Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.75
Liaison Josh Lasky
Submission Date Feb. 23, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

George Washington University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Tim Miller
Assoc Dean of Students
Dean of Students
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

Do the institution’s students have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a student council)? :
Yes

Do the institution’s students have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
No

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which students are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
The Student Association (SA) is an elected body of student representatives. The Student Association meets regularly with GW senior administrators, including the president. The SA president and one of its vice presidents participate on the Board committees on Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. The SA president, or a delegate, report on the SA’s activities and initiatives at every Board of Trustees meeting. The SA president also meets with the Chair of the Board of Trustees on a regular basis.

Do the institution’s staff members have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a staff council)?:
No

Do the institution’s non-supervisory staff members have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
No

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which staff are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
GW staff supports and attends Board and committee meetings. The staff participate in a number of committees established by the university on issues of importance to staff, including, e.g., the Benefits Advisory Committee, and employee grievance committees. The president of the university is an ex officio voting member of the Board of Trustees. There is no other staff representation on the university’s Board of Trustees.

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a faculty senate)?:
Yes

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body? :
No

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which teaching and research faculty are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
The faculty have a role in governance through two university-wide groups: (1) the Faculty Assembly, which consists of academic personnel in full-time service and certain designated administrative personnel; and (2) the Faculty Senate, a representative body acting for the faculty as a whole in legislative and advisory capacities. The chair of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee participates on the Committee on Academic Affairs meetings, and reports on the Faculty Senate’s activities and initiatives at every Board of Trustees meeting. The chair of the Board of Trustees meets with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee chair on a regular basis.

Part 2

Does the institution have written policies and procedures to identify and engage external stakeholders (i.e. local residents) in land use planning, capital investment projects, and other institutional decisions that affect the community?:
Yes

A copy of the written policies and procedures:
---

The policies and procedures:
A key component of the 2007 Foggy Bottom Campus Plan is the creation of the GW/Community Advisory Committee for the purpose of "fostering consistent communication between the university and the Foggy Bottom and West End communities, discussing issues of mutual interest and proposing solutions to problems that exists or arise in implementing the approved Foggy Bottom Campus Plan." The DC Zoning Commission's Order of Approval (.pdf) defines the composition of the Advisory Committee as ten members: "five representatives of the university to be selected by the university and five representatives of the community to be selected by ANC 2A." The Zoning Commission required the first meeting to be held within two months of the October 26, 2007 effective date of the order and that future meetings will occur on a quarterly basis and be open to the public. The five members appointed by the university represent the Division of Operations, Office of Government and Community Relations, as well as the Division of Student Affairs. https://neighborhood.gwu.edu/gw-community-advisory-committee

Does the institution have formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which community members representing the interests of the following stakeholder groups can regularly participate in institutional governance?:
Yes or No
Local government and/or educational organizations Yes
Private sector organizations Yes
Civil society (e.g. NGOs, NPOs) Yes

If yes to one or more of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which external stakeholders are engaged in institutional governance (including information about each stakeholder group selected above):
Local Government: Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, GW has become well known for its close proximity to world leaders and powerful institutions. But GW embraces the entire city - from the Capitol dome to its own historic Foggy Bottom neighborhood. D.C.s urban politics, social challenges, and local economy have become intertwined with the university’s character and mission. GW is an economic engine as well as an academic and cultural resource. More than 2,500 faculty members and nearly 20,000 students make their academic home at our Foggy Bottom/West End and Mount Vernon campuses, and more than 21,000 GW alumni live and/or work in the District. They learn, teach, and work side by side with the city’s diverse community of elected officials, social service agencies, neighborhood activists, and small business owners. These long standing relationships stimulate discovery and cultivate understanding. This spirit of mutually beneficial partnership is reflected in GW’s 20 year plan for it’s Foggy Bottom campus - the product of a community based process that resulted in a plan that offers shared benefits for the university, its community, and the District. Private Sector & Civil Society: The GW Sustainability Collaborative Advisory Council provides vision and insight on sustainability to assist the leaders of the Collaborative as they choose and evaluate progress towards strategic goals. Council members also serve as ambassadors for GW Sustainability efforts and help secure resources for the GW Sustainability Collaborative. Several private sector and NGO members serve on the Council.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://governmentrelations.gwu.edu/district-relations

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://sustainabilitycollaborative.gwu.edu/advisory-council

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.