Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.40
Liaison Olivia Herron
Submission Date March 2, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Miami University
PA-3: Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Susan Meikle
University News writer and editor
University Communications
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Two undergraduate students are appointed to Miami's board of trustees by the Ohio governor; students are also appointed to other governing bodies at Miami including the University Senate (the primary governance body where students, faculty, staff and administrators debate university issues), which has about 6 undergraduates in membership.

The University Senate Executive Committee includes a student member, who is the president of the Associated Student Government, elected by peers;

Students are also appointed to advisory committees of Senate, including the Academic Policy Committee; the Athletic Policy Committee (3 students, one who is elected by peers); the Campus Planning Committee (2 undergraduates and 1 graduate student); the Council on Diversity and Inclusion (2 undergraduates, 2 graduate students); the Fiscal Priorities Committee; the Governance Committee; Student Affairs Council and many other committees or councils.

Undergraduate students are appointed to committees through nomination and election by the Associated Student Government. Graduate students are nominated by their academic departments.


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 Miami University Senate membership includes a standing member who is the Associated Student Government President, and is elected by student peers.

The two student members of the board of trustees are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.


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:

Mission/Vision/Goals AND Strategic and Long-term Planning:
The Associated Student Government president and the Graduate Student Association president were members of the Coordinating Team for the Miami University 2020 Plan , the main organization mission and goals for Miami to reach by 2020: Metrics and objectives in the Miami 2020 Plan support one unifying goal and three foundational goals. Established in 2014.

New policies, programs, initiatives and prioritization of programs: six student members vote in the University Senate the legislative body of the University in matters involving educational programs, requirements, and standards; faculty welfare; and student conduct. The Board of Trustees delegates to Senate have primary responsibility for curriculum, programs, and course offerings and advisory responsibility on all matters related to Miami University.

A recent project in 2014-2015 was the reorganization of Miami's regional campuses. This involved several committees and the Senate, all of which had student representation.

Physical Resources and budgeting, staffing, financial planning: students are members of the Fiscal Priorities Committee and the Campus Planning Committee. The Committee reviews Campus Planning Project Requests (required for any alteration in the exterior campus environment and for major alterations to campus building interiors); reviews proposed capital improvement priorities; and reviews, adopts, and updates periodically a set of Patterns that serve as design guidelines for any campus planning project.
The Fiscal Priorities Committee gives attention to long-range fiscal priorities and budget planning as well as to immediate fiscal and budget concerns.

Another example is the ALL-STUDENT board of directors that runs the new (2014) Armstrong Student Center.

Another example is a student membership on the 2015 Presidential Search Committee.

Communications/transparency: student membership on the 2015 Presidential Search Committee; student members on the Governance Committee that oversees Senate elections and audits.


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:

All staff can vote directly or indirectly for members of University Senate:
Senate membership includes 1 member of the Classified Personnel Advisory Committee - those members are elected by classified staff;
Senate includes 1 member of the Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee - those members are elected by unclassified staff;
Faculty members of senate include those whose departments vote for them and others appointed at large by the President.


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:

The Miami University Board of Trustees comprises alumni and current students only.
However, a non-supervisory staff member is a member of the President's Executive Cabinet; and, non-supervisory staff members are members of University Senate


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

Mission/Vision/Goals AND Strategic and Long-term Planning: non-supervisory staff members were members of the Coordinating Team for the Miami University 2020 Plan , the main organization mission and goals for Miami to reach by 2020: Metrics and objectives in the Miami 2020 Plan support one unifying goal and three foundational goals. Established in 2014.

New Policies, programs, initiatives AND Prioritization of Programs: Non-supervisory staff members (of unclassified and classified personnel) are members of the University Senate - the legislative body that of the University in matters involving educational programs, requirements, and standards; faculty welfare; and student conduct. The Board of Trustees delegates to Senate primary responsibility for curriculum, programs, and course offerings and advisory responsibility on all matters related to Miami University.
A recent project in 2014-2015 was the reorganization of Miami's regional campuses. Involved several committees and the Senate, all of which had staff representation.
Special committees were formed for restructuring and implementation of the plan.

Physical Resources AND Budgeting, staffing, financial planning: non-supervisory staff may be members of the Fiscal Priorities Committee and the Campus Planning Committee - that Committee reviews Campus Planning Project Requests (required for any alteration in the exterior campus environment and for major alterations to campus building interiors); review proposed capital improvement priorities; and review, adopt, and update periodically a set of Patterns that serve as design guidelines for any campus planning project.
The Fiscal Priorities Committee gives attention to long-range fiscal priorities and budget planning as well as to immediate fiscal and budget concerns. Recent projects included the renovation of several residence halls and an academic building; plus locating a site for a new residence hall on campus after protests about its originally-planned site. (2014-2015).

Communications/transparency: an unclassified staff member (can be non-supervisory) and a member of the office of the registrar (also non-supervisory) are standing members of the University Liberal Education Council which has the authority to approve the inclusion of courses in the University Liberal Education curriculum shall reside in the Liberal Education Council.
In 2014 the council oversaw a major change in the Miami Global Education Plan.


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:

Members of Faculty Assembly are elected by majority vote of their representational units. 34 seats on University Senate are for members of Faculty Assembly.
Other faculty seats on University Senate are appointed by the president.
Membership on Faculty Assembly is for those who hold tenured, tenure-track, lecturer or clinical faculty positions.

Faculty are elected or appointed to numerous other governance bodies, but Senate and Faculty Assembly are the highest level.


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:

The Miami University Board of Trustees comprises alumni and current students only.
However, faculty members are members of University Senate and Faculty Assembly, the next highest level of governance.


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/Goals AND Strategic and Long-term Planning: Faculty are members of the Coordinating Team for the Miami University 2020 Plan , the main organization mission and goals for Miami to reach by 2020: Metrics and objectives in the Miami 2020 Plan support one unifying goal and three foundational goals. Established in 2014.

New Policies, programs, initiatives AND Prioritization of Programs: Faculty are members of the University Senate - the legislative body of the University in matters involving educational programs, requirements, and standards; faculty welfare; and student conduct. The Board of Trustees delegates to Senate primary responsibility for curriculum, programs, and course offerings and advisory responsibility on all matters related to Miami University.
A recent project in 2014-2015 was the reorganization of Miami's regional campuses. This involved several committees and the Senate, all of which had staff representation.
Special committees were formed for restructuring and implementation of the plan.

Faculty are members of Faculty Assembly - Voting in Faculty Assembly is on a motion to refer back to Senate one of its items and to provide opinions to individuals or groups on issues as Assembly deems appropriate.

Physical Resources AND Budgeting, staffing, financial planning: Faculty may be members of the Fiscal Priorities Committee and the Campus Planning Committee - that Committee reviews Campus Planning Project Requests (required for any alteration in the exterior campus environment and for major alterations to campus building interiors); review proposed capital improvement priorities; and review, adopt, and update periodically a set of Patterns that serve as design guidelines for any campus planning project.
The Fiscal Priorities Committee gives attention to long-range fiscal priorities and budget planning as well as to immediate fiscal and budget concerns. Recent projects included the renovation of several residence halls and an academic building; plus locating a site for a new residence hall on campus after protests about its originally-planned site. (2014-2015).
Faculty are members of the Benefits Committee, which advises the senior administration on policies involving benefits currently and potentially available to faculty and staff.
In 2015 Miami's health insurance policy changed, with input from of this committee.
Communications/transparency: Faculty are standing members of the University Liberal Education Council which has the authority to approve the inclusion of courses in the University Liberal Education curriculum.
In 2014 the council oversaw a major change in the Miami Global Education Plan.

Faculty are members of the 2015-2016 Presidential Search Committee.

Faculty input from the formal committees, below, that report to the University Senate or to the President:
Academic Policy Committee
Academic Program Review Committee
Athletic Policy Committee
Awards and Recognition Committee
Benefits Committee
Campus Planning Committee
Center for Teaching Excellence
CODI - Council on Diversity and Inclusion
Faculty Research Committee
Faculty Welfare Committee
Fiscal Priorities Committee
Governance Committee
Graduate Council
Honors Program Advisory Committee
Information Technology Policy Committee
International Education Committee
Liberal Education Council
Library Committee
MUDEC - Miami University Dolibois European Center
Student Affairs Council
Undergraduate Curriculum, Council for
Undergraduate Research Committee


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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