Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 42.13
Liaison Eva Rocke
Submission Date June 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Montana
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 3.00 Madeleine Jones
ASUM Sustainability Coordinator
ASUM
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Do the institution’s students have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a student council)? :
Yes

Do the institution’s students have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
Yes

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which students are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:

Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) is the student government for The University of Montana-Missoula campuses. ASUM is recognized as the representative voice for UM students and is administered by 3 executive offices (President, Vice President, and Business Manager) as well as a 26-member senate elected each spring for a one-year term. This body meets on a weekly basis to discuss student issues and is governed by the ASUM Constitution, Bylaws, House Rules, Personnel, and Fiscal Policies.

The Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM) provides services to enhance the student experience, advocates for the rights of all University of Montana (UM) students as a unified body, and builds a system of trust and transparency among students, faculty, and staff. ASUM works to benefit the diverse UM student population and address their concerns. ASUM informs and connects the student body and the greater community at the local, state, and national level through agency services, student group support, and community outreach.

The ASUM President holds a standing position on the UM President's cabinet, which is the highest governing body at UM. At the next highest level (state administration through the Montana Board of Regents), a current Montana University System student is elected by the Board to serve. The Board of Regents, however, is the system-wide governing body, while the President's Cabinet is the highest governing body for UM.


Do the institution’s staff members have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a staff council)?:
Yes

Do the institution’s non-supervisory staff members have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body?:
Yes

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which staff are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:

The University of Montana Staff Senate facilitates communication and cooperation between the administration and the non-academic staff of The University of Montana including the Mountain Campus, Missoula College, and the Bitterroot Campus. It promotes and works for improved working conditions and the professional welfare of UM's non-academic staff - the Heart of the Grizzly.

Staff Senate is comprised of thirty elected members of the UM classified staff. Senators are elected from each of the five categories of classified staff: Professional, Clerical, Service, Technical and Crafts. Senators are elected to two-year terms.

Like with ASUM (above), the President of Staff Senate serves on the highest governing body of the University, the President's Cabinet. The Montana University Board of Regents is the highest governing body for the entire MUS system, but the President's Cabinet is the governing body for UM.


Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a faculty senate)?:
Yes

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body? :
Yes

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which teaching and research faculty are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:

The Faculty of The University of Montana-Missoula, in keeping with the traditions of American higher education, play a significant role in institutional governance.

Since 1961, the Faculty Senate has been at the center of faculty participation in the shared governance of the University. The Senate reviews, debates, and votes on issues pertaining to the academic welfare of The University of Montana in consultation and cooperation with the President and his/her administration.

Faculty are members of the University and have a vested interest in areas of academic excellence, as well as the general welfare of the institution. Committee service provides an opportunity to strengthen collegiality and shared purpose with fellow colleagues. Consultation with the expertise of the professorate assures the success of the University.

As with the student government and staff senates, faculty senate President also serves on the President's cabinet, the highest governing body at UM. The MUS Board of Regents is the highest governing body system-wide, but the President's Cabinet is the highest governing body for UM.


Does the institution have written policies and procedures to identify and engage external stakeholders (i.e. local residents) in land use planning, capital investment projects, and other institutional decisions that affect the community?:
No

A copy of the written policies and procedures:
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The policies and procedures:
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Does the institution have formal participatory or shared governance bodies through which community members representing the interests of the following stakeholder groups can regularly participate in institutional governance?:
Yes or No
Local government and/or educational organizations No
Private sector organizations No
Civil society (e.g. NGOs, NPOs) No

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which external stakeholders are engaged in institutional governance (including information about each stakeholder group selected above):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Please note that the organization chart listed above does not include the AY 2017 membership, but does include the ASUM, staff senate, and faculty senate representatives from AY 2016.


Please note that the organization chart listed above does not include the AY 2017 membership, but does include the ASUM, staff senate, and faculty senate representatives from AY 2016.

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.