Purchase College - State University of New York
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

The students have the Purchase Student Government Association (PSGA).The PSGA is a nonprofit corporation responsible for managing the funds collected from the Mandatory Student Activity Fee and advocating for the larger student body. Academic staff have the Faculty @ Large (F@L). The voting faculty on this committee have a primary responsibility for developing and implementing educational, curricular, and personnel polities, and for defining and participating in the administration of academic and professional standards of the college. Non-academic staff have the Professional Staff Council. This council influences the decision-making process of the college for immediate and long-range issues, provides a forum for discussion of common areas of concern among professional staff employees, provides opportunities for personal and professional growth and development, and collaborates with the professionals' unions, human resources, and faculty on common interests. The Purchase College Senate represents both academic and non-academic staff and students. The Senate and its standing committees function as the representative decision-making body of shared governance, whereby faculty, staff, administration, and student representatives formally and openly communicate, share responsibility, and take cooperative action on matters of importance to the college.

The SUNY Board of Trustees is the institution's highest governing body. There are 18 possible positions (16 of which are currently filled), 15 of which are appointed by New York's Governor.