Boston University
PA-3: Governance

Part 1 

Institution’s students participate in governance in one or more of the following ways: 

A. 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) 

B. There is at least one student representative on the institution’s governing body. To count, student representatives must be elected by their peers or appointed by a representative student body or organization. 

And/or 

C. Students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to one or more of the following: 

• Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals 
• Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives 
• Strategic and long-term planning 
• Existing or prospective physical resources 
• Budgeting, staffing and financial planning 
• Communications processes and transparency practices 
• Prioritization of programs and projects 

Part 2 

Institution’s staff participate in governance in one or more of the following ways: 

A. All staff members, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives) 

B. There is at least one non-supervisory staff representative on the institution’s governing body. To count, staff representatives must be elected by their peers or appointed by a representative staff body or organization. 

And/or 

C. Non-supervisory staff have a formal role in decision-making in regard to one or more of the areas outlined in Part 1.

Part 3 

Institution’s faculty participate in governance in one or more of the following ways: 

A. All faculty members, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives) 

B. There is at least one teaching or research faculty representative on the institution’s governing body. To count, faculty representatives must be elected by their peers or appointed by a representative faculty body or organization. 

And/or 

C. Faculty have a formal role in decision-making in regard to one or more of the areas outlined in Part 1.

Participatory or shared governance bodies, structures and/or mechanisms may be managed by the institution (e.g. committees, councils, senates), by stakeholder groups (e.g. student, faculty and staff committees/organizations), or jointly (e.g. union/management structures). 

Structures or mechanisms adopted by entities of which the institution is part (e.g. government or university system) may count for this credit as long as they apply and are adhered to by the institution. 

This credit applies to all institutions.

Each part is scored independently. Points for each part are awarded as follows: 

Part 1 

Institutions earn the maximum of 1 point available for Part 1 of this credit by fully meeting two of the three criteria listed for students. Partial points are available as follows: 

A. 0.5 points are awarded when all 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) 

B. 0.5 points are awarded when there is 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 

C. 0.1 points are awarded for each of the following areas in which students have a formal role in decision-making, up to a maximum of 0.5 points: 

• Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals 
• Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives 
• Strategic and long-term planning 
• Existing or prospective physical resources 
• Budgeting, staffing and financial planning 
• Communications processes and transparency practices 
• Prioritization of programs and projects 

For example, an institution for which all enrolled students, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies would earn 0.5 points (half of the points available for Part 1). 

Part 2 

Institutions earn the maximum of 1 point available for Part 2 of this credit by fully meeting two of the three criteria listed for staff. Partial points are available as follows: 

A. 0.5 points are awarded when 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) 

B. 0.5 points are awarded when there is 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 

C. 0.1 points are awarded for each area (outlined in Part 1) in which when non-supervisory staff have a formal role in decision-making, up to a maximum of 0.5 points. 

For example, an institution for which all staff, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies would earn 0.5 points (half of the points available for Part 2). 

Part 3 

Institutions earn the maximum of 1 point available for Part 3 of this credit by fully meeting two of the three criteria listed for faculty. Partial points are available as follows: 

A. 0.5 points are awarded when 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) 

B. 0.5 points are awarded when there is at least one faculty representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative faculty body or organization 

C. 0.1 points are awarded for each area (outlined in Part 1) in which faculty have a formal role in decision-making, up to a maximum of 0.5 points 

For example, an institution for which all faculty, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies would earn 0.5 points (half of the points available for Part 3). 

Timeframe

Report on current policies and procedures and activities during the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission. 

Sampling and Data Standards

Not applicable