Self-Study Design - Howard University, Graduate School

Scope of Work and Objectives.
This scope of work covers the gathering of data to assess whether Howard University’s system
of governance clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and
decision-making. The work group will also assess the governing body’s degree of autonomy to
ensure its institutional integrity and its responsibility toward policy and resource development,
consistent with Howard’s mission. To work efficiently and to assure corroboration of both
quantitative and non-quantitative data, the work group will work collaboratively with other work
groups. It has been determined that at a minimum there are three other work groups with whom
this work group will be involved:
• Standard 2 Work Group to assess how the governance structure is involved in the
University’s planning process
• Standard 5 Work Group to examine how administrative structures interact with
governance structures to support the institutional mission
• Standard 7 Work Group to examine how assessment is used to guide the leadership and
governance structures
Major Research Questions.
1. Does Howard University have a well-defined system of collegial governance including
written policies outlining governance responsibilities of administration and faculty and
readily available to the campus community?
2. How well does the governing body function in practice?
3. Does Howard University possess written governing documents, such as a constitution,
by-laws, enabling legislation, charter, or other similar documents that delineate the
governance structure, provide for collegial governance, and assign authority and
accountability for policy development and decision-making?
4. Does Howard University provide appropriate opportunity for student input regarding
decisions that affect them?
5. Does the University’s governing body fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to a level that
will ensure the University’s continued compliance with the accreditation standards of the
Middle States Commission?
6. Does the University’s governing body reflect constituent and public interest and is it of
an appropriate size to fulfill all of its responsibilities?
7. How does the governing body certify to the Commission that the University complies
with eligibility requirements, accreditation standards, and policies of the Commission?
8. Does the Howard University governing body assist in generating resources needed to
sustain and improve the University?
9. What manner of conflict of interest policies are in place for the governing body to
address matters such as remuneration, contractual relationships, employment, family, or
financial interests that could interfere with the duties of the governing body?
10. What is the nature and extent of faculty input into policy decisions that may affect them?
These key questions contain within them numerous sub-levels of inquiry. Throughout the
inquiry, the work group will focus on both policy and practice to determine whether practice is
always aligned with stated policy.
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