Faculty Handbook B. Administration of the College

1. The President
The president, who serves at the pleasure of the trustees, has charge of the internal administration of the college, is presiding officer of the faculty, has general responsibility for the property and grounds of the college, presides at all commencements, and confers all degrees voted by the trustees and signs the diplomas. The president reports to the trustees at least annually on the condition and needs of the college.

The president has power to call special meetings of the faculty and has a duty to call such meetings at the written request of no fewer than eight of the members of the faculty.

The concurrence of the president is necessary to all acts and resolutions of the faculty, unless, after non-concurrence, the act or resolution shall again be passed by a two-thirds vote of the faculty, a quorum being present, at the same or at the next succeeding meeting thereof. In all cases where there shall be a non-concurrence between the president and a majority of the faculty present at the time, the names of those voting on each side of the question shall be entered in the minutes, and members of the faculty shall be entitled to have entered in the minutes the reasons for their votes.

The president communicates to the faculty the resolutions and actions of the trustees insofar as the trustees themselves authorize.

The president, in consultation with the provost and dean of the faculty, has the power to grant leaves of absence to members of the faculty for reasonable cause and shall report the details of every such arrangement to the trustees.

In keeping with procedures articulated in the Faculty Handbook, the president receives recommendations from the Tenure and Promotion Committee regarding faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion to full professor and, in consultation with the provost and dean of the faculty, makes recommendations on these matters to the board of trustees.

The president has general charge of the administration of student discipline and the power to suspend or remit penalties imposed by the faculty.

The collections of the college shall not be sold or loaned, in whole or in part, except by permission of the president.

In the absence or disability of the president, the executive committee of the board of trustees, pending action by the trustees, shall appoint an acting president who shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the president. (amended by the Amherst College Board of Trustees, October 18, 2014).

2. President's Administrative Team
The positions that represent the leadership of the major areas of college life report directly to the president and, as a collective, support and advise the president in the president's work.  The make-up of the administrative team may change, based on the goals and needs of the president.

The Provost and Dean of the Faculty
The provost and dean of the faculty is the chief academic officer of Amherst College and has primary responsibility for matters of academic policy and for the academic budget. The provost and dean of the faculty oversees faculty hiring and advances and supports faculty development in the areas of research and teaching, as well as the college’s liberal arts mission. The provost and dean of the faculty and the provost’s staff ensure that procedures governing faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion are implemented, as voted by the faculty and articulated in the Faculty Handbook. The president consults with the provost and dean of the faculty on all recommendations to the board regarding faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion. The provost and dean of the faculty serves as secretary to the Faculty Executive Committee and the Tenure and Promotion Committee and secretary to the faculty and oversees the Robert Frost Library, the Mead Art Museum, the Beneski Museum of Natural History, the Emily Dickinson Museum, the Center for Community Engagement, the Center for Humanistic Inquiry, the Center for Russian Culture, the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Center for Sustainability, the Grants office, the Loeb Center for Career Exploration and Planning, the Office of Institutional Research and Registrar Services, the Office of Global Education, the Writing Center, the Moss Quantitative Center, and the Office of Fellowships. The provost and dean of the faculty has joint responsibility, with the president, for the Department of Physical Education and Athletics. The provost and dean of the faculty serves as the college’s Five College deputy.

The position of dean of the faculty was renamed provost and dean of the faculty on July 1, 2019. The Faculty Handbook was then revised to reflect this change.

The Chief Advancement Officer
The chief advancement officer has primary responsibility for the following areas: Alumni and Parent Programs, Development (including the Annual Fund, Leadership and Planned Giving, and Foundation and Corporate Relations), the Career Center, Advancement Communications, and Advancement Operations.  Working together, these departments engage alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and corporations in meaningful interactions that foster advocacy, philanthropic support, and engagement with one another as well as with faculty, students, and staff to support the college’s mission and financial well-being.

The Chief of Campus Operations
The chief of campus operations has primary responsibility for areas that steward the preservation and enhancement of the college’s physical assets and provide operational services to faculty, students, and staff in support of the college’s mission.  These departments include facilities; campus police; dining services; environmental health and safety; sustainability; and the office of administrative services, mail services, rental housing management, summer programs and sustainability.  Core to the charge for each of these departments is ensuring the safety and well-being of the campus community.  The chief of campus operations also serves as town/gown liaison with Town Hall and the business community.     

The Chief Communications Officer
The chief communications officer is responsible for the college’s communications, marketing, and public affairs; communicating Amherst’s distinctive attributes across broad and varied platforms; bringing clarity and focus to the college’s communications strategy and institutional position; and for building a comprehensive communications program across the college—including the areas of advancement, admission, and student life—that will reach all constituencies. This work encompasses the website, media relations, publications, photography, videography, sports information, crisis communications, the alumni magazine, internal communications, major campus events, and other means of institutional communication.

The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
The primary responsibility of the chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO) is to work closely with campus partners to develop, advance, support, and evaluate policies, practices, and programs that foster and support diversity, inclusivity, equitability, and accessibility at Amherst. The CDIO oversees the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which comprises the Queer Resource Center, the Women’s and Gender Center, and the Multicultural Resource Center—all of which serve broad and diverse constituencies. Working with the dean of the faculty and the chief human resources officer, the CDIO plays a key role in the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty and staff.  The CDIO collaborates with the Dean of the Faculty; the Offices of Student Affairs, Advancement, and Human Resources; students, faculty, staff; and other members of the Amherst community to strengthen opportunities for dialogue and to create a more vibrant, inclusive, and cohesive campus climate.  At the national and international level, the CDIO ensures that the college is an active participant in national and international conversations around inclusive excellence.

The Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
The chief financial and administrative officer has primary responsibility for the administration of the financial and business affairs of the college. The chief financial and administrative officer is assisted by the controller, who disperses and accounts for college funds; the director of budget and analysis, who is responsible for the compilation and oversight of the college’s annual operating budget; the director of financial planning and analysis, who is responsible for financial reporting and forecasting; and the director of treasury operations and analysis, who is responsible for the college’s debt portfolio, capital structure, and cash management.  In addition, the chief financial and administrative officer, under the direction of the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees and in conjunction with the chief investments officer, is responsible for the management of the college’s endowment.  At the direction of the president, the chief financial and administrative officer provides additional support to, and oversight of, non-academic administrative areas of the college, particularly during times when the president is conducting college business off-campus.

The Chief Information Officer
The chief information officer has responsibility for strategic direction and management of the technology and systems that are used in teaching, research, and the administrative operations of the college. Departments reporting to the role include Academic Technology Services, which is focused on supporting teaching, learning, and research; IT Support Services, which maintains and supports the desktop and mobile computing environment; Administrative Information Services, which supports the business processes of the college; and other groups in IT that have responsibility for the college’s wired and wireless networks, data systems, cable TV, and telecommunications.

The Chief Policy Officer and General Counsel
The chief policy officer and general counsel has primary responsibility for ensuring effective policy development and oversight as well as serving as the chief attorney for the college.  The chief policy officer and general counsel is assisted by the associate general counsel, who provides legal advice and counsel on behalf of the college.  The chief policy officer and general counsel oversees the Title IX coordinator, who is responsible for coordination and implementation of Title IX compliance and education, and the Office of Human Resources, which is responsible for the recruitment, hiring and retention of a diverse, qualified workforce.

The Chief Student Affairs Officer
The chief student affairs officer has primary responsibility for fostering a social and residential experience at the college that will help all students achieve their full personal and academic potential. To this end, the Office of Student Affairs seeks to help students build and advance a vibrant, supportive, and respectful campus community.  Offices, departments, and selected services under the purview of the Office of Student Affairs include the class deans, the Counseling Center, the Health Center, Health Education, Residential Life, Student Activities, Religious Life, Case Management, Accessibility Services, Conduct and Community Standards, and orientation programs for new students.

The Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
The dean of admission and financial aid coordinates the work of the Offices of Admission and Financial Aid and is responsible for development of policy, strategic planning, and policy analysis related to admission and financial aid operations. The dean and the associate and assistant deans of admission have responsibility for the selection of each entering class.  The dean of financial aid and associate and assistant deans of financial aid have primary responsibility for administration of all scholarships and loan funds, both those of Amherst College and federal and state funds administered by the college.