III.A.1. Fiscal Philosophy

III.A.1.1. Policy

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is responsible for appropriating funds, including local funds, to properly support, maintain, operate, and improve the College. Local funds supporting the College include ad valorem taxes, student tuition and fees, investment and interest income, contributions, grants, and revenue from auxiliary activities. The College operates fiscally within the requirements of the current General Appropriations Act, other federal and state laws, Board policies, and the College administration.

III.A.2. Resource Development

III.A.2.1. Policy

The Office of Resource Development and Administration (“RDA”) facilitates, coordinates, and assists the College to seek and secure external funds from federal, state, and local agencies. RDA is responsible for post-award maintenance including contract execution, post-award agreements preparation and routing, formal application for amendments, and internal checks to ensure grant programs adhere to grant responsibilities.

III.A.2.2. External Funding

Applications and requests for funding from external sources support educational program needs that cannot be met through operational funds; advance the College’s mission, vision, goals and priorities; and must be approved in advance by the college President or appropriate Vice Chancellor.

III.A.2.3. Grant Proposals and Applications

All grant proposals and applications must comply with this Policy Manual and the Chancellor’s procedures, meet one or more College’s identified needs, and support the College’s institutional goals and strategic plan.

All grant applications designate RDA as the point of contact for grant documents, negotiations, and correspondence. Applications also designate the applicable College contact for project operations.

After the General Counsel’s review and approval of the form of the document, the Chancellor or designee signs all grant applications, supporting documentation, and grant contracts on the Board of Trustees’ behalf.

III.A.3. The Lone Star College Foundation

III.A.3.1. Policy

The Lone Star College Foundation (“Foundation”) exclusively supports the College’s philanthropic income and investments. The Foundation is a Texas nonprofit corporation and 501(c)(3) organization exempt from federal income tax. The Foundation is fiscally and organizationally independent from the College and is governed by its own Board of Directors whose members are business, corporate, and community leaders residing or conducting professional endeavors within the College’s service area.

III.A.3.2. Donations

All donations for the College’s benefit are accepted by the Foundation, which has sole authority to accept gifts for the College. Donated money or other property, and income therefrom, is spent in any legally authorized manner. If a donor restricts how his or her donation may be used, the Foundation will either honor the restriction or reject the donation. Donors should communicate any restrictions on donated funds or other property before the Foundation accepts the donation.

The Foundation’s criteria for philanthropic gifts require that the donor: (a) Intend to make a charitable contribution; (b) Transfer the gift irrevocably; (c) Not receive any goods or services in exchange for the gift; and (d) Comply with all relevant state and federal laws.

Monetary donations from private sources are processed through the Foundation and follow the Foundation’s applicable processes.

III.A.3.3. Relationship between Foundation and College

The Chancellor or designee adopts rules to govern the relationship between the Foundation and the College including the:

(a)   Administration and investment of funds the Foundation receives for the College’s benefit;

(b)  Foundation’s use of College employees or property;

(c)   Service by a College officer or employee as an officer or director of the Foundation; and

(d)  Monetary enrichment of a College officer or employee by the Foundation.

The Chancellor or designee reports gifts and donations quarterly to the Board, including the corresponding donors, values, forms, and restrictions.

LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on February 2, 2017