Michigan State University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: Associated Students of MSU (ASMSU) is the student governing body and primary decision-making student body at the university. The General Assembly (the ASMSU legislative body) is made up of elected student representatives from each college as well as representatives from the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students (CORES), Council of Progressive Students (COPS), and major governing organizations (Residence Hall Association, Fraternity and Sorority Life Councils, etc.). The General Assembly meets twice monthly to pass bills, discuss campus issues, and vote on legislative action. These meetings are open to all members of the public. “Legislative action from the Assembly on behalf of the undergraduate student body is… carried forward in advocacy to University officials, community leaders, as well as representatives at the State Capitol and Federal level of government.” https://asmsu.msu.edu/divisions/general-assembly/. The president of ASMSU is elected by the general assembly of ASMSU. ASMSU added a Director of Sustainability position to their central staff; this position coordinates a sustainability ad-hoc committee where sustainability-focused bills are developed and discussed prior to being introduced to the general assembly.

GRADUATE STUDENTS: The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) is the authorized student government on campus representing all graduate/professional students at MSU. COGS accomplishes its mission through advocacy, innovative programming, and collaboration with other student organizations and the academic and administrative units of the University. Officers are elected by the membership per their constitution.

ACADEMIC STAFF: The Faculty Senate is a deliberative, representative, and legislative body for Michigan State University faculty. As such, the Faculty Senate is the major, regularly meeting body in which curricular issues, faculty tenure and promotion issues, and faculty salary and benefits issues are presented. The Faculty Senate’s roles include communicating its position to the administration making recommendations, provide advice, and speak for University faculty on proposals developed in the University-level Standing Committees. The Faculty Senate will seek broad faculty input on major initiatives before the University community. The voting members of the Faculty Senate are composed of faculty representatives from each college at the University, the At-Large Faculty Representatives on the Steering Committee, and the individuals who sit as Chairpersons of the University-level Standing Committees. In addition, the President, the Provost, one elected member of ASMSU, one elected member of COGS, the Athletic Council Chairperson, a representative of the faculty emeriti and the Secretary of Academic Governance are ex-officio with voice only.

NONACADEMIC STAFF: There are 10 unions at MSU, eight of which represent employees in support staff positions. The Coalition of Labor Organizations (CLO) comprises 9 of MSU’s unions. Presidents of these unions meet twice per month and discuss issues happening on campus and issues of concern pertaining to their respective membership. The CLO meets with the MSU President two to three times per year. In addition, the CLO meets weekly with the Director of the Office of Employee Relations to discuss issues. Members of MSU’s senior leadership frequently present at these meetings on topics of concern.

The MSU Board of Trustees consists of eight members who are elected by the voters of the state of Michigan through General Election for eight-year terms per the state’s constitution. The Michigan Constitution grants the Board general supervision of the institution, including control and direction of all its expenditures and final authority in its government. The Board, by federal law, also is charged to uphold the obligations of a land-grant University. Two members are selected every two years by the people of Michigan in a statewide general election. This voting system was established in 1908. All board meetings are public, and open comment periods are designated for community members and stakeholders at every board meeting. Anyone from the public is allowed to speak and provide public input during the open comment period. https://trustees.msu.edu/meetings/public-participation.html

Community and external stakeholder input is also sought in a variety of ways for the university’s planning processes and programs that have a community focus. For example, community input was sought for the university’s strategic plan and facilities and land use plan. Multiple colleges and units have external advisory boards to engage stakeholders, and MSU Extension routinely seeks feedback from partners and community members on the programming they deliver around the state.

https://trustees.msu.edu/policies/Policy-Manual-Updated-2019-04-12.pdf