Eastern Connecticut State University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Eastern's highest governing body is the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents (BOR) for Higher Education governs the 17 public Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) - four state universities; 12 community colleges; and Charter Oak State College. More information on the Board of Regents can be found here: https://www.ct.edu/regents

The Board of Regents is composed of students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders from the CSCU system.

The Student Government Association at Eastern (SGA) is a governing body to which students are elected. (https://www.easternct.edu/student-activities/student-government-association.html) The SGA works to meet the social, economic, and curricular needs of all Eastern students and works with Eastern faculty and administrations in deliberations. All students regardless of status are able to attend. The SGA is constituency based and officers are elected annually by the SGA membership. The student officers act as advisory bodies in the management of SGA. Each student senator serves on one internal committee and one external committee.

Representatives of SGA are also welcomed to participate in multiple standing committees which report to the University Senate. The committees where at least one seat is held by an SGA member include the Academic Affairs Committee, Budget & Resource Allocation Committee, Curriculum Committee, First Year Program Committee, Liberal Arts Program Committee, Liberal Arts Work Committee, Organization Committee, Student Academic Advising Committee, Support Services Committee, and University Assessment Committee. For more information on the University Senate please visit https://www.easternct.edu/university-senate/

Staff are able to participate in one or more governing bodies. Staff are appointed to and serve on many governing committees, such as Strategic Plan Committee, Master Plan Committee, Green Campus Committee, etc. In addition, administrative staff and faculty are members of employee professional organizations and/or bargaining units, determined by their job function. Employee organizations provide numerous opportunities for participation. A list of Eastern's employee organizations can be found at https://www.easternct.edu/administration/index.html

Staff are also represented by and participate in the University Senate, which shares joint responsibility with the University Administration for the development of University policies in such areas as curriculum, degree requirements, scholastic standards, admission policies, academic freedom, promotion, tenure and continuing appointments, and University organizational structure, in the selection of the President, Vice Presidents, and Deans, in budget and planning, and in other matters affecting the educational quality and mission of the University. The University Senate is composed of both academic and non-academic staff. For more information on the University Senate please use the following link: https://www.easternct.edu/university-senate/

All faculty are party of a governing organization/union known as AAUP. The information for this union can be found using the following link: http://www.ecsuaaup.org/
All research and teaching faculty are also invited to participate in standing and at large committees that report the University Senate.

The Windham/Eastern Community Action Network, (W/E CAN) is a collaboration of residents of Windham, town government officials, University administration and faculty, students, community organizations, and other interested individuals who meet throughout the year to discuss issues of importance in the community and to work to develop positive relationships between the University and the community.

Created in 1991, the original Town-Gown Committee was established at the direction of Eastern President David G. Carter to address student-related issues with local neighbors. The Committee was facilitated jointly by Eastern’s Vice President for Student Affairs and Windham’s First Selectman. In 2002, the Town-Gown Committee embarked on a strategic planning process, to develop a vision, a mission, and long-term goals. At that time, the Committee changed its name to the Windham/Eastern Community Action Network, keeping “Town-Gown Committee” as a subtitle. The name change reflects the collaborative, active nature of the organization while aligning with its original purpose.

After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group will meet at least once per semester starting in October 2022. Also, this group does a neighborhood tour, including both Eastern and Town representatives,at the start of each academic year to introduce themselves and remind students living off campus about the importance of being good neighbors in town.

https://www.easternct.edu/town-gown/index.html

Information on the demographics of the Board of Regents provided by Pam Heleen, Associate Director of Board Affairs, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, in October 2021.

Information on the status of the W/E CAN group provided by Patty Szczys, Director of the Institute for Sustainability.

Information input by Ciara Tennis, University Assistant for Climate and Sustainability Initiatives.