Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.24
Liaison Jen Maxwell
Submission Date June 10, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Appalachian State University
PA-3: Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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Do all enrolled students, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives)?:
Yes

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A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The Student Government Association is a group of passionate individuals that serve Appalachian State University. Their aim is to be the student voice and the student change on campus. They are an organization that exists for the good of this school, and they invite anyone to participate. Students may participate by completing a petition form with 25 student constituent signatures and request a seat on the Senate. The SGA office encourages students to come and share ideas representatives or to get more involved.

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Is there at least one student representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative student body or organization?:
Yes

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A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The student body president and and vice president are elected by a direct vote from the student body annually. Appalachian State's Board of Trustees, the highest level of institutional authority, includes student body president as an ex officio member with full voice and voting rights. (http://chancellor.appstate.edu/board-of-trustees/)

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Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
Yes or No
Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals Yes
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources Yes
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning Yes
Communications processes and transparency practices Yes
Prioritization of programs and projects No

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A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Appalachian State's Board of Trustees' meeting minutes record attendance and voting decisions made by the board. Below are excerpts from 2014 minutes in which the current, or former student body both attended and voted: Organizational Mission, Vision, and/or goals- Student member on Board voted on approval of Strategic Plan for 2014-2019. Meeting Minutes March 28, 2014 New Policies, Programs, or Initiatives - Student member on Board voted on the faculty handbook revisions. Meeting minutes June 27, 2014 Strategic and Long-term Planning - Student member on Board voted on approval of Strategic Plan for 2014-2019. Meeting Minutes March 28, 2014 Existing or Prospective Physical Resources - Student member on Board voted on the Transfer of land from the Department of Corrections. Meeting Minutes June 27, 2014 Budgeting, Staffing, and Financial Planning - Student member on Board voted on the new officer installation on board of trustees. Sept 26, 2014 minutes Budgeting, Staffing, and Financial Planning - Student member on Board voted on the the action to write-off un-collectible accounts. Meeting Minutes June 27, 2014 Communication, Processes ,and Transparency Practices - Student member on Board voted on the 2014-15 Audit Plan as recommended by the Audit Committee. Sept 26, 2014 minutes

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Do all staff, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives)?:
Yes

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A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
Staff Senate membership is open to all permanent SPA or EPA Non-Faculty full-time or part-time employees. Each Department and organization are allowed a number of Senators and Alternates. (http://staffsenate.appstate.edu/)

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Is there at least one non-supervisory staff representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative staff body or organization?:
Yes

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A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The presidents of Appalachian's Alumni Council, Faculty Senate and Staff Senate serve as ex officio members of the Board of Trustees with full voice and voting rights.

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Do non-supervisory staff have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following? :
Yes or No
Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals Yes
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources Yes
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning Yes
Communications processes and transparency practices Yes
Prioritization of programs and projects No

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A brief description of the formal staff role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Current and former Staff Senate Presidents attended and voted at the same board of trustees meetings listed above in minute excerpts.

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Do all faculty, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives)?:
Yes

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A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The purpose of the Faculty Senate is to serve as the instrument through which the faculty of Appalachian State University considers and acts on university matters. To this end, the Faculty Senate participates in the formation, implementation, and review of university policy. The Faculty Senate shall consist of one member from each academic department, school, the library, and five at-large representatives. Any unit may choose not to fill its senate seat, in which case the seat will remain empty for that academic year. No Senator may serve more than two full terms consecutively. The normally designated term of office for Faculty Senate members is three years. Terms of members will be staggered so that one-third of the Senate are elected each year. (http://facsen.appstate.edu/)

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Is there at least one teaching or research faculty representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative faculty body or organization?:
Yes

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A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The presidents of Appalachian's Alumni Council, Faculty Senate and Staff Senate serve as ex officio members of the Board of Trustees with full voice and voting rights.

None
Do faculty have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
Yes or No
Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals Yes
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources Yes
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning Yes
Communications processes and transparency practices Yes
Prioritization of programs and projects No

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A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Current and former Faculty Senate Presidents attended and voted at the same board of trustees meetings listed above in minute excerpts.

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The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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