Virginia Commonwealth University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

Part 1. Shared governance bodies

Institution has formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which the following campus stakeholders can regularly participate in the governance of the institution (e.g., decision-making processes, plan/policy formulation and review):

• Students

• Academic staff (i.e., faculty members)

• Non-academic staff

The bodies may be managed by the institution (e.g., formal boards, committees, and councils), by stakeholder groups (e.g., independent committees and organizations that are formally recognized by the institution), or jointly (e.g., union/management structures).

Part 2. Campus stakeholder representation in governance

Institution’s highest governing body includes individuals representing the following stakeholder groups as official (voting or non-voting) members:

• Students

• Academic staff (i.e., faculty members)

• Non-academic staff

Part 3. Gender equity in governance

Women (and/or individuals who do not self-identify as men) comprise at least 20 percent of the official members of the institution’s highest governing body.

Part 4. Community engagement bodies

Institution hosts or supports one or more formal bodies through which external stakeholders (i.e., local community members) have a regular voice in institutional decisions that affect them. Examples include campus-community councils, “town and gown” committees, community advisory panels, and regular multi-stakeholder forums that are convened at least once a year.

Part 4 of this credit recognizes institutions that are proactive in creating opportunities for community members to contribute to and participate in the institution’s decision-making processes. The institution’s contributions to and participation in community decision-making processes do not count.

This credit applies to all institutions.

Each part is scored independently.

Part 1

An institution earns 0.25 points for each stakeholder group listed up to the maximum of 0.75 points available for Part 1.

Part 2

An institution earns 0.25 points for each stakeholder group listed up to the maximum of 0.75 points available for Part 2.

Part 3

An institution earns the maximum of 0.75 points available for Part 3 when at least 40 percent of the official members of the institution’s highest governing body are women (and/or individuals who do not self-identify as men). Partial points are awarded when at least 20 percent but less than 40 percent of the members of the governing body are women, i.e., an institution with a governing body of which 20-39 percent of the members are women would earn 0.375 (half of the points available for Part 3).

Part 4

An institution earns the maximum of 0.75 points available for Part 4 for hosting or supporting one or more formal bodies through which external stakeholders have a regular voice in institutional decisions that affect them. Partial points are not available for Part 4.

Timeframe

Report on current policies and procedures at the time of submission.     

Sampling and Data Standards

Not applicable.