Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 38.93
Liaison Veronica Johnson
Submission Date May 10, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Southwestern University
PA-3: Participatory Governance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 3.00 Keara Hudler
Student Sustainability Coordinator
Environmental Studies
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

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

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which students are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
Students can voluntarily elect to place themselves on one of the ballots for representative seats on Student Congress. Campus-wide elections are held to determine results. Those elected to fill seats are required to sit on University governing committees (which consist of representatives from all governing bodies). Students can also sit on the Honor Code Council through a separate, more elaborate process (the only other student group designated as a governing body). Seniors elect a student representative from their class to sit on the Board of Trustees for one year.

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

If yes to either of the above, provide:

A brief description of the bodies and mechanisms through which staff are engaged in governance, including information to support each affirmative response above:
"The Staff Steering Committee is a body of elected staff representatives gives staff a mechanism to have a voice and engagement in the governance of the Southwestern community. Staff also have the opportunity to elect representatives on other committees at the University, most notably the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee. Additional staff members are appointed by the Staff Steering Committee to serve in various other governance bodies."

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have a representative body through which they can participate in governance (e.g. a faculty senate)?:
No

Do the institution’s teaching and research faculty have an elected representative on the institution’s highest governing body? :
No

If yes to either of the above, provide:

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:
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Part 2

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

If yes to one or more of the above, provide:

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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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.southwestern.edu/offices/dean/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.