| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.20 |
| Liaison | Olivia Shehan |
| Submission Date | Dec. 24, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wellesley College
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Sharon
Bort Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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
None
A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
All students are given the opportunity to participate in student self-government, within the residential hall system and college at large. Students can vote for representatives as well as run as a representative themselves. There are many committees that have openings for students to serve on. Students have the opportunity to serve on nearly all governance bodies at the college. Students are elected to serve as student representatives on the Board of Trustees and on the Subcommittee of Proxy Voters.
None
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?:
Yes
None
A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The nine annually elected members of College Government Cabinet work to administer and implement the various functions and responsibilities of CG by collaborating with student orgs, administrators, and staff, chairing Senate committees, and holding events throughout the year. In addition to serving as a liaison between the student body and the administration, Cabinet encourages students to take initiative by developing and implementing active programs pertinent to issues of interest and concern.
None
Do students 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 | No |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
None
A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Students, including first-year students, and staff both served on the President’s Advisory Committee on Gender and Wellesley which was organized to decide if Wellesley's organizational mission included the education of trans women on campus this past year.
The College Government President's Council works on implementation on various new policies and initiatives including on issues such as mental health and institutional memory.
The Student Organizations Funding Committee is made up of student representatives who are responsible for distributing funding to the various campus organizations who are entitled to a part of the Student Activities Fee included in all students' tuition. This committee works to prioritize organizations and organization programs which benefit the student body at large.
The Communications Committee works with the college to improve communication and collaboration amongst members of the college and the institution.
None
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
None
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The Wellesley College Subcommittee of Proxy Voting is a group charged with the responsibility of voting proxies on behalf of the College. Unlike other institutions who rely on their investment managers to vote proxies for them, the SPV is composed of trustees, faculty, and students.
None
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
None
A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
---
None
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 | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
None
A brief description of the formal staff role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Departmental staff are expected to play a role in recruiting new staff. Non-supervisory staff hold positions on the committees that comprise the Academic Council, Administrative Council, Lectures and Cultural Events Committee, and Communications Group. The Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability make recommendations to the college regarding projects and policies that promote environmental sustainability, including overseeing Green Revolving Fund expenditures. The Administrative Council serves in an advisory capacity to the College President and represents the views of the administrative staff in the College's decision-making process. The Committee on Lectures and Cultural Events sets policy and administers endowed funds to support lectures and cultural events. Lastly, the Communications Group overseas the visual identity of the college, creating print and digital materials that represent the institution's ideals.
None
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
None
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
The Subcommittee of Proxy Voting gives Wellesley College faculty an avenue to participate in college governance.
None
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?:
Yes
None
A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
There are numerous committees part of Academic council. The committees are populated based on a mix of elections and appointments. Many of those committee members serve as liaisons to the board of trustees which is the institution's governing body.
http://www.wellesley.edu/provost/committees
None
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 | Yes |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
None
A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
One responsibility of department chair, a position held by college faculty members, is to contribute to the development of strategic and long term planning, and to oversee the responsible use of college resources. Faculty hold positions on the committees that comprise the Academic Council and Administrative Council, as well as the Curriculum and Academic Policy, Educational Research and Development, Faculty Appointments, Faculty Awards, and Lectures and Cultural Events Committees.
The Committee on Curriculum and Academic Policy examines questions of long-range educational policy and makes recommendations to Academic Council. The Committee on Faculty Appointments makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding reappointments, tenure decisions, promotions, sabbatical leaves, reappointments of FTAs, PERA faculty, ISLs and oversee policies relating to faculty appointments.The Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability make recommendations to the college regarding projects and policies that promote environmental sustainability, including overseeing Green Revolving Fund expenditures. The Advisory Committee for Budgetary Affairs discuss issues of College policy and dresses routine matters that have substantive budgetary impacts. And the Policy Committee of Lectures and Cultural Events sets policy and administers endowed funds to support lectures and cultural events.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
http://www.wellesley.edu/news/2015/03/node/58456
http://www.wellesley.edu/administration/committees
http://www.wellesley.edu/provost/committees
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.