Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.84
Liaison Paul Edlund
Submission Date Feb. 19, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Montana State University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 3.00 Mathew Bain
Intern
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?:
Yes

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:
The Associated Student of Montana State University is the governing body serving as the elected voice of the students of MSU in Bozeman. The elected president of ASMSU advises the president on issues pertaining to students at the University Council. The Montana Associated Students (MAS) is a representative body for the students of the Montana University System (MUS). MAS selects a student as a representative on the Board of Regents through a nomination and vetting process. This appointee is then approved by the Governor of Montana and acts as a student regent for the MUS system.

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:
Staff Senate: The Staff Senate represents the position of the classified employees of Montana State University on University committees and all appropriate MSU organizations. The Montana State University Staff Senate advises the President and Board of Regents on matters reflecting classified staff concerns. The Professional Council represents non-classified, non-faculty staff at Montana State University. The Professional Council facilitates communication and cooperation among professionals, and communication with administration in the development of general decisions and policies which affect professional employees.

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:
Faculty Senate: The Faculty Senate is composed of representatives from each academic department, the Library, the Agricultural Research Centers, and the Agricultural Extension Service. Faculty Senate is the chief governance body of the faculty at Montana State University-Bozeman. Under the governance authority of the Montana University System, the Faculty Senate frames policies, procedures and standards of the Faculty Handbook, oversees the curricula, evaluates new academic programs, and serves to enhance communication between MSU faculty, administration, and students. The Faculty Senate advises the President and Board of Regents on matters reflecting faculty concerns.

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 Yes
Private sector organizations Yes
Civil society (e.g. NGOs, NPOs) Yes

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):
ASMSU Committees: The Associated Students of MSU oversee numerous committees that oversee funding and university policy such as the Streamline bus system advisory committee and budget oversight committee. In accordance with Montana Code annotated 2-3-203 and ASMSU bylaws 5-6, all meetings are open to the public and public comment must be permitted at the beginning of each meeting. Each of the above stakeholder groups may be represented during this time. Additionally, time may be allotted to individuals from any of the above stakeholder groups by senators. University Facilities Planning Board: UFPB serves in an advisory capacity to the President and will develop, recommend, and maintain policies related to the development and utilization of campus facilities and grounds. In accordance with Montana Code Annotated 2-3-203 all meetings are open to the public and public comment must be permitted at the beginning of each meeting. Each of the above stakeholder groups may be represented during this time.

Optional Fields 

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:
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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.