| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.63 |
| Liaison | Kelly Wellman |
| Submission Date | Jan. 23, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Texas A&M University
PA-3: Governance
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 3.00 |
Ben
Kalscheur Sustainability Assistant Manager 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:
Mission:
To serve Texas A&M University by representing student opinion, addressing campus needs through targeted programming and the maintenance of tradition, and providing opportunities for leadership development in order to enrich the quality of student life.
Structure:
The Student Government Association (SGA) operates under one constitution and each branch operates under its respective by-laws. The SGA Operations Manual provides guidelines with which all members of SGA operate.
TAMU Student Government Association is 3 branches, 4 commissions, and 15 committees, all working together to implement changes, provide students with a voice, and develop future leaders.
The three branches of SGA work together to capture student opinion and propose legislation to create change across the campus community, state, and nation! The Student Body President’s Executive Council, in conjunction with the Student Senate, tackle issues related to academics, tuition and fees, shared governance, dining services, transportation and parking, along with student matters associated with the Bryan/College Station communities.
Other leadership opportunities are provided through participation in SGA’s multiple committees, who work hard to provide service to the community, host distinguished conferences, and uphold A&M traditions. To ensure fluidity and balance in SGA’s operations, Judicial Court serves to answer questions concerning constitutional interpretation, legislation, and elections. Any student may file an appeal with the Court in such cases as election violations or alleged neglect of duties on the part of an elected official.
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 | --- |
| 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 student role in regard to each area indicated, including examples from the previous three years:
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:
Mission:
The University Staff Council (USC) stated mission is to represent the interests of and address the issues impacting both classified and non-classified staff employees under the leadership of the Texas A&M University President.
Purpose:
The council will provide a voice and integrate staff perspective by:
Acting as a conduit for two-way communication between staff and administration.
Engaging staff and bringing their interests before the administration.
Identifying university issues and their impact on staff.
Exploring and researching possible solutions.
Providing options and recommendations to the President.
Interacting with other councils.
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:
All full time faculty, regardless of status, have an opportunity to vote for or be members of the university Faculty Senate. This body has mandated oversight over all curricular matters, which includes new courses, new academic program, major course or program revisions, changes to departmental or college structure, new majors and new or modifications to interdisciplinary programs. The senate also has advisory functions over most other issues concerning faculty and students.
Senators are elected as representatives of their academic college and all full time faculty can vote for the list of nominated faculty senators.
Council of Principle Investigators is a second elected faculty body that represents the research mission specifically of the university. This body is primarily advisory but because it represents all funded researchers has significant clout on campus.
Council of Built Environment is a body of faculty, staff, students and administrators that makes recommendations to the president on all aspects of the campus built environment in support of the university's core mission of teaching, scholarship and research, and engagement. Student government is represented on the council, as is Faculty Senate and the Council of Principal Investigators who appoint their own representatives.
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 | --- |
| 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.