3.2.8

The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience and competence to lead the institution. (Qualified administrative/academic officers)

Compliance Judgment

X In compliance Partially compliant Non-compliant

Narrative

Based on evidence from job descriptions and resumes that detail educational backgrounds, credentials, and prior experiences, Francis Marion University administrative and academic officers possess the expertise in their fields to perform their duties competently. Head administrative officers have compiled an average of nearly 15 years of administrative experience working at Francis Marion. Three of the four administrators who serve as vice presidents have master-level degrees and the other vice president holds a doctorate degree. The Provost holds a doctorate degree and previously held the positions of Associate Provost and Department Chair at the University.

Senior-level academic officers (Deans) at Francis Marion have compiled an average of 15 years of experience at the University. All of them served previously as Associate Dean, Interim Dean, or Department Chair. All of the senior-level officers hold terminal degrees in their field.

The Governance Structure

Beneath the chief executive office, the University is organized into eight administrative divisions [1]:

Academic Affairs
Administration
Business Affairs
Development and Foundation
Intercollegiate Athletics
Public Affairs/Communications
Student Affairs
University Attorney.

The organizational chart published in the Faculty Handbook 2016 and on the university website identifies the eight executive-level administrators who lead those divisions and report directly to the President [2]:

Provost
Vice President for Administration
Vice President for Business Affairs
Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the Foundation
Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Director of Athletics
Executive Director of Public Affairs
University Attorney.

The Provost also serves as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The dual role of Provost and Dean meets the approval of faculty. Periodically, the President asks the Provost to review with faculty whether the roles should be combined or separated as seen in the Minutes of a College of Liberal Arts Faculty Meeting [3-scroll down to New Business].

Senior-level academic officers report directly to the Provost and include the following:

Dean of the School of Business
Dean of the School of Education
Dean of the School of Health Sciences
Dean of the Library

Qualifications of Administrative and Academic Officers

Qualifications of head administrators who report directly to the President are presented in Table 1 with links to comprehensive job descriptions and resumes. Table 2 provides linked job descriptions and resumes for senior-level academic officers who report directly to the Provost. Comprehensive Standard 3.9.3 has additional information on qualified staff who work in administrative and academic support offices.

Administrative Officers Who Report Directly to the President
Name	Title	Degree	Professional Experience
Peter King	Provost & Dean of the College of Liberal Arts [4, 5] Provost works toward developing an academic program that meets the needs of all students; ensures qualified faculty and staff are employed; and fosters community and state relationships with the University through engagement in community programs/activities Dean of College of Liberal Arts has the primary responsibility of supervising the teaching, research, and professional service of faculty across 26 undergraduate degree programs and 2 graduate degree programs	Ph.D. (Zoology), North Carolina State University	Peter King has served as Provost & Dean of the College of Liberal Arts since 2016. Prior to becoming Provost, he served as Associate Provost for five years and previous to that he served as Chair of the Biology Department. He has a plethora of published work in his field, a large handful of which are peer-reviewed publications. In 2009, he was named the Harry M. Lightsly, Jr. Visiting Scholar at Hobcaw Barony by The Belle Baruch Foundation [6]
Charlene Wages	Vice President - Administration [7] Oversees the university’s technology, computing and database management services, human resources, inventory, payroll, telecommunications, institutional research, and institutional effectiveness	Ph.D. (Psychology), Georgia State University	Charlene Wages has served as Vice President for Administration since 2005. Previously, she served as Professor of Psychology and Faculty Chair at Francis Marion for 19 years. As a strategic thinker and planner she is responsible for directing all of the administrative functions for Human Resources, Institutional Technology, Institutional Research, and the Counseling and Testing Center. She has extensive knowledge of the rules and regulations promulgated by state and federal agencies (e.g., Department of Labor, Office of Civil Rights) and ensures that the University is in compliance with their mandates. She has served on a statewide Compensation and Classification subcommittee which created a new classification system for positions at higher-education institutions in SC. She understands various models of higher-education governance and has extensive experience in the creation of governance documents and procedures [8].
John Jay Kispert	Vice President - Business Affairs [9] Reviews and ascertains that sufficient financial resources are in place for the University to carry out its mission	M.S. (Management), Salve Regina University M.A. (National Security and Strategic Studies), U.S. Naval War College	John Jay Kispert has served as Vice President for Business Affairs since 2001. Prior to this position he served as Chief of Staff for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice from 1996-2001 and Chief of Staff for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Eastern Recruiting Region, Parris Island, South Carolina. He has comprehensive executive leadership and management experience in the areas of administration, human resources, operations planning, financial planning and budget executive, facilities planning and operations, security planning and operations, public relations, and education and training [10].
Darryl Bridges	Vice President – Development & Executive Director of Foundation [11] Plans, directs, and administers a comprehensive university development program and coordinates all fundraising activities	M.A.E. (Student Personnel Services), Western Kentucky University	Darryl Bridges has served as the Vice President for Development and the Executive Director of the Education Foundation since 2013. Prior to this position, he served as the Vice President for Public and Community Affairs from 2009-2013, the Vice President for Student Affairs from 2006-2009, and as the Dean of Students from 1999-2006. Since beginning his full time career in higher education in 1991, he has been heavily involved in program development, supervision of fundraising efforts, and fiscal oversight [12].
Murray Hartzler	Director of Athletics [13] Supervises activities of the athletics program that include budgeting, recruiting, scouting of opponents, scheduling, use of facilities, team travel, fundraising and promotion	M.A. (Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance), Kent State University	Murray Hartzler has served as athletic director since 2000. He has also been FMU’s head coach for men’s soccer (1994-2006) and women’s soccer (1995-2002). Mr. Hartzler has directed soccer camps and the federally-funded award-winning National Youth Sports Program (annually 600 disadvantage children), and served as intramural director at two institutions [14].
Tucker Mitchell	Executive Director of Public Affairs [15] Responsible for media relations as related to FMU for the purpose of establishing and increasing awareness of the University	B.A. (History), Wake Forest University	Tucker Mitchell has served as Executive Director of Public Affairs since 2013. Prior to this position, Mitchell spent more than 30 years in media as an editor, publisher, writer and owner of and for various media properties in the Southeast. He possesses extensive experience in managing organizations focused on communication, and in effectively planning communication strategy [16].
Teresa Ramey	Vice President – Student Affairs & Dean of Students [17] Provides leadership for the student affairs programs in regard to personnel decisions and budgeting to complement the mission of the University and enrich the lives of students	M.S. (Instructional Development/ Media Specialist), Jacksonville State University	Teresa Ramey has served as Vice President of Student Affairs since 2010 and has been Dean of Students since 2006. Prior to these positions, she also served as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs for a year. She has 29 years of progressive experience in higher education, and was an American College Personnel Association Program Proposal Reviewer from 2005 – 2009 [18].
Jonathan Edwards	General Counsel [19] Provides legal advice and counsel to the President and the University staff and faculty regarding contracts and other legal documents; property acquisitions, labor and employment, and student affairs	J.D. (Law), Charleston School of Law	Jonathan Edwards has served as General Counsel since 2014, where he also teaches Business Law. Prior to this position, he ran his own law practice where he focused on business law, estate planning, and family law. In addition, he was acting attorney for civil settlement negotiations for a local law firm [20].

Table 1. Administrative Officers Who Report Directly to the President: Qualifications & Descriptions

Academic Officers Who Report Directly to the Provost
Name	Title	Degree	Professional Experience
Hari Rajagopalan	Dean - School of Business [21] Primary responsibility of supervising the teaching, research, and professional service of faculty across 10 undergraduate degree programs and the MBA program in the School of Business	Ph.D. (Information Technology), University of North Carolina at Charlotte M.B.A. (Business Administration), University of Delhi	Hari K. Rajagopalan has served as Dean of the School of Business since 2016. Prior to this position, he served as Associate Dean for the year 2015-2016. He has also been the Coordinator for Management and Coordinator for Accreditation for the years 2011 – 2016. He has extensive experience working at teaching, research and service for the University. He has published scholarly articles in journals and books, has conference proceedings in his areas of expertise, and, as Coordinator of Accreditation, headed the successful AACSB accreditation visit in 2015 [22].
Tracy Meetze-Holcombe	Dean - School of Education [23] Primary responsibility of supervising the teaching, research, and professional service of faculty across 8 undergraduate degree programs and 3 graduate degree programs in the School of Education	Ph.D. (Elementary Education), University of South Carolina	Tracy Meetze-Holcombe has served as Associate Dean of the School of Education since 2013. She will assume the role of Dean of the School of Education July 1, 2017. Prior to this position, she served as Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Special Programs and Coordinator of the M.Ed. Instructional Accommodation program for five years. She has experience teaching, advising students, and administrative duties within the School of Education [24].
Ruth Wittmann-Price	Dean - School of Health Sciences [25] Primary responsibility of supervising the teaching, research, and professional service of faculty across 5 undergraduate degree programs and 3 graduate degree programs in the School of Health Sciences	Ph.D. (Nursing Science), Widener University	Ruth A. Wittmann-Price has served as Dean of Health Sciences since July 1, 2017. Prior to this position, she served as Chair, Department of Nursing and Professor of Nursing for 6 years. She has extensive experience working at program development and grant writing [26].
Joyce Durant	Dean - Library [27] Primary responsibility of supervising the teaching, research, and professional service of 9 librarians and 12 paraprofessional support staff for the University Library	M.Ln. (Librarianship), University of South Carolina	Joyce M. Durant has served as Dean of the James A. Rogers Library since January 1, 2010. Prior to this position she has worked at the Rogers Library as Interim Dean, Head of Public Services/Reference Librarian, and Acquisitions Librarian. Mrs. Durant has considerable library work experience with the purchasing of monographs, serials, and electronic resources, and library equipment. She has served the library profession as past president of the South Carolina Library Association [28].

Table 2. Academic Officers Who Report Directly to the Provost: Qualifications & Descriptions

3.2.8 Qualified Administrative/Academic Officers

3.2.8

Compliance Judgment

Narrative

The Governance Structure

Qualifications of Administrative and Academic Officers

Documentation

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