Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.88
Liaison Jim Walker
Submission Date April 30, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Texas at Austin
PA-3: Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.60 / 3.00 Jim Walker
Director of Sustainability, Financial, and Administrative Services
University Operations
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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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

The university has many and diverse opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students to participate in campus governance. Most of these are administratively organized with the Dean of Students. Student Government and the Senate of College Councils are the two main legislative bodies sponsored by Student Affairs.
http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sg/


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?:
No

A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:

The UT System Board of Regents includes a non-voting student representative appointed by the Governor based on applications.
https://www.utsystem.edu/students/about-student-regent


Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
Yes or No
Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals No
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources Yes
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning No
Communications processes and transparency practices No
Prioritization of programs and projects No

A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Student Government is key in planning, management of physical resources, and establishing new initiatives such as Safe Walk (late night escorts). However, other campus groups can raise issues and see results, such as OxFam persuading the university to join the Fair Trade Alliance and the Campus Environmental Center providing the original draft, to the President, of the Campus Sustainability Policy adopted in 2008. The UT administration is open to student collaboration on all levels when presented with respect for institutional procedure.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

The University Staff Council provides this opportunity.
https://www.utexas.edu/staff/council/. Staff Council is a representative body but all staff may attend monthly open meetings and correspond with the officers.


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?:
No

A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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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 No
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives Yes
Strategic and long-term planning Yes
Existing or prospective physical resources Yes
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning No
Communications processes and transparency practices Yes
Prioritization of programs and projects No

A brief description of the formal staff role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

https://www.utexas.edu/staff/council/
Via Staff Council, staff have been involved in multiple levels of university function including consultation on Shared Services planning, transportation issues, the establishment of a staff Ombuds, and improving university communications. This is done through interaction at monthly meetings, Executive Staff monthly meetings with the President, and the work of various committees.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/ Faculty are sent to Faculty Council as representatives of an academic department. Issues are raised by any member of the body and should they reach consensus, a policy proposal is drafted and presented to the President and Provost, who approve or deny the proposals and implement the policy.


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?:
No

A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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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 No
Communications processes and transparency practices No
Prioritization of programs and projects No

A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Faculty have been involved in the Campus Master Plan process, which covers strategic and long-term planning (and faculty are involved in 5-year departmental plans as well) and the physical resources of the university. Faculty serve on presidential steering committees that set vision and goals for the institution, as well as launch new initiatives.


The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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