(a) Relationship between the commission and the governing boards. --

(1) The commission functions as a state-level coordinating board exercising its powers and duties in relation to the governing boards as prescribed by law;

(2) The primary responsibility of the commission is to work collaboratively with the governing boards to research, develop and propose policy that will achieve the established goals, objectives, and priorities set forth in this chapter and chapter eighteen-c of this code; and

(3) The commission has specific powers and duties which include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A) Advocating for public higher education at the state level;

(B) Jointly with the council, implementing the classification and compensation system established by articles seven, eight, nine and nine-a of this chapter; and

(C) Collecting and analyzing data, researching, developing recommendations, and advising the Legislature and the Governor on broad policy initiatives, use of incentive funding, national and regional trends in higher education and issues of resource allocation involving multiple governing boards.

(b) Relationship between the council and the governing boards. -- (1) The council maintains all powers and duties assigned to it by law or rule relating to community and technical colleges as defined in section two, article one of this chapter;

(2) The council functions as a coordinating board for the institutions under its jurisdiction which make up the statewide network of independently-accredited community and technical colleges. In addition to recognizing the authority assigned by law to the council and abiding by rules duly promulgated by the council relating to the community and technical colleges, the governing boards shall exercise their authority and carry out their responsibilities in a manner that is consistent with and complementary to the powers and duties assigned by law or rule to the community and technical colleges or to the council;

(c) The governing boards shall work collaboratively with the commission, the council and their staff to provide all information requested by the commission or the council in an appropriate format and in a timely manner.