CAMPUS GOVERNANCE

Effective: August 15, 2024

Purpose: Formal structure has been established to ensure that faculty, staff, students, and members of the administration have means whereby they can become involved in educational planning, curriculum development, improvement of instruction, establishment and maintenance of academic and professional standards, and the promotion of students' interests.

Scope: This policy applies University wide.

Responsible Office: Academic Affairs, Student Life, President’s Office

Policy Statement: Emporia State University believes the policies and guidelines regarding shared governance developed by the American Association of University Professor, in its 1966 Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities, are reasonable and prudent. Therefore, the University operates by them insofar as they are compatible with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations.

Policy-making bodies include the Faculty Senate and its appointed committees, the Student Senate and its appointed committees, Staff Senate, the administrative boards, administrative councils, academic councils, standing committees, and task forces.

All of these may make policy-making recommendations to the President. The President is ultimately responsible for all policy decisions.

Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate provides the means for faculty and administrators to engage in cooperative action and formulate policy that affects the primary functions of the University. It also provides an open forum for faculty to request information or express themselves on any matter of common concern. The faculty of the University elects its membership and its officers. The constitution, bylaws, and information about the Faculty Senate is accessible on the Shared Governance webpages.

Associated Student Government

Associated Student Government (ASG) serves as the official voice of the student body at Emporia State University whether that voice be to other students, faculty, administrators or to the Board of Regents. ASG accomplishes this through a Student Senate.

Student Senate

The Student Senate serves as the legislative agency for the Associated Student Government. The students of the University elect the president and vice president of the Associated Student Government, and the vice president serves as presiding officer of the Student Senate. Senators are elected by academic schools and colleges, new students, and those students who have not declared an academic major. The senate appoints its own standing committees, recognizes organizations and provides for the regulation of student groups. The senate considers student fee increases as well as allocates monies from the student activity fee to organizations and activities. Senior administrators for Student Affairs, the Assistant Director Memorial Union, Student Organizations and Judicial Affairs, and other members of the University community serve in an advisory capacity to the Student Senate. The constituting documents, bylaws, and information about the Associated Student Government and the Student Senate is accessible on the Associated Student Government webpages.

Staff Senate

The Staff Senate provides an avenue to foster communication and collegiality among staff of the university, provide representation for ESU staff and a liaison to the University administration, and give recommendations regarding policies and procedures that relates to the concern of the staff. The constituting documents, bylaws, and information about the Staff Senate is accessible on the Shared Governance webpages.

Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.

Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Academic Affairs Procedures and Student Life Procedures.

[Student Life Procedures - coming soon]

[Academic Affairs Procedures - coming soon]

[Faculty Senate constitution/bylaws - coming soon]

[Staff Senate constitution/bylaws - coming soon]

[Student Senate constitution/bylaws - coming soon]

Related Policy Information: 1.20 – Campus-Wide Committees; 1.21 – Creation, Modification, and Discontinuation of Regular and Interim Policies and Procedures