| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.39 |
| Liaison | Shane Stennes |
| Submission Date | Dec. 15, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Stacey
White Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
Do all enrolled students, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The Minnesota Student Association (MSA) is the student government for all undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
The Student Senate is the University of Minnesota's internal governance body representing all students at the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and Twin Cities campuses. Each senator that serves on the Student Senate is charged with representing students within the University of Minnesota system as a whole. We work to ensure a student voice in University decisions of policy and process. We also serve as the system-wide student voice to University administrators.
Is there at least one student representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative student body or organization?:
A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The 12-member Board of Regents is the governing body of the University of Minnesota. A joint convention of the Minnesota legislature elects one Regent from each of Minnesota's eight congressional districts and four from the state at large. One of the four at-large Regents must be a University student at the time of election.
In accordance with Board of Regents policy: Student Representatives to the Board of Regents, eight students are selected for a one-year term by the official student legislative bodies of the University campuses. Four students represent the Twin Cities campus, and one student represents each of the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, and Rochester campuses. Of the Twin Cities representatives, at least one and no more than two are able to represent the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA), and at least two and no more than three are able to represent the Minnesota Student Association (MSA).
Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals | Yes |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | Yes |
| Strategic and long-term planning | Yes |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | Yes |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
The at-large Regent that is a University student at the time of election participates in the proceedings of the Board and has full voting rights.
Student representatives participate on Board committees and attend Board meetings and other functions. Student representatives do not vote on any action items that come before Board committees.
The Student Senate is the University of Minnesota's internal governance body representing all students at the Crookston, Duluth, Morris, Rochester, and Twin Cities campuses. Each senator that serves on the Student Senate is charged with representing students within the University of Minnesota system as a whole. We work to ensure a student voice in University decisions of policy and process. We also serve as the system-wide student voice to University administrators.
Do all staff, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The University Senate now has representatives from faculty (168, including the president), students (60), professional and administrative staff (25), and civil service staff (25), for a total of 278 members when all seats are filled.
The University Senate contains within it four senates: the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, the Academic Professionals and Administrators (P&A) Senate, and the Civil Service Senate.
Is there at least one non-supervisory staff representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative staff body or organization?:
A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The Civil Service Senate is composed of 50 elected members from all five campuses. It meets once in the fall and once in the spring.
Do non-supervisory staff have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following? :
| Yes or No | |
| Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals | Yes |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | Yes |
| Strategic and long-term planning | Yes |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | Yes |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
A brief description of the formal staff role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
The responsibility of the Civil Service Senate shall include but not be limited to matters relating to the employment conditions of the civil service staff; including duties as assigned within the Office of Human Resources Civil Service Employment Rules.
Do all faculty, regardless of type or status, have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies (through direct participation or the election of representatives)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The University Senate has representatives from faculty. This includes 168 faculty members, including the president.
Is there at least one teaching or research faculty representative on the institution’s governing body who was elected by peers or appointed by a representative faculty body or organization?:
A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The umbrella body is the University Senate, which was established in 1912 and consisted only of faculty members until 1969, when students were given representation. In 2004, the University Senate was expanded again, when professional and academic staff and civil service staff were granted representation. The University Senate now has representatives from faculty (168, including the president), students (60), professional and administrative staff (25), and civil service staff (25), for a total of 278 members when all seats are filled.
Do faculty have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals | Yes |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | Yes |
| Strategic and long-term planning | Yes |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | Yes |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
The University Senate shall have general legislative authority over administrative matters concerning more than one campus or the University as a whole, but not over the internal affairs of a single campus, institute, college, or school, except where these materially affect the interests of the University as a whole or the interests of other campuses, institutes, colleges, or schools. It may also offer advice to the president on budget, educational policy, and research issues.
The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.