The authority of the Board of Trustees is specified under RCW 28B.50.140. The framework by which the Board of Trustees carries out its authority is through leadership of establishing and giving visibility to the mission of the college, employing a chief executive officer, establishing appropriate policies of governance and operation, assessing outcomes and serving as advocates of the institution. Thus, the Board of Trustees sets the "vision" for the college and the "ends" to be achieved for the community and the state. The "means" or methods used to achieve the ends are delegated to the chief executive officer, the president.
The Board of Trustees, under RCW 28B.10.528 reserves unto itself the following authority (unless specifically delegated in particular instances by definite resolution passed by the Board):
A. To organize, administer and conduct the business of the Board of Trustees including the following responsibilities:
1. Establish and maintain college mission, goal and objectives statements to guide the administration of the college and to monitor their implementation.
2. Develop, with the college staff, the long-range strategic plans for the college.
3. Develop and maintain a Board policy manual to guide the administration of the college.
4. Serve as an advocate for the college with the general public and other levels of government.
5. Establish the college’s legislative action program and work with the president to develop support from all segments of the college community.
6. Evaluate institutional, presidential and Board performance.
B. To employ a college president and set his/her salary and the terms and conditions of his/her employment.
C. To authorize any additional or new positions at the vice president level.
D. To approve and execute negotiated agreements with bargaining units.
E. To award and deny tenure and dismiss and/or lay off faculty members.
F. To approve the annual college operating budget and authorize submittal of the capital budget request to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
G. To approve revisions or reductions to the adopted budget involving a transfer of $250,000 or more from one object to another or additions of $250,000 to an object.
H. To authorize grant requests or contract funding proposals in excess of $1,000,000. Should funding opportunities and timelines occur between regular Board meetings, the president is authorized to submit proposals for conditional funding upon confirmation at the following Board meeting.
I. To authorize requests to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges for the purchase of long-term lease (for two years or more) of real property and leases involving new programs or new locations.
J. To enter into agreements with public agencies pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act (Chapter 39.34 RCW).
K. To enter into expense contracts in excess of $500,000 and revenue contracts in excess of $6,000,000 for Corporate & Continuing Education (CCE).
L. To accept grants, conveyances, devices, of real or personal property from private sources valued in excess of $200,000.
M. To establish dormitories, food service facilities, bookstores, center for the arts, and other self-supporting facilities.
N. To borrow money and issue and sell revenue bonds or other evidences of indebtedness.
O. To approve the initiation or the discontinuation of educational programs of study that lead to the award of a degree and/or a certificate of completion of more than 19 credits.
P. To retain the responsibility for the expenditure of state funds by the college and its agents and employees.
Q. To adopt, amend or repeal rules pursuant to the Student Achievement Council (Title 250 WAC: Student Achievement Council).
R. To exercise all authority expressly reserved to the Board of Trustees in rules which have been or are hereafter adopted or amended by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Student Achievement Council (Title 250 WAC: Student Achievement Council).
S. To retain all authority which may be hereafter delegated to the Board of Trustees by the Legislature of the State of Washington, unless such authority is expressly delegated to the president or his designee.