Emory University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the preeminent university-wide student advocacy and policy setting organization that represents undergraduate students on all of Emory’s campuses. The SGA advocates for students, supports new ideas, improves current practices and infrastructure, and facilitates change on campus. SGA representatives are elected each spring and serve throughout the following academic year. The SGA president is a member of the University Senate during her/his term. The Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) is the governing and supporting body of all 8 graduate divisions. The GSGA supports the academic, social, and co-curricular development of all graduate students and provides a unified graduate voice to the larger Emory community. The GSGA President and Executive Vice President are elected in Graduate-wide elections every year. Other Executive Board positions are appointed by the President and Executive Vice President and confirmed by the legislature. The GSGA President is a member of the University Senate during her/his term. Students are members of the University Senate, which is the highest governing body inside the institution. Students are not members of the Board of Trustees.

Established in 1970 by the president of Emory University, the Employee Council facilitates communication between Emory employees and university administration and serves as an advisory body to the president. The Employee Council represents the perspective of employees to the administration (recommending change when appropriate), facilitates communication between the administration and employees at all organizational levels regarding university policies, practices, and programs and fosters closer working relationships between organizational areas and groups of employees. Members are charged with taking the information they receive at monthly meetings back to their respective areas, as well as soliciting feedback from their colleagues and reporting back to the Employee Council. Employee Council activities include: Sponsoring the annual Presidential Town Hall Representing staff concerns in the proposed benefits changes Addressing questions about shuttle service and parking Participating in blood drives, book drive, and community service activities Exploring the Strategic Plan for staff members Another goal of the Employee Council is to help promote community‐building programs and activities at Emory. These activities include attending performances on campus, tours of new buildings, and athletic events, to mention just a few. The University Senate is comprised of faculty, staff, and students. The Senate considers and makes recommendations regarding all matters of general University interest, including matters referred to it by the President or Board of Trustees; reviews all new policies and changes to existing policies; submits recommendations to the President on any matter affecting the interests of the University; makes recommendations regarding Honorary Degree recipients. The University Senate is composed of Ex officio members from the University Administration; Members of the Faculty Council; Executive board members from the Employee Council, Student Government Association, and Graduate Student Government Association; Faculty and Student Representatives from each School; representatives of Alumni, Librarians, Staff, and Academic Deans.

The University Faculty Council includes elected and appointed faculty members representing all of the schools and colleges. It serves as the chief representative body of the faculty. The Faculty Council considers and makes recommendations to the president concerning the academic affairs of the university; reviews all changes in existing policies or the establishment of new policies related to matters of general interest to the University faculty; monitors and reviews the terms and conditions of faculty employment, the state of facilities, policies that affect scholarship and teaching, budgetary commitments, general financial condition of the University, and relationship between faculty and administration; and considers suggestions and addresses problems and concerns raised by any recognized faculty group. Faculty Advisors are members of Board of Trustees committees.

The Clifton Community Partnership (CCP) is an official community organization, led by Emory, with written goals and objectives for identifying and engaging external stakeholders on issues related to the community in which Emory resides. CCP's Vision: The CCP will create an environment in which students, faculty staff, patients, residents and visitors will know they are in the Clifton community by the progressive urban design, beautifully landscaped streetscapes, walkable safe sidewalks, range of activities offered in the area and the confluence of people actively engaged in the community. There will be the sense that "this is the place to be." CCP's Mission: To bring neighbors, businesses, institutions and civic partners to develop a vision for the future and work together on implementation. Emory also hosts community meetings open to the public every quarter, to share information and request feedback, ideas and concerns regarding proposed projects or any issues that affect the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Clifton Community Partnership is an initiative started by Emory to provide a framework to discuss common quality of life issues within the Clifton community - the area within three miles of Emory's core campus. Its goal is to engage local audiences, including civic leaders, business leaders, local governments, employers/employees, and local residents, in a productive community dialogue. Advisory board members, representing each stakeholder group, can be found at http://www.cliftoncommunitypartnership.org/about/advisory-group.html.

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