Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.49
Liaison Julia Angstmann
Submission Date Dec. 20, 2021

STARS v2.2

Butler University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.12 / 3.00 Katie Palmer
Office Administrator
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Shared governance bodies

Does the institution have formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which the following stakeholders can regularly participate in the governance of the institution?:
Yes or No
Students Yes
Academic staff Yes
Non-academic staff Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal participatory or shared governance bodies:
The Executive Council serves as an advisory board for the President. Individuals on the board include University leaders, including division vice presidents and college deans.

The Butler University Student Government Association (SGA) is committed to improving the student experience. By representing the student body, supporting the over 150 student organizations, addressing student concerns, and implementing meaningful initiatives, we aim to fulfill this vision. SGA provides a platform for student involvement. As the voice of the students to university leaders, we pride ourselves on a strong relationship with the faculty, staff, and administration who help to solve student concerns and act on suggestions. https://butlersga.org/

Staff Assembly was created in February 2001 to enhance the work environment and represent the interests and concerns of staff in the overall governance structure of the University. Staff Assembly is composed of a 12-member Executive Committee and six standing committees. Over 50 staff members are actively involved with Staff Assembly on either the Executive Committee or one of the six standing committees. Staff is the second largest constituent group on campus with over 700 people working in a staff position. https://blogs.butler.edu/staffassembly/about-us/

The Faculty Senate is composed of elected representatives from each of the colleges and the library. According to the Constitution of the Faculty Senate: “The faculty is the professional body of the University primarily responsible for educational policies, faculty productivity, curriculum, and instructional practices. The Faculty Senate is the forum and deliberative body for the expression of the faculty’s recommendations regarding these matters. Faculty Senate also has interests in the economic welfare of the institution and in protecting the rights and interests of the faculty” (Article II, Section 1).
https://www.butler.edu/academics/faculty-senate/

Part 2. Campus stakeholder representation in governance

Total number of individuals on the institution’s highest governing body:
34

Number of students representing their peers as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
0

Number of academic staff representing their peers as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
0

Number of non-academic staff representing their peers as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
0

Part 3. Gender equity in governance

Number of women serving as official members of the institution’s highest governing body:
10

Percentage of official members of the highest governing body that are women:
29.41

Website URL where information about the institution’s highest governing body may be found:

Part 4. Community engagement bodies

Does the institution host or support one or more formal bodies through which external stakeholders have a regular voice in institutional decisions that affect them?:
No

A brief description of the campus-community council or equivalent body that gives external stakeholders a regular voice in institutional decisions that affect them:
Butler engages with stakeholders from the Alumni association and Board of Visitors for external engagement.

Butler University Alumni Association:
The Butler University Alumni Association (BUAA) in partnership with the Office of Butler Community Engagement serves as a champion of alumni engagement by inspiring alumni and friends to share their time, talent, and treasure to advance Butler’s Mission and Vision. The Board consists of a maximum of 28 members including leadership. There are also three ex-officio members. The Board meets on campus three times a year.

Board of Visitors:
The 21 members of the University-wide Board of Visitors (BOV) serve as philanthropic advocates and ambassadors on behalf of Butler University for the purpose of promoting greater university philanthropic support; generating broader awareness of and support for Butler University’s vision and priorities; and providing input, perspective and counsel to University leadership on emerging issues and initiatives. During the comprehensive campaign, BOV members will serve as the Campaign Steering Committee.

Optional Fields 

Number of people from underrepresented groups serving as official members of the institution’s highest governing body.:
15

Website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Underrepresented groups include 10 women and 5 individuals who are people of color.

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.