University of Illinois Chicago
PA-3: Participatory Governance

The UIC Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is the official governing body of undergraduate students at UIC. Their mission states "to be the voice of the undergraduate student body, be the connection between the students and administration, and help students with any areas of concerns." Students have the opportunity to participate in many campus wide committees, meet with a wide variety of university leaders on different issues, and voice the concerns of undergraduate students to university administration. The Graduate Student Council is the governing body consisting of representatives from degree-granting programs in the Graduate College. The Graduate Student Council supports graduate students by hosting academic seminars and workshops, encouraging them to apply for conferences by supplying travel awards, bringing together graduate students with various social events and project awards, and representing other graduate students in different committees and meetings throughout the year. The Health Professions Student Council (HPSC) is a student-run organization that represents health professions students at the university. HPSC representatives serve on university committees, and provide funding for health-related student groups, travel, and professional projects. HPSC consists of an Executive Board, as well as representatives from various health profession disciplines. The University of Illinois Board of Trustees consists of 13 members, 11 who have official votes. Nine are appointed by the Governor for terms of six years, and three student trustees (one from each location: Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield) are elected by referenda at their university for one-year terms. One of these student trustees is appointed by the Governor to have an official vote.

Many of the colleges have governance bodies that encourage staff participation. Most planning committees include staff. There are also the Chancellor's status committees. UIC established the Chancellor's Status Committees to assist the campus community in supporting our diverse students, faculty and staff. Every year, faculty, staff, and students are nominated by existing committee members and appointed annually by the Chancellor as an official executive committee member. Their participation reflects the importance of service to the university and reflects the diversity of our campus. Involvement in Status Committee meetings and events is open to the entire UIC community and supported by the Chancellor thereby considered approved for employee participation. I encourage you to call upon the Status Committees to seek their assistance or take part in their efforts in the areas described below. They include: Committee on the Status of Asian Americans (CCSAA) Committee on the Status of Blacks (CCSB) Committee on the Status of Latinos (CCSL) Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer People and Allies (CCSLGBTQPA) Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities (CCSPD) Committee on the Status of Women (CCSW) More information: http://chancellor.uic.edu/about/committees/ There is also the Academic Professional Advisory Committee https://sites.google.com/site/uicapac/: The Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC) of the University of Illinois at Chicago is an elected body whose function, as defined by University of Illinois Board of Trustees Statutes Article II, Section 5, is to provide for the orderly voicing of suggestions for the good of the University, afford added recourse for the consideration of grievances, and furnish a channel for direct and concerted communication between the Academic Professional (AP) staff and the administrative officers of the University, its colleges, schools, institutes, divisions, and other administrative units on matters of interest or concern to the Academic Professional staff or any member of it. The Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC) is a formally recognized committee that represents the more than 4,000 academic professionals on campus. As advisors to the University Administration, we review policy, represent academic professionals on search committees, voice concerns regarding academic professionals to the Chancellor, and play an active role in professional development efforts at UIC. There is also the Staff Advisory Council which represents the Civil Service Employees. The UIC UNITED, the UIC Chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association Some reports of their work are available here: http://uicapac.blogspot.com/2013/10/committees-working-together-to-address.html

The University Senates Conference is a statutory body that provides the major link between the faculties of the Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, and Springfield campuses. The Senates Conference is charged with reviewing "all matters acted upon by each Senate" so to decide whether actions taken by one-senate have broader all-university relevance. In addition, the Senates Conference acts as an advisory group to the Board of Trustees through the President, to other administrative officers, and to the senates themselves on matters of university-wide concerns.

Everything is done ad hoc, not with written policies. Periods for public comment before BOT decisions on capital projects. We work with different stakeholders but not in a formal way.The institution is starting to put this together.