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The University Advisory Council
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MISSION
The purpose of Western Carolina University governance is to promote honest discussion of the issues affecting the achievement of our teaching, learning, service, and research missions. The way we govern ourselves reflects the value we place on building a sense of community, and the structure of our governance organizations reflects our belief that form follows purpose.
We value:
1. Mutual respect within and across all campus constituencies (students, faculty, staff, administration).
2. Cooperation within and across all campus constituencies.
3. Open discussion, at the highest levels of the university, of issues that affect more than one constituency.
4. Inclusive decision making.
We believe:
1. Effective governance is based on and promotes trust, respect, cooperation, and open debate.
2. Effective governance within each constituency is necessary but not sufficient to guarantee effective university governance, which requires a concerted effort to work across campus constituencies for the good of the whole university.
3. Our governance structure must be supportive, and sensitive to the aspirations of the organization and its members.
4. Our structure must be flexible enough to accommodate the need to be a proactive organization in a time of rapid change.
5. Governance structures either promote or hinder the development of a sense of community on campus. Our structures should promote campus-wide community.
PURPOSE
The purposes of this Council are to coordinate university-wide initiatives, to facilitate communication across constituencies, and to foster effective campus leadership. The Council serves the campus constituent groups—staff, faculty, students, and administration, and the Chancellor.
FUNCTIONS
The Council is designed to:
- facilitate discussion of campus-wide issues
- give equal voice to all constituencies
- provide a forum for idea generation and creative problem solving
- consult with and support the constituent organizations
- initiate projects and actions to promote healthy campus governance
- foster a sense of community
- make recommendations to the Chancellor and the four constituent groups (students, faculty, staff, administrators)
- develop leadership across the campus
MEMBERSHIP
Six representatives from each of Western Carolina University's four constituencies—students, faculty, staff, and administration—will serve on the University Advisory Council. Membership on the Council is for staggered, two-year terms (July – June) for staff, faculty, and administrators. Students will serve one-year terms to enable them to serve at the sophomore, junior, or senior level. Each constituency has its own governance association, which decides how to elect representatives to the Council. Each constituent group will conduct a nomination/election process in the spring semester, every second year, to determine their representation to the Council. The Chancellor will be an ex officio member of the Council.
STANDING COMMITTEES
The University Advisory Council representatives shall elect University Advisory Council officers. The elected body will determine the offices necessary for meeting protocol. It is recommended that there be a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. The Council shall have three standing committees—Executive, Leadership and Communication. In addition, the Council shall establish ad hoc task forces to study university-wide issues, concerns, and initiatives as needed.
Executive Committee: The membership of the Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the University Advisory Council, the chairs of the Leadership and Communication standing committees, and one representative from each of the campus constituencies—students, staff, faculty, and administration.
The Executive Committee shall set the agenda and outline the order of business for all meetings. In general, the University Advisory Council is devoted to broad scale problems, issues, and changes that effect the campus as a whole, or that substantially effect two or more constituent groups among faculty, administration, staff and students.
Issues can be submitted to the Council in the following ways:
(1) an issue can be submitted directly to the Council,
(2) an issue can be given to constituent group representatives to submit to the Council,
(3) an issue can be initiated from within the Council.
If a concern is submitted that seems outside the parameters of the Council, the Council will help individuals or constituent groups identify other resources. The Council will utilize ad hoc committees (based on expertise) to study concerns submitted to the Council and develop an action plan to assist the Council's review.
All meetings of the University Advisory Council shall be open to the campus membership to observe and make comments as appropriate. Items may be added to the agenda at the meeting if approved by the members present. Order of business may be altered by general consensus during the meeting Regular meetings of the Council shall be held at least once monthly. Special meetings may be called as needed with appropriate notice given to members.
Leadership Committee: to educate all campus community members about the process of self governance. The duties of the committee will be to identify campus needs for leadership training and establish forums to address the needs. These formats could include such activities as workshops, on-going focus groups, mentoring, written publications, keynote speakers, leadership academy, etc. Committee members (no more than 12 individuals) will consist of both University Advisory Council representatives and at large campus membership.
Communication Committee: to establish and maintain avenues of communication across constituencies. The duties of the committee will be to establish an electronic campus network to inform different constituencies regarding the activities of each group. An electronic information center will be set up for posting agendas of all groups as well as the agenda for University Advisory Council meetings and other material appropriate for campus communication . Committee members (no more than 12 individuals) will consist of both University Advisory Council representatives and at large campus membership. Town meetings, liaisons between groups, and other such forums may be established to promote campus networking.
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