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 on-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 each member shall be entitled to have entered in the minutes the reason for his or her vote.

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 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.

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.

2. Academic Administration

Responsibility, under the President, for the administration of the academic affairs of the College rests with the Deans and the Registrar. Suites are divided among the Deans in the following way:

  1. The Dean of the Faculty, who serves also as Secretary to the Committee of Six and Secretary to the Faculty, has primary responsibility for matters of academic policy that affect the Faculty and for the educational consequences of the academic budget. The Dean of the Faculty also oversees the Robert Frost Library, the Mead Art Museum, the Pratt Museum of Natural History, information technology, the office of the Registrar, and athletics.
  2. The Dean of Students has primary responsibility for the academic rules and regulations concerning students. The Dean of New Students has primary responsibility for the orientation and the academic and disciplinary well-being of the first-year class. Associate and Assistant Deans within the Dean of Students' Office share responsibilities for counseling and advising different classes; providing various academic support programs; career counseling and planning; residential life and student activities.
  3. The Dean of Admission and Financial Aid coordinates the work of the Office of 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.
  4. The Director 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.
3. The Library

The Librarian of the College, who reports to the Dean of the Faculty, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Robert Frost Library and the departmental collections.

4. Business Administration

The primary responsibility, under the President, for the administration of the financial and business affairs of the College rests with the Treasurer. The Treasurer is assisted by the Comptroller, who disperses and accounts for College funds; the Director of Human Resources, who is responsible for the administration of all aspects of personnel management for the College's administrative and support staff; the Director of Facilities Planning and Management, who is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all College physical facilities; the Director of Dining Service, who has responsibility for the operation of all food services at the College. In addition, the Treasurer, in conjunction with the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, is the officer responsible for the management of the College's endowment.

5. Chief Advancement Officer

Reporting to the President, the Chief Advancement Officer has primary responsibility for the external affairs of the College. The Chief Advancement Officer is assisted by the Director of Alumni and Parent Programs (Alumni Secretary), who manages all programmatic and fund-raising aspects of alumni and parent relations, including the acquisition of unrestricted operating support through the Annual Fund; the Director of Development, who supports the Trustees, President, and Dean of the Faculty in securing capital and operating resources from individual, corporate, foundation, and governmental sources; the Secretary for Public Affairs, who is responsible for College publications, media relations, and special events; and the Director of Advancement Operations, who provides administrative, technological, and donor relations support to College staff and volunteers.

6. Diversity and Inclusion

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) and the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity (SAPD) ensure that the policies of affirmative action at Amherst College are propagated and implemented. In particular, the SAPD helps with the advertisement and searches for all faculty positions and the OHR helps with searches for non-faculty positions. As well, the SAPD serves as a resource in cases of alleged discrimination or discriminatory harassment.