| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.57 |
| Liaison | Steven Sypniewski |
| Submission Date | Jan. 24, 2025 |
SUNY Buffalo State
PA-3: Institutional Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 4.00 |
Sarah
Reid Campus Planner Campus Planning |
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:
State University of New York (SUNY) Student Assembly (SUNY SA) As the official representative organization for students at the State University of New York (SUNY), the SUNY Student Assembly (SUNY SA) brings together student leaders from all 64 SUNY campuses to advocate for the needs and concerns of students across the state. Through our participation in University-wide Shared-Governance, the SUNY SA serves as a bridge between students, the Chancellor, and the University Board of Trustees, providing a forum for consultation and the exchange of information on matters that affect all SUNY students. We also serve as a communications network for campus student government leaders, connecting student voices across our diverse and expansive system.
The Buffalo State University Council is responsible for the "operations and affairs" of the university. It is composed of ten members—nine appointees of the Governor of New York, and one elected student representative. Appointees serve seven-year terms, and student representatives are elected for one-year terms.
The Buffalo State Senate is the official agency through which the college faculty, support staff, and students engage in the governance of the University. Actions of the Senate are advisory to the President and addresses the following areas: curriculum; instruction and research; standards for students; faculty/staff welfare; bylaws and elections; budget and staff allocations; student welfare; and academic plan. There are 7 student senators on the senate. The Student Welfare Committee is chaired by a student and a staff member is vice-chair.
The United Students Government (USG) has represented Buffalo State students since 1971. USG is headed by students who are elected each year by the undergraduate student body, is maintained with the support of a professional staff, and is funded through the mandatory student activity fee. In addition to the operational activities of student government, USG supports over 40 funded and recognized student organizations, each providing general and specialized events and activities for students with diverse interests.
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:
Buffalo State University is part of the State University of New York system. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the State University of New York. It consists of 18 members, 15 of whom are appointed by the Governor, by and with consent of the New York State Senate. In addition, the president of the Student Assembly serves as student trustee and the presidents of the University Faculty Senate and Faculty Council of Community Colleges serve as ex-officio trustees.
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:
The President of this Assembly sits on the SUNY Board of Trustees and has voting rights.
State University of New York (SUNY) Student Assembly (SUNY SA) As the official representative organization for students at the State University of New York (SUNY), the SUNY Student Assembly (SUNY SA) brings together student leaders from all 64 SUNY campuses to advocate for the needs and concerns of students across the state. Through our participation in University-wide Shared-Governance, the SUNY SA serves as a bridge between students, the Chancellor, and the University Board of Trustees, providing a forum for consultation and the exchange of information on matters that affect all SUNY students. We also serve as a communications network for campus student government leaders, connecting student voices across our diverse and expansive system.
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:
The Buffalo State Senate is the official agency through which the college faculty, support staff, and students engage in the governance of the University. Actions of the Senate are advisory to the President and addresses the following areas: curriculum; instruction and research; standards for students; faculty/staff welfare; bylaws and elections; budget and staff allocations; student welfare; and academic plan. The Student Welfare Committee is chaired by a student and a staff member is vice-chair.
The senate is made up of
- 12 faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences
- 6 faculty from the School of Education
- 6 faculty from the School of the Professions
- 6 at-large senators (faculty or professional staff)
- 6 from the Professional Staff Caucus
- 1 librarian (faculty)
- 1 support staff
- 7 Students
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:
The President of the Univeristy Faculty Senate (UFS) sits on the SUNY Board of Trustees. Our campus has two representatives on the University Faculty Senate with the opportunity to be elected president of the UFS.
Buffalo State University is part of the State University of New York system. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the State University of New York. It consists of 18 members, 15 of whom are appointed by the Governor, by and with consent of the New York State Senate. In addition, the president of the Student Assembly serves as student trustee and the presidents of the University Faculty Senate and Faculty Council of Community Colleges serve as ex-officio trustees.
The SUNY Board of Trustees approved the creation of the University Faculty Senate on October 8, 1953. Article VII of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees states "the Senate shall be the official agency through which the University Faculty engages in the governance of the University. The Senate shall be concerned with effective educational policies and other professional matters within the University."
The UFS membership consists of the Chancellor of the University, two University representatives having University-wide responsibilities and representatives from each State-operated unit and contract college. This is a total of 33 SUNY colleges. This makes the University Faculty Senate one of the largest faculty governance organizations in the country!
The University Faculty Senate serves as a resource on governance for the University. It serves as a deliberative body on educational policies for the SUNY System. In this capacity it issues publications such as handbooks, directories and reports on matters such as budget, program revision and presidential searches. This Web site is designed to be a repository for documents and information produced by the University Faculty Senate.
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:
The President of the Univeristy Faculty Senate (UFS) is an ex-officio member of the SUNY Board of Trustees and does not have voting rights.
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:
The Buffalo State Senate is the official agency through which the college faculty, support staff, and students engage in the governance of the University. Actions of the Senate are advisory to the President and addresses the following areas: curriculum; instruction and research; standards for students; faculty/staff welfare; bylaws and elections; budget and staff allocations; student welfare; and academic plan. The Student Welfare Committee is chaired by a student and a staff member is vice-chair.
The senate is made up of
- 12 faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences
- 6 faculty from the School of Education
- 6 faculty from the School of the Professions
- 6 at-large senators (faculty or professional staff)
- 6 from the Professional Staff Caucus
- 1 librarian (faculty)
- 1 support staff
- 7 Students
The Professional Staff Caucus is the voice of the professional staff on campus. The purpose of the organization is to unite those designated as “Professional Employee” as defined by the Policies of the Board of Trustees for the State University of New York (current edition); provide an open forum for discussion of issues relevant to the Professional employee; provide a single structure wherein all Professional employees are recognized; elect and/or select Professional employees as requested for representation to/on other committees or organizations.
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:
The President of the Univeristy Faculty Senate (UFS) sits on the SUNY Board of Trustees. Our campus has two representatives on the University Faculty Senate with the opportunity to be elected president of the UFS. Our representatives can be faculty or professional staff.
Buffalo State University is part of the State University of New York system. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the State University of New York. It consists of 18 members, 15 of whom are appointed by the Governor, by and with consent of the New York State Senate. In addition, the president of the Student Assembly serves as student trustee and the presidents of the University Faculty Senate and Faculty Council of Community Colleges serve as ex-officio trustees.
The SUNY Board of Trustees approved the creation of the University Faculty Senate on October 8, 1953. Article VII of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees states "the Senate shall be the official agency through which the University Faculty engages in the governance of the University. The Senate shall be concerned with effective educational policies and other professional matters within the University."
The UFS membership consists of the Chancellor of the University, two University representatives having University-wide responsibilities and representatives from each State-operated unit and contract college. This is a total of 33 SUNY colleges. This makes the University Faculty Senate one of the largest faculty governance organizations in the country!
The University Faculty Senate serves as a resource on governance for the University. It serves as a deliberative body on educational policies for the SUNY System. In this capacity it issues publications such as handbooks, directories and reports on matters such as budget, program revision and presidential searches. This Web site is designed to be a repository for documents and information produced by the University Faculty Senate.
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 President of the Univeristy Faculty Senate (UFS) is an ex-officio member of the SUNY Board of Trustees and does not has voting rights.
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.