University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Through the University's Student Government Association, students are able to participate in the overall policy and decision making process of the University community. Each college at the University is represented by one undergraduate senator and one graduate senator. Also, raise awareness of the student's role in the academic community, assist in enhancing the quality and scope of education, and provide identified services to students. UTRGV SGA President Alondra Galvan currently represents UTRGV on the UT System Advisory Council. http://www.utrgv.edu/involvement/leadership-and-mentoring/student-government-association/index.htm The Senators (graduate and undergraduate) from SGA have a seat at the President's University Leadership Council.

The Staff Senate is an advisory body through which eligible staff can convey information and make recommendations to the President and Administration relative to the interests, concerns and issues that affect the staff of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Senate may make recommendations on general policies and, at the request of the President, advise on specific institutional issues. The Senate shall keep staff informed and, in turn, keep the President and Administration advised of needs and interests of staff on issues and activities affecting them. http://www.utrgv.edu/staffsenate http://www.utrgv.edu/staffsenate/about/senators/index.htm Lisa Smith Executive Assistant, Office of the Provost and EVP for Academic Affairs 956.665.7098 Lisa.Smith@utrgv.edu Term Expires: August 31, 2020 Michael Aldape, EAC Historian Director of Special Programs - Dual Credit 956.882.8960 Michael.Aldape@utrgv.edu Term Expires: August 31, 2020 https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/employee-advisory-council/members The Staff Senators are elected by their peers and have a seat at the President's University Leadership Council.

The Faculty Senate is the elected legislative and deliberative faculty body whose primary purpose is to represent the faculty to the University administration, UT-System administration, The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System, and such other parties as may be appropriate or necessary. The Faculty Senate reviews and formulates policy and enacts legislation on all matters pertaining to the professional concerns, duties, ethics, responsibilities, privileges, and prerequisites of the faculty. http://www.utrgv.edu/facultysenate/ The Faculty Senators have a seat at the President's University Leadership Council. The functions of the Faculty Senate shall include: 1. To review and make recommendations on educational policies per Regents Rule 40101 – Faculty Role in Educational Policy Formulation. 2. To develop and propose educational policies that will promote the mission of the University. 3. To establish committees to undertake business that comes before the Faculty Senate. 4. To provide a means for Senators and other stakeholders to introduce and make recommendations or comments regarding matters of concern. The Faculty Senate shall have the following composition: 1. Faculty Senate Executive Committee: Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected from the current Senators. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the President of the Senate, President-Elect of the Senate, Immediate Past President of the Senate, Secretary of the Senate, parliamentarian and additional members from each of the Colleges/Units at the same level (including the University College and the School of Medicine) and the Library not already represented on the Executive Committee. 2. Academic Department or School Representation: Each academic department and school/comparable unit (including the School of Medicine) offering undergraduate or graduate academic degrees (hereafter “department”) shall have at least one representative in the Faculty Senate. If a department has 25-49 full-time faculty (with at least 50% appointment in said unit) in the department, they shall have two representatives in the Faculty Senate. If a department has 50 or more full-time faculty (with at least 50% appointment) in the department (or school), they shall have three representatives in the Faculty Senate. The department representatives will be elected by a vote of the department faculty. Geographic diversity of representatives from all campuses is encouraged. 3. Library Representation: Librarians shall have one elected representative. 4. University College Representation: The University College shall have one elected representative.

UTRGV procedures regarding the development of the campus as it pertains to planning, transportation, and on-going capital projects involve external stakeholders such as community members, the local municipalities (Cities of Edinburg and Brownsville) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), engaging these groups through Town Hall meetings. For example, the development of the Campus Master Plan includes long-range planning goals that benefit from the input of the surrounding community.

Attorney Ernest Aliseda from McAllen, Texas, was appointed to a six-year term on The University of Texas System Board of Regents by Governor Rick Perry in February 2013, and represents local stakeholders' interests at the system level. Regent Aliseda is Chairman of the Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management Committee. He serves on the Academic Affairs Committee, the Facilities Planning and Construction Committee, and the Health Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Board for Lease of University Lands and as the Board’s Special Liaison on South Texas Projects. Judge Aliseda is a member at the national law firm of Dykema Cox Smith at their McAllen, Texas office. Judge Aliseda is also a municipal court judge for the City of McAllen and a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, Judge Advocate General Corps, where he serves as a Military Judge. As per Reagents' Rules and Regulations Rule 10403: Board Meeting Accessibility and Public Participation, Meetings of the Board of Regents shall be open to the public, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in accordance with law. Closed executive sessions may be convened as authorized by State law. Members of the public are allowed to present written and oral testimony, for a reasonable amount of time as determined by the Chairman of the Board, on any topic listed on the agenda for a Committee or Board meeting that is open to the public. Testimony on topics not listed on the agenda will not be allowed. Members of the public wishing to present testimony shall provide their name and agenda topic they wish to address to the General Counsel to the Board of Regents at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Insofar as possible, any person who provides oral testimony before the Board shall provide a written statement of the substance of such person's testimony to the General Counsel to the Board in sufficient time for copies to be distributed to the Regents prior to the meeting. The Board shall consider the public testimony presented to the Board on an issue before making a decision on the issue. The Chairman or a majority of the Board may prescribe sanctions against any person exceeding established time limits or speaking on a topic not relevant to the agenda topic. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Foundation is an independent non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Texas under the Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation exists solely for the benefit of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and operates under a Memorandum Of Understanding. By maintaining an independent Board of Trustees, the Foundation can involve volunteers in its fundraising efforts. The Board of Trustees are individuals from civil society, private sector organizations, and local organizations. http://utrgvfoundation.org/documents Division of Institutional Advancement We will connect passion with purpose. We will encourage a spirit of generosity. We will ensure each gift to UTRGV meets its highest potential. We will support the vision, mission, and goals of our great university. We will change lives and our community. We will build a bright future for our students. We are the Division of Institutional Advancement. http://www.utrgv.edu/institutional-advancement/

UTRGV’s participatory governance works towards the sustainable development goal of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions by building an effective and accountable institution.