Governance and Continuity of Bircham International University.

Institutional Integrity, Education Quality, Internal Affairs & Procedures, Administrative Transparency.

 

Bircham International University
Board of Trustees

 

The Board of Trustees of Bircham International University has the mission to review policy implementation and ethical management in order to ensure that student welfare, education quality, administrative transparency, and institutional integrity are preserved at all times. It also guarantees no conflict of interest among ownership, management, academics and students. The Board of Trustees reviews Bircham International University progress, ethics and continuous improvement.

 

Board of Trustees Composition

The Board of Trustees of Bircham International University is composed of four sections devoted to five key areas that ensure the progress, ethics and continuous improvement of the institution: Institutional Integrity area, Education Quality area, Internal Affairs & Procedures area, Administrative Transparency area, and Student Welfare area. Area representatives have the responsibility to review Bircham International University activity and performance. The Board of Trustees must meet at least once a year. The representative of each area should approve the performance of its section. Any area representatives may request a Board of Trustees meeting in order to decide about issues concerning the mission of the Board. Decisions from the Board will be approved by simple majority.

 

Institutional Integrity - More info...

The area of institutional integrity has the mission to review that Bircham International University is in compliance with the applicable laws where it is incorporated, making sure that its distance learning higher education programs and degree granting powers are legitimate. The institution, its management, ownership and staff have the obligation to make public the necessary documents, verification links, and explanations in English language (if applicable) for the review of the legitimacy of Bircham International University. Today, BIU is legally authorized is Spain, Europe, for “non-formal” distance learning higher education (Section 932.2 of “Royal Legislative Decree” No.1175 of 1990) by registration with the Ministry of Economy of Spain, it is supervised by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs of Spain (“Decree on General Education” No.84 of 2004), and exempt from direct regulation by any Ministry of Education, as a non formal education provider. In the USA, BIU is incorporated as a 501c3 non profit organization in the State of Delaware. This area may be best monitored by an external and independent auditor with an international legal scope and background. IVU, Ignita Veritas United, and Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO) advancing human rights, international justice courts and a legal think tank has elected its Magna Carta Bar Chambers to oversee this area. The institutional integrity area representative must be an external entity or individual withholding no conflict of interest with Bircham International University. Changes to this representative may be proposed by any member of the Board of Trustees, and approved by simple majority. The institutional integrity area representative holds 10 votes for any decision making at the Board. This nomination is set for a period of three years, and it is automatically renovated for yearly periods unless otherwise notified by the representative, or suspended by decision of the Board of Trustees.
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Education Quality - More info...

The area of education quality has the mission to review that the academic and learning outcomes of Bircham International University degree programs are achieved. The institution, its management, ownership and staff have the obligation to set up a diverse group of references that ensure education quality from different cultural, geographical, programatic and institutional perspectives. The education quality area representative must review that Bircham International University references are updated, and that a sufficient number of active membership, recognition or accreditation do accomplish the mission of this area. A list of current and former references must be accessible for the review of the Board of Trustees, and should also be made public for the inspection by any person interested in the review of Bircham International University education quality. Entries on this list must provide sufficient explanation, in English language, and provide documentary evidence, and internet verification links when applicable. This area may be best represented by an active professor selected from the Bircham International University academic network. This member must hold a doctorate level degree and be actively involved in BIU academic activities such as program curriculum update or design, and/or student academic work evaluation. This member will be elected from proposed candidates of the BIU academic network by simple majority voting of the Board of Trustees. The educational quality area representative holds 10 votes for any decision making at the Board. This nomination is set for a period of three years, and it is automatically renovated for yearly periods unless otherwise notified by the representative, or suspended by decision of the Board of Trustees.
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Internal Affairs & Procedures - More info...

The area of internal affairs & procedures has the mission to review that the operational policy and procedures of Bircham International University are efficient and consistent with the institution's mission, improvement and progress. Operational policy and procedures are handled only by the full time staff of Bircham International University, consequently the Board of Trustees member representing this area must be a full staff member of BIU with demonstrated knowledge and skills in the use of BIU Database, procedures and policy implementation. The representative of this area will be selected by BIU full time staff by simple majority voting. The appointed representative will also make sure that any decisions from the Board of Trustees take into consideration the prerogatives, interest and welfare of BIU personnel and staff. The internal affairs & procedures area representative holds 10 votes for any decision making at the Board. The member of this area will also have the duty to act as the Board of Trustees Secretary, thus coordinating communications, meetings, discussions and conclusions affecting the different Board members. This nomination is set for a period of three years, and it is automatically renovated for yearly periods unless otherwise notified by the representative, or suspended by decision of the Board of Trustees.

 

Board of Trustees Coordinating Secretary:
Irene Fernandez Montes - support (at) bircham.edu - More info...

 

Administrative Transparency - More info...

The area of administrative transparency has the mission to review that the non profit goals of Bircham International University are preserved. The institution, its management, and ownership have the obligation to set up a scholarship fund every year for the benefit of future students. 100% of profits and donations must be allocated to this scholarship fund. Any decrease in excess of a 20% from the average of the three precedents years in the total amount of the scholarship fund will require an accounting and financial inspection from the Board of Trustees, or a designated auditor. USA GuideStar Platinum seal of administrative transparency for non profit institutions is the best way to proof to the rest of the Board of Trustees that the mission in this area is well accomplished. This area may be represented by the ownership or management of Bircham International University, who are the ones accountable for the institution administrative transparency. The administrative transparency area representative holds 10 votes for any decision making at the Board. This nomination is set for a period of three years, and it is automatically renovated for yearly periods unless otherwise notified by the representative, or suspended by decision of the Board of Trustees.
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Student Welfare - More info...

The area of student welfare has the mission to review that Bircham International University commits to education quality, institutional integrity and administrative transparency. Additionally, representatives of this area will review student progress, satisfaction, and educational goals achievement. The institution, its management, and staff have the obligation to disseminate quality control questionnaires among students, graduates and prospects, and inform of the results to the student welfare area representatives, upon request. Testimony and opinion concerning the Bircham International University educational experience will be made available for review from the Board representatives. Members of this area may be called to mediate in case of any conflict resolution affecting a student or graduate. This area may be best represented by Bircham International University graduates, who have a direct and personal experience of the BIU distance learning higher education process and learning outcome. BIU will communicate when a position for the student welfare area is vacant among BIU graduates. Members for this area must volunteer for participation at the Board of Trustees. Appointed members will be selected according to the following criteria: A total of seven members will constitute the representation of the student welfare area; each member must speak English and represent one cultural and geographical region: North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific; member profiles should provide a balance between different races, gender and creeds, whenever possible. Each member will hold 2 votes, thus the total representation of the student welfare area will hold a total of 14 votes for any decision making at the Board. Each member nomination is set for a period of three years, and it is automatically renovated for yearly periods unless otherwise notified by the representative, or suspended by decision of the Board of Trustees. Today, the nominated members for this area are:

 

Ahmad Khodaverdi Darian (MIDDLE EAST)
Dana Gutierrez Vera Cruz (PACIFIC)
Daniel Scott Janik (NORTH AMERICA)
Hou Hsueh Ni (ASIA)
Javier Alejandro Menéndez Herrera (CENTRAL AMERICA)
Octave Semwaga (AFRICA)
Stavros Kaniklides (EUROPE)

 

 

Board of Trustees Meeting rules

There are 54 total votes for any decision making at the Board of Trustees of Bircham International University. Each representative holds 10 votes, except the student welfare area that accumulates 14 votes. Ownership, staff, academics, students and external audit are represented in this composition, thus ensuring that all perspectives and interests affecting the institution are considered. Any contact or message for the Board of Trustees may be address via any of the BIU offices, specifying clearly that the message is addressed to the Board of Trustees. Direct contact with any member of the Board may also be possible upon request and approval from the board member. Any request that does not fit the mission of the Board of Trustees will be redirected to the corresponding department or staff for answering. Any request that corresponds to the mission of the Board of Trustees will be communicated to the members of the Board, and may be scheduled for discussion in the next meeting, at least once a year, if any of the Board of Trustees members endorses the proposal. Board meetings may be held via network communications. Board members may request an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Trustees at any time for any matter affecting their areas of representation. A 30 days notice will be provided for extraordinary meetings. At least 50% of the voting capacity of the Board must be present for any extraordinary meetings decision to be effective. Non present members have a veto period of 30 days on any decision resulting from extraordinary meetings of Board of Trustees. If the veto right is not enforced, the decision will be accepted and implemented. If the veto exceeds 20% of the Board votes, a new extraordinary meeting of Board of Trustees will be rescheduled for further discussion. At least 70% of the voting capacity of the Board must be present for any rescheduled extraordinary meetings or for the annual Board of Trustees meeting.

 

Governance and Continuity of Bircham International University

The President & CEO of Bircham International University have the obligation to present to the Board of Trustees a governance continuity plan. This plan should include the preparation of at least two candidates to replace the current President & CEO of the institution, provided the fact that they need to be replaced. President & CEO candidates must be approved by the board every annual meeting. The Board of Trustees may cease the current President & CEO if they consider that performance is not ensuring student welfare, education quality, administrative transparency, and institutional integrity, as well as the progress of the institution. The Board of Trustees should also approve any changes in the ownership of Bircham International University. The governance continuity plan should also detail and empower the legal procedures to follow in case of changes in the governance or ownership of the institution.

 

 

Board of Trustees Coordinating Secretary:
Irene Fernandez Montes - support (at) bircham.edu - More info...