Cornell University
PA-3: Governance

Cornell has a system of campus governance that involves all the members of the campus community in making decisions that impact life at the University. Shared Governance includes the Faculty Senate, the Student Assembly (undergraduate), the Employee Assembly, the University Assembly and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. The Student Assembly is the undergraduate student government at Cornell University, and deals with quality of life issues for students, making sure that student issues are heard and addressed. The assembly has legislative authority over the policies of the Office of the Dean of Students and the Department of Campus Life, and establishes the undergraduate Student Activity Fee and guidelines for its distribution. Every Cornell student has the opportunity to voice concerns during the open microphone period held at the beginning of each meeting. The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly brings together Cornell’s 7,000 graduate and professional (M.B.A., J.D., D.V.M.) students to address non-academic issues of common concern. Drawing upon the strengths of our diverse constituencies, we work with the university administration to improve the quality of life at the University. The GPSA engages the needs and concerns of its constituents, communicating these directly to the University administration. They also appoint graduate and professional students to university committees, where they have a direct voice in decision-making processes. The University Assembly is rather unique in higher education in that it is constituted by members appointed by the constituent assemblies (except for 2 members elected by the undergraduate students directly to seats on the UA), and has the authority to "examine matters which concern the welfare of a substantial segment of the campus community and may make recommendations thereon to the President or other appropriate officers of the university; and is tasked with representing and voicing the interests of faculty, staff, graduate, and undergraduate students." Thus, there are four undergraduates and two graduate/professional students on the University Assembly representing the student voice on any such matters.

Cornell is one of the few universities in the country with two students, two faculty, and one employee as full voting members on their 64-member Board. Trustees help determine major policy directions and have an important role in safeguarding the integrity of the university. Trustees serve on numerous committees and task forces of the Board and as ex-officio members of the Student and Employee Assemblies. According to the Charter of the University, "two trustees are to be elected from among and by the membership of the university's student body at Ithaca." As such, the undergraduate body elects a Trustee in alternating years with the graduate and professional student body. All students may vote in both elections (thus undergrads help elect the grad/professional student Trustee, and vice versa.)

The Student Assembly is the university-wide undergraduate student government at Cornell University, advocating for the best interest of the student body and work on a variety of campus issues that impact students’ daily lives. Examples of recently-passed resolutions: Calling for an Investigation of the Quarter System Calling for Implementation of Open Course Evaluations Developing an International Students Union Bias Incident Accountability Divestment from Coal: Towards a Sustainable Endowment Supporting the Creation of an Official Cornell Mascot Eliminating Barriers of use for the TCAT Addressing Cissexism Reaffirming the Importance of the Performing Arts at Cornell Developing a Mental Health Friendly Academic Evaluation Environment

The EA consists of nineteen members committed to providing employees with a means of continuous involvement in the governance of the affairs and life of the University. Working closely with members of the administration, the EA encourages a higher visibility for employees as community members, more equal participation with faculty and students in the policy-making process, and an increased sense of community among all constituencies through shared responsibilities.

Cornell is one of the few universities in the country with two students, two faculty, and one employee as full voting members on their 64-member Board. The current employee-elected Trustee (a four-year term) though is in a supervisory position.

All members of the Employee Assembly, both supervisory and non-supervisory staff, have equal voting rights on all matters before the Assembly. Some examples of resolutions recently passed are: In Support of the Staff Community at the Inauguration of Cornell’s 13th President LGBTQ+ Inclusion for Workday & Campus Records Adopting Mission and Vision Statements for Employee Assembly Welcome and Invitation to Incoming Cornell President Elizabeth Garrett In Gratitude of our Caring Community EA Elections Calendar Charter Change Shared Governance Joint Declaration in Honor and Celebration of President David J. Skorton One Year Terms for Newly Elected Members in 2015-2016 Slope Day Consistency with Cornell Values Staff Engagement Survey Plan

Faculty Senate Except for the powers reserved to the University Faculty, and subject to the power of the University Faculty to postpone or nullify any action of the Senate, all the powers and functions of the University Faculty are delegated to the Faculty Senate. The Senate has the following specific powers: (1) to select its officers; (2) to approve or reject nominees presented by the Nominations and Elections Committee for election by the University Faculty; (3) to approve or reject the list of members and chairs presented by the Nominations and Elections Committee for appointed committees; and (4) to adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws or other procedures relating to the conduct of its business and the duties and functions of its officers and committees.

Cornell University's Board of Trustees helps determine major policy directions for the university and has an important role in safeguarding the integrity of the university. Cornell is the only Ivy League university -- and one of the few universities across the country -- whose board includes student, faculty and staff representatives as full voting members. As such, the Charter of the University states that, "two trustees to be elected from among and by the faculty of the university at Ithaca and Geneva."

Faculty Senate Membership: The president, the dean of the faculty, the associate dean and secretary of the faculty, and the Ithaca-based faculty trustees are ex officio voting members. There is one representative from the Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti; and nine members (three of whom must be non-tenured) elected at large by the University Faculty. Legislation: -Cornell Investment and Divestment Strategies for a Sustainable Future -Expressing Support for the Cornell University Climate Action Plan -Approve a Master of Science Degree in Information Systems at Cornell NYC Tech as part of a Dual Degree Program with Technion -Investigation Concerning Freedom of Expression