Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.16
Liaison Elaine Durr
Submission Date Nov. 9, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Elon University
PA-3: Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.30 / 3.00 Elaine Durr
Senior Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
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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:

The purpose of the Student Government Association, authorized by the Elon University Administration, shall be to represent the rights and opinions of the student body in a manner consistent with the mission of Elon University, to provide for appropriate student activities, and to join with the faculty and administrators of the University in building a stronger, more effective educational community. Members of SGA are elected by the undergraduate student body.
There is also a Graduate Student Council, made up of elected graduate students, that represents the graduate student body.


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?:
No

A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
Yes or No
Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals No
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources No
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning No
Communications processes and transparency practices No
Prioritization of programs and projects No

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

Establishing new policies, programs or initiatives: Through SGA and/or special committees, students often have a voice in new policies, programs or initiatives.

Strategic and long-term planning: There are student representatives on the long-range planning and strategic planning committees, as well as many other committees that do substantive work on campus.


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:

The mission of the Staff Advisory Council is to facilitate active and direct communication between staff employees and the President and to provide a forum for input and discussion of issues important to the staff and the University.
To achieve this mission, the Staff Advisory Council will:
Participate in the shared governance of the university
Serve as an advocate for staff and provide input in university initiatives and decisions
Review and make recommendations on appropriate issues, policies and procedures
Promote a positive and collaborative campus environment by strengthening communication between staff, faculty, students and administration
Contribute to the university’s culture of community and recognition

The Staff Advisory Council (SAC) represents all non-faculty employees of Elon University. Collectively, the university describes this group as staff.
The Staff Advisory Council consists of fifteen representative seats and 2 non-voting members of Senior Staff. Each of the staff classifications control a predetermined number of representative seats as described below.
• Administrative Staff (6 seats)
• Office/Support Personnel (5 seats)
• Physical Plant (4 seats)
The President annually appoints the two non-voting members from the Senior Staff.


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?:
No

A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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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 No
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources No
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning No
Communications processes and transparency practices No
Prioritization of programs and projects No

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

Establishing new policies, programs or initiatives: Through the Staff Advisory Council and/or special committees, non-supervisory staff often have a voice in new policies, programs or initiatives.

Strategic and long-term planning: There are non-supervisory staff representatives on the long-range planning and strategic planning committees, as well as many other committees that do substantive work on campus.

Regarding budgeting, staffing and financial planning, there is supervisory staff representation on the budget committee.


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:

The Academic Council is the coordinating committee of the faculty and deliberates on any matter within the province of the faculty for the purpose of formulating general policy for approval or disapproval of the faculty. Those matters which are the responsibility of standing committees are referred to the appropriate committee.

The Academic Council shall consist of 18 members elected for terms of 3 years, the chair of the University Curriculum Committee, without vote, an adjunct faculty representative, the president, without vote, and/or the provost/vice president for academic affairs, without vote.

Eligibility to Serve. To serve as a voting member of the Academic Council, a faculty member must be a voting member under the terms of the faculty bylaws, and must have 2 years of service on the faculty. Divisional and school representatives must hold the rank of senior lecturer, associate professor, or above; at-large members must hold the rank of lecturer, assistant professor, or above. No more than two members of the faculty whose principal duties are administrative may serve on Academic Council at any one time.
Eligibility to Vote for Members. All faculty members who have voting privileges under the terms of the faculty bylaws shall be eligible to vote for members of Academic Council. The only exception to this will be for the adjunct representative who will be elected by adjunct faculty.


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?:
No

A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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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 No
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning Yes
Communications processes and transparency practices No
Prioritization of programs and projects No

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

Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals: Through a special committee in conjunction with a SACS review there is faculty involvement in this area.

Establishing new policies, programs or initiatives: Through Academic Council and/or special committees, faculty often have a voice in establishing new policies, programs or initiatives.

Strategic and long-term planning: There are faculty representatives on the long-range planning and strategic planning committees, as well as many other committees that do substantive work on campus.

Budgeting, staffing and financial planning: There are faculty representatives on the budget committee.


The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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