MHLP Governance Council

The Department will assemble a Governance Council to assist the Chair and Associate Chair in reviewing key policies and decisions affecting the Department, including budgetary issues and long-term strategic planning.  This Council will be comprised of four faculty, including representatives from each of the faculty career paths: Ranked/Tenured (2), Ranked/Non-Tenured (1), Non-Ranked/Non-Tenured (1), and one member each from the Administrative and Staff personnel categories, for a total of six members.  In addition, composition of the Governance Council will attempt to have the broadest diversity of race and gender.  After an initial staggered assignment period, terms on the Council will be two years in length. 

The Governance Council is required to meet on a regular basis to originate, review, provide input on and, as needed, vote to endorse Departmental policies and procedures.  The Governance Council will also convene at least quarterly with the Chair and Associate Chair in attendance, ideally in the week preceding the scheduled Departmental faculty/staff meetings. Items for the agenda of the scheduled quarterly meetings of the Governance Council will be solicited at least a week before the scheduled meeting date.  Members of the Department are encouraged to meet with members of the Governance Council, the Department Chair or Associate Chair at any time to address issues of Departmental concern. It will be incumbent upon the members of the Governance Council to solicit opinions and input, both formally and informally, from the Departmental faculty/staff members that they represent.  The Council will identify agenda items for the Departmental staff meetings, review nominations for membership on the Council, and may draft Departmental policies and/or operational recommendations. Key areas to be addressed by the Council may include the following: 

• Strategic planning
• Consultation on the implementation of new systems affecting the Department
• Budget, financial accounts, hiring/layoffs
• Functional units or other organizational support structures
• Space and resource allocation
• Other matters relevant to faculty and staff.