Government of the Faculties

14.       The Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America consists of the members of the corporation, namely, at least sixteen members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (including up to five Cardinals) and other clerics, up to a total of twenty clerics; twenty lay persons (Bylaws I, 1); in addition, the Chancellor and the President of the University are members of the Board during the time they hold office (Bylaws IV, 2). A representative elected by the Schools of Philosophy and Religious Studies participates in meetings without vote (see Bylaws, I, 1).

15.       The Board of Trustees exercises the same rights and responsibilities in relation to the Ecclesiastical Faculties as in relation to the other academic units of the University.

16.              The direction and management of the affairs of the corporation and the control and disposal of its property is vested in the Board of Trustees (Bylaws II, 1), which reserves to itself the ultimate responsibility for governing the University and has the sole responsibility in fiscal matters (Bylaws II, 6). The corporation may not be dissolved nor may any other action be taken with respect to the termination or cessation of the operation of the University except by at least a three‑quarters vote of the full number of the Board of Trustees (Bylaws I, 4).

17.              The Academic Senate, together with the President of the University (Bylaws II, 6), exercises, in relation to the Faculties, the rights and responsibilities attributed to it by the Bylaws (II, 6‑8) and the Constitution of the Academic Senate, which has the same force and effect as the Bylaws (II, 6). It shares with the President of the University the immediate responsibility for the academic governing of the University by establishing, maintaining, supervising, and in general being responsible for the academic policies of the University (Constitution I).

18.              The Faculties are represented in the membership of the Academic Senate by the Deans of the Schools of Philosophy and Religious Studies and by members elected by the Schools of Philosophy and Religious Studies in accord with the Constitution of the Senate (II), including the non‑voting representative to the Board of Trustees also elected by them (see Bylaws I, 1).

19.              The Archbishop of Washington is ex officio the Chancellor of the University (Bylaws VII, 1) and a member of the Board of Trustees (Bylaws IV, 2). He serves as liaison between the University and the Apostolic See and as liaison between the University and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (Bylaws VII, 2).

20. The Chancellor is also the ecclesiastical Ordinary on whom the Faculties depend. Among his responsibilities are the following:[2]

a.         To promote the progress of the Faculties, in themselves 'and in relation to the other Schools of the University, to advance learning and scholarship, and to see that Catholic doctrine is integrally taught and that the statutes and ecclesiastical norms are implemented.

b.         To foster close relationships among all the members of the University community.

         c.         To foster the cooperation of the Faculties with the Archdiocese of Washington, with
                   the other local churches of the United States, and with the Universal Church.

d.         To report to the Congregation for Catholic Education the names of those appointed by the President of the University, after consultation with the respective School, the Dean of the School of Philosophy and Dean of the School of Religious Studies and, after consultation according to procedures adopted by the Academic Senate, the Chairman of the Department of Canon Law and Chairman of the Department of Theology (Bylaws VIII, 2, 3).

e.         Together with the President of the University, to sign diplomas by which academic degrees with canonical effects are conferred upon candidates recommended by the Academic Senate.

f.          To preside at the annual commencement exercises and confer the academic degrees that have canonical as well as civil effects.

          g.         To protect the doctrine and discipline of the Church, a responsibility he exercises in 
                   collaboration with the administration of the University and with the Faculties as a matter 
                   of collective responsibility and in accord with recognized academic procedures.

h.         To inform the Congregation for Catholic Education of important matters affecting the Faculties and to send to the Congregation all required reports after they have been approved by the President of the University.

i.          To transmit to the Congregation the Announcements of the University in which the detailed regulations and descriptions of courses for all canonical degree programs appear, as well as each new edition of all University manuals, handbooks, and other regulations which may affect the canonical degree programs.

21.       The President of the University is elected by the Board of Trustees after a report by a Search Committee, which includes at least three faculty members of the University (Bylaws VII, 1).

22.       The President is the chief executive officer of the University and of the Faculties. He exercises, in relation to them, the rights and responsibilities attributed to him in the Bylaws of the University (Bylaws VIII).

23.       Other officers of administration exercise the rights and responsibilities delegated to them by the President of the University or, on his behalf, by the Executive Vice President.

24.              In matters common to the Faculties and for the making of common rules and regulations under the authority of the Academic Senate, the members of the Faculties may be convened by the President, or, on his behalf, by the Academic Vice President or the Associate Academic Vice President for Graduate Studies.

25.              The Council of the Faculties consists of the Dean of the School of Philosophy, the Chairman of the Department of Canon Law, the Chairman of the Department of Theology, an Ordinary or Associate Professor elected by each of the Faculties, together with the Dean of the School of Religious Studies, in which the Faculties of Canon Law and Theology are located, and the Academic Vice President (or the delegate of the Academic Vice President), who serves as Chairman.

26.       The Council has the responsibility of coordinating the academic programs which have canonical effects and may act in matters common to the Faculties when delegated by the latter.