University at Buffalo
PA-3: Governance

All undergraduate students are eligible to directly elect key leaders of the UB Student Association (SA). The SA represents undergraduate students before the university administration, continuously advocating for their best interests. They also provide a wide range of services, oversee an ever-growing roster of clubs and organizations, and put on memorable events all year long. The University at Buffalo’s Student Association is unique amongst SUNY schools in that they are entirely student run. SA is funded through student fees and ultimately overseen by executive officers, the SA Senate, and the SA Student Assembly all of which are comprised entirely of undergraduate students. We are your Student Association. The SA president also is a member of the UB Stewardship Committee. For more information see: http://www.sa.buffalo.edu/ The Graduate Student The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the representative body for graduate students at the State University of New York at Buffalo and leaders are directly elected by their peers. Its two key purposes can be divided into representation and services. Its funds are derived from the Mandatory Student Fee and are used to pay GSA staff and fund numerous programs and services offered to GSA members. The GSA President is the key representative to all of the administration, such as the Dean of the Graduate School, the Provost and the President of the University. GSA also represents graduate students beyond the University. The National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, of which GSA is a member, is an organization that exists across the country to represent the needs of graduate and professional students. The Graduate Student Association was created in 1962 to give graduate students a voice. In the 1960s, it was the creation of a student lounge in the New Norton Union (today Norton Hall) that originally got GSA on its feet. From that beginning, GSA expanded to providing services for graduate students as well. It also became one of the caretakers in what Dennis Black, Vice President of Student Affairs, calls “the great experiment.” This “great experiment” was to allow students to control their own Mandatory Student Fee, that is its collection, amount and disbursement, for programs that the students feel they need. The President of the Graduate Student Association serves as a member of the UB Stewardship Committee. More information can be found here: http://gsa.buffalo.edu/

The University at Buffalo Council serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to UB and its president and senior officers. Established in accordance with New York State Education Law, the council consists of ten members, nine who are appointed to seven-year terms by the governor of the State of New York, and one student member who is elected to an annual term by the university’s students in direct elections. The current student representative with full voting power is Melissa Kathan.

University at Buffalo students play an active role in decision-making throughout the university. Through various stakeholder engagement activities (some formal and some issue specific) students have the ability to not only be aware of important decisions but to directly participate and help shape the direction of their university. Some specific examples include but are not limited to: -Direct student representation on the leadership committee that created the Framework for Excellence --A Self-Study Submitted to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This document was key to establishing organizational mission, vision and goals -Students were both consulted and sat on numerous committees that formed the Realizing UB 2020 (Achieving Academic Excellence) strategic plan for UB. This strategy is key to directing budgeting, staffing, financial planning, physical resources and priority of programs and processes -The creation and evolution of policy development at UB directly involves student government and different student focus groups to garner input -Communication and Transparency process is an important tenant within the university's student affairs work with a comprehensive system in place to increase collaboration between student government and the administration.

The Professional Staff Senate at the University at Buffalo exists to look out for the interests of all staff working within State, UB Foundation, and Research Foundation lines. The PSS actively participates in the policy decisions of the University and promotes individual professional development. The Professional Staff Senate (PSS) was officially organized and named in 1972, although the groundwork for the organization was laid beginning in 1969. The State University Professionals Association (SUPA) was organized to represent non-teaching professionals throughout the SUNY system. During its first two yeas, SUPA was active in developing grievance procedures and examining employment conditions, and interacted with the SUNY contract negotiating team. On June 1, 1972, the members of SUNY Buffalo Chapter of SUPA voted to establish the PSS which would in effect take over all functions of SUPA on a local level. The “new” PSS ratified a constitution during the summer of 1972 stating its purpose and function: “PSS shall seek an active role for the professional staff in the governance of the University; shall provide advice and counsel in administrative matters and shall assist in the development of administrative policies and procedures.” The PSS still maintains and follows its established role of participating in the governance of the University at Buffalo in the current constitution and bylaws. In addition, The Professional Staff Senate, Faculty Senate and various unions across campus have launched a Shared Governance initiative designed to bring together diverse voices to increase input and engagement across the campus thereby increasing representation and diversity in campus decision making.

Under state law, there is not a UB Council (the governing body for the university) seat for university staff.

University at Buffalo staff play an active role in decision-making throughout the university. Through various stakeholder engagement activities (some formal and some issue specific) staff have the ability to not only be aware of important decisions but to directly participate and help shape the direction of their university. Some specific examples include but are not limited to: -Direct staff representation on the leadership committee that created the Framework for Excellence --A Self-Study Submitted to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This document was key to establishing organizational mission, vision and goals -Staff were both consulted and occupied numerous committees that formed the Realizing UB 2020 (Achieving Academic Excellence) strategic plan for UB. This strategy is key to directing budgeting, staffing, financial planning, physical resources and priority of programs and processes -The creation and evolution of policy development at UB directly involves the Professional Staff Senate, numerous staff unions and different staff focus groups to garner input -Communication and Transparency is an important tenant within the university's staff engagement with the administration. Numerous formal communication mechanisms (meetings with the president, cabinet, etc) are in place and continue to aid in increasing collaboration and transparency.

The Faculty Senate of the University at Buffalo is the University’s deliberative and democratic faculty governance body. Senators representing UB’s colleges and schools are elected by and from the faculty of each, independent of rank and discipline. Through the resolutions it passes, the reports it creates, and its permanent and ad hoc committees, the Faculty Senate represents the official viewpoint of the faculty on issues pertaining to the academic, research, public service and co-curricular programs and activities of the University. Underlying its activities is the recognition of the faculty’s responsibilities for the excellence of the University. The Senate is consultative to the President on all matters that may affect the University’s objectives and operations.

Under state law, there is not a UB Council (the governing body for the university) seat for university faculty.

University at Buffalo faculty play an active role in decision-making throughout the university. Through various stakeholder engagement activities (some formal and some issue specific) faculty have the ability to not only be aware of important decisions but to directly participate and help shape the direction of their university. Some specific examples include but are not limited to: -Direct faculty representation on the leadership committee that created the Framework for Excellence --A Self-Study Submitted to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This document was key to establishing organizational mission, vision and goals -Faculty were both consulted and occupied numerous committees that formed the Realizing UB 2020 (Achieving Academic Excellence) strategic plan for UB. This strategy is key to directing budgeting, staffing, financial planning, physical resources and priority of programs and processes -The creation and evolution of policy development at UB directly involves the Faculty Senate, the United University Professions unioin and different faculty focus groups to garner input -Communication and Transparency is an important tenant within the university's faculty engagement with the administration. Numerous formal communication mechanisms (meetings with the president, cabinet, etc) are in place and continue to aid in increasing collaboration and transparency.