Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.25
Liaison Audrey McSain
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Lehigh University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 3.00 Katharine Targett Gross
Sustainability Officer
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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:
Lehigh has both a Graduate Student Senate and an Undergraduate Student Senate. The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is a body that was created in order to give a voice to graduate student concerns and feedback. Every graduate student enrolled at Lehigh is automatically a general member of the GSS. Students can also participate as the following: Unit Representatives, Club Representatives, Committee Representatives, and the Executive Board. The Executive Board is elected by the general members. The function of the Undergraduate Student Senate shall be to provide an opportunity for its members to discuss and express their views upon any matter which they deem of general student interest and to make recommendations or pass resolutions with respect thereto. The Student Senate shall speak as the representative voice of the undergraduates on affairs of concern to the undergraduate community. The members of the senate are appointed and elected, but all students are welcome to attend and participate in senate meetings.

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

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:
The Employee Relations Advisory Committee (ERAC) is a team of elected exempt and non-exempt staff members, working together to help advance the interests of our colleagues around campus. We strive to make the Lehigh community as collegial as possible, ensuring that our dedication, enthusiasm and professional experience is recognized across the university. The Council for Equity and Community (CEC) is an independent advisory board comprised of Lehigh staff, faculty, and students committed to serving as a campus resource in the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage constructive dialogue and work toward building a stronger campus community. ERAC is strongly committed to a proactive stance in advising the President, through the Vice President for Finance and Administration, on matters pertaining to employee relations. Current areas of concern include the following: Communication Problem Solving Mechanisms (Resources) Working Conditions Staff Recognition and Development

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 voting faculty members of the faculty are those with the rank of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor. Instructors with full-time academic appointments in teaching or research are also voting members of the faculty, provided that they are not candidates for a Lehigh degree. Also, included as voting faculty members are the president, provost, the deans of each the four colleges, and the vice provost for library and technology services. The university faculty is the legislative body in matters pertaining to the admission, registration, instruction, and discipline of students, and in matters related to academic procedures and educational policies. Faculty also have avenues in participating in the multiple committees and advisory groups that exist on campus, which include elected representatives from each college such as: faculty steering committee (1.2.2.1) [subcommittee on rules and procedures] (1.2.2.1.1) educational policy committee (1.2.2.2) graduate and research committee (1.2.2.3) faculty compensation committee (1.2.2.4) faculty financial planning and operations committee (1.2.2.5) faculty personnel committee (1.2.2.6) faculty committee on student life (1.2.2.7)

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?:
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

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):
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/content/university-governance

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.