Denison University
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

The Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA) is a body of 40 students elected by their peers to represent the student voice in the life of the college. This body elects student representatives to sit on standing committees within the University Governance System. These committees are made of up Teaching Faculty, Administrators, Support Staff and Students all elected by their peers.

The University Governance System is run by the general faculty and has many standing committees that include participation from all campus stakeholder groups (students, faculty, and staff). Read below for an excerpt from the governance document:

ARTICLE III. Councils and Standing Committees Section A: Academic Affairs Council 1. Responsibilities: a. The Academic Affairs Council shall review all matters relating to curriculum and educational policy and recommend actions to the Faculty for approval. Included among the areas to be reviewed by the Council are the following: 1. degree requirements; 2. programs of study (e.g., General Education, major and minor requirements, concentrations); 3. new courses proposed to be offered on a continuing basis. (Courses proposed to be offered on a one-time basis only shall be reviewed administratively); 4. academic standards (e.g., reviewing and making policies regarding student academic standards, admissions, probation, dismissal, and readmission); 5. academic support services (e.g., library, academic computing, and academic services). b. The Academic Affairs Council shall evaluate from time to time the broad educational programs, goals, and accomplishments of the University. However, the detailed work of preparing such an evaluation, or long-range planning effort, should be conducted by a Task Force (see Article IV). c. The Academic Affairs Council shall report regularly to the community, through the Secretary of the Faculty, on actions taken and issues under consideration. 2. Membership: a. Six (6) members of the Teaching Faculty elected at large to three (3) year, staggered terms. (Each year one (1) of the Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Council to serve as chair.) Of the six (6) Teaching Faculty, there must be at least one (1) from each division of the University, and no more than one (1) from any single department; b. Associate Provost for Academic Affairs; c. Provost; d. Three (3) students elected from the DCGA Senate for terms of one (1) year; e. Registrar (ex-officio, non-voting). 3. Standing Committees: a. Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics (C.I.A.): 1. Responsibilities a. reviewing scheduling policies regarding the intercollegiate athletic program (i.e. NCAA- and NCAC-sponsored sports) and their coordination with the academic program; b. making recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council regarding coordination of the academic and intercollegiate athletic programs; c. regularly reporting to the Academic Affairs Council on issues considered; d. regularly reporting to the faculty (via Chairs Meetings, Faculty Meetings and/or written reports to the faculty). 2. Membership a. The male and female NCAA Faculty Athletic Representatives (FAR) who are appointed by the President for five year terms; b. Two (2) members of the Teaching Faculty, one of whom must be a faculty coach, elected at large for staggered three (3) year terms; c. The Director of Athletics/Chair of Physical Education; d. Associate Director of Recreation (currently the Associate Athletic Director); e. A representative from the Registrar’s Office; f. President of Denison Student Athlete Advisory Council (DSAAC) or other student elected from the DSAAC Executive Board (one year term); g. One (1) student elected from DCGA Senate for a term of one (1) year. 3. Faculty Athletic Representatives: The FARs will serve as co-chairs of the Committee. b. General Education Competency Committee (Proposal #12-51) 1. Responsibilities a. advising the Academic Affairs Council in all curricular matters related to the Oral Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, and Power and Justice Competency requirements at the University (in addition to the standing committee’s own agenda, AAC can from time to time charge the GE Competency Committee to address specific questions related to the competency requirements). b. reviewing proposed courses which would satisfy the competency requirements and be offered on a continuing basis and offering recommendations to the Academic Affairs Council for the passage or denial of proposed courses. c. guiding workshops, educational and course-development opportunities, and community discussions of the competency. 2. Membership a. Six (6) members of the Teaching Faculty, elected to three-year (3-year) staggered terms. Each year one (1) of the Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Committee to serve as chair. Of the six (6) Teaching Faculty, there must be at least one (1) from each division of the University, and no more than one (1) from any single department; b. Three (3) students elected from the DCGA Senate for terms of one (1) year. c. The Writing Committee (Proposal #13-35) 1. Responsibilities: a. providing broad curricular guidance for the Writing Program; b. providing faculty development and programming in writing pedagogy; c. evaluating proposals for both First-Year Writing Workshop (W101) and writing intensive courses (W-overlays). The Writing Committee will do the bulk of the work in the approval process and make formal recommendations regarding the approval of individual courses to AAC; d. coordinating with the Assessment Committee to ensure the writing program is meeting its stated outcomes. The Writing Committee will coordinate the actual work to assess the writing program and report to the Assessment Committee on those assessment results; e. working with the Provost and Registrar to ensure adequate staffing of the writing program; f. reporting once per semester to AAC on the status of the writing program and participate in AAC discussions as requested. The responsibilities of the Chair of the Writing Committee include oversight of the above responsibilities of the Writing Committee. It is the chair’s responsibility to convene and carry out the business of the Writing Committee. 2. Membership: a. Four (4) members of the Teaching Faculty, one (1) from each division of the University, elected to three-year (3-year) staggered terms; b. Chair of the Writing Committee, appointed by the Provost to a three-year (3-year) term, with possibility of renewal for a second term; c. Chair of the Department of English (or designee; ex-officio, non-voting). Section B: University Council 1. Responsibilities: a. The University Council shall advise the President on policies relating to personnel, enrollment, financial matters, and sustainability within the University, and oversee the implementation of those decisions, including: 1. all Administrative Staff, Supportive Operating Staff, and Faculty positions; 2. student enrollment, retention, and financial aid; 3. annual budget, development, finance and management. b. The University Council shall take an active role in long-range planning for the University. c. The University Council shall report regularly to the community, through the Secretary of the Faculty, on actions taken and issues under consideration. 2. Membership: a. President of the University (ex-officio, non-voting); b. Provost; c. Vice-President for Finance and Management; d. Vice-President for Student Development and Dean of Students; e. Six (6) Teaching Faculty as follows: 1. one (1) elected at large to serve as chair of the University Council for a three (3) year term; 2. each of the vice-chairs of the Personnel, Student Enrollment and Retention, Finance, Information Technology, and Campus Sustainability standing committees; f. Three (3) students elected from the DCGA Senate for terms of one (1) year; g. Two (2) members of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large to a three (3) year term. 3. Standing Committees: a. Personnel Committee (P.C.): 1. Responsibilities: a. Reviewing all existing and any new policies and procedures relating to affirmative action, hiring, and benefits of all persons employed by Denison and other policies brought to the committee, and recommending modifications and/or reporting on these matters to the University Council; b. Reviewing all existing and any new policies and procedures relating to contract renewal, promotion, and dismissal of all employees except Teaching Faculty (see Faculty Handbook), and recommending modifications and/or reporting on these matters to the University Council; c. Reviewing and evaluating all requests for new positions and continued need for replacement of existing positions, and recommending and/or reporting on these matters to the University Council, Provost, and Director of Human Resources; d. Establishing and reviewing guidelines for modifying existing positions, requesting new positions, and justifying the continued need for existing positions, and recommending modifications and/or reporting on these matters to the University Council, Provost, and Director of Human Resources. 2. Membership: a. Provost (ex-officio, voting); b. Three (3) Teaching Faculty elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms. (Each year one (1) of the Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Committee to serve as chair; another one (1) shall be elected to serve as vice-chair and sit on the University Council); c. One (1) member of the Administrative Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; d. One (1) student elected from the DCGA Senate for a one (1) year term; e. Two (2) members of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; f. Administrator with primary responsibility for institutional diversity, (ex-officio, nonvoting); g. Director of Human Resources, or designate (ex-officio, non-voting). b. Student Enrollment and Retention Committee (S.E.R.C.): 1. Responsibilities: a. establishing policies and overseeing the implementation of the University's admissions, financial aid, and retention programs; b. collecting and evaluating information regarding the long-range outlook for Denison's admission and retention programs, and making recommendations to the University Council. 2. Membership: a. Three (3) Teaching Faculty elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms. (Each year one (1) Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Committee to serve as chair; another one (1) shall be elected to serve as vice-chair and sit on the University Council); b. Two (2) students elected from the DCGA Senate; c. Two (2) members of the Administrative Staff elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms; d. One (1) member of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; e. The directors or heads, or their designates, of Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Resource Center, and Student Development (all ex officio, nonvoting). c. Finance Committee (F.C.): 1. Responsibilities: a. overseeing and making recommendations to the University Council regarding the financial management of the University; b. reviewing and evaluating the annual budget before it is submitted to the Board of Trustees. 2. Membership: a. Three (3) Teaching Faculty elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms. (Each year one (1) of the Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Committee to serve as chair; another one (1) shall be elected to serve as vice-chair and sit on the University Council); b. Two (2) members of the Administrative Staff elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms; c. One (l) student elected from the DCGA Senate for a one (1) year term; d. Two (2) members of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; e. Vice-President for Finance and Management, or designate (ex- officio, nonvoting); f. Vice-President of Institutional Advancement or designate (ex-officio, nonvoting). d. Information Technology Committee (I.T.C.) (Updated Proposal #12-48) 1. Responsibilities: a. The Information Technology Committee shall advise the Provost and Vice President for Finance and Management on matters relating to information resources and technology within the University and oversee the implementation of those decisions, including: 1) the policies of and resource allocations for academic and administrative computing services; 2) the policies of information technology and resource allocations for the Library. b. The Information Technology Committee shall take an active role in longrange planning for the future development of information resources and associated technology. c. The Information Technology Committee shall report regularly to the University Council on actions taken and issues under consideration. d. The Information Technology Committee shall actively solicit input from the campus community on matters related to information resources and technology, and consider this input in making its recommendations. The Committee will also solicit expert advice from particular members of the community, as appropriate. 2. Membership: The membership shall include but shall not be limited to the following: a. Four (4) Teaching faculty, one from each of the four academic divisions of the university, elected to serve three (3) year terms. (Each year one (1) of the Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Committee to serve as chair; another one (1) shall be elected to serve as vice-chair and sit on the University Council); b. Two (2) students, appointed by the DCGA president in consultation with the Provost, to serve terms of one (1) year; c. One (1) member of the Supportive Operating Staff, elected to serve a three (3) year term. d. Director of Information Technology Services; e. Director of the Library; f. Information Security Officer; g. Director of Institutional Research; h Provost (ex-officio, non-voting); i. Vice President for Finance and Management (ex-officio, non-voting). e. Campus Sustainability Committee (C.S.C.) (Proposal #09-10): 1. Responsibilities: a. recommending to the University Council the policies, standards, and procedures necessary to advance environmental sustainability; b. overseeing the planning and implementation of University-wide activities to improve Denison’s environmental citizenship; c. advising and consulting directly with University administrators, offices, divisions, academic programs, student organizations, and representatives of the Granville community on environmental sustainability; d. providing a comprehensive, annual report of proactive efforts to attain environmental sustainability to the President, campus community, and Board of Trustees. 2. Membership: a. Three (3) Teaching Faculty elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms. (Each year one (1) of the Teaching Faculty shall be elected by the Committee to serve as chair; another one (1) shall be elected to serve as vice chair and sit on the University Council); b. Two (2) members of the Administrative Staff elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms; c. Two (2) students elected from the DCGA Senate for a one (1) year term; d. Two (2) members of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; e. Vice-President for Finance and Management, or designate (ex- officio, nonvoting); f. Sustainability Coordinator (ex- officio, non-voting). Section C: Campus Affairs Council 1. Responsibilities: a. The Campus Affairs Council is the place where Administrative Staff, Students, and Faculty shall come together cooperatively to design recommendations to the Administration regarding student judicial processes, student publications, recreational athletics (which include intramural and club sports), musical, dramatic and literary clubs, fraternities, sororities and other student affairs, and the general social life of the institution. b. The Campus Affairs Council shall also serve as an informal sounding board for other issues under administrative purview, including student safety and health, residence and dining halls, and recreational life and intercollegiate athletics. c. The Campus Affairs Council shall seek advice from the DCGA Senate on matters of shared concern to students. d. The Campus Affairs Council shall serve in an advisory role to the Administration, working through the Office of Student Affairs, on matters of concern to students. e. The Campus Affairs Council, with the assistance of the Standing Committee on Residential Life, shall review and make recommendations on major policy decisions of the Office of Student Affairs. f. The Campus Affairs Council shall report regularly to the community, through the Secretary of the Faculty, on actions taken and issues under consideration. 2. Membership: a. President of DCGA (chair); b. Speaker of the DCGA Senate; c. Four (4) students elected from the DCGA Senate for terms of one (1) year; d. Two (2) Teaching Faculty elected at large for three (3) year, staggered terms; e. Vice President for Student Development; f. One (1) member of the Administrative Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; g. One (1) member of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term. 3. Standing Committees: a. Committee on Residential Life (C.R.L.): (Updated Proposal #15-33 approved 2/5/15) 1. Responsibilities: a. reviewing and advising the administration on major residential life policy decisions, subject to legal, financial, and other constraints; b. making recommendations to the Campus Affairs Council on matters regarding residential life; c. responding to requests from the Campus Affairs Council for consideration of issues, proposals, long-range plans, etc.; d. reporting regularly to the Campus Affairs Council on issues considered. 2. Membership a. Vice President of DCGA (chair); b. Four (4) students elected by the DCGA Senate for terms of one (1) year (students include one (1) resident of North Quad, one (1) resident of South Quad, one (1) resident of East Quad, and one (1) resident of West Quad); c. One Resident Assistant or Head Resident employed by the Office of Residential Education and Housing for a term of one (1) year (non-voting); d. One (1) Dean, or designate, from the division of Student Development; e. One (1) member of the Teaching Faculty elected at large for a three (3) year term; f. One (1) member of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a three (3) year term; g. Building Services Manager, or designate, from Building Services (ex-officio, nonvoting); h. One (1) member of the Office of Residential Education and Housing with a term to be determined each year (ex-officio, non-voting). b. Dining Committee 1. Responsibilities a. reviewing and advising the Campus Affairs Council on major dining policy decisions, including various dining providers and making recommendations regarding contract negotiations and proposals, subject to legal, financial, and other constraints; b. seeking advice from the DCGA Senate on dining matters of shared concern to students; c. making recommendations to the Campus Affairs Council on matters regarding dining; d. responding to requests from the Campus Affairs Council for consideration of issues, proposals, long-range plans, etc; e. reporting regularly to the Campus Affairs Council on issues considered. 2. Membership a. Six (6) students elected through the DCGA Senate for terms of one (1) year (students include one international student, one varsity athlete, one vegetarian, and three omnivores); b. One (1) member of the General Faculty elected at large for a two (2) year term; c. One (1) member of the Supportive Operating Staff elected at large for a two (2) year term; d. The Director of Purchasing and Administrative Services; e. Assistant Dean/Director of Slayter Union and Student Activities; f. General Manager of Dining Services (ex-officio, non-voting). 3. Chair: Each year the Committee shall elect a chair from among the student members of the Committee.

Denison is part of the Joint Communications Committee that includes: The VP of Finance and Management for Denison, the Village Manager for the Village of Granville, a Village Council Member, a Township Trustee, The Superintendent of the local school district, and the Director of the Chamber of Commerce. This committee meets monthly and works to collaborate on projects and problem-solve collectively. Any major decisions that may impact community stakeholder groups are brought before this committee to identify concerns ahead of time and work to alleviate them.

The Denison Tree & Landscape Advisory Committee has three seats open for the local community. One of those seats is filled by the Granville Tree & Landscape Commission Chairperson. In addition, a member of the Denison Tree & Landscape Advisory Committee sits on Granville's Tree & Landscape Commission.

The Denison Office of Campus Safety collaborates with public safety partners that include the Granville Police Department, the Licking County Sheriff’s Office and the Granville Township Fire Department, who have concurrent jurisdictions within the Village of Granville and Licking County patrol areas. These situations are governed by memoranda of understanding with our public safety partners, which outline the responsibilities and duties of both parties. Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Village specifies that Denison University Office of Campus Safety will investigate traffic accidents, infractions of University rules and regulations, and misdemeanor offenses that occur on campus. The Granville Police Department is contacted in the event of possible felonies. Cooperative arrangements with local officials additionally include multi‐jurisdictional investigations of alleged crimes, special events coordination, and joint training programs. These groups meet regularly to review new policies and new construction on Denison's campus that may impact their work serving the community.

The Denison Fine Arts Advisory Committee (FAAC) works with the Granville Arts Commission and Licking County Arts to coordinate programming, events, and outreach. Members of each organization serve on the others' Boards. Together this group was instrumental in the creation of the Newark Art Space, a Denison venue in downtown Newark.