Wake Forest University
PA-3: Governance

In spring and fall semester elections, all undergraduates students are eligible to run for governance positions. Information about the process and opportunities are available at http://sg.wfu.edu/structure/. Graduate student representatives of the Graduate Student and Black Graduate Student Associations are nominated by their respective departments. Information about these associations are available at http://graduate.wfu.edu/organizations/index_gsas.html.

The student member of the board of trustees is selected by the board from a slate of applicant nominees. Prior to selection, candidates are interviewed by the university's student life committee and by a board committee. The student body participates in a referendum on the qualifications of the finalists; though this is not a popular election, the student representative's peers have a voice in the qualifications of the final appointee.

Chairs of the following standing committees of Student Government participate variously in governance processes across the campus, from the Capital Projects Planning Committee to the Campus Tree Advisory Committee: Academic Committee: The Academic Committee is responsible for addressing issues pertaining to the academic realm of student life. Campus Life Committee: The Campus Life Committee is responsible for the improvement of the quality of life on campus in terms of student services and social concerns. Judiciary Committee: The Judiciary Committee is responsible for considering and heightening the awareness of honor and social regulations that govern students and the judicial procedures that surround them. Physical Planning Committee: The Physical Planning Committee is responsible for considering matters relating to the physical facilities and security of campus. Additionally, student representatives participate in faculty governance committees, including the academic affairs committee, student life committee, and judicial council,

The SAC has the following responsibilities: To serve as a forum of exchange about policies and issues affecting Wake Forest employees; To listen to, examine and respond to ideas, concerns and suggestions of staff employees; To convey these ideas, concerns and suggestions to the University administration; To advise the President of the University or his/her representative(s) on all subjects that affect staff employees; To inform staff employees of issues and policies affecting them; To strengthen communication among staff and administration, at all levels; and To promote an enhanced sense of campus community for all staff. Staff members are elected to faculty senate (bylaws of the senate).

Nominations and elections for the Staff Advisory Council are held every spring. Detailed information regarding election information from the Staff Advisory Council By-Laws is available at http://sac.wfu.edu/by-laws/#article5.

In addition to a President and Vice-President, the SAC offers participation the the following formal standing committees: Communications Committee Membership Committee Events Committee Fringe Benefits Committee Professional Development Committee Work-Life Balance Committee Members of the SAC also participate in the following committees across the campus: Parking & Transportation Advisory Committee Capital Planning Committee Finance Advisory Committee Faculty Senate Tree Advisory Committee

The Faculty Senate is composed of thirty-seven elected faculty members from the seven Schools of Wake Forest University. Wake Forest College has fifteen; the School of Medicine eight; the Schools of Business six; the School of Law three; the Graduate School two; the Z Smith Reynolds Library two; and the School of Divinity one representative(s) in the Faculty Senate. The faculty of each school independently elects its respective representatives. Senators serve four-year terms, and may serve for more than one term. There are also ten ex-officio (non-voting) members of the Senate: the President, Provost and Chief Financial Officer of the University and the seven respective Deans of the Schools of the University. The Faculty Senate advises the university administration and the Boards of Trustees on all pertinent matters related to planning and the general welfare of the University. The Faculty Senate also provides advice to relevant selection committees for the appointment of senior administrative officers; and recommends through the University President to the Boards of Trustees persons to receive honorary degrees awarded by the University. The Faculty Senate has five standing committees: Planning; Resources; University Integration; Fringe Benefits; and Senior University Appointments. The Senate also directs the agenda of the University Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility. The Senate may also create additional standing or ad hoc committees. An Executive Committee consisting of the five officers of the Senate – president, past-president, vice-president, secretary, and member-at-large – and the chairpersons of the four standing committees provides overall policy direction for the Faculty Senate. More information about the role of the Faculty Senate is available at http://facultysenate.wfu.edu/.

Information about the following Senate Committees, Members and Charges is available at http://facultysenate.wfu.edu/senate-committees-and-charges/. University Integration Commitee Senior University Appointments Committee Resources Committee Fringe Benefits Committee Academic Freedom and Responsibility Planning Committee Faculty Senate Committee on Athletics Faculty Senate Committee of The Collegiate Senators Faculty Senate Committee on Administrative, Faculty and Staff Compensation Ad Hoc: Committee on By-laws Ad Hoc: Best Practices on Senate Interaction with the Board of Trustees