University Organization and Administration
Winston-Salem State University is one of seventeen constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina, as described in The Code of the Board of Governors, The University of North Carolina (hereafter referred to as The Code), Chapter I, Section 102. Originally founded as separate institutions, the original sixteen four-year schools became part of “a single, multi-campus university” on July 1, 1972. Each school retains autonomy through its own chancellor and Board of Trustees, but all are subject to The Code and the authority of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Winston-Salem State University is a comprehensive institution offering degree programs at the baccalaureate and graduate levels.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Board of Governors
Members of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors are elected by the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives (The Code, Chapter II, Section 200 B.1.a). The Board is charged to “plan and develop a coordinated system of higher education in North Carolina.” It has the authority to “determine the functions, educational activities and academic programs of the constituent institutions” and to “set enrollment levels.” It may delegate parts of its authority to the chancellors and Boards of Trustees of the constituent institutions, and it may rescind such delegations at will (The Code, Chapter II, Sections 203.A.1-3, 5 and 9).
The President
The President of the University of North Carolina is elected by the Board of Governors. He/she is “the chief administrative and executive officer of the University” and speaks for the University to the legislature, the state, the alumni, the news media, and the public at large. He/she is charged to “promote the general welfare and development of the University in its several parts and as a whole,” and he/she is a member of the faculty of each of the constituent institutions (The Code, Chapter V, Sections 500.A and C).
Faculty Assembly
The Faculty Assembly of the University of North Carolina is made up of representatives from each of the constituent institutions. The Faculty Assembly gathers and exchanges information on behalf of the faculties represented, and advises and communicates with the Board of Governors and the president of the University concerning the interests of faculties. From Winston-Salem State University the delegates to the Faculty Assembly
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
Winston-Salem State University was founded as the Slater Industrial Academy on September 28, 1892, beginning in a one-room frame structure with 25 pupils and one teacher. It was recognized by the State in 1895, and in 1897 the State chartered it as the Slater Industrial and State Normal School. Its concern for excellence in the training of elementary school teachers led to the General Assembly’s recognition of its curriculum above high school in 1925, a change that included empowerment to confer appropriate degrees under the authority of the State Board of Education. The newly re-named Winston-Salem Teachers College thus became the first Black institution in the nation to grant degrees for teaching the elementary grades. A nursing program was established in 1953, and programs in secondary education and other areas were authorized in 1957. In 1963 this expansion of purpose was recognized by changing the institution’s name to Winston-Salem State College, and the current name was adopted in 1969. On July 1, 1972, Winston-Salem State University became one of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina, the first campus of which was chartered in 1789.
Board of Trustees
Like most of the other constituent institutions, Winston-Salem State University has a Board of Trustees composed of eight members elected by the Board of Governors, four members appointed by the Governor of North Carolina, and the president of the Student Government Association, who is an ex officio member. State employees, including employees of the constituent institutions, members of the General Assembly, and the spouses of state employees and members of the General Assembly, are barred from serving on the Board of Trustees. The Trustees promote the university’s development, advise the Board of Governors on matters related to the school, and advise the chancellor on matters related to management and development. A list of trustees may be found on the Board of Trustees web site.
Chancellor
The chancellor’s relation to the constituent institution is defined in section 502.D of The Code. Its first part summarizes the chancellor’s authority:
Subject to policies established by the Board of Governors, the board of trustees, or the president, the chancellor; [sic] shall be the leader of and the official spokesman for the institution; he shall promote the educational excellence and general development and welfare of the institution; he shall define the scope of authority of faculties, councils, committees and officers of the institution; and all projects, programs and institutional reports to be undertaken on behalf of the institution shall be subject to his authorization and approval.
The chancellor is a member of the faculty, with the right to preside over any legislative body of the faculty, and is charged to “insure the establishment of appropriate procedures within the institution to provide members of the faculty the means to give advice with respect to questions of academic policy and institutional governance” (The Code, section 502.D.2).
The Office of the Chancellor consists of three executive assistants to the chancellor, five vice chancellors, the legal counsel, the internal auditor, the athletic director, and the EEO/AA officer. The Faculty Senate, with at least one elected representative from each academic unit, advises the chancellor and his/her staff on matters essential to the effectiveness and future development of the university.
Board of Visitors
The Board of Visitors is a group comprised of individuals with background and broad expertise in specific disciplines. The primary purpose of this group is to confer with representatives of major academic units on instructional and support service matters, to facilitate adherence to the university’s mission, to advise the Board of Trustees and the chancellor on issues related to enhancing quality and excellence, to serve as ambassadors for the university, and to assist in obtaining needed resources for program development. The membership listing and the by-laws of the Board of Visitors are on file in the offices of the chancellor and the vice chancellor for academic affairs and on the Board of Visitors website. The Board of Visitors meets twice each academic year, fall and spring, in concert with the regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting.
Winston-Salem State University Foundation Board
The Winston-Salem State University Foundation, Inc. was created in 1970 to generate financial resources for the support of the university, over and beyond state appropriations, through private giving. Winston- Salem State University is the sole benefactor of all gifts to the Winston-Salem State University Foundation.
The Winston-Salem State University Foundation is a designated non-profit corporation under the General Statutes of North Carolina, whose authority is independent of the university. The office of this autonomous board is on the campus of Winston-Salem State University.
Contributions and gifts to the Winston-Salem State University Foundation may be made by faculty, staff, alumni, students, corporations, foundations and other interested friends of the university. Receipt of funds requires daily record processing by the Development Services Manager. The member listing and the by- laws of the Foundation Board are on file in the offices of the chancellor and the vice chancellor for advancement.
Administrative Divisions of the University
Winston-Salem State University is divided into five divisions (Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Finance and Administration, University Advancement, and Management and Strategic Initiatives) and the Office of the Chancellor. The functions of these divisions are briefly described below. (The overall administrative structure is depicted in the organizational chart on the Curriculum Change and Academic Policies page.)
The Division of Academic Affairs is responsible for the coordination of all phases of the academic program of the university. It coordinates the use of instructional facilities and educational equipment, assists in the preparation of the university’s budget, confers with other administrative officials on matters of policy or problems relating to academic affairs, implements the academic regulations of the university and the University of North Carolina, certifies the satisfaction of degree requirements, and facilitates a broad category of activities and issues that include faculty appointment, tenure and promotions, post- tenure reviews, teaching and service recognition, and awards. (See the Curriculum Change and Academic Policies page to view an organizational chart of this division.)
The provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs (hereafter provost) administers this division and is the chief academic officer. The division contains five academic units:
- The College of Arts and Sciences
- The School of Business and Economics
- The School of Education and Human Performance
- The School of Health Sciences.
- The School of Graduate Studies and Research
Administrative units reporting to the provost include:
- Administration and Planning
- Evening and Weekend College
- Information Technology
- Institutional Planning, Assessment, and Research
- Lifelong Learning
- Undergraduate Programs
- University College
Facilitators of the division include the deans of the academic units and chairpersons of academic departments.
The academic dean is responsible for the successful coordination of all departments in his/her school/college. The dean serves as the liaison between department chairpersons and the provost. The dean makes recommendations for faculty promotions and non-reappointments in conjunction with the department chairperson and in accordance with university policy.
The department chairperson is responsible for the scope, content, and quality of courses and instruction in the department. The chairperson is responsible for cooperative planning with members of the department, directing the work of the department, and cooperating with chairpersons of other departments in matters regarding policies. He/she is responsible for organizing committees for recruiting new faculty and reviewing non-tenured faculty, making recommendations to the dean for promotion in rank, increments in salary, reappointment and tenure. The chairperson is also responsible for having regularly scheduled departmental meetings and special called meetings, arranging courses, preparing the departmental budget, supervising departmental expenditures, making recommendations for library materials, evaluating programs and faculty, recruiting, and recommending faculty and staff for employment. The contractual term of a department chair, unless otherwise noted, is typically twelve months. Functions of the department chair revert to the appropriate dean during any period of absence.
The purpose of the Division of Student Affairs is to support the academic success of undergraduate and graduate students; to foster students’ psychological, social, emotional, spiritual, vocational, ethical, and physical development; and to enhance the quality of campus life for all students. The division consists of the following units:
- Student Judicial Affairs
- Housing and Residence Life
- Counseling Center
- Student Health Services
- Student Development
- Career Services
- Campus Life (Thompson Student Center, Campus Recreation, Student Activities)
- Fitness Center
- Technology Services
- Student Advocacy and Adult & Graduate Student Services
The vice chancellor for student affairs is responsible for all activity and services provided by the departments within the division of student affairs.
The Division of Finance and Administration exists to provide campus-wide administrative and fiscal services in support of the university’s primary mission of instruction and public service. This division records financial transactions, safeguards physical and financial assets, allocates resources, and procures and delivers basic university services. These functions are performed within the areas of accounting, budget and analysis, business services, police and public safety, purchasing, facilities procedures, along with appropriate financial and administrative systems. The division’s operations are in accordance with the policies and procedures of the University of North Carolina General Administration, the State of North Carolina, and the federal government. The division provides financial information for senior management, UNC General Administration, external supporters, and the Board of Trustees to facilitate compliance and inform decision making.
The division includes these units:
- Finance and Administration
- Facilities Management
- Controller
- Systems and Processes
- Business Services
- Purchasing
- Contracts and Grants
- Police and Public Safety
- Budget and Analysis
The Division of University Advancement is responsible for institutional advancement. It coordinates the activities of media relations, alumni relations, and development. It initiates and monitors contacts with appropriate individuals, agencies, and foundations to solicit funds to assist in the fulfillment of the objectives of the university. Fund-raising activities and the acceptance of gifts to the university must be cleared with the vice chancellor for university advancement. The division, in certain instances, assists faculty in identifying likely funding sources.
The division includes these units:
- Advancement
- Development for Athletics
- Annual Fund
- Alumni Relations
- Major Gifts
- Corporate and Foundation Relations
The purpose of the Division of Management and Strategic Initiatives is to ensure that the university’s planning efforts and the chancellor’s priorities and management initiatives are communicated, well- coordinated, and implemented. It will coordinate the work of senior officers and deans in an effort to develop an integrated approach to academic and administrative activities that entail cooperative efforts with multiple divisions or schools. It will also be responsible for various university initiatives.
The Office of Human Resources and the Division of Enrollment Management are in this division.
