| Policy Category | Policy Owner | Version Effective Date | Review Cycle | Last Reviewed | Policy Contact |
| I. Governance | President | January 6, 2025 | Every 5 years | January 6, 2025 | Office of the President |
- Introduction
- Consistent with the , Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ) has developed a shared governance structure that allows elected representatives from students, faculty and staff to provide input into, and be informed about, issues affecting their specific constituencies. Each shared governance body within this structure acts in advisory capacity to the President and other University administrators.
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is one of twelve degree-granting institutions within the USM. Governance is vested in the Board of Regents and by the Board delegated to the Chancellor of the USM and to the Presidents of the constituent institutions of the USM.
- The President of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ is the senior administrator of the University and is responsible for the overall implementation and continued management of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's mission and vision.
- The Senior Executive Team, composed of the Senior Vice Presidents who oversee the functional and administrative divisions of the University, is the senior leadership body that develops the strategic direction for the university, provides direct support and advice to the President, and provides input to and has impact on key decisions and issues of importance to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.
- Definitions
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's internal stakeholder groups are students, faculty, and staff.
- "Students" are full-time and part-time students enrolled in face-to-face, hybrid and online programs and courses through any of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's global locations.
- "Faculty" refers to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's categories of faculty worldwide, as defined in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Policy on Faculty Appointment, Rank, and Promotion.
- "Staff" refers to full-time and part-time non-faculty employees of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's administrative and educational facilities worldwide.
- Shared Governance Structure
- Because of its unique structure and geographically dispersed population, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ strives to inform and directly engage students, faculty and staff worldwide in an ongoing conversation on the University's priorities and strategic directions.
- Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ also provides separate governance bodies for each stakeholder group to provide feedback and input to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's administration on issues affecting their constituencies. Each of the three stakeholder groups has an advisory body comprising representatives all duly elected by the stakeholders themselves. Each advisory body may also have one or more ex-officio members selected from the University's senior leadership. The charter and constitution of each group outline the representation, mission, and purpose of the council. It is the responsibility of each body to comply with its charter and constitution. With the approval of the President, advisory bodies may modify their charters and constitutions as needed.
- The advisory bodies are:
- Student Advisory Council: The Student Advisory Council serves as an information network for its constituents. The Student Advisory Council meets periodically with the University's senior academic officers to address issues of concern to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ students.
- Academic Advisory Board: The Academic Advisory Board serves as an advisory body committed to providing advice that is representative of the view of faculty constituencies across the university for the purpose of improving the academic experience at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ. The Academic Advisory Board advises the Provost, Vice Provosts, and any others designated by the Provost on faculty and academic matters and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ's research agenda.
- Global Staff Advisory Council: The Global Staff Advisory Council serves as a worldwide communication link between the staff and the President on matters of concern to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ staff. The Council meets periodically with the Vice President for Human Resources to advise on issues of concern to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ employees.
- Related Policies, Procedures, and Resources