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UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION
The University of California (University) was chartered in 1868 by the Constitution of the State of California; classes began in Oakland one year later. Today, with its nine campuses, four laboratories, a Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and numerous other units and affiliated institutions, the University is considered one of the largest and most renowned centers of higher education in the world.
This chapter outlines the University's basic organizational structure and lines of authority for governance and facilities management, and briefly discusses the preparation of Regents' materials.
(See RD1.1, University Governance and Organization Chart.)
3.1 UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE
Governance of the University is entrusted to the Board of Regents (The Regents). The Regents appoint the President of the University and, with the President's advice, the officers of the University. Among these officers are the Senior Vice Presidents, other Vice Presidents, the Chancellors, and the Laboratory Directors. The Regents also appoint their own principal officers: the General Counsel, the Treasurer, and the Secretary.
3.1.1 The Regents
The Regents' role is similar to that of the board of directors of a large corporation, responsible in this case for governing and setting policy for the University.
Members. The Regents consist of 26 members: 18 each appointed by the Governor of California to a 12-year term; one student appointed by The Regents to a one-year term; and seven ex-officio members (the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the University, and the President and Vice President of the Alumni Associations of the University). In the history of the University, more than 400 people have held the position of Regent.
Although the Governor is officially the President of The Regents, in practice, The Regents' Chairperson is the presiding officer. Both the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson are elected from among The Regents' membership to a one-year term.
Committees. The Regents operate through seven standing committees: Audit, Educational Policy, Finance, Grounds and Buildings, Hospital Governance, Investments, and Oversight of Department of Energy Laboratories. There are also a varying number of subcommittees and special committees.
Meetings. The Regents hold seven, two-day meetings and two, one-day meetings each year. Standing and special committees meet as required, usually on the day preceding The Regents' meetings.
Authority. The Regents have the basic authority for governing the physical planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the University's facilities. This authority is set forth in the Bylaws of The Regents.
The Regents have delegated much operational authority to the University President, and have delegated some authority to University faculty in matters related to academic programs.
With few exceptions, all matters requiring Regental action are first considered by the appropriate Regents' committee, which has authority only to recommend or report to The Regents.
3.1.2 The President
The President of the University is an ex-officio Regent and an officer of the University who is responsible to The Regents.
Authority. Authority in facilities-related matters is delegated by The Regents to the President. The President can therefore determine facilities-related policy for the University. Duties of the President are listed in the Standing Orders of The Regents.
Office of the President. The Office of the President is composed of the President, the President's staff, and the Senior Vice Presidents, other Vice Presidents, and their respective staffs.
3.2 UNIVERSITY FACILITIES
Within the Facilities Manual, the proper name Facility is given to any University campus, laboratory, unit of the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, or location of any other administrative unit. The common term facility refers to a building, structure, site or ground improvement, or other item built or installed to serve the University's mission of providing academic, scientific, and public service.
3.2.1 Campuses
Each of the nine University campuses is managed by a Chancellor who is an officer of the University and is responsible to the President. The nine campuses are Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.
Authority. Authority in facilities-related matters is delegated by the President to each of the nine Chancellors. Each Chancellor determines policy for the campus.
Office of the Chancellor. The Office of the Chancellor is composed of the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellors, the Directors of University Hospitals, and their respective staffs. The Vice Chancellors and Directors report directly to the Chancellor and indirectly to the President through the Chancellor. Normally, one Vice Chancellor is assigned duties in facilities-related matters.
3.2.2 Government Laboratories
Three Department of Energy laboratories are managed by the University: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Los Alamos (New Mexico) National Laboratory. Each laboratory is managed by a Director who is an officer of the University and is responsible to the President.
Authority. Authority in facilities-related matters is delegated by the President to the Laboratory Directors. Each Director determines policy for the laboratory.
Office of the Director. The Office of the Director is composed of the Director, the Director's staff, and the Deputy Directors and their staffs. The Deputy Directors are officers of the University who report directly to the Director and indirectly to the President through the Director. Normally, one Deputy Director is assigned duties in facilities-related matters.
3.2.3 Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
The Office of the Vice President Agriculture and Natural Resources (VP A&NR) resides within the Office of the President. The VP A&NR is usually delegated authority in facilities-related matters and manages the facilities program from an office on the Davis campus.
3.2.4 Other Administrative Units
Certain University units such as the University of California Press, University Extension, and the Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences have not been delegated authority in facilities-related matters. These functions are normally performed by the facilities management department at the Facility where each unit is located.
3.2.5 Affiliated Units
The Hastings College of the Law and the San Francisco Art Institute are affiliated with the University but are not subject to University policies and procedures regarding facilities-related matters.
3.3 PREPARATION OF REGENTS' MATERIALS
Within the Office of the President, Coordination & Review publishes and updates the Guide to the Preparation of Regents' Materials. Facilities should use this guide when preparing agenda items or other materials for The Regents such as Interim Authority items and Emergency Authority items. Copies of the guide have been distributed to the Vice Presidents, the Chancellors, and the Laboratory Directors. Regents' Coordinators at each Facility are available to assist in the preparation of Regents' materials.
Approval of Building Design. (See FM3[I] for guidelines on preparing Regents' items regarding the approval of a building design.)
Regents' Agenda Items. The Treasurer, General Counsel, and Secretary of The Regents prepare their own agenda items which the Secretary assembles and mails. Coordination & Review prepares all other items, duplicates them in the proper quantities and in the proper color, and forwards them to the Secretary for mailing as the President's portion of the agenda.
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