Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.28
Liaison Austin Eriksson
Submission Date Feb. 29, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

California State University, Northridge
PA-3: Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Austin Eriksson
Sustainability Program Manager
FPDC
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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

A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

All matriculated students can run for and vote in an Associated Students election and can serve as members of various governance committees. Students are also nominated by the AS student leadership to participate in the University’s (and the CSU’s) committee governance structure. Students apply to run for elective office or apply to be appointed to an appointive office. Students at CSUN participate in the campus student body organization (Associated Students); the University Student Union and various university governance and advisory committees.


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

A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:

The “institution’s governing body” here is the CSU Board of Trustees. Each year, a student is elected for a two-year term to that Board by the state governor following a vetting process by the statewide California State Student Association (CSSA). CSSA reviews, interviews and recommends candidates to the state governor who makes the selection.


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 Yes

A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Students can serve as corporate directors (members of the Board) of three of the campus auxiliary organizations (AS, student union and commercial shops). The first two groups’ members are elected in a campus-wide election and the commercial shops board members are nominated by the student body president and confirmed by the campus president. In all three of these areas, students have substantial authority and autonomy in decision-making. In addition, students engage in each of the above tasks in their service as voting members of university committee (the University Planning and Budget Group; Educational Policy Committee, etc.).


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

A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University. The Board adopts rules, regulations, and policies governing the California State University. The Board has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities, and fiscal and human resources management.

The 25-member Board of Trustees meets six times per year. Board meetings allow for communication among the trustees, chancellor, campus presidents, executive committee members of the statewide Academic Senate, representatives of the California State Student Association, and officers of the statewide Alumni Council.


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

A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:

Under present law there are 25 Trustees (24 voting, one non-voting). Five Trustees are ex officio members: the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Chancellor. The CSU Statewide Alumni Council appoints an Alumni Trustee. The Governor appoints a Faculty Trustee from nominees proposed by the Statewide Academic Senate. The Alumni and Faculty Trustees serve for two years. The Governor appoints two student trustees from nominees proposed by the California State Student Association. These student trustees serve staggered two-year terms. One student trustee has full voting powers; the second, non-voting student trustee succeeds to the voting position upon the expiration of the term of the first. The sixteen remaining trustees are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the State Senate, and serve eight year terms. Trustees confirmed by the senate remain on the board until a replacement is named or 60 days after their term expires whichever comes first (Government Code 1774). Alumni, Faculty, and Student Trustee terms expire at the end of their term (Education Code 66602).


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 Yes

A brief description of the formal staff role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Currently there are nine standing committees of the Board: Audit; Campus Planning, Buildings and Grounds; Collective Bargaining; Educational Policy; Finance; Governmental Relations; Institutional Advancement; Organization and Rules; and University and Faculty Personnel.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University. The board adopts rules, regulations, and policies governing the California State University. The board has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities, and fiscal and human resources management.

See the following website for additional information: http://www.calstate.edu/bot/overview.shtml


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

A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University. The Board adopts rules, regulations, and policies governing the California State University. The Board has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities, and fiscal and human resources management.

The 25-member Board of Trustees meets six times per year. Board meetings allow for communication among the trustees, chancellor, campus presidents, executive committee members of the statewide Academic Senate, representatives of the California State Student Association, and officers of the statewide Alumni Council.


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

A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:

Under present law there are 25 Trustees (24 voting, one non-voting). Five Trustees are ex officio members: the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Chancellor. The CSU Statewide Alumni Council appoints an Alumni Trustee. The Governor appoints a Faculty Trustee from nominees proposed by the Statewide Academic Senate. The Alumni and Faculty Trustees serve for two years. The Governor appoints two student trustees from nominees proposed by the California State Student Association. These student trustees serve staggered two-year terms. One student trustee has full voting powers; the second, non-voting student trustee succeeds to the voting position upon the expiration of the term of the first. The sixteen remaining trustees are appointed by the Governor, confirmed by the State Senate, and serve eight year terms. Trustees confirmed by the senate remain on the board until a replacement is named or 60 days after their term expires whichever comes first (Government Code 1774). Alumni, Faculty, and Student Trustee terms expire at the end of their term (Education Code 66602).


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 Yes

A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Currently there are nine standing committees of the Board: Audit; Campus Planning, Buildings and Grounds; Collective Bargaining; Educational Policy; Finance; Governmental Relations; Institutional Advancement; Organization and Rules; and University and Faculty Personnel.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University. The board adopts rules, regulations, and policies governing the California State University. The board has authority over curricular development, use of property, development of facilities, and fiscal and human resources management.

See the following website for additional information: http://www.calstate.edu/bot/overview.shtml


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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