San Jose State University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Associated Students of San Jose State University has been a student-owned and operated non-profit organization for over 100 years. We are committed to providing services and activities that enhance the opportunity to meet, recreate and maximize student life. Opportunities to get involved and obtain leadership skills are among our highest priorities.
The Associated Students (A.S.) Board of Directors represent the student body as their governing council. They are the voice of SJSU students and advocate on their behalf on campus, statewide and national issues affecting them. Ass tudent representatives sit on all of the major committees and governing bodies at the university. All students can vote in the election of our Associated Students governing body. https://www.sjsu.edu/as/

The SJSU Academic Senate is the university's highest governing body for faculty. The Senate develops policies & procedures regarding faculty & administrative appointments, curriculum, business & fiscal matters, campus development, academic standards, University goals, and more. The Academic Senate selects members to participate on various university governance boards, including the Campus Sustainability Committee. There are 6 student members of the university's Academic Senate. They are all Associated Student members, elected to their positions by their peers. Faculty representatives from each college are elected by their peers to the Academic Senate.
The Academic Senate acts as the representative body within the faculty through which the responsibilities of the faculty are exercised. The Academic Senate formulates, evaluates, and recommends to the President of the University policies and procedures which pertain to the development, maintenance, and improvement of the University program in academic matters. The Constitution & Bylaws of the University Faculty and the Academic Senate establish the basis upon which the Academic Senate participates in the governance of SJSU. Through a process referred to as "shared governance", a tradition in academia with roots dating back to medieval times, the university faculty play a significant role in the institution's growth and development. The degree programs and curricula offered by the university are designed and vetted by the faculty. In consult with university administrators, the faculty also develop policies and procedures related to graduation requirements, faculty personnel matters, student grievances, periodic assessment of degree programs, the handling of intellectual property, and other aspects of university stewardship. The Academic Senate is the primary vehicle for faculty engagement in these activities. https://www.sjsu.edu/senate/

There are student, staff and faculty representatives on the university's strategic planning steering committee to advise on the organizational mission, vision, and goals and to implement and execute the 2019 Strategic Plan.

Staff members can participate in workers’ unions across the university system. For every union on campus, there is an elected union representative. Often these union reps from the university serve and participate in the CSU Board of Trustees meetings and other high level governance opportunities. At SJSU There are several bargaining agreements between the CSU and its staff and faculty, seven active unions operate at SJSU. https://www.sjsu.edu/up/myinfo/employee-labor-relations/sjsu-union-stewards/index.php

The CSU Board of Trustees is a 25-member governance board that adopts regulations and policies governing the entire CSU system. This group governs the CSU system as a whole and is the highest governing board for the system, but may not routinely have representative members from SJSU specifically. Board committees have authority over educational policy, finance, campus planning, and facilities, among other areas.
For more information on the CSU Board of Trustees, please visit: https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/board-of-trustees/Pages/default.aspx

SJSU and the City of San Jose are forming the "Spartan Bridge" (https://blogs.sjsu.edu/president/2020/02/18/helping-the-campus-community-to-connect-and-contribute-through-the-spartan-bridge/), an initiative being developed as outlined in our Strategic Plan (https://www.sjsu.edu/strategicplan/goals-and-outcomes/connect-and-contribute.php)