University of Wisconsin-River Falls
PA-3: Governance

All students are eligible to run for positions on the Student Senate and/or apply for directorship positions. Students are also strongly encouraged to sit on a variety of university committees.

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-Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals? : Yes, they are primarily charged with this goal and establish the mission vision and goals. -Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives? : Yes, Student Senate is often consulted by the Chancellor and other leaders on projects that affect the student interest. Student Senate is also encouraged to provide advice and counsel on university-wide issues. -Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to strategic and long-term planning? : Yes, Student Senate was engaged in the strategic planning process we undertook at UWRF and play an active role in the review of budgets in areas supported by student fee dollars. Student Senate also allocates student fee money to student organizations for educational opportunities available to all students. -Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to existing or prospective physical resources? : Yes, Student Senate is involved in these discussions. -Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to budgeting, staffing and financial planning? : Yes, Student Senate has a formal role in budgeting for student organization expenses and review segregated fee budgets. Student Senate does not have a formal decision making role in staffing. -Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to communications processes and transparency practices? : Yes, Student Senate has ultimate authority in communication and transparency practices within their organization. -Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to prioritization of programs and projects? : Yes, Student Senate is consulted and is part of that process.

UWRF staff have multiple bodies for representation. They represent the fourth division on Faculty Senate, but have more formal representation on either Academic Staff Council or the newly created University Staff Senate. Academic Staff Council: Pursuant to UWS 9.01, these policies and procedures apply to all academic staff appointments on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus. 6.1.2 Definition Academic staff were granted "faculty" status by action of the Faculty Senate and the Chancellor on July 29, 1975 and Sept. 16, 1975, respectively, in accordance with UWS 1.05link (UWRF Faculty Constitution,Article II, 19th Edition, Faculty and Academic Staff Handbook, Chapter III). Members of the academic staff who have been given faculty status have employment rights under the rules and policies concerning academic staff: UWS 3.01 (1) (d)link. Academic Staff Council: http://www.uwrf.edu/AcademicStaffCouncil/index.cfm University Staff Senate: https://www.uwrf.edu/UniversityStaffSenate/

Academic Staff Council Membership: A. Nine academic staff members elected through an at-large spring election B. One ranked faculty member appointed by the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the Faculty Senate Each of the ten Council members shall have voting rights, with the exception of the Chair, who shall vote only in the case of a tie. To be eligible for election to the Academic Staff Council, individuals must be academic staff who hold at least a half-time appointment and have a contract for the next academic year. 6.2.1.4 Terms of Office A. Terms for Academic Staff Council members shall be staggered so that a minimum of three members shall be elected each year to serve a three-year term. B. The ranked faculty member shall serve a two-year term. C. Terms shall begin in the summer term and end in the spring term. 6.2.1.5 General Elections A. Only academic staff members are eligible to nominate and vote in these elections. B. The Vice Chair of the Council shall oversee elections, unless he or she has less than one year remaining on his or her term If the Vice Chair is unable to conduct elections, another eligible Council member shall be appointed. C. Elections shall take place by May 1 of each academic year. D. The member in charge shall send a nomination ballot and a listing of all persons eligible to serve on the Council to all academic staff members. Instructional academic staff members who are eligible for election shall be listed by department in a column separate from the departmental listings of non-instructional academic staff. E. Upon their consent, those persons receiving the most nominations shall have their names placed on an election ballot The number of names placed on the election ballot shall not be less than twice the number of the vacancies. F. Election ballots, with space provided for write-in candidates, shall be sent to all academic staff eligible for election. G. Upon their consent, those persons receiving the most votes shall fill all available vacancies. H. In case of a tie, a run-off election shall be held by May 15 under the procedures outlined above. University Staff Senate: Created in 2011, USS promotes ongoing education, professional development activities, and communication between University Staff and the broader university community. Representation is based on the following University Staff constituency groups: •Administrative Support (2) •Blue Collar (2) •Crafts/Technical/Law Enforcement/Security (1) •Fiscal & Staff Services (1) •Supervisory/Human Resources (1) •University Staff-Temporary (1) •Member-At-Large (1) Elected members serve a three-year term beginning in June. Release time is granted by the Chancellor.

Our Strategic Plan, which at some level every member of campus has the ability to be a part, addresses all of these questions. http://www.uwrf.edu/PathwayToDistinction/index.cfm University Staff Senate has been busy also in the creation of several new policies and refinements of old policies. They have also been very active in compensation issues for their group of 180+ staff.

All faculty and academic staff are potential candidates for positions within Faculty Senate, Instructional academic staff with contracts for the following academic year, when elections are conducted are eligible to run for Faculty Senate and to vote. All instructional academic staff, academic staff, and faculty are able to serve on Faculty Senate committees.

Faculty Senate is currently composed of 22 members elected by various divisions with the university. Each division is allotted representatives based on a model of one representative per thirty full-time equivalent positions within that division. All of these are directly elected by that division. In addition, there are at-large positions at the junior and senior levels affording a broad representation of faculty and academic staff on Faculty Senate. In addition the Chancellor or his designee has a voting seat on Faculty Senate. Traditionally the Chancellors at UWRF have appointed the provost to serve in that position. Currently the total representation on Faculty senate is 22. The Faculty Senate is administered by the Executive Committee which is elected by the membership of the Senate. The chair of the Executive Committee presides over the Executive Committee and Faculty Senate.

-Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals: Faculty Senate votes on these. Additionally they are formulated in Faculty Senate committees. -Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives: All academic programs are formulated through governance. The faculty has the primary responsibility for the academic plan and all academic polices. -Strategic and long-term planning: Faculty Senate has representation on Strategic Plan Progress Committee, all initiatives recommended by the committee are approved by Faculty Senate. -Existing or prospective physical resources: The role of Senate on these is infrequent and only advisory. Budgeting, staffing and financial planning: N/A Communications processes and transparency practices: Town Hall meetings are held. The administration is responsible for communication externally. Occasionally it consults governance. Prioritization of programs and projects: Faculty Senate has approved a Program Prioritization Process for academic programs. There is no shared governance in prioritization of projects.

Other Responsible Parties: Dr. James Graham (Faculty Senate Chair) Kelly Browning (Academic Staff Council) Melissa Davis (University Staff Staff Senate) Christopher Morgan (Student Senate President)