University of Louisville
PA-3: Inclusive and Participatory Governance

SGA, Staff Senate, Faculty Senate - each has a Board of Trustees Member.
The Student Government Association through the Student Senate is responsible for eliciting and expressing the opinions, suggestions, and recommendations of the student body of the University of Louisville. The Student Senate is responsible for continuing review of University policies and documents affecting students and shall make recommendations concerning these matters. The Student Senate shall determine the rules and procedures of the Student Government Association. The Student Government Association and the Student Senate shall operate under a written constitution and bylaws, as adopted by the Student Senate and subject to approval by the President of the University. The President of the Student Government Association is the President of the Student Body by virtue of a University-wide election. The Faculty Senate and Staff Senate shall select from their respective memberships one ex officio member and one ex officio alternate member of the Student Senate.

The elected President of the Student Senate has a permanent seat as the Student Constituency Representative on the University of Louisville's highest governing body, the Board of Trustees.
The Staff Senate is the officially-recognized governance group for all staff members at the University of Louisville. Established to strengthen the bond between staff members, the Senate also participates in the shared governance process with University Administration, the Faculty Senate, and the Student Government Association.
In its advisory role, the Staff Senate reviews University policies, programs and documents affecting staff, and makes recommendations to the Administration on issues that concern the welfare of the staff, as a whole.
The Staff Senate consists of seventy-five (75) Senators elected from and by their respective Vice President/Dean Areas (VPDAs). Each unit is allotted a number of representatives according to the formula determined in the by-laws of the Staff Senate.
Membership is open to all regular, full-time and/or regular part-time staff members who have at least six months of continuous University service. Senators are elected for a term of two years. Staff Senate applications are accepted at all times throughout the year.

The elected Chair of the Staff Senate has a permanent seat as the Staff Constituency Representative on the University of Louisville's highest governing body, the Board of Trustees.
The Faculty Senate is the officially-recognized governance group for all faculty members at the University of Louisville.
As such, the Faculty Senate participates in the shared governance process with the University Administration, the Staff Senate and the Student Government Association.
In its advisory role, the Faculty Senate reviews University policies and budgets, proposed academic programs, institutes and centers, and any documents affecting faculty, and makes recommendations to the Administration on issues of concern for the welfare of the faculty, as a whole.
The Faculty Senate consists of sixty-four (64) members, each elected by their unit. Membership is open to all faculty members. Each unit is allotted a number of representatives according to a formula determined in the bylaws of the Faculty Senate. Faculty Senators serve three year terms.
Part-time faculty are recognized as vital members of the academic community, and have the opportunity to serve on the Senate's Part-time Faculty Committee.

The elected Chair of the Faculty Senate has a permanent seat as the Faculty Constituency Representative on the University of Louisville's highest governing body, the Board of Trustees.

1. UofL's Signature Partnership has a Resident Advisory Committee the meets quarterly, whose input has resulted in significant university investments in West Louisville such as the relocation of several Arts & Sciences units to a rehabilitated industrial facility in the Portland neighborhood (https://louisville.edu/communityengagement/signature-partnership-1/resident-advisory-council).
2. The President's Council (formerly known as the Board of Overseers); alumni councils often have open forums; some schools have community engagement positions that meet with their academic constituency stakeholders (https://louisville.edu/president/boards/presidents-council ; https://louisville.edu/president/boards/presidents-council/Members)
3. UofL's Commission on Diversity & Racial Equity (CODRE) hosts regular listening sessions that are primarily for the campus community, but sometimes include other stakeholders.
4. Representatives from local government and/or educational organizations, the private sector, and civil society are all represented on UofL's Board of Trustees (https://louisville.edu/president/board-of-trustees) and Board of Overseers (https://louisville.edu/president/overseers/members/).