James Madison University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

The Student Government Association https://www.jmu.edu/sga/index.shtml 

"The Student Government Association of James Madison University is an organization dedicated to collaborating with all members of its community to advocate for student opinion, while fostering a proactive, inclusive environment. We are committed to inform, represent, and serve the student body of James Madison University."

The Faculty Senate https://www.jmu.edu/facultysenate

"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."

The Employee Advisory Committee (EAC) https://www.jmu.edu/eac/ 

"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, and planning the President's Opening Address to Staff each Fall."

JMU also has a Parents Council (https://www.jmu.edu/parents/council/parents-council.shtml) and an Alumni Association Board of Directors (https://www.alumni.jmu.edu/s/1591/18/interior.aspx?sid=1591&gid=3&pgid=1562). While they may not be involved in decision-making, they are consulted for a voice.

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

Information reviewed with Donna Harper, Vice-President, Access and Enrollment Management.

The total number of members of the board is entered as 15 to reflect the 15 voting members appointed by the governor.

There are also a student representative and a faculty representative to the board who are non-voting representatives.

The speaker of the JMU Faculty Senate serves as the non-voting faculty representative to the board. They are not counted for this credit because it is unclear if they meet the criteria for "official".

A JMU Vice President and Chief of Staff, as well as an associate professor at JMU serves as secretary to the Board of Visitors.

The details from the Manual of the Board of Visitors (revised November 10, 2023) may be found at https://www.jmu.edu/visitors/about/2023_bov_manual_as_of_11-10-23.pdf