Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.72
Liaison Christie-Joy Hartman
Submission Date May 12, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

James Madison University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.25 / 3.00 Christie-Joy Hartman
Executive Director
ISNW
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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?:
Yes

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 Government Association:
-Includes every undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking student at JMU
-Cooperates with the faculty and administration within the precepts of the university’s internal governance system
-Houses leadership of the SGA vested in the Executive Council, Class Councils and the Senate
-Allocates student activities fees to campus clubs, organizations and major events sponsored by recognized groups
-Provides many opportunities for involvement

To view the SGA constitution visit http://sga.jmu.edu/billsRollCall.html
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Manual of the Board of Visitors of JMU (January 17, 2014)
Bylaws of the Board of Visitors
Article V. Non-Voting Representatives

In addition to the members appointed by the governor, two non-voting representatives are invited to attend all open meetings of the board and of the Education and Student Life Committee of the board, to provide information and advice as deemed appropriate by the rector or chair of the committee, without authority to vote or to make or second motions. The non-voting representatives are not authorized to attend closed sessions of the board.

A. A non-voting student representative to the board is chosen annually in a manner determined by the board.x
The board has directed the election of the student board member to be conducted by the Student Government Association.

B. The Speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate serves in a non-voting capacity as the faculty
representative to the board xi

x Code of Virginia, Title 23, Chapter 1, § 23-9.2:5.
xi Code of Virginia, Chapter 1, § 23-9.2:4.1.
source: Manual of the Board of Visitors, January 2014 https://www.jmu.edu/visitors/about/bov-manual.pdf
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SGA members participate in some university groups/councils. For example, a SGA representative is on the University Planning Team, and a SGA representative was on the Madison Future Commission.


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

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

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which staff are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:

As an advisory committee reporting to the President of James Madison University (JMU), the Employee Advisory Committee, fosters open, honest and productive communication between employees and the university administration with an emphasis on matters of concern to all employees.

The organization accomplishes its mission by:
- communicating with the Executive Assistant to the President of the University (Liaison to EAC)
- providing feedback and advice to the Senior Leadership Team regarding issues that impact JMU employees
- facilitating two-way communication with the campus community through electronic and verbal methods
- facilitating staff employee participation on University Committees and Commissions
- sponsoring the annual JMU Employee Appreciation Event each May
- planning the President's Opening Address to Staff each Fall

See https://www.jmu.edu/eac/


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? :
Yes

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 function of the Faculty Senate is to represent the faculty in the consideration of all policies that affect the academic climate and direction of the institution. The Faculty Senate seeks to create, maintain and protect a university environment conductive to the growth of scholarship, learning, teaching, research, service, and respect for human dignity and rights. Among other things the responsibilities of the Faculty Senate include:

-Offering suggestions to the vice presidents for academic affairs and for administration and finance on matters of university organization, budget recommendations and revisions, facilities, planning, and mission at the university level;
-Consulting with appropriate resource persons concerning academic policy;
-Offering recommendations about admissions policies and enrollment management;
-Participating in university-wide curricular oversight through its representatives on the Committee on Academic Programs (CAP); and
-Working with the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs to maintain policies and procedures by which the faculty will be involved in the evaluation of academic administrators at the university level.

See: https://www.jmu.edu/facultysenate/about.shtml
_____________________________
Manual of the Board of Visitors of JMU (January 17, 2014)
Bylaws of the Board of Visitors
Article V. Non-Voting Representatives

In addition to the members appointed by the governor, two non-voting representatives are invited to attend all open meetings of the board and of the Education and Student Life Committee of the board, to provide information and advice as deemed appropriate by the rector or chair of the committee, without authority to vote or to make or second motions. The non-voting representatives are not authorized to attend closed sessions of the board.

A. A non-voting student representative to the board is chosen annually in a manner determined by the board.x The board has directed the election of the student board member to be conducted by the Student Government Association.

B. The Speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate serves in a non-voting capacity as the faculty
representative to the board xi

x Code of Virginia, Title 23, Chapter 1, § 23-9.2:5.
xi Code of Virginia, Chapter 1, § 23-9.2:4.1.
source: Manual of the Board of Visitors, January 2014 https://www.jmu.edu/visitors/about/bov-manual.pdf


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?:
No

A copy of the written policies and procedures:
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The policies and procedures:
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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 No
Private sector organizations No
Civil society (e.g. NGOs, NPOs) No

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):

Members of the community were part of the Madison Future Commission.

JMU coordinates meetings each semester between JMU departments and city and county officials. The meetings are designed to share information and planning forecasts.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Information reviewed by Dr. Brian Charette, Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning & Engagement


Information reviewed by Dr. Brian Charette, Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Planning & Engagement

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.