| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.07 |
| Liaison | Yumiko Jakobcic |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Grand Valley State University
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.70 / 3.00 |
Amanda
Rodgers Graduate Assistant Sustainable Community Development Initiative |
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)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
Students can attend Student Senate meetings and make a public comment, they can volunteer at Student Senate events, they can sit on a University Standing Committee, and they can run for election to be a Student Senator
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?:
A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
As the sole student governing body at Grand Valley, Student Senate is in charge of appointing Student Representatives to seats reserved for students on University Committees. Representatives need to go through an application process.
Do students 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 | Yes |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Student representatives sit on various University committees, including Academic Policies and Standards, Faculty Facilities Planning, Faculty Salary and Budget, General Education, Graduate Council, Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, University Assessment, University Curriculum, and Online Education. Student representatives also sit on various University governance committees, including Campus Life, International Education, Outstanding Service Award, Undergraduate Research, University Libraries, and Writing Skills. Student representatives also sit on two University administrative committees, including Newspaper Advisory and University Judiciary. Students also comprise two University senate seats within the University Academic Senate and the Executive Committee of the Senate.
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)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
Each employee group has a formal committee or association of elected representatives who meet with management on a regular basis
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?:
A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
by law our governing body is appointed by the Governor of Michigan
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 | Yes |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | Yes |
| Strategic and long-term planning | No |
| 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:
Staff are included in the university strategic planning process, through which the university mission, vision and planning take place
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)?:
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
Faculty are represented on 13 committees including: the Executive Committee; the University Academic Senate; University Curriculum Committee; Online Education Council; General Education Committee; College Curriculum Committee; Academic Policies and Standards Committee; Faculty Facilities Planning Advisory Committee; Faculty Personnel Policy Committee; Faculty Salary and Budget Committee; Faculty Teaching and Learning Center Advisory Committee; Graduate Council; and University Assessment committee.
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
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?:
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
Faculty membership for each college and the library is determined by a formula dependent on the number of faculty members. During the winter semester, each college elects faculty members to serve three-year terms.
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
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
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives |
Yes
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
| Strategic and long-term planning |
Yes
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
| Existing or prospective physical resources |
Yes
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning |
Yes
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
| Communications processes and transparency practices |
Yes
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
| Prioritization of programs and projects |
Yes
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
|
A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
a. In Oct. 2007, the Strategic Positioning 2010 Committee, a standing university committee comprising representatives from the university’s constituent groups, was created to periodically review the university strategic plan for its relevance, currency and appropriateness for strategically positioning GVSU for its preferred future. Since its inception, this committee has engaged the university community in the process of updating the strategic plan.
b. Faculty serve on the Academic Policies and Standards Committee (APSC). Their duty is to study, review and make pertinent recommendations on academic policies and procedures including admission, retention, dismissal, repeat grades, withdrawal, academic calendar, and suspension of library privileges. Faculty membership consists of four members from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, one from each of the remaining colleges, and one from the university libraries. One additional faculty member is elected by and from the UAS. The term of office is two years beginning at the end of the winter semester. In 2012, the Executive Committee of the Senate asked the APSC to consider the issue of whether there should be accommodations for students whom English is a second language and to discuss with the Supplementary Writing Skills Committee and English Department.
c. In Oct. 2007, the Strategic Positioning 2010 Committee, a standing university committee comprising representatives from the university’s constituent groups, was created to periodically review the university strategic plan for its relevance, currency and appropriateness for strategically positioning GVSU for its preferred future. Since its inception, this committee has engaged the university community in the process of updating the strategic plan.
d. Faculty serve on the Faculty Facilities Planning Advisory Committee (FFPAC). Their responsibilities include providing recommendations to Facilities Planning on planning, remodeling, and building academic facilities, with the goal of providing an optimal teaching and learning environment. The FFPAC instituted and disseminated information across campus on a new webpage that allows faculty to report all manner of classroom issues year round.
e. Faculty serve on the Faculty Salary and Budget Committee (FSBC). Their duties include studying pertinent data and making recommendations on the allocation of funds in the university’s budget. Faculty membership consists of seven members from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, two from the Seidman College of Business, one from each of the remaining colleges, and one from the university libraries. In August 2012, the UAS charged the FSBC to do the following: compare faculty salaries and benefits with other Michigan public institutions; evaluate the effectiveness of the electronic system to review new programs; examine faculty workloads associated with graduate education; review revenue and instructional costs among units; and more.
f. The UAS is the highest faculty governance body. It has the authority to deal with any academic issue or faculty concern. It makes recommendations to the Provost and/or President. In accordance with Michigan Public Act 201 of 2012, Section 245, required information about university expenditures is accessible from the GVSU homepage.
g. The University Curriculum Committee is responsible for a wide range of curriculum matters at GSVU, including: review and recommend all degree requirements; review the courses recommended by the colleges to fulfill the General Education requirements; review the Honors courses and seminars; and to oversee the online curriculum development process. Faculty membership consists of seven members from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, one from each of the remaining colleges, and one from the university libraries. In August 2012, the UCC concluded that affiliate and adjunct faculty should be encouraged to participate in the process of course proposals.
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Date Revised: April 30, 2014
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.