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Affirmation

In promotion of our mission, vision, and core values, Upper Iowa University affirms its commitment to shared governance.

Definition

Upper Iowa University defines shared governance as consistent and continued discussion, collaboration and communication among stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, administration and the Board of Trustees. This commitment includes encouraging ideas and input in decision-making processes by all stakeholders for the purpose of determining strategic decisions and outcomes.

What It is Not

  • While it is a helpful and productive path for many decisions, shared governance is not applicable to every University decision; operations, procedures and policy will guide many decisions.
  • While participation is critical to its success, shared governance does not necessitate that we reach consensus.
  • While it encourages ideas, feedback and initiatives to make the best decision, shared governance does not mean that all will be implemented.

How It Impacts Me

Through shared governance, we strive to nurture and strengthen a foundation of personal and institutional accountability, trust, collaboration, communication, transparency, inclusiveness, honesty and integrity. Shared governance empowers stakeholders to provide input and dialogue in the University’s effort to:

  1. Align institutional practice and direction with desired outcomes;
  2. Explore innovative opportunities and other issues as identified by stakeholders;
  3. Resolve University challenges.

How Do I Get Involved

For shared governance to work, we must all hold ourselves accountable to being active consumers of due process and following prescribed best practices in shared governance for feedback and/or decision making. We must ensure that we are informing decision maker(s) with the best available information and empowering/trusting them to make the best decision for UIU.

Here are a number of ways you can be involved in both shared governance and decisions that relate to shared governance:

  • Actively participate in Faculty Senate, Student Government Association, and similar opportunities related to governance.
  • Attend President’s Communication Forums, brown bags luncheons and similar events; all President’s Council members are generally in attendance.
  • Provide input to the President’s task force.
  • Serve on committees.
  • Follow due process as outlined in the handbooks for students, faculty and staff.
  • Actively leverage department and school meetings/committees to get your questions answered and issues addressed.
  • Regularly review official University email communications, as these often detail opportunities for input.
  • Submit opportunities and feedback to the Policy Committee or Compliance Committee.
  • Share information and feedback with your supervisor.

Resources

Questions

If you have questions about shared governance at UIU, please contact Dr. Doug Binsfeld.