University of Colorado Colorado Springs
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Student Government Association (SGA) :
We are the Student Government Association of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and our mission is to help improve the lives and enhance the experiences of students. We strive to faithfully and truthfully serve and represent students as they pursue their futures. We exist to represent student interests to a wide variety of audiences, to include the UCCS administration, the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado, the City of Colorado Springs, and the Colorado legislature. We represent these interests as “the official voice of students” at UCCS.
Additionally, SGA works to investigate and resolve common student concerns, advocate for the inclusion of students in the overall policy and decision-making processes of the university community, promote awareness of the student’s role in the academic community, enhance the quality and scope of education both inside and outside the classroom at the university, and to empower students with leadership and management opportunities.
The Student Government Association is comprised of three branches of governance: executive, legislative, and judicial. The individuals who volunteer to fulfill the positions within these branches come from every corner of campus; they’re charged with establishing SGA’s official position on a variety of issues as well as advocating for and carrying out its objectives. This organization creates, implements, and oversees a $350,000 budget that is generated by the student activity fee.
https://sga.uccs.edu/

Intercampus Student Forum (ISF):
The UCCS Student Government Association Executive Branch participates in the CU Intercampus Student Forum. This forum consists of members of Student Government across all four CU Campuses. The ISF’s constitution states the following:

“We, as students at the University of Colorado, create the University of Colorado Intercampus Student Forum in order to facilitate the process of communication and cooperation among the student leadership at the four University campuses. The purpose of such interactions shall be to promote student interests by fostering excellence in the academic and social environment of the University, and providing student representation at the system administrative level in the development of University policy and direction.”

https://www.ucdenver.edu/docs/librariesprovider129/sga-library/icsf_bylaws.pdf?sfvrsn=167405b9_2
https://www.cu.edu/regents/law/7

Faculty Assembly
This Constitution of the Faculty Assembly provides for the participation of faculty of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in the governance of the University. The faculty derives its authority and responsibility from the nature of a university and through the Laws of the Regents of the University. This Constitution is consistent with the Laws of the Regents and the Constitution and Rules of the Faculty Senate of the University of Colorado.
https://facassembly.uccs.edu/staff/faculty-assembly-executive-committee-0

UCCS Staff Association:
The UCCS Staff Association believes valued and empowered staff who engage as their best selves are successful personally and professionally. In everything we do, the Staff Association creates meaningful connections, recognition and self enhancement in a fun and supportive environment, so that members of the UCCS community stay and thrive.
The Staff Association is established to represent all staff members of UCCS. The term "staff" is inclusive of individuals designated as both University Staff and State Classified Staff. All UCCS staff are automatically members of the Staff Association, and the elected members of the Staff Association Executive Board carry out decision-making operations.

The Staff Association's responsibilities include:
- Advocating for the interests of UCCS staff.
- Helping to facilitate the exchange of information among staff members.
- Providing professional development opportunities for staff members.
- Making recommendations concerning problems and policies relating to staff members.
- Providing representation to boards, councils, committees across the university and university system.
- Aiding in the Strategic Plan 2030 goal of establishing an environment conducive to excellent staff recruitment, retention, development and recognition.
- Undertaking matters of concern assigned by the Chancellor.
- Fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation among all UCCS staff.
https://staff.uccs.edu/

All registered voters in the state of Colorado vote for the governing body of the CU System, the Board of Regents. The University of Colorado Board of Regents consists of nine members serving staggered six-year terms, one elected from each of Colorado's seven congressional districts and two from the state at large. Each member is an unpaid volunteer. Regents approve the University Systems budget, set its tuition and priorities, and hire and evaluate the CU System's President. The Board of Regents host 7 regular meetings each year that are open to the public. These meetings allow for anyone to make public comment to communicate concerns directly with the Board of Regents. Along with these publicly available meeting dates, community members are also encouraged to email the Regents with issues and concerns.
https://regents.cu.edu/

Many of the CU System programs that are focused on communities within Colorado provide a structure where community members can provide feedback to how the University Systems engages with and impacts them.
http://cuforcolorado.cu.edu/programs.aspx

The Office of the Chancellor also hosts regular Town Halls in which the Chancellor gives updates regarding the state of the campus. Questions can also be submitted by students, faculty, and staff that can be answered at these town halls. These sessions are open to anyone and are hosted in person or virtually.
https://chancellor.uccs.edu/statements-media/multimedia

Student Government Executive members also meet monthly with the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs to discuss student concerns and provide updates to students with developments on campus. This allows students to communicate any feedback to their Student Government executive members that will then be communicated with upper administration. Student Government Senate will also hear updates directly from the Chancellor every semester with the ability to ask questions.