Furman University
PA-3: Institutional Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Laura
Bain Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment David E. Shi Center for Sustainability |
3.1 Student participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which students can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Are one or more student representatives included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining student representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
Furman’s Board of Trustees has 4 committees that Student Government exec attends meetings for every semester. This is a list of those committees, and which exec member typically attends each:
- Student Experience and Outcomes – Student Body President attends.
- Financial Health and Resources – Student Body Treasurer attends.
- Investments (subcommittee of FH) – has been the SBT in the past, this year we had our Academic Affairs chair to diversify student reports a bit.
- External Engagement – Student Body VP or Student Body Secretary attends.
SGA Exec’s role in these meetings are strictly to represent the student body. We sit in on the main portion of the meetings in which business is discussed, we deliver a 5-minute report of what the student experience is like (along with a faculty member’s 5-minute report), and then we leave before the executive meeting begins and the actual decision-making takes place
Does at least one student representative have voting rights on the highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult students on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.2 Academic staff participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which academic staff can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Faculty Standing Committees
Furman University has a strong tradition of shared governance, with clearly defined roles for faculty, administration, and trustees. Members of the faculty are expected to serve on committees and to attend and cast votes at faculty meetings, held 6-8 times per academic year. University faculty meetings function as a “committee of the whole,” meaning that there is no faculty senate, and every faculty member may vote. All motions, course proposals, policies, etc., must be approved by individual faculty committees. There are 19 faculty committees specified by the Faculty Constitution such as Curriculum, Faculty Status, Policies and Procedures, Due process, Appeals, May X, etc.
Are one or more academic staff representatives included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining academic staff representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
The Faculty Chair is elected by the full faculty at the April faculty meeting. There must be a quorum present. The Nominating Committee (a standing faculty committee) prepares the slate of candidates for Faculty Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Recorder) and all Faculty Standing Committees and this slate is voted on by the faculty. Nominations for any of the positions can also be made from the floor at the April meeting when the slate of candidates is voted upon. The Chair of Faculty attends Board of Trustee meetings as well as meetings with the Provost's Council, the Department Chairs, the Strategic Vision Advisory Council, etc. The following committees have a faculty observer who submits a report to the full faculty after each meeting: Student Experience and Outcomes, External Engagement, Financial Health and Resources and the Investment Subcommittee. The Chair of Faculty also meets with the Dean of Faculty and Furman's President about mutual matters of concern. Faculty are free to bring either individual issues or those affecting the greater faculty body to the Chair of Faculty.
Does at least one academic staff representative have voting rights on the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult academic staff on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.3 Non-academic staff participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which non-academic staff can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
STAFF ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Staff Advisory Council (Staff AC) was formed in 1998 and is a permanent council comprised of staff representing all major areas of the university. The main focus is to foster open communication between the staff and administration. This council meets monthly to discuss matters of importance to staff and develop strategies for improvement.
Mission Statement
The Staff AC is a group of staff leaders and advocates who promote the University’s Mission by fostering a sense of campus community, creating strategies to enhance staff morale, and advising campus leadership on matters relating to and affecting the staff of Furman. The Staff AC uses Furman’s Character and Values Statement as guiding principles.
Purpose
The purpose of the Staff AC is to advise the senior administration in matters of interest to the staff and to develop workplace relationships within this group. The Staff AC provides the Furman staff a voice in campus issues.
https://www.furman.edu/offices-services/staff-advisory-council
Are one or more staff members representing non-managerial workers included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining non-academic staff representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
Does at least one staff member representing non-managerial workers have voting rights on the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult non-academic staff on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.4 Community participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which local community-based organizations can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Has the institution used one or more ad hoc mechanisms during the previous three years to consult local community members on institutional decisions, plans, or policies?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ad hoc mechanisms used during the previous three years to consult local community members on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.