Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.69
Liaison Susan Dorward
Submission Date July 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Raritan Valley Community College
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 3.00 Susan Dorward
Sustainability and Energy Coordinator
Facilities and Grounds
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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:
Students elect 5 student government officers and 5 senators. SGA Your Voice Networking Hour Every month SGA hosts a coffee hour for students to gather, discuss issues, brainstorm ideas, and work together to improve our college community. Student Government often invites special guests to share their knowledge on scholarships, college innovations, and other information of interest to the general student body. Students have an opportunity to voice their concerns, make suggestions for college betterment, and get to know their student government leaders. Networking Hour is once per month, located on the first floor of the college center. Free coffee, tea, and refreshments are provided. General Assembly Each month SGA welcomes all students and club representatives to come together for a general assembly meeting to share information and hear the monthly reports of all current and future club activities or events. The meeting is held during College hour on the last Tuesday of each month. College Forum The college forum is an open meeting for all faculty, students, and staff. Students are invited to participate in discussing issues that are related to developing policies, co-curriculum, and how the college is being operated. The Forum is during College Hour, on the first Tuesday of every month. Board of Trustees Every year the students elect a graduating student to become the Alumni Representative on the Board of Trustees.

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 can participate in the Forum monthly meetings, the Forum Steering Committee, the Council of Staff, and Forum committees. The Forum is the College-wide Governance Body. Current active Forum Committees include: Community Life, Diversity Council, Environmental Sustainability, Safety Committee, Technology Committee.

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 and adjuncts participate in the Forum, the Forum Steering Committee, the Council of Faculty, and Forum committees, which are made up of staff, administrators and faculty. The Forum is the College-wide Governance Body. Current active Forum Committees include: Community Life, Diversity Council, Environmental Sustainability, Safety Committee, Technology Committee.

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) 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):
Representatives from Somerset County, Hunterdon County, and the NJ State Assembly sit on the Board of Trustees. The board includes seven members appointed by the Somerset Board of Chosen Freeholders, three members appointed by the Hunterdon Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Executive County Superintendents from both Somerset and Hunterdon Counties, two members appointed by the Governor and an alumni representative. The Freeholders typically select a range of private sector trustees. Current private sector trustees are from the medical, legal, construction, energy, consulting, commercial real estate, marketing, and pharmaceutical industries.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://www.raritanval.edu/general-information/board-of-trustees-admin/board-member-bios

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