Colorado College
PA-3: Governance

Students at Colorado College have several avenues in which to participate in the College's governance bodies, with the Colorado College Student Government Association, the President's Council, and the student representative to the Board of Trustees being three of the most prominent. Colorado College Student Government Association, CCSGA The Colorado College Student Government Association is the official democratically elected student government at Colorado College. CCSGA is constitutionally chartered “as a source of support for student organizations and events, a forum for cooperative action and a voice calling for progress.” With a $268,000 budget, CCSGA manages student group recognition and funding. It also works to empower students through the student concerns committee. President's Council The President's Council is a representative body of students that serves in an advisory role to the President of Colorado College and as ambassadors for the college. The Council meets with the President and/or various college and community leaders at least once per block. The student representative to the Board of Trustees is elected yearly. The student speaks on behalf of the student body and participates in voting, committees and project teams. In addition, students serve on a a variety of other governing bodies including: the Athletics Board, the Budget Committee, the Children's Center Advisory Committee, the Committee on Instruction, the Curriculum Committee, the Dean's Advisory Committee, the First Year Experience Committee, the Information Technology and Library Board, and the Student Conduct Committee.

Every year, a student representative serves on the Board of Trustees. The role of the Student Trustee is speak on the behalf of the student body and to make the Board aware of any pressing and relevant concerns that students may have. The Student Trustee is a voting member and serves on both Standing Committees and Strategic Project Teams. Students interested in the position must apply, campaign, and receive one of the top three votes from the student body. Then, the three favored candidates interview with the Board, which makes the final call on the position.

Establishing Organizational Mission, Vision, and/or Goals: -Even though the Board of Trustees (including its student representative) has no formal role in the construction of the College's mission statement, it plays a crucial role in its interpretation and adherence. During all decision-making processes, the Board carefully considers how the proposed action, program, or budget will fit in with the College's stated vision and goals. Establishing New Policies, Programs, or Initiatives: -On a blockly basis, the President's Committee meets with college staff and administration to learn about current policies, program, and initiatives and to offer feedback and recommendations. Strategic and Long-Term Planning: -During the development of the Strategic Plan, students serving on the President's Council engaged the President of the College in several conversations regarding their vision for the plan. In particular, they gave suggestions regarding the plan's recommendation to rennovate Tutt Library, voicing what they hoped to see from both the design and offered resources. -The Student Trustee, one of thirty-two voting members on the Board, participated in the vote to approve the College's strategic plan. Following the plan's approval, the Student Trustee had an opportunity to join his choice of the four Strategic Project Teams composed to carry out the goals outlined the plan. The teams included (1) campaign planning, (2) library planning, (3) campus master plan/ master communications plan, and (4) environmental stewardship & innovation. -In addition to this, every committee created for and from the strategic plan had student members serving on it. Existing or Prospective Physical Resources: -During the group's blockly meetings with college staff and administrators, the President's Council discusses how CC can revamp its current resources and introduce new ones to enhance their value and usage on campus. -CCSGA has proposed suggestions regarding additional study spaces on campus and the use of Honen Arena for college events. -Students may participate as part of the Design Review Board also. -Additionally, the student representative to the Board of Trustees has had the opportunity to vote for or against budgets, the campus master plan, and the campus master communications plan. Budgeting, Staffing, and Financial Planning: -As a voting member on the Board of Trustees, the Student Trustee can vote for or against the budgets included in Board proposals. -The Student Trustee has the option to participate in any of the Board's four Standing Committees: Budget and Finance, Investment, Governance, and Audit. Communications Processes and Transparency Practices: -In a conversation with CC's Chief Technology Officer, the President's Council identified several strategies for revitalizing the College's Events/Student Digest (daily emails sent out to CC students notifying them of events, activities, and programs on campus) in order to foster a stronger system for campus communication. -In an effort to increase communication within the CC community, CCSGA has been collaborating with college administration to develop an umbrella website that provides a centralized online location featuring the promoted events of student groups on campus. Prioritization of Programs and Projects: -Employing its $268,000 budget, CCSGA awards funding to student groups on campus based on its own prioritization of programs and projects. A significant portion of the funding from CCSGA comes from the student activity fee administered by the committee in charge of allocation these fees. Students have the opportunity to participate on this committee. -The Organizing Committee, a subsection of the President's Council, attends campus events and programs and provides feedback to the President.

Staff currently hold posisitions on the Staff Council, the Academic Events Committee, the Admission and Financial Aid Committee, the Advancement Advisory Board, the Assessment Committee, the Athletics Board, the Budget Committee, the Children's Center Advisory Committee, the Committee on Instruction, the Compensation Committee, the Dean's Advisory Committee, the Faculty Research and Development Board, the First-Year Experience Committee, the General Education Oversight Committee, the Health Professions Advisory Committee, the Information and Technology Advisory Board, the International Studies Committee, the Master Plan Knowledge Development Team, the Minority Concerns Committee, the Press Committee, the Summer Sessions Committee, the Women's Concerns Committee, and the Writing Committee.

Non-supervisory staff may have a formal role in college decision making through many of the governance bodies listed above.

Faculty currently hold posisitions on the Faculty Council, the Academic Events Committee, the Admission and Financial Aid Committee, the Advancement Advisory Board, the Assessment Committee, the Athletics Board, the Budget Committee, the Children's Center Advisory Committee, the Committee on Instruction, the Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum, the Compensation Committee, the Dean's Advisory Committee, the Faculty Research and Development Board, the First-Year Experience Committee, the General Education Oversight Committee, the Health Professions Advisory Committee, the Information and Technology Advisory Board, the International Studies Committee, the Master Plan Knowledge Development Team, the Minority Concerns Committee, the Press Committee, the Summer Sessions Committee, the Women's Concerns Committee, and the Writing Committee.

Non-supervisory faculty may have a formal role in college decision making through many of the governance bodies listed above.

Non-supervisory faculty may a formal role in college decision making through many of the governance bodies listed above. The Library Action Team was developed as an initiative of the strategic plan. This action team is comprised completely of faculty and staff of the college and works alongside the library planning subcommittee of the Board of Trustees.

Colorado College Student Government: http://sites.coloradocollege.edu/ccsga/ President's Council: http://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/presidentsoffice/presidents-council.dot Board of Trustees: http://www.coloradocollege.edu/basics/welcome/leadership/trustees/