Criterion One: Mission and Integrity Core Component 1d: The organization’s governance and administrative structures promote effective leadership and support collaborative processes that enable the organization to fulfill its mission.

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	Student Government Association Another prominent source of leadership and participation in campus governance is the Student Government Association [SGA]. SGA is a credible source of student opinion because of its broad composition of elected senators representing all of our academic units, as well as student representatives living in residence halls; fraternity and sorority leadership organizations; and the Minority Student Council. SGA also includes an elected Executive Board which runs as a party and which consists of a President, Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President and Comptroller.
As a representative and elected organization, SGA is often perceived as reflecting the student perspective, and consequently has been historically influential beyond its responsibility of allocating activity fees to student organizations and sponsoring events. Occasionally an activist group, SGA influences opinion on issues related to students through its sponsorships and referenda debates. SGA, for example, championed a successful student referendum approving the construction of a new $38.4 million Student Union scheduled to open before the 2010 fall semester. SGA also participated in the planning and design of the new Union. The building will be paid for by students when they register, beginning in the fall semester of 2011 through a fee of $13.75 per credit hour. This successful student-led campaign will greatly advance our mission to create a vibrant campus community. SGA is an administrative structure that is vital to meeting this mission priority. Staff Council The UMKC Staff Council [Council] is an advocate for growth and development of the University through leadership training, decision making, group interaction and community service, while creating an open environment of recognition and respect. The Council originated in the 1970s as the Administrative Assembly, an association of exempt staff at the University, which reported to the Director of Human Resources. In the 1980s, it expanded to include non-exempt staff and eventually became known as Staff Council. Over the years, the Council has reported to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, and more recently to the Chancellor. Created as an avenue toward better rights and benefits for University employees, the Council has addressed a variety of other issues, including on-campus parking, pay rates, family benefits, educational benefits, and training opportunities. The Council has also created programs and events to encourage all employees to become involved in campus life and campus issues, and to show appreciation in return. Staff participate in the Staff Council through six standing committees: Campus Issues, Fundraising, Nominations and Elections, Staff Appreciation, Communication, Staff Picnic, and Service Projects. Three members from the Council are elected to serve three-year terms on the University’s External Standing Committees. Two of the Council’s projects are the annual Staff Recognition Awards, which honors staff accomplishments in University and community service, and the Staff Scholarship Program, which offers scholarship aid to UMKC staff and their immediate family members to complete their higher education at UMKC. To acknowledge UMKC’s appreciation of the important contribution of staff members, the Council organizes the annual Staff Picnic that brings together hundreds of UMKC staff members for food, fun, music and fellowship. The event, which is held in the central quadrangle of the Volker Campus, brings all members of our University staff together – from administrative assistants to food service and custodial staff. The Chancellor and Deans of our academic units don aprons and take kitchen tongs in hand to serve hot dogs, hamburgers, and coleslaw to staff members. The event also features craft booths, where our staff can set up and sell homemade arts and crafts.
External Standing Committees Perhaps the process of shared governance is most visible in the structure of UMKC’s External Standing Committees. The External Committees deal with issues and develop policies that directly affect our entire University community. External committees consist of faculty and staff, each serving staggered terms; and students, often serving one-year terms. There are presently ten External Standing Committees: Parking and Traffic, Student Conduct, Student Grievance, Campus Beautification, Faculty Senate, Buildings Advisory, NCAA Steering Committee, Budget Advisory, Intranet, and IT Privacy.