Policy Statement

This policy serves as the official delegation of authority and responsibility to designated Vice Presidents to assume the duties of the President when the President is temporarily unable or unavailable to perform their duties.

Reason for Policy

The primary purpose of this policy is to clarify authority and decision-making, and to ensure continuity in the operations of the College when the President is temporarily unable or unavailable to perform their duties. This policy further designates certain Vice President positions to learn, experience, and assume the duties of the President during a temporary absence.

To Whom Does the Policy Apply

The Board of Trustees, the President, and the Vice Presidents.

Related Documents

Procedure 205: President’s Temporary/Emergency Succession

Ramapo College Emergency Preparedness Plan

Contacts

Office of the President

Date Adopted: 9/23/19

Date Revised: 7/1/2022

When the President is away from campus, the operation of the College should proceed as usual with each Vice President exercising responsibility for those areas under their control. In the event a situation arises where action or decision is required of the type normally made by the President, a Vice President, as per the President’s Temporary/Emergency Succession Plan, is granted the authority to act on behalf of the President.

I. The President’s Temporary Absence/Emergency Succession Plan
a. Planned Absence
In advance of the President’s planned absence, the President or their designee will notify the Chair of the Board, members of the President’s Senior Leadership Team, Public Safety, and the Director of Facilities/Critical Infrastructure, of the following:

▪ duration of the President’s planned absence; and
▪ designation and/or rotation of the Vice President(s) in charge during the planned absence.

During the absence, the Vice President who is assuming the duties of the President is authorized to reallocate any portion of or all of their existing responsibilities to others in order to accommodate the assumption of the President’s duties.

During the absence, the Vice President who is assuming the duties of the President shall be allocated the counsel and support of the President’s Office staff.

b. Unplanned Absence
In the event of an unplanned absence in which the President is unable to specifically designate the Vice President that will act in their stead, the Chief of Staff will temporarily assume the duties of the President pending the Executive/Judicial Committee’s appointment of a Vice President to serve as Interim President pursuant to the Committee’s authority to take action on behalf of the Board of Trustees on any emergent matter requiring an immediate decision between regularly scheduled Board meetings.

In such event, the Chief of Staff will notify the Chair of the Board, senior leadership team, Public Safety, and the Director of
Facilities/Critical Infrastructure, of:

• the President’s unplanned absence,
• the temporary assumption of presidential duties by the Chief of Staff pending the appointment of an Interim President by the Executive/Judicial Committee, and
• the Executive/Judicial Committee’s actual appointment of the Vice President who will serve as Interim President.

During the unplanned absence, the Vice President who is assuming the duties of the President is authorized to reallocate any portion of or all of their existing responsibilities to other College employees in order to accommodate the assumption of the President’s duties.

During the unplanned absence, the Vice President who is assuming the duties of the President shall be allocated the counsel and support of the President’s Office staff.