Preamble

The governance of Eastern Mennonite University is the responsibility of EMU’s Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty. Governance policy and procedure creates a framework for the various entities of the university community to participate in pursuing the mission and goals of the university. The Shared Governance Guidelines of the Faculty define the mission and responsibilities of the faculty regarding Faculty Meetings and Academic Council as participants in the governance of the university, and establish the policies and procedures of their operation in this capacity. These policies and procedures are intended to foster broad participation in curricular decision-making and academic policies and accountability among administration, faculty, and stakeholders in a spirit of mutual trust and respect. The faculty acknowledges that the Board of Trustees has the ultimate decision-making responsibility and authority. 

Note: The The Philosophy of Decision Makingand  and The Academic Division sections description in the University Governance section of the Employee Handbook clearly state the expectation for reporting decisions (with rationale) at all levels of decision making. Therefore, with these decision making guidelines, it is understood that decisions made at the level of Provost’s Council, President’s Cabinet and Board of Trustees are to be communicated back to faculty via the Academic Council. The model is to be one that fosters open communication at all levels

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Approved by the Undergraduate Faculty April 30, 2009
Guidelines approved by Undergraduate Faculty April 20, 2012; amendments approved by Undergraduate Faculty September 27, 2012.
Revised guidelines approved by Undergraduate Faculty September 28, 2015
Revised guidelines approved by Undergraduate Faculty, January 28, 2019
Revised guidelines vetted by Graduate Council March 30, 2020 and UGC April 1, 2020, and approved at Faculty Assembly April 13, 2020

Policy Review

This policy is to be reviewed by the faculty every three years.

Distribution

Faculty/Staff Handbook