101.02 NAME

The official name of the Board of Trustees under the constitution (Section 213-A) is the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

Miss. Const. Art. VIII, Section 213-A

(For the purposes of these bylaws and policies, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall hereafter be referred to as the "Board.")

101.03 SEAL

The Board is hereby authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to adopt and have an official seal in such form as it deems appropriate for its official use.

The official seal of the Board shall contain an inner circle and an outer circle. The inner circle shall be a facsimile of the inner circle of the Great Seal of the State of Mississippi. It portrays the great eagle with extended pinions, holding in the right talon a palm branch and a bundle of arrows in the left talon, meaning "by valor and arms." The outer circle shall have inscribed therein the words "State Institutions of Higher Learning."

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-11, as amended.

201.01 MEMBERS AND QUALIFICATION

The Governor shall appoint only those men or women as members who are qualified electors residing in the district from which each is appointed, and who are at least twenty-five (25) years of age, and of the highest order of intelligence, character, learning, and fitness for the performance of such duties, to the end that such board shall perform the high and honorable duties thereof to the greatest advantage of the people of the state and of such educational institutions, uninfluenced by any political considerations.

Miss. Const. Art. VIII, Section 213-A

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-5, as amended.

201.0101 APPOINTMENTS

There shall be appointed one (1) member of such board from each congressional district of the state as existing as of March 31, 1944, one (1) member from each Supreme Court district, and two (2) members shall be appointed from the state at large.

201.0102 TENURE TERMS

The term of office of said trustees herein provided for shall begin May 8, 1944; and it shall be the duty of the Governor to make such appointments during the regular session of the legislature of Mississippi in 1944; and one-third (1/3) of the membership of said board shall be appointed for a period of four (4) years, one-third (1/3) for a period of eight (8) years, and one-third (1/3) fora period of twelve (12) years; and thereafter their successors shall hold office for a period of twelve (12) years. The members of the Board as constituted at the time this amendment shall be inserted in the Constitution as a part thereof shall continue to hold office until their respective terms expire under existing law, afterwhich time the membership of the Board shall consist of the number hereinabove provided for.

State-at-large, which term Dr. H. M. Ivey

Miss. Const. Art. VIII, Section 213-A

201.0103 VACANCIES

In case of a vacancy on said board by death or resignation of a member, or from any other cause than the expiration of such member's term of office, the Board shall elect his/her successor, who shall hold office until the end of the next session of the Legislature. During such term of the session of the Legislature the Governor shall appoint the successor member of the Board from the district from which his/her predecessor was appointed, to hold office until the end of the period for which such original trustee was appointed, to the end

that one-third (1/3) of such trustees' terms will expire for each four (4) years.

Miss. Const. Art. VIII, Section 213-A

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-3, as amended.

201.02 PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

Within 10 days after the beginning of the terms of office of its members, upon call of the Governor, the Board shall meet in the City of Jackson and organize by electing (1) of its number as president, whose term of office shall be for (1) year or until a successor shall be elected, and shall transact such other business as may come before the meeting. When the presiding officer has voted and the result is a tie, he cannot vote again to break the tie.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-7, as amended.

201.03 STAFF OF THE BOARD

The trustees shall have authority to appoint a non-member as Commissioner of Higher Education, who shall possess

the highest qualifications as an administrator and research worker.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-7, as amended.

201.0301 DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER

The Commissioner of Higher Education shall maintain an office and be responsible to the Board for the efficient functioning of the staff which the Board may from time to time establish. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Higher Education to make constant inquiry into the problems of higher education, to survey and study carefully the organization, management, and all other affairs of each institution under the control of said trustees, to make report of all findings and recommend such changes as will increase efficiency and economy in the operation of each institution, and to perform such other duties as the Board may prescribe. The Commissioner of Higher Education shall be responsible for compiling all laws and all rules and regulations of a general nature adopted by the Board for the governance

of the various institutions of higher learning in pamphlet or loose-leaf form. Current copies of such compilations shall be furnished to all officials directly responsible for carrying out of such laws, rules and regulations. The expenses for such compilation and publication shall be paid by the Board out of any funds available for the operation of said Board.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-7, as amended.

(For the purposes of these bylaws and policies, the Commissioner of Higher Education shall be referred to hereafter as the "Commissioner".)

201.0302 OTHER BOARD PERSONNEL

The trustees shall authorize the employment of such other personnel as may be required from time to time to carry out the functions of the Board and may assign to the personnel so employed such functions and duties and may delegate to the Commissioner or other personnel such powers of the Board as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the Board was established. All such personnel shall be employed by the Commissioner with the approval of the Board and shall hold office at the pleasure of the Commissioner. The Board shall also have the authority to employ on a fee basis such technical and professional assistance as may be necessary to carry out the powers, duties and purposes of the Board.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-7, as amended.

201.04 MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

The Board shall hold two (2) regular slated meetings annually, one (1) in June and the other in January, and as many special meetings as may be necessary on call of the president or on call of five (5) members. In either case, the call shall be in writing and shall be mailed by registered letter with return receipt requested, or by certified mail, to each and every member at least five (5) days prior to the date of meeting. Eight (8) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-9, as amended.

201.0401 MINUTES

Miss. Code Ann., §25-41-11, as amended.

201.0402 PROCEDURES FOR CHANGING BOARD POLICIES AND ADOPTING NEW POLICIES

The adoption of new policies or changing existing policies is solely the responsibility of the Board. It is important that sufficient time be given to permit further study and to give interested parties an opportunity to react; therefore, no new policies nor policy revisions introduced for the first time shall be adopted until a subsequent meeting. The Board may temporarily approve a policy to meet emergency conditions. However, discussion and a final vote must be taken before the policy shall be formally adopted.

201.0403 PROCEDURES FOR ALTERING, AMENDING OR REPEALING BOARD BYLAWS OR ADOPTING NEW BYLAWS

These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by a majority vote of the Board at any regular Board meeting or at any special Board meeting when the proposed amendment has been set out in the notice of such meeting.

201.05 COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS AND STAFF

201.0501 BOARD MEMBERS COMPENSATION AND PER DIEM

The Board shall serve without salary compensation but shall receive a per diem and mileage as authorized by law including time of going to and returning from meetings of said Board, together with actual travel and hotel expenses incident to the meetings of the Board, and in the discharge of duties prescribed by the Board.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-9, as amended.

201.0502 PERSONNEL SALARIES

The Commissioner and other personnel employed by the Board shall receive reasonable salaries commensurate with their duties and functions, the amount of which shall be fixed by the Board.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-7, as amended.

201.0503 TRAVELING EXPENSES

The reasonable traveling expenses and other authorized expenses incurred by the Commissioner and other personnel

in the performance of their duties, together with other expenses of the operation of the executive office, shall be prorated and deducted from the appropriations for the current expenses of the several institutions.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-7, as amended.

201.06 GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES

201.0601 ROLE AND SCOPE OF THE INSTITUTIONS

It shall be the duty of the Board to begin immediately a comprehensive study of the role and scope of all of the various institutions under its jurisdiction, including a detailed study of the programs of study, degrees and courses offered. Following the completion of such study, the Board shall make such adjustments as may be found to be necessary in the programs of the various institutions, to the end that the broadest possible educational opportunities shall be offered to the citizens of this state without inefficient and needless duplication. The Board shall, through such officers of the Board and through such procedures as it shall see fit to establish, exercise continuing jurisdiction and control over the establishment of new courses of study, new departments and new functions and activities in each institution so that the growth and development of the program of higher education in the state shall proceed in an orderly and rational manner, inefficient and needless duplication may be avoided, and new expanded programs will be undertaken only as the same may become justified, based upon objective criteria to be established by the Board. In carrying out the purposes of this section, particular attention shall be given to the extension programs of the various institutions. The Board, in conjunction with the chancellor and presidents of the institutions of higher learning, shall take such steps as may be necessary to improve and coordinate such programs and shall exercise such direct control over the establishment, organization, operation and granting of credit for such programs as may be necessary to accomplish such purposes.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-13, as amended.

201.0602 MANAGEMENT

The Board shall succeed to and continue to exercise control of all records, books, papers, equipment, and supplies, and all lands, buildings, and other real and personal property belonging to or assigned to the use and benefit of the Board formerly supervising and controlling the institutions of higher learning named in §37-101-1.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-15(A),as amended.

201.0603 BYLAWS

The Board shall exercise all the powers and prerogatives conferred upon it under the laws establishing and providing for the operation of the several institutions herein specified. The Board shall adopt such bylaws and regulations from time to time as it deems expedient for the proper supervision and control of the several institutions of higher learning, insofar as such bylaws and regulations are not repugnant to the constitution and laws, and not inconsistent with the object for which these institutions were established.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-15(C), as amended.

201.0604 SUPERVISION

The Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of all the institutions of higher learning, including the departments and the schools thereof. The Board shall have the power in its discretion to determine who shall be privileged to enter, to remain in, or to graduate therefrom. The Board shall have general supervision of the conduct of libraries and laboratories, the care of dormitories, buildings, and grounds; the business methods and arrangement of accounts and records; the organization of the administrative plan of each institution; and all other matters incident to the proper functioning of the institutions. The Board shall have the authority to establish minimum standards of achievement as a prerequisite for entrance into any of the institutions under its jurisdiction, which standards need not be uniform between the various institutions and which may be based upon such criteria as the Board may establish.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-15(B), as amended.

201.0605 INSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS

Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-15(F), as amended.

201.0606 GENERAL FINANCIAL POLICY

All appropriations made for the use of any or all institutions including the central office of the Board shall be received by the Board as a lump sum, with the power and authority in said Board to allocate and distribute the same among the institutions under its control in such way and manner and in such amounts as will further an efficient and economical administration of the institutions.

The Board may hold, purchase, lease, sell, convey, or otherwise dispose of public property, execute conveyances thereon, and utilize the proceeds arising therefrom; the Board may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by law; and shall have such other powers and duties as provided by law.

The Board may accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers of land, buildings, and other property for the use of the various institutions.

201.0607 FINANCIAL REPORTS

201.0608 POLITICAL ACTIVITY

All relationships and negotiations between the state Legislature and its various committees and the institutions named herein shall be carried on through the Board. No official, employee or agent representing any of the separate institutions shall appear before the Legislature or any committee thereof except upon the written order of the Board or upon the request of the Legislature or a committee thereof.

(See Section 1002.01)

standards for work nor quality weight of a degree earned in the off-campus program from that earned at the parent institution.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-1, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-3, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-5, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-7, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-9, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-11, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-13, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., §37-102-15, as amended.

301.01 OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

301.03 BOARD COMMITTEES

(BT Minutes, 5/90; 1/98)

301.04 BOARD REGULATIONS

301.05 BOARD MEETINGS AND AGENDA

301.0501 REGULAR MEETINGS

There shall be two regular slated meetings of the Board annually, one in June and the other in January.

301.0502 SPECIAL MEETINGS

There shall be as many special meetings of the Board as may be necessary upon call of the president of the Board or upon call of five members.

301.0503 CALL TO MEETINGS

The call shall be in writing and shall be mailed by certified letter with return receipt requested, or by certified mail, to each and every member at least five days prior to the date of meeting.

301.0504 DATE OF MEETINGS

It shall be the general policy of the Board to meet the third week of each month.

301.0505 OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENTS

It is the policy of the Board to conduct its meetings pursuant to the provisions of the Mississippi Open Meetings Act.

301.0506 MEETING AGENDA

A formal agenda shall be prepared by the Commissioner for each official meeting of the Board, which shall be followed as the order of business without formal approval. Any departures from the order of business in the formal agenda must be by consent of a majority of the members present. The formal agenda will consist of items submitted on behalf of the various institutions and the Board offices. The form of agenda items and the deadline for submission will be determined by the Commissioner. The Commissioner may refer agenda items to appropriate Board committees for consideration. Any agenda item submitted after the deadline for submission to the Commissioner will not be added to the agenda and considered by the Board at said meeting except upon a unanimous vote of the members present consenting to same. This consent requirement will apply to consideration of all agenda items including recommendations by Board committees in instances where agenda items relating to such recommendations are not submitted prior to the deadline.

301.0509 MINUTES OF MEETINGS

The Commissioner shall compile and file for safekeeping full and complete minutes of all official acts of the Board. The minutes shall be compiled within a reasonable period after a given action of the Board, bound in a volume, and at the office of the Board made an open document to any citizen of the state during the normal office days and hours of the Board's central office.

301.0510 ABBREVIATED MINUTES

Abbreviated minutes may be used by the Board in dispatching business coming before it, but all official references to the minutes and all transcripts, excerpts, copies, pictures, or quotes shall be made from the full and complete official minutes and the Commissioner shall be the certifying officer thereto for the Board.

301.0511 QUORUM FOR TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS

Eight (8) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

301.0512 MEETING RULES OF ORDER

In general, the rules of parliamentary procedure shall be followed during the meeting of the Board.

301.0513 PRESIDENT'S VOTE

The president of the Board shall be entitled to the same vote as any other member of the Board.

301.0514 TIE VOTES

When the presiding officer has voted and the result is a tie, he or she cannot vote again to break the tie.

301.0515 PERMISSION REQUIRED TO LEAVE MEETINGS

No member shall absent himself/herself from a meeting of the Board without approved leave from the president.

(BT Minutes, 5/90; 1/98)

301.0516 APPEARANCES BEFORE THE BOARD

No person shall be entitled as a matter of right to appear before the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning except the following persons:

Other appearances before the Board are not a matter of right, and will only be considered if the request is material and relevant to any matters then pending before the Board. Any person who desires to be placed on the agenda to address the Board shall submit such request, including justification, in writing to the Commissioner. The request should be at least three weeks prior to the designated Board meeting at which the person desires to appear and set forth the purpose of such appearance. The three week period is necessary to permit referral to the President or appropriate Board committee to rule on such request.

Each Board member may claim the per diem each day while representing the Board individually or as one member of a group as follows:

301.0602 PERSONNEL SALARIES

The Commissioner and other personnel employed by the Board shall receive reasonable salaries commensurate with

their duties and functions, the amount of which shall be fixed by the Board.

301.0603 TRAVELING EXPENSES

Reasonable traveling expenses and other authorized expenses incurred by the Commissioner and other personnel in the performance of their duties, including the rate of reimbursement thereof, shall be authorized by the Board from time to time.

301.07 STAFF OF THE BOARD

301.0701 THE COMMISSIONER

The Board shall have authority to appoint a non-member as Commissioner, who shall possess the highest qualifications as an administrator and research worker.

301.0702 DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER

301.0703 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

301.08 INSTITUTIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

301.0801 DUTIES OF THE INSTITUTIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

301.0802 INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS

The respective institutions will maintain current organization charts with the Board. The organization charts shall be on file in the Commissioner's office and will identify academic positions down to the Department Head level and non-academic positions down to two levels below the Institutional Executive Officer.

301.0803 RECORDS

Pursuant to the Mississippi Public Records Acts of 1983 (the "Act"), effective from and after July 1, 1983, the Board hereby adopts the following regulations and procedures with respect to such records as may be in its possession, or in the possession of any university or other institution under its jurisdiction or control, as provided for in Sections 3 and 4 of the Act. Such rules and procedures are applicable to and shall govern the inspection, copying, and/or reproduction of any public records in the possession of the Board, or any institution under its jurisdiction or control.

Miss. Code Ann., §25-61-1 - 17 , as amended.

(BT Minutes, 9/90; 1/98)

301.0804 COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS/ PRESIDENTS/CHANCELLOR

The Board authorizes the organization of a Institutional Executive Officers' Council, consisting of the Institutional Executive Officers of the institutions of higher learning under the jurisdiction of the Board. The Commissioner of the Board shall be an ex officio member of said Council. The function of the Council shall be to study problems of common interest to the Institutional Executive Officers and to members of the Board.

301.0805 FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES

The Board recognizes the important role of private gifts to the university foundations in supporting the academic and extracurricular activities on each campus. The Board shall exercise appropriate oversight regarding the relationship institutions and the Commissioner have with foundations, including foundations specifically created to support athletic programs.

The Institutional Executive Officer of each institution and the Commissioner shall:

(BT Minutes, 9/93; 1/98)

401.01 AUTHORIZATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

By statute, the Board has the power and authority to contract with all deans, professors, and other members of the teaching staff and all administrative employees of said institutions for a term not exceeding four years. Although the law does not empower the Board to contract for indefinite periods, its bylaws provide that "It shall be the policy of the Board to elect all officials for a definite tenure of service and to re-elect during the period of satisfactory service." The Board also empowers the executive heads of the institutions to "adopt policies of continuing employment for the purpose of making nominations for the teaching positions." All amendments, revisions, additions and reductions to employee contracts are subject to approval by the Board.

The Board shall have the power and authority to elect heads of the various institutions of higher learning and to contract with all deans, professors, and other members of the teaching staff and all administrative employees of said institutions for a term of not exceeding four years. The Board shall have the power and authority to terminate any such contract at any time for malfeasance, inefficiency, or contumacious conduct, but never for political reasons. It shall be the policy of the Board to permit the executive head of each institution to nominate for election by the Board all subordinate employees of the institution over which he presides. It shall be the policy of the Board to elect all officials for a definite tenure of service and to reelect during the period of satisfactory service. The Board shall have the power to make any adjustments it thinks necessary between the various departments and schools of any institution or between the different institutions.

Acting under appropriate statutory authority, the Board of Trustees hereby empowers the Commissioner and the Institutional Executive Officers of the several institutions to make all appointments and promotions of faculty and staff except as otherwise noted below:

The Commissioner shall prepare and submit quarterly reports of employment for election by the Board in accordance with Miss. Code Ann., §37-101-15(f), as amended.

The Commissioner, after consultation with the Institutional Executive Officers, shall annually develop guidelines for the award of salary increases which shall be approved by the Board.

With respect to additional compensation for additional service, the Institutional Executive Officers are hereby empowered to grant and expend institutional funds for additional service. Each institution shall prepare an annual report of additional compensation and submit to the Board by August 1 for the preceding fiscal year. This report shall include but not be limited to employee name, original contract amount, amount of additional compensation paid and total compensation for the reporting year.

(BT Minutes, 3/98)

402.01 FACULTY DEFINED

The teaching staff and those members of the administrative staff having academic rank in a college, university or other educational institution or one of its divisions. In all institutions the faculty will consist of the Corps of Instruction and the administrative officers with faculty rank.

The minimum academic requirements for rank are set out hereinafter. Institutions are encouraged to establish other criteria unique to their mission.

Heads of institutions in making decisions regarding ranks and promotions in rank shall take into consideration evidence of professional achievement and academic growth to include but not necessarily be limited to the following:

Tenure is defined as continuing employment that may be granted to a faculty member after a probationary period upon nomination by the Institutional Executive Officer for election by the Board. Tenured faculty are protected from dismissal except for those reasons set forth in this section below. Faculty are tenured to a department unless otherwise designated by the Board.

In the interpretation of this principle it is understood that the following represent acceptable academic practice.

403.0101 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR TENURED EMPLOYMENT

Beginning with appointment to any professorial rank (assistant professor, associate professor, professor), a faculty member may be recommended for tenure after completing a probationary period of five to seven academic years, up to three of which may have been met in the rank of instructor. Upon written agreement between the institution and the faculty member, credit up to a maximum of four (4) years toward fulfillment of the minimum probationary period may be allowed for service at one or more other institutions of higher education. Such credit toward the probationary period transferred from another institution must be determined at the time of initial appointment to rank. Such allowance is to be granted only to an individual who possesses exceptional professional qualifications and achievements and is not to be construed as exempting said individual from any other institutional policies and procedures governing the awarding of tenure.

Once the probationary period has been successfully completed, a professor of any rank, if reappointed, may be awarded tenure. For tenure to be awarded, the Institutional Executive Officer must make a recommendation to the Board in writing. Only faculty members of professorial rank can be awarded tenure. The award of tenure is not vested until notice of the award is given in writing by the Institutional Executive Officer, after approval by the Board, and the written notice is actually received by the faculty member.

Faculty members who transfer from one institution to another within the Mississippi system are subject to the same probationary period in a given institution as any other faculty member who is new to the system.

At the time of initial employment by the Board, an administrative employee whose preceding employment included faculty rank and tenure may be granted tenure only if so recommended by the department (or equivalent academic unit), the Dean, the Provost/Vice President, and the President and approved by the Board.

There shall be appropriate tenure/grievance committees at the institutions.

403.0102 NOTICE OF NON-RENEWAL OF TENURE TRACK FACULTY

If review is allowed by the Board, only the record developed at the institution will be reviewed. Review by the Board is not a matter of right, but is within the sound discretion of the Board. Review by the Board, if granted, is only on the record made at the lower level. No new evidence may be submitted on appeal.

A grievance is defined as the claim of an individual employee that there has been a violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule, policy or procedure in relation to personnel policies, including working hours, working conditions, leaves, promotions and other conditions of employment.

403.0202 APPEALS TO THE BOARD CONCERNING GRIEVANCES

Grievances are not appealable to the Board. The decision of the Institutional Executive Officer is final and binding.

(BT Minutes, 3/91; 2/98)

As part of its broad constitutional authority to manage, the Board shall exercise its authority to modify programs offered by the Universities generally or at various units of the Universities.

Miss. Const. Art. VIII, Section 213-A

Institutional Executive Officers, upon appointment, will be concurrently appointed to the faculty in his/her discipline at the rank of full professor. After successful completion of five (5) years of service as Institutional Executive Officer, the incumbent may be tenured as full professor in the designated department at the discretion of the Board. Tenure shall carry the usual rights and privileges as specified in Board and Institutional Policy. In the event that the Institutional Executive Officer resigns and elects to remain with the institution, the salary as a professor shall be determined based upon the appropriate consideration of teaching, research, public service and salary conditions in the discipline.

Universities are authorized to establish professional positions designated as non-tenure track positions. Each institution shall prepare annually, along with its budget, a list of positions so designed for submission for approval by the Institutional Executive Officer. Subsequent requests for such designations submitted during the budget year must also be approved by the Institutional Executive Officer. Positions designated as non-tenure track positions may be converted to the other type only with approval by the Institutional Executive Officer.

Non-tenure track faculty positions may be established for full-time professional faculty personnel employed in technical, special, career, research and public service programs or programs which are anticipated to have a limited lifespan or which are funded, fully or partially, through non-system sources. There shall be no maximum time limitation for service in positions in this category.

The following provisions shall apply to all non-tenure track personnel:

404.02 NOTICE OF NON-RENEWAL OR TERMINATION OF NON-TENURE TRACK PERSONNEL

due to a lack of funds shall be furnished in writing thirty (30) days prior to the termination.

405.01 GRIEVANCE DEFINED

A grievance is defined as the claim of an individual employee that there has been a violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of a rule, policy or procedure in relation to personnel policies, including working hours, working conditions, leaves, promotions and other conditions of employment.

If all previous steps have not led to a satisfactory settlement of a problem, the Chief Personnel Officer will place it before the university grievance committee. The committee's purpose is to review the problem thoroughly and make a decision which is appealable to the Institutional Executive Officer. Upon completion of the hearing, the committee will have five (5) working days in which to make a decision. The decision will be promptly communicated within five (5) working days to the employee and the administration in writing. The decision of the

committee will be subject to review by the Institutional Executive Officer. The decision of the Institutional Executive Officer shall be final.

In recognition of the Medical Center's unique role and needs, the Board of Trustees adopted special salary and employment policies for this institution. Specific policies will be on file with the Commissioner in the Board office and will be made available upon request.

Institutions shall have evaluation procedures for all employees. A general description of procedures shall be on file at the Board office.

408.01 GRADUATE AND POST-DOCTORAL STUDY:

The policy of the institutions has been to encourage leaves of absence for graduate and post-doctoral study. For this purpose, leaves are granted for a school year, a semester or, on occasions, a part of a semester. No salary is paid by the institution for the period of the leave, except under the provisions of the Board's sabbatical leave policy.

408.02 UPGRADING CREDENTIALS

Any member of the faculties of Alcorn State University, Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University shall be eligible for leave of absence to pursue advanced academic training so as to elevate the scholastic qualifications of the faculties of these above-mentioned universities, in line with the requirement of the several accrediting agencies. In no instance shall leave be granted unless there is a contract providing for continued service, after expiration of the leave, in the university where the faculty member is employed.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning is hereby authorized to make payment of salary, or such part of salary as may be decided, of such faculty members who are under contract for academic leaves.

Miss. Code Ann., Section 37-101-181, as amended.

Under provisions of the Plan of Compliance (1974), incumbent personnel of each institution will have opportunities to upgrade their employment credentials sufficiently to be promoted and to be offered new positions; leaves of absence are to be made available to minority faculty members for this purpose.

(BT Minutes, 9/90; 2/98)

408.03 SABBATICAL LEAVE

Miss. Code Ann., Section 37-101-183, as amended.

Miss. Code Ann., Section 37-101-183, as amended.

(BT Minutes, 9/90; 2/98)

408.04 PROFESSIONAL LEAVE

Any actively contributing member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System who has at least four (4) years of membership service credit and who receives, or has received, professional leave without compensation for professional purposes directly related to the employment in state service shall receive creditable service for the period of professional leave without compensation provided: