Bentley University
PA-3: Governance

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) strives to create a unified and exciting community by strengthening the bonds between all residents in every residence hall. We create a forum of discussion for all the residents to address concerns through their individual building's Hall Council. RHA recommends, reviews, formulates and develops rules/regulations and policies relating to the residence halls to University administration. The organization promotes social welfare by the means of social, awareness and sustainable events in individual residence halls, as well as campus-wide events. The Bentley Student Government Association (SGA) is a governing body that tries to better the university environment for all students. This is achieved through a collaborative effort between the students and university administration. Members of SGA seek out the interests and opinions of the student body as a whole and make recommendations to university officials based on their findings. The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is funded by the student activity fee. Any graduate student enrolled in at least one graduate class at Bentley University is automatically considered a general member of the GSA. General members may participate in GSA sponsored activities and programs, including those organized by the sister organizations. They may participate in yearly board member elections and vote on any other special issues brought before them by the Board. General members may consult with the Board to raise issues, concerns, questions, or ideas concerning graduate students.

Students are engaged in most large institutional decisions on campus. During the most recent strategic planning process, students were involved in town hall style meetings discussing strategic priorities for the university. New policies, programs and initiatives that directly affect student life are presented to the Student Government Association. Students are heavily involved in planning major campus renovation and construction projects including decisions about space programming, furniture, layout/design and function. The Student Government Association is engaged in major campus decisions and communication.

Staff representatives are are always included on ad-hoc committees for example: search and executive search committees. Staff are also included on standing committees for example: The Diversity Council and Crisis Planning and Management Committee. All staff have an avenue to participate in these governance bodies.

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Bentley’s organizational mission, vision and goals have not changed in the last 3 years, but rather were established in 2013 for the lead up to Bentley’s 2017 Centennial year. During the development of these goals, staff and faculty held a prominent role. Staff representatives are always included on committees to assess new policies programs and initiatives. Normally these roles are advisory but often staff have influence over final decisions. Staff are engaged in strategic and long-term planning at the university, for example: Staff are included in discussions and decision-making about existing and prospective physical resources, most recently the total renovation of the Jennison classroom building and the new multi-purpose arena. Staff are involved in budgeting, staffing and financial planning within each division. Staff are included in communications processes and transparency practices. Staff are included in the prioritization of programs and projects both within divisions and at an institutional level.

All faculty (including adjuncts) are able to participate in Faculty Senate.

Two faculty members have been selected by the administration and Faculty Senate to serve on board committees.

All faculty have the chance to serve on Faculty Senate. Faculty Senate is a governance body that covers a wide range of institutional and academic issues including participating in the development of the institution's mission and vision (as recently as 2012/2013), establishing new academic policies and programs (new majors, new courses and new degree programs), strategic and long-term planning for the academics of the institution (including the recent push to increase arts & sciences offerings), existing or prospective physical resources (like the recent proposal to add an addition to the Morison building), budgeting, staff and financial planning within the Academic Affairs division, communications processes and transparency practices throughout the university and the prioritization of programs and projects (like assessing the current usability of our faculty database and profile system).