| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.88 |
| Liaison | Kristina Hope |
| Submission Date | Feb. 13, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Knox College
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.10 / 3.00 |
Deb
Steinberg Director of Campus Sustainability Initiatives 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:
Student Senate is itself a governance body, and serves roles in many decisionmaking activities on campus.
Student representatives, elected by their peers, include the president, VP, secretary and treasurer, as well as representatives for each student year. These representatives each sit on topical subcommittees, and two student representatives are appointed to sit on each faculty committee, as voting members.
The Strategic Planning Committee for 2018 included student members, whose contributions were as important as those of faculty and staff members.
In all new faculty and administrative hires, students are selected to participate in the search committees, including interview, advising, and selection process.
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:
Student Senate appoints observers to the Board of Trustees meetings. They receive all materials available to the Trustees with the exception of materials covered in Executive Session. They can bring this information back to Student Senate. Students are often invited to present at board meetings, as well.
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 | No |
| 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:
Mission, vision, goals: Representatives from Student Senate are appointed to the Executive Committee and to the Institutional Planning Group
New policies, programs, initiatives: Student senate votes on policies. Recent examples include formalization of good Samaritan laws and establishment of a student green fee. The Student Senate influences and/or creates programs and initiatives through allocation of Student Activity Fees. Recent examples include creation of the position of Sustainability Coordinator (student green fees funded part of this salary for three years), and purchase and installation of a campus high tunnel for producing more food on-site.
Strategic planning: The Strategic Planning Committee for 2018 included student members, as full partners in the planning process.
Resources: All club and organization funds are approved and distributed through Student Senate. They have control over the furnishings of the student lounge, and also allocate funds to campus initiatives through the sustainability, dining services, campus life, and technology subcommittees.
Budget, staff, financial: Students sit on the Faculty Budget Development Committee, and Student Senate allocates activity fees.
Prioritization of programs/projects: In addition to the abovementioned participation avenues, two Student representatives sit on each faculty committee, as voting members. These committees include Admission, Retention & Placement; Instructional Support; Curriculum; Academic Standing; Athletics; Cultural Events; Student Life; Broadcast, Internet and Publications; Campus Environment; Campus Diversity; and Financial Development & Budget, and the College Honors Subcommittee.
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:
Hourly/union staff participate in a bargaining unit. Staff are also able to participate in the Fringe Benefits Task Force, and open forums associated with health care benefits and wage discussions.
The strategic planning group has included any staff who indicate interest in participation, as equal participants with other campus stakeholders.
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:
n/a
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 | Yes |
| 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:
Staff have been equal participants with other campus stakeholders in the Strategic Planning Group.
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:
All faculty have the opportunity to serve on a committee. Elected committees include:
Executive (including the Faculty Affairs Subcommittee and the Protection of Human Subjects Board); and Faculty Personnel Committee. Appointed committees include: Admission, Retention & Placement; Instructional Support; Curriculum; Academic Standing
Athletics; Cultural Events; Student Life; Campus Environment; Campus Diversity; Financial Development and Budget; and Broadcast, Internet & Publication Committee.
Additionally, faculty participate in the Institutional Planning Group and Strategic Planning Group, and faculty observers are appointed to Board meetings
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:
Faculty observers sit in on all meetings of the Board of Trustees.
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:
Mission, vision, and/or goals; Strategic and long-term planning: Faculty participate in the Institutional Planning Group and the Strategic Planning Group.
Policies, programs, & initiatives; prioritization of programs and projects: Through various committees, faculty have active roles in influencing school policies including but not limited to dignity and welfare of campus constituents, curriculum, academic standing, athletics, campus life, and campus environment. Through these committees as well as club sponsorship, faculty implement and carry out programs pertaining to curriculum and honors, cultural events, campus diversity, environmental initiatives, among others.
Existing and prospective resources: Faculty are given opportunities to participate in the selection processes for campus durable goods, as well as larger capital improvement projects.
Budgeting, staffing and financial planning: The Faculty includes a standing committee on Financial Development and Budget, which provides counsel to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Finance on the development of the College’s budget. Individual faculty are active participants in the selection committees for new hires relevant to their office or the school operations at large.
Communications and transparency: all of the above-mentioned committees are tasked with the responsibility to disseminate in a timely manner to the community non-confidential information pertaining to their activities.
additional information can be found on the faculty handbook (https://www.knox.edu/offices/academic-affairs/faculty-handbook/i-organization-of-the-college/d-faculty.html) and faculty regulations (https://www.knox.edu/offices/academic-affairs/faculty-regulations.html)
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.