Universities, like many organizations, are built on a solid foundation of bylaws, policies, and procedures. When they are well established and diligently reviewed, updated, and implemented, the organization runs smoothly, enabling its mission to be realized and its constituency, in our case, faculty, staff, students and the community, to be well-served. Weakness in bylaws, policies, and procedures is most apparent in times of change or crisis. At all levels, a solid foundation of rules enables smooth and effective operation.
Meetings
Board of Regents Handbook
UNLV is a part of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), which is governed by the Board of Regents Handbook. It provides the governing documents and policies that cover all of NSHE (2 universities, a state college, and 5 community colleges).
In addition, NSHE has a Procedures & Guidelines Manual which contains System and institutional procedures, tuition & fees, as well as documents, previously known as Chancellor’s Memorandum.
Bylaws
UNLV Bylaws govern the university, and it is the responsibility of the senate through the University Bylaws Committee to review, update and monitor implementation. Changes to the UNLV Bylaws are first considered in the Faculty Senate. If approved, changes are sent to the entire faculty for approval. If approved, the President of the University may accept or veto the change. If accepted, the change is forwarded to the chancellor for approval.
Like NSHE, UNLV also has policies and procedures that are established and implemented by a variety of units across the University. These reside with the University Policy Committee and sometimes the responsibility to review, update and monitor implementation is shared with various Committees of the Faculty Senate.
Every college and department of the University also has bylaws and may have internal policies and procedures. The University Bylaws committee has worked with units to review and update their bylaws.
Of course, the Faculty Senate, which is authorized by the Board of Regents Handbook and described in the UNLV Bylaws, has a Constitution which establishes the organizational structure of the Senate and Bylaws which establish the operating rules and procedures of the Senate.