Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.79
Liaison Larry Cook
Submission Date Dec. 4, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Carolina
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 3.00 Austin Sutherland
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
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Part 1

Do the institution’s students have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a student council)? :
Yes

Do the institution’s students have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
Yes

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which students are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
Regarding Meetings of the Board and Committees, the President of the Student Government Association (elected Student Body President) of the University of South Carolina Columbia shall be invited to sit personally in all meetings of the full Board with full right to participate in the Board’s discussions but without the right to vote on any matter.

Do the institution’s staff members have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a staff council)?:
Yes

Do the institution’s non-supervisory staff members have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
No

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which staff are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
University President, Bob Caslen, announced February 24, 2020 plans to form a Staff Senate to serve the Columbia campus as a forum in which staff can work together to promote common interests, strengthen their sense of community and encourage increased collaboration between the staff, faculty, students and administration for the lasting benefit of the University.

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a faculty senate)?:
Yes

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body? :
No

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which teaching and research faculty are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
Regarding Meetings of the Board and Committees, the Chair of the USC Columbia Faculty Senate shall be invited to sit personally in all meetings of the full Board with full right to participate in the Board’s discussions but without the right to vote on any matter.

Part 2

Does the institution have written policies and procedures to identify and engage external stakeholders (i.e. local residents) in land use planning, capital investment projects, and other institutional decisions that affect the community?:
No

A copy of the written policies and procedures:
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The policies and procedures:
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Does the institution have formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which community members representing the interests of the following stakeholder groups can regularly participate in institutional governance?:
Yes or No
Local government and/or educational organizations No
Private sector organizations No
Civil society (e.g. NGOs, NPOs) No

If yes to one or more of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which external stakeholders are engaged in institutional governance (including information about each stakeholder group selected above):
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.