Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 36.91
Liaison Bradley Flamm
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 3.00 Bradley Flamm
Director of Sustainability
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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?:
No

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

The Student Government Association (SGA) of West Chester University is comprised of 27 student senators elected by the student body (see more details here: https://www.wcupa.edu/_services/STU/sga/default.aspx).
An undergraduate student serves on the university's Council of Trustees (as one of eleven members), but is appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not elected. (See https://www.wcupa.edu/president/trustees/documents/ByLawsRegulations-Revised-11-12-15.pdf for details.)


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?:
No

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

Most WCU employees are represented by one of six major bargaining units and employees participate in governance through these bodies. In addition, many employees participate on university committees and task forces focused on specific issues (such as the Strategic Transportation and Parking Task Force, established in the Fall of 2017) which make recommendations to the university administration.


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? :
No

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 Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties represents teaching and research faculty on campus. APSCUF regularly is invited to name representatives to participate in university committees and task forces.


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:
---

The policies and procedures:

WCU participates in quarterly meetings with West Chester Borough representatives. The President is a member of the Board of Chester County's Landscapes3 Master Planning initiative (2017-18). And other members of the WCU community have consistent interactions with municipal, county, and regional governments.


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):
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

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.