| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.79 |
| Liaison | Mary Whitney |
| Submission Date | Sept. 22, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Chatham University
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.40 / 3.00 |
Mary
Whitney University Sustainability Coordinator Office of 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:
The purpose of the Chatham Student Government (CSG) is to provide an orderly method of government that is representative of all undergraduate students and to advocate for the concerns, interests, needs, and welfare of the undergraduate student body at Chatham University. Activities and programs sponsored by this organization will keep with the organization’s stated objectives.
The purpose of the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) is to improve graduate student life at Chatham University; to promote interaction among all graduate students; to bring graduate students into a more active participation within their departments; to act as the representative body for the graduate students and to present their views to the administration, faculty, and undergraduates; and to enhance the quality of education available at Chatham University by helping to program campus-wide events and activities which enrich our community through creating on-campus programming of lectures, workshops, and seminars from professionals outside of our University and by helping to enable graduate students to seek professional development through the help of our professional development fund. GSA is made up of two representatives from each Graduate Program, but all graduate students are welcome to attend GSA meetings or are encouraged to share their thoughts/ideas/concerns with the GSA representative.
Chatham Activities Board (CAB) is the student programming body for the entire campus. CAB is responsible for planning major campus traditions such as Harvest Fun Fest, Halloween Dinner, Holiday Ball, Battle of the Classes, Spring Fling and much more.
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 | 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 | No |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | Yes |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | No |
A brief description of the formal student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives: Undergraduate students from the Rea House Environmental Living and Learning Community were responsible for bringing back the historic Rea House Coffee Series, which are cultural events, such as music and art shows, for the Chatham community and beyond.
Strategic and long-term planning: Undergraduate and graduate students were involved in the Eden Hall Master Plan and the designing of the Falk School degree programs.
Existing or prospective physical resources: Undergraduate designed Orchard Hall at the Eden Hall Campus, the first residence hall at Eden Hall campus. Students were also responsible for planning the Eden Hall Organic Student Garden and the Rain Garden on the Shadyside campus.
Communications processes and transparency practices: The Dean of the Falk School of Sustainability, Dr. Peter Walker, has been engaging undergraduate and graduate students from the Falk School of Sustainability in Town Hall-style meetings and discussions about the Eden Hall Master plan and the involvement of students in growing the Eden Hall campus.
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 | No |
| Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives | No |
| Strategic and long-term planning | No |
| Existing or prospective physical resources | No |
| Budgeting, staffing and financial planning | No |
| Communications processes and transparency practices | No |
| Prioritization of programs and projects | No |
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:
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:
Do faculty 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 |
A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
Establishing new policies, programs, or initiatives: The Falk School of Sustainability faculty and the Health Sciences faculty have been collaborating to create a new Wellness Concentration as part of a dual program between food studies and health sciences. Second, the faculty involved with the Climate Committee were responsible for the successful roll out of the Chatham Green Fund, officially launched in Fall 2014.
Strategic and long-term planning: Falk School of Sustainability faculty were involved in the creation of the Eden Hall Campus Master Plan and continue to be involved as the plans for the campus evolve.
Existing or prospective physical resources: As part of the Eden Hall Campus Master Plan, Falk School of Sustainability faculty have been involved in the planning of campus buildings and land use. For example, Falk School faculty provided feedback on the construction and management of the solar high tunnel, and the Director of Sustainable Agriculture is responsible for the location and planning for the movable high tunnels and hoop houses.
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning: Chatham faculty are invited to attend lectures by prospective faculty candidates and offer feedback, and faculty from the specific department are able to meet with candidates both formally and informally before a choice is made by the department director. For example, faculty were involved in the selection of the Agroecology and Water Resource professors for the Falk School of Sustainability in Spring 2015.
Communications processes and transparency practices: Faculty are highly encouraged to attend the Eden Hall Campus Town Hall meetings held by the Dean of the Falk School of Sustainability, Dr. Peter Walker, on the progression made on the campus and to contribute ideas and feedback.
Prioritization of programs and projects: Faculty are instrumental in the prioritization of programs and projects that align with Chatham's mission, particularly sustainability. With the newly launched Chatham Green Fund, faculty on the Climate Committee are responsible for voting on student-created sustainability projects that would receive funding based on applications and the project's alignment with the university's mission of sustainability.
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.