| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.71 |
| Liaison | Keisha Payson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bowdoin College
PA-3: Participatory Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.75 / 3.00 |
Keisha
Payson Sustainability Director Sustainable Bowdoin |
Do the institution’s students have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a student council)? :
Do the institution’s students have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which students are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
Students can run for elected positions on the Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) or its Class Councils. A number of representative positions are also available to students through interviewed appointments. Presidents of the four class councils sit in the BSG General Assembly. BSG members also participate in committees with faculty and staff to address 6 key issues; 1. academic affairs, 2. student affairs, 3. facilities & sustainability, 4. diversity & inclusion, 5. treasury and 6. student organizations. These committees have the power to create significant institutional change such as designating new bathrooms as gender neutral or changing course requirements for graduation. The BSG President regularly meets with the College President.
Members of the Bowdoin Student Government are represented on trustee committees such as the Academic Affairs Committee, Beyond Bowdoin Committee, Committee on Inclusion, Resources Committee, and the alumni council. The President and Vice President of the BSG are elected by their peers to participate in meetings of the Board of Trustees. They attend the full board meetings, acting as the voice of the student body but do not get a vote.
Do the institution’s staff members have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a staff council)?:
Do the institution’s non-supervisory staff members have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which staff are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
Bowdoin College has a Support Staff Advisory Committee (SSAC) which is a standing committee of the College that serves as a resource for support staff by facilitating open lines of communication between the administration and staff. The Committee is made up of support staff who have volunteered or been
recommended for up to a three-year term. The SSAC meets monthly and endeavors to keep abreast of College work-life issues that may affect support staff, propose ways that it can be improved in all areas, and reach out as needed with staff to share related information. The Bowdoin Administrative Steering Committee (BAS) includes any benefits eligible, salaried employee within the Bowdoin Community. BAS provides a forum for the discussion of issues of mutual interest and concern and fosters collegiality among administrative officers of the College. BAS seeks to promote a voice that is representative of its members, encouraging regular communications with the senior officers, faculty, and support staff of the College and wider participation in College affairs. At least two support and two administrative staff members are represented on college committees such as the Chemical Hygiene, Benefits Advisory, and Student Fellowships Committees. Each committee has at least two support staff and two administrative staff participants. Some staff also sit on Bowdoin Student Government and Faculty committees. Finally, staff can impact safety policy through the Campus Safety Committee.
Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a faculty senate)?:
Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body? :
A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which teaching and research faculty are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
Faculty have monthly general meetings and a committee on governance of faculty affairs (GFA) which works like an executive governance body. Faculty have elected committees that work on issues such as curricular affairs, college life, misconduct etc. which also have student representation.
Faculty are represented on trustee committees such as the Academic Affairs Committee, Beyond Bowdoin Committee, Committee on Inclusion, Resources Committee, and the alumni council. Two faculty representatives are elected by their peers to participate in meetings of the Board of Trustees. They attend the full board meetings, acting as the voice of the faculty but do not get a vote.
Does the institution have written policies and procedures to identify and engage external stakeholders (i.e. local residents) in land use planning, capital investment projects, and other institutional decisions that affect the community?:
A copy of the written policies and procedures:
The policies and procedures:
Does the institution have formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which community members representing the interests of the following stakeholder groups can regularly participate in institutional governance?:
| Yes or No | |
| Local government and/or educational organizations | No |
| Private sector organizations | No |
| Civil society (e.g. NGOs, NPOs) | No |
A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which external stakeholders are engaged in institutional governance (including information about each stakeholder group selected above):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.