University Policies and Procedures Manual

UPPM 01.07

For more information contact:
   Board of Regents
   509-335-4200 / regents@wsu.edu

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1.0     Overview and Purpose

It is the policy of the WSU Board of Regents (Board) to ensure continuity of executive leadership in the event the President becomes unable to execute the duties of the office due to illness, incapacity, unanticipated absence, or other emergency conditions.

The Board is vested with full authority to manage the assets and affairs of the University under state law and may delegate powers and duties to the President or designee. The President serves as the chief executive officer of the University under the Bylaws.

This policy establishes temporary and interim procedures to maintain University operations until the Board determines long-term leadership through formal action. The policy also protects continuity of leadership by restricting group travel for executive leadership.

2.0    Applicability

This policy applies when the President, in the determination of the Chair of the Board (or Vice Chair, if the Chair is unavailable), in consultation with the University’s executive vice presidents and the WSU AGO Division Chief/Senior Assistant Attorney General, is unable to perform, or is significantly constrained from performing, the duties of office for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Medical incapacity;
• Death;
• Removal or recusal from duties pending investigation, disciplinary action, legal action, or related circumstance;
• Sudden or unanticipated absence; 
• Any circumstance in which the President is unable to discharge required duties.

3.0    Authority Reserved by the Board

Consistent with UPPM 01.02, the Board retains ultimate authority over:

• Selecting or appointing an Interim President;
• Modifying, suspending, or rescinding delegations of authority; and
• Intervening in any matter as it deems necessary or proper to further the best interests of the University

Board actions must comply with open public meeting requirements, as well as quorum and voting requirements in the Board Bylaws.

4.0   Temporary Continuity of Leadership (Prior to Board Action)

This section governs University leadership only until the Board acts to appoint an Acting or Interim President (Interim President). This temporary authority is limited to maintaining essential University functions and remains in place only until the Board takes action.

Temporary operational authority shall be exercised in the following order:

1. Provost and Executive Vice President (EVP)
2. EVP for Finance and Operations
3. EVP for WSU Statewide Campuses

5.0    Board Action to Appoint an Interim President

5.1      Meeting Requirements

Upon confirmation that the President is unable to perform the duties of office, the Chair of the Board shall, in consultation with the WSU Division Chief/Senior Assistant Attorney General:

• Call a special meeting with not less than 24-hour notice, specifying the business to be transacted, in accordance with open meeting requirements; or
• Place the item on the agenda for the next regular Board meeting; or
• In emergency matters or when a quorum of Board members cannot be met, the Board’s Executive Committee may take action on behalf of the Board as permitted by the Board’s Bylaws.

5.2     Appointment

At the meeting, the Board may appoint:

• An Interim President to serve on a short-term basis; or
• An Interim President to serve until a permanent appointment is made.

Unless expressly limited by the Board, the Interim President exercises the full authority of the President as provided in:

• Article IV.2 of the Board Bylaws; and
• UPPM 01.02 (authority delegated to the President or designee)

6.0    Appointment of an Interim EVP when an EVP Becomes Interim President

6.1      Default Authority

Under Article IV of the Bylaws, the President is the delegated authority to appoint the other officers of the University.

Under UPPM 01.02, broad operational authority is delegated to the President or designee unless explicitly reserved by the Board.

Therefore, when an EVP is appointed Interim President by the Board, that individual inherits the President’s appointment authority, including the authority to appoint their interim replacement, unless the Board expressly reserves that authority in its action.

This default authority does not apply during the period of temporary operational authority under Section 4.0.

6.2     Board Reservation Option

In the motion or resolution appointing an EVP as Interim President, the Board may:

• Retain the authority to appoint the interim EVP’s interim replacement itself; or
• Direct the Interim President to present a candidate for Board approval.
  • A candidate must be presented at a special meeting or the next regular meeting of the Board.

7.0    Executive Travel Restriction

To ensure continuity of University leadership, the President and the individuals listed in Section 4.0 may not all travel in the same aircraft, watercraft, taxi (or ride share), or rental, motor pool, or personal vehicle. At least one of these individuals must travel separately from the others at all times.

8.0   Policy Review

This policy shall be reviewed annually.

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Revisions:  Oct. 2026 (Rev. 659 – NEW).