing authority to make and approve personnel actions relating to classified personnel, including disciplinary actions required to be expressed in writing, in keeping with governing statutes.

In considering the appointment of persons to those administrative offices where there is dual responsibility to both the System and a particular campus, the President shall solicit and give careful attention to the views and opinions of other Chancellors concerned.

Subject to the Board's direction and approval:

  1. The President shall establish administrative policies and procedures for the University System in keeping with the mission of each campus and promote the general welfare of the System.
  2. The President shall be responsible for the development and implementation of long-range and short-range goals and objectives to meet the needs of the System.
  3. The President shall develop and implement educational policies and procedures for the University System in keeping with the mission of each campus and promote the general welfare of the System.
  4. The President shall develop a sound fiscal management system; prepare and present a consolidated budget for the University System to the Board, and assume and retain complete control at all times over all budgets of the System, as approved by the Board.
  5. The President shall serve as spokesman for the System to all agencies, inside and outside of the University System, to the Alumni, news media, and the general public.


The President shall maintain ongoing liaison with the state legislative and congressional representatives

The President shall establish and maintain lines of communication with the Chancellors of Southern University campuses.

The President, with the assistance of the campus Chancellors, shall have authority to appoint such committees from among the personnel of the System as deemed desirable for the purpose of advising the President in connection with any problems of the System. Other Chancellors shall be informed of all such appointments of personnel on their campuses.

The President shall be a member of all faculties. Other Chancellors shall normally serve as presiding officers at meetings of the faculty on their respective campuses, though it shall be the President’s privilege to preside at such meetings. 

Performs other duties as requested by the Board of Supervisors.