The president of the university shall be president of the general faculty and of the faculties of the several colleges and departments thereof, and the executive head of the university in all its departments. Subject to the authority vested by this chapter in the board of Governors, he shall give general direction to the administrative affairs and to the scientific investigations of the university and of its several departments; and, subject to the orders of the board, he shall have authority, in the recess of the board, to remove any employee or subordinate officer, who is not a member of the faculty, and fill for the time any vacancy that may occur by such removal or otherwise.