Northern Arizona University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Associated Students of Northern Arizona University (ASNAU) is the undergraduate student governing board. Another branch of ASNAU is the Arizona Students’ Association, which is a statewide student-lobbying group. These delegates represent concerns regarding higher education before the Arizona Board of Regents, the state legislature, and the federal government. There are many ways to get involved in student government. The New Student Organization is a great avenue that allows incoming students to learn more about ASNAU and the campus. ASNAU sponsors Homecoming activities, Family Weekend, Holiday Week, The LOUIE Awards, leadership retreats, and recreational events. Also offered are free services such as notary public and legal services. Graduate Student Government (GSG) is the governing board for graduate students at Northern Arizona University. The GSG offers travel awards for graduate students, upholds a housing listserv, advocates for increased graduate assistant benefits and tuition remission, collaborates with the Arizona Students’ Association and the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students on state and national higher education issues, serves on university-wide committees, and organizes social gatherings for graduate students and families. There are 2 student regents that sit on the board, they are appointed by the governor of Az. Only on is a voting member and it rotates between the three AZ state schools. Selection of the Student Regent The Student Regent is chosen through a rigorous process that begins with candidates applying to the Board of Associated Students of Arizona. The student Board forwards three final candidates to the local student government on campus where the nominees are confirmed and forwarded to the Governor's office. The Governor conducts interviews and nominates one student for the position. The Governor's nominee must be confirmed by the Arizona Senate.

Service Professional Advisory Council (SPAC) is the officially recognized body to represent Service Professionals on campus. They meet once each month during the academic year. All Service Professionals are encouraged to attend meetings. NAU's Classified Staff Advisory Council (CSAC) advises and makes recommendations to university administrators on existing and proposed policies, procedures, and programs which impact or are of particular interest to classified staff. CSAC serves as a communication medium for all classified staff, acting as staff liaison with other university constituencies in an effort to foster effective dialogue university-wide. CSAC provides a forum for discussing and defining the role of classified staff in the university community, representing and advocating their concerns throughout the university community. CSAC serves as a resource for inquiries and requests and works to protect and promote the general welfare of classified staff within the parameters of the university’s mission. The Council of Academic Professionals consists of the employees of NAU in the category of Academic Professional. The purposes of CAP are to: a. Address the professional interests and concerns of council members and be a collective voice for members on issues related to the conditions under which members practice their professions; b. Be the collegial body through which members participate as professionals in the shared governance of the university library; c. Provide for the participation of members in the shared governance of the university by the election of a Faculty Senate Representative, election to university committees as appropriate, and by recommending to the Dean and University Librarian representatives of the library to elected university committees, and in other appropriate ways; and d. Provide for peer participation in personnel decisions related to its members, including appointment, retention, continuing status, promotion, salary adjustments, and related professional concerns.

The Constitution of the Faculty of Northern Arizona University establishes a Faculty Senate as the representative body of the faculty. The Senate consists of members elected from and by the Faculty and the Officers of the Faculty Senate. For the purpose of nomination of and voting for Faculty Senators, the faculty shall be divided into voting units by colleges, schools, or comparable units as defined in the relevant section of the Bylaws. The number of Senate seats assigned to each voting unit shall be proportionate to the total number of full-time equivalent Faculty members in the unit; each voting unit is entitled to at least one Senator. Each academic unit shall be certified for Senate representation by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. The Senate provides a forum for free discussion, decision-making, and independent statements of Faculty concerns and judgment. It is also the main vehicle through which the Faculty discharges its role in shared governance at the University, within the scope of its authority as established by Arizona law and the policies of the Arizona Board of Regents. The Faculty Senate normally functions as the forum for faculty deliberation and consent in the introduction, approval, or revision of all academic policy in any matter concerning the governance structures it sponsors directly, in the form of Faculty Senate committees, or in the university committees it oversees, including those defined by the Conditions of Faculty Service or described elsewhere in the Faculty Handbook. Senate Constitution: http://nau.edu/Faculty-Senate/Documents/

Flagstaff is the world's first International Dark Ski City. As a result, there is great interest in preserving our night skies. The community group (Dark Skies Coalition) meets regularly with NAU's Planning, Design, and Construction department to ensure all new development abides by their standards. NAU has committed to abiding by all policies and procedures outlined by the International Dark-Sky Association http://www.darksky.org/idsp/communities/ NAU and the City of Flagstaff has a jointly funded position who acts as the "campus-community liaison." They work on teaching students how to become better neighbors and get involved in the community during their time at NAU. NAU’s has a representative on the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) board and engages on transportation policies.

Private sector - multiple departments have advisory boards that consist of individuals from all these sectors who direct the curriculum and learning outcomes of the departments or degree programs. Two good examples are our masters degree in Climate Science and Solutions advisory board: https://nau.edu/cefns/natsci/seses/climate-science-solutions/advisory-board/ And the Construction Management Industry Advisory Board Civil society - The Environmental Caucus saves a seat on its steering committee for a community member. http://nau.edu/Environmental-Caucus/ Also, the previously mentioned Dark Sky Coalition. These groups are engaged in institutional governance.