| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.58 |
| Liaison | Stephen Ellis |
| Submission Date | April 26, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Boston University
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.80 / 3.00 |
Dennis
Carlberg Associate Vice President for Sustainability BU Sustainability |
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)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
Students are not represented on the Board of Trustees, however students have a voice on many committees that affect policy, programs and initiatives such as the Board of Trustees’ Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing.
Boston University Student Government works to represent the voice of the undergraduate student community. The different branches that constitute BU Student Government allow enrolled students to participate in governance bodies at various levels of the University. The Student Union, representing the interests of all undergraduates at BU, brings events and activities to campus. The Union includes representatives from school and college governments, Consortia (student groups) and Residence Hall Associations. School and College Student Governments act as liaisons to the administration of each school in the interest of the student body. They organize activities including orientation programs, lectures, films and dances. Residence Hall Associations (RHAs) work on behalf of students to enhance the quality of life in their residences. Each RHA develops educational, cultural, recreational and social programs for its own residence hall.
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?:
A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
---
Do students have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals | --- |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | Yes |
| Strategic and long-term planning | --- |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | Yes |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | No |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | --- |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | Yes |
A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
The Sustainability Committee was established in 2008 with four working groups (Energy Conservation, Sustainability Buildings & Operations, Waste & Recycling, and Communications & Outreach) each working group included one graduate and one undergraduate student representative. The work of the first three working groups has been embedded into the operations of the University and therefor no longer meet. The Communications & Outreach Working Group continues to meet on a monthly basis and continues to include graduate and undergraduate student representation.
The Board of Trustees’ Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing includes faculty, students, and members of the Board of Trustees. Its mission of the is to (a) represent a wide spectrum of the community (trustees, faculty, and students); (b) be knowledgeable about relevant, socially responsible investing issues in order to be able to engage in informed, thoughtful, and collegial consideration and discussion; (c) provide continuity and institutional memory on relevant policy issues; (d) advise the Board of Trustees on socially responsible investment policy issues by proposing written policies for the Board’s consideration; and (e) coordinate and facilitate communication on relevant policy issues.
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)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
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?:
A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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 | --- |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | --- |
| Strategic and long-term planning | --- |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | --- |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | --- |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | --- |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | --- |
A brief description of the formal staff role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
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)?:
A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:
Professors and lecturers, with at least a half-time appointment, are members of the Faculty Assembly. The Faculty Assembly meets at least twice during the academic year. The Faculty Council is the representative body of the Faculty Assembly at Boston University. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Chair, Vice-chair or Past-chair, Secretary-treasurer, and the chairs of the Standing Committees. Individual faculty member can also volunteer to serve on one of the Standing Committees, or special task forces of the Faculty Council.
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?:
A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
The Faculty Council is the representative body of the Faculty Assembly at Boston University. The Faculty Council members are members of the Faculty Assembly who are elected to represent their individual school or college, either as a representative or as an alternate. The Executive Committee is comprised of the Chair, Vice-chair or Past-chair, Secretary-treasurer, and the chairs of the Standing Committees. The Faculty Council Vice-chair and Secretary-treasurer are elected by the Faculty Assembly. The Vice Chair serves a term of one year, before succeeding as Chair. The chairs of the Standing Committees are elected by the Faculty Council to serve for two years. Each school or college is responsible for holding its own election for representatives and alternates.
Do faculty have a formal role in decision-making in regard to the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| Establishing organizational mission, vision, and/or goals | --- |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | --- |
| Strategic and long-term planning | --- |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | --- |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | --- |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | --- |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | --- |
A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.