| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.37 |
| Liaison | Beth Klein |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2025 |
State University of New York at Cortland
PA-3: Institutional Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 4.00 |
Beth
Klein Professor and Sustainability Coordinator Childhood Early Childhoon |
3.1 Student participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which students can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
The Student Government Association acts as the voice of the student body at SUNY Cortland. Its dedicated staff and elected officers are liaisons to the administration in order to address student concerns. The SGA Cabinet consists of ten students; three of which are elected by the student body in April, and the remaining seven are appointed by the elected officers and approved by the Senate shortly after the election. The SGA Cabinet utilizes the Student Senate to solicit campus issues. The primary duty of these student leaders is to persistently work on improving the SUNY Cortland campus.
https://www2.cortland.edu/student-life/clubs-and-organizations/sga/
I addition, there are 3 student senators on the SUNY Cortland Faculty Senate
https://www2.cortland.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-senate/roster.dot
Are one or more student representatives included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining student representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
130.01 College Council
The College Council consists of nine members appointed by the governor, serving staggered seven-year terms. The current Student Government Association (SGA) president serves as the student member for a one-year term, and the current Faculty Senate chair serves each year on behalf of university faculty and staff. Both are voting members of the College Council.
The College Council has certain supervisory responsibilities, including the following: to recommend candidates for appointment as president of the university, to review major plans for operation of the university properties, to review proposed budget requests, to foster the development of advisory citizens' committees, to name buildings and grounds, and to make or approve regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students.
Does at least one student representative have voting rights on the highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult students on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
130.01 College Council
The College Council consists of nine members appointed by the governor, serving staggered seven-year terms. The current Student Government Association (SGA) president serves as the student member for a one-year term, and the current Faculty Senate chair serves each year on behalf of university faculty and staff. Both are voting members of the College Council.
The College Council has certain supervisory responsibilities, including the following: to recommend candidates for appointment as president of the university, to review major plans for operation of the university properties, to review proposed budget requests, to foster the development of advisory citizens' committees, to name buildings and grounds, and to make or approve regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.2 Academic staff participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which academic staff can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
SUNY Cortland has elected members of the faculty and staff that serve on the Faculty Senate. The Duties and Powers of the Senate are:
- To serve as deliberative body for organizing and carrying out the faculty's business.
- To determine those issues which should be taken to the entire faculty and to forward these to the faculty.
- To conduct a referendum on a question not contrary to local, state or federal law, or to provisions of these bylaws, at the formal request of at least 25% of the voting faculty.
- To carry out those directives of the faculty which are within the jurisdiction of the Senate and not otherwise delegated in these bylaws.
- To assume responsibility for:
- The formulations of the programs of the business and special meetings of the faculty.
- The initiation of studies and investigations relative to the achievement of the purpose of this organization.
- The advisement and support of the chair of the Senate in such of the latter's responsibilities as are specified in this Chapter 150.04.
- The determination of procedures of secret balloting in the elections of the faculty.
- The publishing of the annual reports of faculty committees.
- The approval and periodic review of the organizational structure and operating procedures of the graduate faculty.
- The approval and periodic review of the organizational structure and operating procedures of the part-time faculty.
- The changing of a provision of any policy or statement passed by the faculty which is discovered to be null and void because of a conflict with a university policy or statement which must take precedence (e.g., The Board of Trustees Policies or the bargaining agreement). The Senate shall have the power to change the provision to make it conform to all necessary University policies or statements.
https://www2.cortland.edu/offices/publications/handbook/part-one/#Anchor-chapter150
Are one or more academic staff representatives included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining academic staff representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
SUNY Cortland has elected members of the faculty and staff that serve on the Faculty Senate. The Duties and Powers of the Senate are:
- To serve as deliberative body for organizing and carrying out the faculty's business.
- To determine those issues which should be taken to the entire faculty and to forward these to the faculty.
- To conduct a referendum on a question not contrary to local, state or federal law, or to provisions of these bylaws, at the formal request of at least 25% of the voting faculty.
- To carry out those directives of the faculty which are within the jurisdiction of the Senate and not otherwise delegated in these bylaws.
- To assume responsibility for:
- The formulations of the programs of the business and special meetings of the faculty.
- The initiation of studies and investigations relative to the achievement of the purpose of this organization.
- The advisement and support of the chair of the Senate in such of the latter's responsibilities as are specified in this Chapter 150.04.
- The determination of procedures of secret balloting in the elections of the faculty.
- The publishing of the annual reports of faculty committees.
- The approval and periodic review of the organizational structure and operating procedures of the graduate faculty.
- The approval and periodic review of the organizational structure and operating procedures of the part-time faculty.
- The changing of a provision of any policy or statement passed by the faculty which is discovered to be null and void because of a conflict with a university policy or statement which must take precedence (e.g., The Board of Trustees Policies or the bargaining agreement). The Senate shall have the power to change the provision to make it conform to all necessary University policies or statements.
https://www2.cortland.edu/offices/publications/handbook/part-one/#Anchor-chapter150
In addition, faculty senate chair serves on the College Council:
130.01 College Council
The College Council consists of nine members appointed by the governor, serving staggered seven-year terms. The current Student Government Association (SGA) president serves as the student member for a one-year term, and the current Faculty Senate chair serves each year on behalf of university faculty and staff. Both are voting members of the College Council.
The College Council has certain supervisory responsibilities, including the following: to recommend candidates for appointment as president of the university, to review major plans for operation of the university properties, to review proposed budget requests, to foster the development of advisory citizens' committees, to name buildings and grounds, and to make or approve regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students.
In addition, Faculty representation is on the Faculty Senate.
https://www2.cortland.edu/offices/publications/handbook/part-one/#Anchor-chapter150
Does at least one academic staff representative have voting rights on the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult academic staff on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
130.01 College Council
The College Council consists of nine members appointed by the governor, serving staggered seven-year terms. The current Student Government Association (SGA) president serves as the student member for a one-year term, and the current Faculty Senate chair serves each year on behalf of university faculty and staff. Both are voting members of the College Council.
The College Council has certain supervisory responsibilities, including the following: to recommend candidates for appointment as president of the university, to review major plans for operation of the university properties, to review proposed budget requests, to foster the development of advisory citizens' committees, to name buildings and grounds, and to make or approve regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.3 Non-academic staff participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which non-academic staff can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Faculty senate includes four elected at-large representatives from proffesional staff and one representative of the classified staff all elected by members of this area.
https://www2.cortland.edu/offices/publications/handbook/part-one/#Anchor-130.03
Are one or more staff members representing non-managerial workers included as members of the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining non-academic staff representation on the institution’s highest decision-making body:
Does at least one staff member representing non-managerial workers have voting rights on the institution’s highest decision-making body?:
Description of other mechanisms used to consult non-academic staff on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
3.4 Community participation in governance
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ongoing bodies through which local community-based organizations can democratically participate in the governance of the institution:
Has the institution used one or more ad hoc mechanisms during the previous three years to consult local community members on institutional decisions, plans, or policies?:
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the ad hoc mechanisms used during the previous three years to consult local community members on institutional decisions, plans, or policies:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.