University of California, San Diego
PA-3: Participatory Governance

The UC Board of Regents has a position for a student regent; however, the process of selecting a student for this position does not meet STARS’ criteria for an elected representative. Any UC student in good academic standing can apply to be a student regent. UC student nominating commissions select 10 semifinalists to be interviewed by the UCSA board of directors, who choose 3 applicants. These applicants are then interviewed by the Regents’ Special Committee to Select a Student Regent. Once the committee recommends a nominee to the full board, the Board of Regents vote on the nominee, which becomes the student regent-designate, however they can also reject the list of finalists. That being said, at UC San Diego Associated Students (AS) is a body of student-elected representatives on campus that facilitate and encourage students to grow and develop through their involvement in student government, its services and auxiliaries. AS promotes student engagement in all areas of campus life through leadership, advocacy, and service in order to build and strengthen our community. The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the official representative body of graduate and professional student at UC San Diego, which exists to advocate for the rights and interests of our diverse community, to provide for the enjoyment of social, cultural, and service-oriented events, and for the betterment of academic and non-academic life of all graduate and professional students at UC San Diego. Undergraduate and graduate students, appointed by AS and the GSA, sit on a number of committees at both the UC-wide/system-level and at the UC San Diego campus level, including but not limited to the UC San Diego Advisory Committee on Sustainability, the Global Climate Leadership Council, and as representatives to the UC Board of Regents.

Staff Advisors to the Regents are non-voting members on the UC Board of Regents. Candidates for this position initially nominate themselves and are screened by the Office of the President Screening Committee where at least 3 semifinalists are chosen. The semifinalists are interviewed by the OP Selection Committee where finalists are boiled down to 2-3 individuals. Finalists are ultimately interviewed and selected by the President. Though the Screening Committee is made up of the Staff Advisor Designate, 1-2 previous Staff Advisors, staff or non-senate academic employees from UC locations, the ultimate decision by the President makes this position an appointment rather than peer-elected. The UC San Diego Staff Association creates community, champions staff interests, and provides opportunities for professional networking and development. We are a non-dues organization made up of all career staff employees. The Staff Association is managed by staff members for staff members, and presents staff views to the Office of the President, the Chancellor, and senior UC San Diego administration. UC San Diego also has a Staff Sustainability Network, the first staff association focused on sustainability in the entire UC system.

Academic Senate Chair and Vice Chair serve on UC Regents and are elected by their peers. The Academic Senate is one of three branches in the system of shared governance in the University of California: The Board of Regents, which sets broad policy; the Administration, which directs the organization of the University and its finances; and the Academic Senate, which directs the educational function and provides faculty advice to both the Regents and the Administration. In accordance with Regents Standing Order 105, the Academic Senate sets admissions and graduation requirements, approves courses and curriculum, approves manuscripts published by the University of California Press, and advises on the budget and other matters pertaining to the conduct and welfare of the University. The membership of the Academic Senate includes: Tenure-track and tenured Professors, In-Residence Professors, Professors of Clinical X, Lecturers w/SOE or PSOE, and select Administrators Under the leadership of an elected chair, the San Diego Division of the University of California Academic Senate operates through thirty standing committees, including Senate Council, its executive committee, and through the San Diego Divisional Representative Assembly, a legislative body. The Senate is governed by its own systemwide and local bylaws and regulations promulgated by the San Diego Divisional Representative Assembly (local) or the Assembly of the University of California Academic Senate (systemwide). The Senate’s standing committees address matters which span the operations of a university, including: academic freedom, academic appointments and advancement, admissions, diversity and equity, buildings and facilities, transportation, safety, educational policy, faculty welfare, benefit and retirement plans, undergraduate and graduate courses and curriculum, international education, the Library, campus planning, the campus budget, faculty rights and privileges, grievances, and research. In addition to standing committees, ad hoc workgroups are formed in partnership with the Administration to address specific issues of interest to the faculty, and the Senate regularly participates in administrative committees, including search committees to fill campus and systemwide administrative positions.

Maintaining effective relationships between the UC San Diego Campus, Planning agencies and the San Diego community regarding the campus' physical development is one of UC San Diego Physical and Community Planning's missions. Information sharing and stakeholder engagement are standard components of all UC San Diego planning around land use, capital investment projects, etc. http://physicalplanning.ucsd.edu/community/default.htm In addition, under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the University must identify the significant environmental impacts of its actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible. Stakeholder engagement is a key component of this process: http://physicalplanning.ucsd.edu/environmental/public.html

The Chancellor’s Office is committed to fostering and strengthening positive relationships with the campus and community organizations. The Chancellor’s Community Advisory Board (CCAB), formerly known as the Board of Overseers, advocates for UC San Diego and advises the Chancellor, with specific emphasis on the university’s role in the community. The board also supports the formulation and execution of advocacy plans and programs related to increasing the community’s understanding of the positive impact UC San Diego has on the region’s development and progress. Created by former Chancellor William D. McElroy in 1973, CCAB is one of the oldest advisory boards of its type in the University of California system.

Other contacts: Robert Clossin, Director of Physical and Community Planning. http://as2.ucsd.edu/ http://gsa.ucsd.edu/ http://staffassociation.ucsd.edu/ http://staffassociation.ucsd.edu/staff-groups/index.html http://senate.ucsd.edu/ http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/about/members-and-advisors/index.html#faculty-reps http://chancellor.ucsd.edu/community/ccab http://chancellor.ucsd.edu/community http://physicalplanning.ucsd.edu/community/default.htm http://physicalplanning.ucsd.edu/community/groups.html