“Shared governance” in higher education refers to structures and processes through which faculty, professional staff, administration, governing boards and, sometimes, students and staff participate in the development of policies and in decision-making that affect the institution.
The Ohio State University Senate
The University Senate is the shared governing body of The Ohio State University. Comprised of 141 faculty, students, staff, and administrators, the Senate’s primary responsibility is to advise campus leaders on the key educational and academic policy concerns.
The College of Medicine Governance Committees and Policies
The faculty council functions primarily as a forum to discuss issues specifically relevant to faculty within the College of Medicine, address faculty concerns, facilitate communication between the faculty and the administration, and together with the dean’s staff foster mechanisms of faculty support, development, and interaction within the College of Medicine.
The College of Medicine College Council
The primary governance body of the College of Medicine will be the college council. Action by the college council is required to enact or modify all academic policies of the college including those that involve resources, space, facilities, services and finances of the college, as well as those that affect the number, composition, qualifications and degree requirements of students and/or the general instructional, research and service functions of the faculty.
The Ohio State University is governed by a board of 17 governor-appointed trustees who are responsible for oversight of academic programs, budgets and general administration, and employment of faculty and staff.
The Wexner Medical Center Board of Trustees
The Wexner Medical Center Board is the governing body, responsible to The Ohio State University Board of Trustees, for operation, oversight and coordination of the Wexner Medical Center. It is composed of up to 17 voting members, including six members of the University Board of Trustees, six public members and five ex-officio members.