Section 6. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION; COMMISSIONER; OTHER EMPLOYEES; APPOINTMENT; SALARIES; POWERS AND DUTIES
There shall be within the executive office of education a department of higher education, in this chapter called the department.
The council shall, whenever a vacancy may occur, by a two-thirds vote of all its voting members, submit to the secretary, for the secretary's approval, a recommended candidate to serve as the commissioner of higher education, in this chapter called the commissioner. The secretary may appoint the recommended candidate as commissioner. If the secretary declines to appoint the candidate, the council shall submit a new candidate for consideration. The secretary may appoint the commissioner only from candidates submitted to the secretary by the council.
The commissioner shall be the executive and administrative head of the department. The commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the council and may be removed by a majority vote of all its members. The commissioner shall not be subject to chapter 31 or to section 9A of chapter 30.
The commissioner shall be the secretary to the council and its chief executive officer and the chief school officer for higher education. The commissioner shall be responsible for carrying out the policies established by the council. The council may delegate its authority or any portion thereof to the commissioner whenever in its judgment such delegation may be necessary or desirable. The commissioner shall exercise any such powers or duties delegated with the full authority of the council in any matter concerning the system of public institutions of higher education subject to the direction and approval of the council.
The commissioner shall devote her full time during business hours to the duties of her office and shall, subject to appropriation, receive such salary as the council may determine. The commissioner may, subject to appropriation, appoint such other employees as she deems necessary to carry out her duties and responsibilities, shall be provided with adequate offices, and may expend sums for other necessary expenses of the department.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth
Chapter 15a - Public Education
Section 3a - Statewide Educational Technology Plan; Goals; Development and Implementation
Section 4 - Board of Higher Education; Membership
Section 5 - Public Institutions of Higher Education System
Section 5a - Governor Foster Furcolo Community Colleges
Section 7 - Mission Statements; Development, Approval and Adoption
Section 7a - Board of Higher Education; Performance Measurement System
Section 9 - Powers and Duties of Council
Section 9a - American Sign Language
Section 9b - Needs-Based Financial Assistance Program; Scholarships; Guidelines
Section 13 - Hefa; Sale or Lease of Buildings, Lands or Other Property; Proceeds
Section 15c - Expenditures and Revenues; Management and Accounting Reporting System
Section 15d - Personnel Administrative Reporting and Information System
Section 15f - Community College Workforce Training Incentive Program
Section 15g - Stackable Credentials
Section 16 - Scholarship Programs; Guidelines
Section 17 - Teaching Learning Corps Program
Section 19 - Tuition and Fee Waiver Program; Guidelines; Annual Report
Section 19a - Student Loan Repayment Program; Guidelines; Expenses for Administration
Section 19b - Teacher Signing Bonus Program; Regulations
Section 19c - Master Teacher Corps Program; Regulations
Section 19d - Scholarship Program Known as Tomorrow's Teachers Program; Guidelines
Section 19e - Principal and Superintendent Recruitment Program
Section 20 - Educational Opportunities Information Center
Section 22 - Board of Trustees of Community Colleges or State Universities; Powers and Duties
Section 22a - Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center; Establishment; Powers and Duties of Board
Section 23 - Board of Trustees; Estimate for Institution's Ordinary Maintenance and Revenues
Section 24 - Board of Trustees; Authorized Purchases
Section 24a - Cooperative Purchasing; Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium
Section 25 - Refusal to Elect and Contract With Blind Teaching Candidates
Section 26 - Summer Sessions; Evening Classes
Section 27 - Dormitories; Nonsmoking Rooms; Rules and Regulations
Section 29 - Definitions; Use of Student Fee Funds for Legislative Agents' Costs
Section 31 - Administrative Expenses; Determination of Qualifying Expenditures
Section 32 - Student Assessment System
Section 33 - Report Assessing Overall Faculty Productivity and Teacher Effectiveness
Section 34 - Benchmark Study of Public Higher Education System
Section 35 - Professional Development Schools Grant Program
Section 38 - Military Recruiters; On-Campus Recruiting
Section 39 - Secondary Education Students Qualified to Enroll in Higher Education Institutions
Section 40 - Optional Retirement System; Providers; Regulations; Participation; Funds
Section 41 - Fees for Approval of Articles or Certificates; Revenue
Section 45 - Establishment and Implementation of Comprehensive Training Program