Knox College
PA-3: Governance

Student Senate is itself a governance body, and serves roles in many decisionmaking activities on campus. Student representatives, elected by their peers, include the president, VP, secretary and treasurer, as well as representatives for each student year. These representatives each sit on topical subcommittees, and two student representatives are appointed to sit on each faculty committee, as voting members. The Strategic Planning Committee for 2018 included student members, whose contributions were as important as those of faculty and staff members. In all new faculty and administrative hires, students are selected to participate in the search committees, including interview, advising, and selection process.

Student Senate appoints observers to the Board of Trustees meetings. They receive all materials available to the Trustees with the exception of materials covered in Executive Session. They can bring this information back to Student Senate. Students are often invited to present at board meetings, as well.

Mission, vision, goals: Representatives from Student Senate are appointed to the Executive Committee and to the Institutional Planning Group New policies, programs, initiatives: Student senate votes on policies. Recent examples include formalization of good Samaritan laws and establishment of a student green fee. The Student Senate influences and/or creates programs and initiatives through allocation of Student Activity Fees. Recent examples include creation of the position of Sustainability Coordinator (student green fees funded part of this salary for three years), and purchase and installation of a campus high tunnel for producing more food on-site. Strategic planning: The Strategic Planning Committee for 2018 included student members, as full partners in the planning process. Resources: All club and organization funds are approved and distributed through Student Senate. They have control over the furnishings of the student lounge, and also allocate funds to campus initiatives through the sustainability, dining services, campus life, and technology subcommittees. Budget, staff, financial: Students sit on the Faculty Budget Development Committee, and Student Senate allocates activity fees. Prioritization of programs/projects: In addition to the abovementioned participation avenues, two Student representatives sit on each faculty committee, as voting members. These committees include Admission, Retention & Placement; Instructional Support; Curriculum; Academic Standing; Athletics; Cultural Events; Student Life; Broadcast, Internet and Publications; Campus Environment; Campus Diversity; and Financial Development & Budget, and the College Honors Subcommittee.

Hourly/union staff participate in a bargaining unit. Staff are also able to participate in the Fringe Benefits Task Force, and open forums associated with health care benefits and wage discussions. The strategic planning group has included any staff who indicate interest in participation, as equal participants with other campus stakeholders.

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Staff have been equal participants with other campus stakeholders in the Strategic Planning Group.

All faculty have the opportunity to serve on a committee. Elected committees include: Executive (including the Faculty Affairs Subcommittee and the Protection of Human Subjects Board); and Faculty Personnel Committee. Appointed committees include: Admission, Retention & Placement; Instructional Support; Curriculum; Academic Standing Athletics; Cultural Events; Student Life; Campus Environment; Campus Diversity; Financial Development and Budget; and Broadcast, Internet & Publication Committee. Additionally, faculty participate in the Institutional Planning Group and Strategic Planning Group, and faculty observers are appointed to Board meetings

Faculty observers sit in on all meetings of the Board of Trustees.

Mission, vision, and/or goals; Strategic and long-term planning: Faculty participate in the Institutional Planning Group and the Strategic Planning Group. Policies, programs, & initiatives; prioritization of programs and projects: Through various committees, faculty have active roles in influencing school policies including but not limited to dignity and welfare of campus constituents, curriculum, academic standing, athletics, campus life, and campus environment. Through these committees as well as club sponsorship, faculty implement and carry out programs pertaining to curriculum and honors, cultural events, campus diversity, environmental initiatives, among others. Existing and prospective resources: Faculty are given opportunities to participate in the selection processes for campus durable goods, as well as larger capital improvement projects. Budgeting, staffing and financial planning: The Faculty includes a standing committee on Financial Development and Budget, which provides counsel to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Finance on the development of the College’s budget. Individual faculty are active participants in the selection committees for new hires relevant to their office or the school operations at large. Communications and transparency: all of the above-mentioned committees are tasked with the responsibility to disseminate in a timely manner to the community non-confidential information pertaining to their activities. additional information can be found on the faculty handbook (https://www.knox.edu/offices/academic-affairs/faculty-handbook/i-organization-of-the-college/d-faculty.html) and faculty regulations (https://www.knox.edu/offices/academic-affairs/faculty-regulations.html)