It has a mission statement, formally adopted by the governing board and made public, declaring that it is an institution of higher education.

The Enabling Legislation, as adopted in the State of Michigan Constitution, establishes MTU's statement of mission. The University's mission and vision statements are reproduced in a variety of University publications.

• The Board of Control Bylaws, including Enabling Legislation [3.2A]
  
• Undergraduate Catalog 1997-99 [1.3A]
  
• MTU Strategic Plan (1995, 1996) [2.1D1, 2.1D2]
  
• MTU WWW Homepage (http://www.mtu. edu/)

It is a degree-granting institution

MTU grants associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees.

• BID Form F

It has legal authorization to grant its degrees, and it meets all the legal requirements to operate as an institution of higher education wherever it conducts its activities.

The Enabling Legislation authorizes MTU to "confer such degrees and grant such diplomas as are usually conferred and granted by other similar institutions." MTU operates in accordance with Michigan statutes and has statutory authority to grant degrees approved by the Board of Control.

• The Board of Control Bylaws, including Enabling Legislation [3.2A]

It has legal documents to confirm its status: not-for-profit, for-profit or public.

MTU's status as a public institution of higher education is established by the State of Michigan Constitution. The University is considered an "instrumentality of the State of Michigan" by the Internal Revenue Service.

• The Board of Control Bylaws, including Enabling Legislation [3.2A]
• State of MI Sales Tax & Federal Excise Tax-Free Registry # 38 730627 K

It has a governing board that possesses and exercises necessary legal power to establish and review basic policies that govern the institution.

The Enabling Legislation establishes a Board of Control consisting of 8 members with whom control of the University is vested. The Board is autonomous in its exercise of legal power to govern the University.

• The Board of Control Bylaws, including Enabling Legislation [3.2A]

Its governing board includes public members and is sufficiently autonomous from the administration and ownership to assure the integrity of the institution.

As specified in the Enabling Legislation, the Board of Control is appointed by Michigan's Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Michigan Senate. The Board has complete authority for governance of the institution, as stipulated in the Enabling Legislation. The current Board members are:

• Mr. Alton R. Berquist
  Marmen Computing, Inc.
  Menominee, MI 49858
  
• Mr. James B. Henderson
  Detroit Center Tool Inc.
  Detroit, MI 48205
  
• Mr. Martin G. Lagina
  Chartwell Properties, L.L.C.
  Traverse City, MI 49685
• Mr. James A. Mitchell
  Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt & Litton
  Grand Rapids, MI 49546
• Dr. Ruth A. Reck
  Argonne National Laboratory
  Argonne, IL 60439
• Dr. Kenneth E. Rowe
  Calumet, MI 49913
  
• Mr. Robert M. Thompson
  Thompson-McCully Company
  Belleville, MI 48111
• Mr. Claude A. Verbal
  GM Service Parts Operations
  Lansing, MI 48917

• The Board of Control Bylaws, including Enabling Legislation [3.2A]

It has an executive officer designated by the governing board to provide administrative leadership for the institution.

The President is MTU's chief executive officer. The position is established in the Enabling Legislation. The President is selected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Control. The President is responsible for administering the affairs of the institution subject to the policies of the Board.

• Board of Control Policy Manual (2.1 Duties of President; 1.1 Bylaws of the Board of Control) [1.1]

Its governing board authorizes the institution’s affiliation with the Commission.

Board authorization is contained in the minutes of the Board of Control, January 27, 1928.

• Board of Control Meeting Minutes (January 27, 1928)

It employs a faculty that has earned from accredited institutions the degrees appropriate to the level of instruction offered by the institution.

MTU is a doctoral-granting research university. As such, 90% of the tenured and tenure-track faculty hold terminal degrees appropriate to their fields.

• BID Form C

A sufficient number of the faculty are full-time employees of the institution.

In 1996-97, 93% of the faculty were full-time; 92% of the full-time faculty were tenured or tenure track.

• BID Form C

Its faculty has a significant role in developing and evaluating all of the institution's educational programs.

The Constitution of the University Senate, as adopted by the Board of Control, assigns responsibility for all curricular matters to the academic faculty.

• Constitution of the Senate of Michigan Technological University [1.2A]