Section 681.14.1. Organization.

       14.1(1) Statement of university mission. The University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls is recognized as having a mission of sufficient scope to enable it to be a distinguished arts and sciences university with outstanding professional programs in education and business. It provides leadership in the development of programs for the preservice and in-service preparation of teachers and other educational personnel for schools, colleges, and universities. The institution offers undergraduate and graduate programs and degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, including selected areas of technology. It offers preprofessional programs and conducts research and community outreach programs to strengthen the educational, social, cultural, and economic development of Iowa and the larger community.

It is imperative that the quality of the university’s instruction be maintained and enhanced through increasingly strong emphasis on: (1) general or liberal arts education as the most essential ingredient for the undergraduate student; (2) the central importance and complementary relationship of teaching and research; (3) enrichment of instruction through extensive clinical, laboratory and field experiences and through experiential learning, community engagement, and independent study; and (4) development of the life of the university community itself as an effective educational force. In order to serve students of all ages and to be responsive to their needs and preferences and to the needs of society, it is imperative that the university offer a variety of programs in such areas as liberal arts, education, business, social work, and technology. It will offer no major programs in agriculture, architecture, dentistry, engineering, forestry, hospital administration, law, pharmacy, medicine, or veterinary medicine.

In the area of teacher preparation, the university must remain at the forefront of developments in the field of education and be prepared to offer instruction in new areas required by society. Furthermore, UNI should be more than merely responsive to changing needs and interests of its students and society. It must provide leadership in educational innovations, programs, and research.

Future programs will be determined by the continuing study of existing programs and of developing needs. Programs will be curtailed or eliminated when the assessment of need and resources indicates that resources could better be devoted to other programs. The university approaches the addition of new programs with considerable caution. Generally, new programs are fashioned out of existing programs in response to developing needs. However, if the university is to remain vital, it must consider at the appropriate time the development of some new programs that fall within its general mission and meet the new needs of students and of society.

       14.1(2) Officers. The university has three statutory officers: president, secretary, and treasurer. The president is the chief administrative officer of the university and has such authority and duties as have been delegated by the board of regents.

The president has nominated and the board of regents has appointed three vice presidents. The executive vice president and provost is acting president in the president’s absence and is the chief academic officer of the university, having general administrative responsibility under the president for the educational program of the university. The vice president for student affairs is responsible for the administration of all student services. The vice president for administration and financial services serves as the chief fiscal officer of the university.

A detailed listing of the university units is shown on the organizational chart contained in the policies and procedures of the university.

       14.1(3) Operation. In order to fulfill the academic mission of the university, the following academic units have been established: college of business administration, college of education, graduate college, college of humanities and fine arts, college of natural sciences, and college of social and behavioral sciences.

The dean of each college is its chief administrative officer. Academic departments function within the organizational structure of colleges. The executive officer of a department is the head, who is the chief administrative officer of an academic department.

       14.1(4) Policies and procedures. The university policies and procedures govern the internal academic and administrative operations of the university. The policies and procedures are available for public inspection on the university Web site.

[ARC 9962B, IAB 1/11/12, effective 2/15/12]