Presidential Evaluation Policy

Responsible Office: Office of the President
Current Approved Version: 11/10/2011
Policy Type: Board of Visitors

Policy Statement and Purpose

The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Board of Visitors is responsible for ensuring the President’s achievement of the institution’s mission-based goals in student learning, research, scholarship and community engagement/service as well as the President's stewardship of the affiliated VCU Health System Authority. To that end, the Board is required to conduct an annual review of the President’s performance and the institution’s progress of these goals.

The Board of Visitors desires to institute and adopt a systematic method of conducting the evaluation of the president in alignment with the university’s mission and identity, and in accordance with the President’s contract, applicable state laws, and prevailing best practices.

Who Should Know This Policy

All members of the VCU Board of Visitors are responsible for knowing the contents of this policy. The President and staff of the Office of the President must be familiar with its contents and provisions.

Definitions

Governance and Compensation Committee (GCC)

A standing committee of the VCU Board of Visitors with membership appointed annually by the Rector and chaired by the Vice Rector of the Board to provide oversight of the Presidential Evaluation process as well as presidential compensation. See Board Bylaws Article II § 7.B.4.

Contacts

The Board of Visitors, by and through its Governance and Compensation Committee, officially interprets this policy. The Office of the President is responsible for obtaining approval for any revisions and questions regarding this policy should be directed to this Office.

Policy Specifics and Procedures

The Governance and Compensation Committee is responsible for conducting the annual review of the President, taking into account the President’s self-assessment report, proposed priorities and goals, and the VCU Executive Compensation Philosophy.

No later than the May meeting of the Board of Visitors, the Rector initiates the annual process for the evaluation of the President for the year (generally, July 1 through June 30 of current fiscal year). The annual process includes the President’s self-assessment of the approved priorities and goals for that year and the President’s presentation of proposed or updated priorities and goals for the following year. The President’s self-assessment will be in a mutually agreed-upon form and may include qualitative and quantitative measures of the President’s performance, as well as the progress of Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System Authority.

The President’s self-assessment should include the following:

Progress on meeting the mutually agreed upon and established priorities and goals.
The President’s assessment of the overall academic quality of the University.
The President’s assessment of the financial status of the University and the Health System.
The President’s assessment of the challenges facing the University and the Health System.
The identification of any professional development the President wishes to pursue.
Priorities and goals proposed by the President for the upcoming year to review as part of the Annual Review process.
Other issues or topics as determined by the GCC or full Board.

The GCC will solicit written observations on the President’s performance from each member of the Board utilizing an appraisal instrument similar to the template in Attachment A.

The President will submit the written self-assessment and proposed (or updated) priorities and goals to the GCC no less than thirty (30) days in advance of the Board’s retreat, which is generally held in August. Concurrent with the transmittal of the self-assessment, the President will also provide a full accounting of all earned outside income for the previous year from service on boards of directors and any other source, as required by the Commonwealth’s annual budget act and any other applicable source.

Prior to the Retreat, the GCC shall review the appraisal results, president’s self-assessment report, full accounting of earned outside income and proposed goals for the year. The President will present the President's self-assessment report and proposed priorities and goals for the year in a closed session meeting with the Board at its retreat or at the next occurring meeting of the Board.

The GCC will formulate a recommendation to the full Board, in consultation with the President, regarding the evaluation and any compensation adjustments for the President at the next occurring meeting of the Board. Following the closed session meeting with the President, the GCC will finalize the President’s evaluation and goals for the year and share the final evaluation, and priorities and goals for the year to the President and the Board in a written letter. The GCC’s letter will detail the results of the annual review, any changes to the president’s contract or compensation, and the priorities and goals for the upcoming year. It is anticipated that this process will be completed no later than October 1 of each year.

The written self-assessment, full accounting of earned outside income, final evaluation of the President as well as any evaluation-related documents and notes are part of the President’s confidential personnel record. The President’s compensation is public information.

As an alternative, the Board may elect to conduct a periodic comprehensive evaluation of the President at its discretion. A comprehensive evaluation is a review of the President’s performance, which seeks stakeholder input and may include the hiring of an external evaluator or facilitator for the process. In the year a comprehensive evaluation is conducted, it is performed in lieu of the annual review.

COMPENSATION

The GCC is responsible for conducting a compensation review and recommending the President’s compensation package to the full Board for approval each year. The annual compensation review will consider both performance- and market-based criteria, which includes but are not limited to:

The results of the Annual Review or the Comprehensive Evaluation;
The VCU Executive Compensation Philosophy;
A market analysis of University President compensation among comparable institutions; and
Other documentation deemed to be relevant.

The GCC may engage an independent compensation consultant to provide market analysis, regulatory updates and other support to assist the GCC in its compensation review and to provide educational resources for the full Board.

Forms

Sample Annual Appraisal of the President’s Performance attached.

Revision History

This policy supersedes the following archived policies:

Approved by the Board: December 8, 2017; May 15, 2009; Revised: November 10, 2011

FAQ

There are no FAQs associated with this policy.

^SAMPLE 1

ANNUAL APPRAISAL OF THE PRESIDENT’S PERFORMANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS

INSTRUCTIONS: Please comment on any aspect of the president’s performance and effectiveness in the space provided.

BOARD OF VISITORS RELATIONS

Disseminates adequate and accurate information to the BOV in a timely manner.

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Enjoys a positive overall relationship with the BOV.

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INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP/MANAGEMENT

Has assembled a strong leadership team.

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Advances the mission of the University.

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Assures quality academic and support programs.

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Operates the University with a commitment to strategic planning, goal setting and evaluation.

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Manages resources proficiently.

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Has established a pattern of success in achieving goals.

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EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Effectively and enthusiastically advocates for the University.

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Effectively presents the University’s resource needs to government officials and private contributors.

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Appreciates the need for institutional accountability.

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Relates well with alumni, parents, and donors.

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Represents the University in national higher education organizations.

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RELATIONSHIPS

Enjoys a positive relationship with local community leaders.

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Maintains a positive relationship with the faculty and staff.

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Maintains a positive relationship with students.

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Maintains an effective relationship with legislators and their staff and with executive branch senior management.

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PERSONALITY TRAITS

Poised under pressure.

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Communicates effectively.

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Integrity.

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Energy.

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Forward-looking.

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Skillful in relating to others.

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Respected.

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Deliberate decision-maker.

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_{1 Permission to use appraisal form granted by UVA on June 22, 2017. Source: from University of Virginia Policy BOV-011: Presidential Evaluation (December 16, 2016): retrieved from https://uvapolicy.virginia.edu/policy/BOV-011}

Policy Program

Integrity & Compliance Office

Presidential Evaluation Policy

Policy Statement and Purpose

Who Should Know This Policy

Definitions

Contacts

Policy Specifics and Procedures

COMPENSATION

Forms

Related Documents

Revision History

FAQ

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