Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.02
Liaison James Speer
Submission Date June 30, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Indiana State University
PA-3: Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Brooks Moore
Associate Vice President
Student Affairs
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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

A brief description of the mechanisms through which students have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

The Student Government Association is to organize and coordinate activities of student interest, represent student views concerning University policy through shared governance, protect student rights, and educate individual students and organizations on their respective responsibilities. Membership in this organization shall consist of all enrolled students of the University, without respect to undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree seeking status. Anyone duly enrolled for the Fall semester of the same calendar year shall be considered a member of the SGA for the preceding summer term as of the point of registration.


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

A brief description of student representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:

The Indiana State University Board of Trustees has nine members whom are appointed by the Governor.
Two of the nine are nominated by the Indiana State University Alumni Association, six are at-large positions, and a student representative is appointed from nominations submitted by a Student Government Association search and screen committee.
All appointments are for a period of four years except for the student trustee, who serves two years. Terms begin on July 1 of the year the appointment is effective. The Governor fills Board vacancies by appointment for unexpired terms.


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 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 student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Student Government Association (SGA) Executive and Legislative Branch members serve on the President’s Advisory Council, Staff Council, and Faculty Senate subcommittee. One student serves as voting member of the Board of Trustees.
SGA executive officers serve on the Faculty Senate student affairs committee which reviews all program review and proposals for offerings (curricular and co-curricular) prior to renewal, modification, or adoption/implementation.
SGA members serve on the university’s Strategic Planning Steering Committee (Pathways to Success) and serve on all six subcommittee/initiative areas. SGA president chairs one specific initiative which has three priorities: (1) funding for student organizations; (2) develop programs and initiatives which enhance university pride, spirit, and traditions; and (3) implement leadership development programs and offerings specifically for first-year students.
The Student Trustee reviews all facility, grounds, and campus master plan proposals. Students with the Residence Hall Association are engaged in all residential life/housing renovations, constructions, and modifications. Students majoring in Recreation and Sport Management manage the Outdoor Center (field campus, challenge course, water/outdoor recreation complex).
Student Trustee is a voting member which approves all budget distributions, staff/faculty hires, and biennial budgeting process.
SGA serves as the Campus Advisory Board for the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Financial Aid. SGA meets quarterly with each office and their senior leadership team in review of campus needs, goals, short- and long-term planning. SGA executive officers meet monthly with President of the University and the Vice President for Student Affairs. Student Trustee submits a report bi-weekly to SGA Executive and Legislative Branch.
Through Faculty Senate, SGA provides input into curricular decisions, changes, and modifications (implementation of mid-term grading, mandatory study-week period prior to finals, academic major/graduation mapping program).


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

A brief description of the mechanisms through which all staff have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

ISU Staff Council facilitates and maintains communication between Staff and the University community. Serves as an advocate for Staff. Disseminates information to Staff. Promotes and encourages community engagement for Staff. Promotes a healthy, safe, and equitable working environment for Staff.


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

A brief description of non-supervisory staff representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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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:

The Staff Council serves as an advisory board with no formal role in decision-making.


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

A brief description of the mechanisms through which all faculty (including adjunct faculty) have an avenue to participate in one or more governance bodies:

Indiana State University has a long and proud history of strong faculty governance.
The faculty, collectively and through their elected representatives, have been empowered by the Faculty Constitution approved by the Board of Trustees for over thirty years. This Constitution is based on the principle of shared governance. It defines the areas of the faculty's primary and advisory authority, as well as the structures and operations of the governing bodies through which this authority is exercised - the Faculty Senate and its standing committees.


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?:
No

A brief description of faculty representation on the governing body, including how the representatives are selected:
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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

A brief description of the formal faculty role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:

Faculty are part of the Strategic Planning Steering committee, and the Faculty Senate (FS) voted in April to approve the proposed new mission, vision, and values statement for ISU.
All new curricular programs go through one of the standing committees of the FS, the Executive Committee of the FS, and the FS for approval. Other initiatives also come through a similar process.
Faculty are part of the Strategic Planning Steering committee, the Key Questions committees, and the Strategic Plan Goal committees.
The officers of the FS, as well as a representative of the Faculty Economic Benefits Committee serve on the Budget committee and have input on these issues. Recently, we had impact of the way projected budgets were determined.
The Administrative Affairs committee has advisory input on administrative staffing, such as creation of new positions (VP for Inclusive Excellence, for example). Less direct input on faculty staffing at the university level, although FS officers have had input on the way that the formulas which determine faculty staffing are calculated.
Exec has encouraged the administration to lean toward transparency, particularly around interim chair positions and Dean reviews.
The administration consults with faculty governance on most major shifts in direction or priorities, for example, the new emphasis on career readiness has gone through faculty governance.


The website URL where information about the institution’s governance structure is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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