LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT BOARD POLICY MANUAL Fourth Edition SECTION I – GOVERNANCE I.A. THE COLLEGE’S LEGAL STATUS I.A.1.01. College Legal Name and Status Lone Star College’s legal name is “Lone Star College System District”—abbreviated in this document to “College”. The College exists under the Texas Constitution and Education Code. The College was legally established on October 7, 1972, as a public junior college district and classified as a union junior college. The College is an institution of higher education under Texas law. I.A.1.02. Definitions (a) Service Area means (i) the territory within the boundaries of the taxing district of a junior college district; and (ii) the territory outside the boundaries of the taxing district of a junior college district in which the junior college district provides services (courses and programs described in Sections 130.0011 and 130.003(e), Education Code). (b) College means, when capitalized, the Lone Star College System District. When not capitalized (i.e., “college”), it means one or more of the member-colleges constituting the Lone Star College System District. I.A.1.03. College Service Area and Taxing Boundaries The College’s Service Area includes the territory within (i) Aldine, Cleveland, Conroe, Cypress- Fairbanks, Humble, Klein, New Caney, Magnolia, Montgomery, Splendora, Spring, Tarkington, Tomball, Waller, and Willis independent school districts in Harris, Montgomery, and/or San Jacinto Counties; and (ii) Huntsville and New Waverly independent school districts in Walker County. Aldine, Conroe, Cypress-Fairbanks, Humble, Klein, Magnolia, New Caney, Splendora, Spring, Tomball, and Willis independent school districts are within the College’s taxing boundaries. Cleveland, Huntsville, Montgomery, New Waverly, Tarkington, and Waller independent school districts are outside the College’s taxing boundaries. I.A.1.04. College Boundaries and New Campuses or College Districts The College may annex territory or create a new campus or college district in accordance with state law. I.B. THE COLLEGE’S FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES I.B.1.01. Purpose The College is a publicly supported, two-year, comprehensive community college offering post- secondary educational opportunities in Harris, Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Walker Counties. Page 1 of 226 LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT BOARD POLICY MANUAL Fourth Edition I.B.1.02. Vision Statement Lone Star College is recognized globally as the premier community college for student success, innovation, and partnerships. I.B.1.03. Mission Statement Lone Star College provides comprehensive educational opportunities and programs to enrich lives. I.B.1.04. Value Statements (a) Affordable Access means the College provides an affordable and accessible educational experience meeting the diverse needs of the community. (b) Building Communities and Partnerships means the College promotes a seamless educational journey and nurtures the community’s intellectual and cultural life. (c) Commitment to International Education means the College embraces multiple perspectives, promotes understanding, and educates students to become contributing members of a diverse world. (d) Communication means that the College recognizes that achieving its mission requires effective communication between internal and external constituencies. (e) Diversity means the College provides an inclusive learning and working environment for its diverse students, faculty, administrators, and staff. The College also offers programs, services, and personnel reflecting the communities it serves. (f) Economic and Workforce Development means the College serves as the critical link for economic and workforce development providing prosperity through partnerships with business, government, and community organizations. (g) Environment means the College fosters dynamic learning, distinguished by academic freedom and excellence in teaching, allows citizens to develop to the full extent of their ability, to succeed in a competitive workforce, and to be effective lifelong learners. (h) Ethics and Integrity means it is essential that College Trustees, students, and employees adhere to the highest standards of honesty and fair dealing in all College matters. (i) Evaluation and Accountability means it is essential the College employs data-supported decision-making and regularly assesses the impact and outcomes of its efforts for continuous improvement. Page 2 of 226 LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT BOARD POLICY MANUAL Fourth Edition (j) Human Resources means the College’s most important resources are the individual faculty and staff members, who are entitled to a supportive collegial work environment which rewards excellence and innovation, creates opportunities for professional development, fosters meaningful involvement in shared governance, and provides excellent compensation. (k) Leadership means the College, building on a solid foundation of growth and service, is a recognized leader in the community college movement, making important contributions to the profession through partnership, innovation, scholarship, creative services, and integrated technologies. (l) Stewardship means the College is committed to rigorous oversight of the resources entrusted to its care and in ensuring the community’s maximum benefit. (m)Technology means the College believes technology is a critical resource in supporting and achieving the College’s instructional, operational, and strategic goals. I.B.1.05. Biennial Review Every two years, the College’s Board of Trustees may review and, if necessary, revise the Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Value Statements to ensure that they accurately represent the role and scope of a comprehensive public community college district and respond to the changing needs of the College’s constituencies. I.B.1.06. Multicultural Education The College recognizes the increasingly diverse, multicultural nature of a democratic society consisting of age, racial, gender, ethnic, and religious groups whose cultures, values, beliefs, and lifestyles are valuable. To encourage full implementation of the College’s Value Statements, which support dynamic, diverse learning communities and accessible, quality educational programs, the Board declares the following guiding principles for the College: (a) The College fully recognizes individual persons’ rights to learn within frameworks of multicultural experiences to maximize the development of their human potential. (b) The College will promote and support each college’s efforts to design and implement instructional experiences and support services to cultivate a more humane, democratic, and multicultural society. (c) The College will foster instructional and student-life environments which give students a basis to understand and appreciate all individuals’ contributions to our society. I.B.1.07. Operational Philosophy The College and its colleges seek to serve students’ best interests. The College’s system offices are established to help colleges provide student and community services and programs. Matters of curriculum, financial planning, capital investments, and binding financial agreements—including Page 3 of 226 LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT BOARD POLICY MANUAL Fourth Edition contractual appointments—are coordinated College-wide. Colleges operate within Board Policy and the Chancellor’s Procedures to meet the College’s mission and goals. Presidents participate fully in establishing College-wide priorities. Presidents are line officers responsible and accountable to the Chancellor for performance of their duties. The College is a single entity for accreditation and legal purposes. Decisions are made as close as possible to the point where they are carried out. College employees have the responsibility and authority necessary to fulfill their duties as contained in their job descriptions or contracts. Colleges and system offices establish goals and objectives consistent with, and supportive of, College-wide values and goals, as well as action plans to accomplish those goals and objectives. Colleges are responsible for establishing and cultivating positive community relations within their service areas. Resources are allocated to achieve optimal quality levels for all College programs. I.B.1.08. Institutional Effectiveness Plan The College provides quality education throughout its programs and services. The College’s Board of Trustees ensures institutional effectiveness by measuring goal attainment under the College’s Value Statements. This process is integral to the College’s administration and receives the support and consideration it demands. Each College program and administrative area maintains ongoing short- and long- range planning processes which include environmental scanning and input for effective decision making and planning. Each College department’s planning processes develop necessary goals and instructions to identify criteria for measuring success. Each College department continuously monitors and evaluates its performance and achievements. This evaluation process improves the function and the planning process itself. The College is committed to, and complies with, the Criteria of the College Delegate Assembly, either current or as hereafter modified, consistent with policies and procedures of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College. The College understands and agrees that the Commission on Colleges may, at its discretion, make known to any agency or member of the public the nature