Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1980 )

The Attorney General of Texas August 1, 1980 MARK WHITE Attorney General Honorable Gibson D. (Gib) Lewis Opinion No. MW-214 Chairman Committee on Intergovernmental Re: Authority of the Board of Affairs Regents of North Texas State House of Representatives University to designate the chief Austin, Texas executive officer of the University as chancellor Dear Representative Lewis: You have requested our opinion regarding the authority of the Board of Regents of North Texas State University to designate the chief executive officer of the university as chancellor. Section 105.74 of the Education Code provides: The chief executive officer of the university shall serve as chief executive officer of the college of osteopathic medicine. The title to be conferred on the chief executive officer is not fixed by statute. The Board of Regents of North Texas State University has: [w] ith respect to the management and control of the university . . . the same powers and duties that are conferred on the Board of Regents, State Senior Colleges, with respect to institutions in that system. Education Code S105.41. The Board of Regents, State Senior Colleges, “is responsible for the general control and management of the universities in the system,” and, pursuant to such authority, it may: employ and discharge presidents or principals, teachers, treasurers, and other employees. Education Code 595.21. (Emphasis added). P. 684 Honorable Gibson D. (Gib) Lewis - Page Two (MW-214) In Attorney General Opinion MW-64 (1979), we said that the Coordinating Board and a board of regents were prohibited from changing the statutorily established name of an institution. In the present instance, however, the chief executive officer has no statutorily established title. As a result, we believe that the Board of Regents, acting under its general authority to employ officials, may designate its chief executive officer as chancellor, so long as that individual is the chief executive officer of both North Texas State University and the College of Osteopathic Medicine. SUMMARY The Board of Regents of North Texas State University may validly designate the chief executive officer of the university as chancellor. Attorney General of Texas JOHN W. FAINTER, JR. First Assistant Attorney General Prepared by Rick Gilpin Assistant Attorney General APPROVED: OPINION COMMITTEE C. Robert Heath, Chairman Jon Bible Susan Garrison Rick Gilpin Ann Kraatz P. 685