University of Alabama at Birmingham
PA-3: Participatory Governance

UAB has an Undergraduate Student Government Association, which has elected representatives for each undergrad school and college as well as at-large positions. USGA aims to represent the undergraduate student body by advocating for student interests and empowering the student's voice. We provide opportunities to influence both their academic and social experiences at UAB. In order to accomplish our mission, USGA leaders work closely with faculty and administration to propel both short- and long-term student goals. In addition to policy work, USGA works on services, programs, and funds distribution to student organizations in order to develop and foster a more collaborative UAB community. UAB has a Graduate Student Government, which has elected representatives for each school and college with graduate degree programs as well as at-large positions. The GSG advocates for and provides educational, financial, and mental health support for the graduate student body. Each professional school has a student representative body, and each of those sends a representative to the Graduate Student Government. These groups do not have direct representation on the President's Executive Cabinet. The VP for Student Affairs sits on the Cabinet as a representative of the students and engages the student groups directly as needed.

The UAB Staff Council. https://www.uab.edu/staffcouncil/ The UAB Staff Council's representative on the President's Executive Cabinet is the Chief Human Resources Officer, but this is not an elected position.

The Faculty Senate represents UAB’s faculty in matters of shared governance. The Senate is made up of faculty representatives from all of UAB’s academic units, as well as four officers elected at large by the faculty. Through participation in various councils and committees, the Senate conveys the faculty’s views and concerns in matters that affect the University. In addition, the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate has a standing monthly meeting with the President and the Provost, serving as representation on the Executive Cabinet for this response but there is no elected representative on this Cabinet.

From a regulatory perspective, we are required to engage the adjacent neighborhoods with any new building / land planning project as part of the City’s Planning Commission procedure and our internal UAB Facilities Campus Planning, Design, and Construction commitment. Our campus planner regularly attends adjacent neighborhood associations meetings. In addition, we are often required to present for approval at the City’s Design Review Committee, and then the Planning Commission (or their plan review group). Our master planning processes always include staff, faculty, community stakeholders and City of Birmingham representatives to get a broad cross section of the campus community to help guide the physical development of the campus in a manner that supports the five pillars of the University’s Strategic Plan. Our Board of Trustees requires letters of support from the adjacent neighborhood associations for approval of new master plans. Current searches for new Deans (College of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering) and UAB's overhaul of the Core Curriculum include committees composed of UAB stakeholders as well as community members.

UAB has many ways in which external stakeholders can participate in institutional governance: UAB Tree Campus Committee. https://www.uab.edu/sustainability/images/Documents/UAB-Campus-Tree-Care-Plan.pdf The University of Alabama at Birmingham Campus Tree Advisory Committee was established as part of the Tree Campus USA initiative developed by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The committee consists of members of the faculty, staff and student groups, and also a member of the Birmingham community. Each member will serve a 2-year term with option to renew as approved by the Chairperson (Manager, Campus Services and Grounds). The Committee will participate in annual reviews of the Tree Care Plan and provide support for projects related to trees and green spaces on campus. the mission of this committee is to protect, promote, and preserve existing trees on UAB’s campus, while providing guidance to encourage the addition of campus green spaces, in order to create a more attractive, healthy, and sustainable campus environment. UAB Center for Study of Community Health http://www.soph.uab.edu/csch/sites/edu.csch/files/CSCH%20Org%20Chart%20Updated%201-16-15.pdf Founded in 1993, the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health is one of 25 Prevention Research Centers across the US designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Center focuses on reducing health risks among underserved populations throughout the state of Alabama and plays a leading role in the development of community-based participatory research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). As a designated UAB University-Wide Interdisciplinary Research Center, the Center for the Study of Community Health offers a unique prevention research environment that includes Center Scholars from a cross-section of disciplines including clinicians, researchers, health-related professionals, social and behavioral scientists, and community leaders who are setting new standards in the state of Alabama and around the world. To expand support for our core research project and other initiatives in the urban setting, the Jefferson County Community Participation Board (JCCPB) provides ongoing, broad-based community input and guidance in planning and implementation of Center research, education, and service activities. We work with BUN (Birmingham United Neighborhoods) as well. Birmingham United Neighborhoods (BUN) is a coalition of 8 neighborhoods, working with the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health since 2017 when they collaborated on plans for the 2019-2024 core research project. BUN provides input to guide the project, and 2 representatives from BUN serve on the Center’s community participation Board (JCCPB), which advises on all of the Center’s research, translation, training, and service activities. Meetings and Activities. There are 4 meetings annually of JCCPB, and 4 additional “joint” meetings annually of JCCPB with One Great Community (OGC). JCCPB and OGC joint activities include an annual Community Engagement Institute. Organization. According to its Bylaws, JCCPB has up to twenty-five members, who represent a broad cross-section of our urban community including health and social service agencies, educational institutions, civic and neighborhood organizations, city and county government, and religious organizations. Members serve a 2-year term, with opportunity for nomination for additional 2-year terms. In addition to a Chair and Co-Chair, members are elected to represent the Center on the CDC Prevention Research Center (PRC) Program’s Community Committee.