INSTITUTIONAL PROFILE

SHARED GOVERNANCE

 

Shared governance is a long-respected tradition at UW-River Falls and ensures that Faculty Senate, Academic Staff Council, and Student Senate participate in University decision-making. Wisconsin Statute 36.09(4) states that faculty have primary responsibility over curricular matters on UW System campuses. The Constitution of UW-River Falls designates the 21-person Faculty Senate as its legislative arm. Academic staff have been granted faculty status for governance purposes and serve on the Faculty Senate. Students do not serve on the Faculty Senate but do serve on most Senate committees. The ten-member Academic Staff Council consists of nine staff members elected through an at-large spring election and one ranked faculty member appointed by the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the Faculty Senate. The Council has responsibility for staff personnel policy and issues.

The students at UW-River Falls have chosen to form the River Falls Student Association, which includes all students currently enrolled at the University. Students have granted legislative power of the Association to the Student Senate. The Student Senate, comprised of 25 elected student representatives, serves as the major recommending body relative to overall campus matters, reviews and handles the complete spectrum of student-life related concerns, and confers regularly with the University administration and Faculty Senate. Its recommendations are directed to the Chancellor on most matters.