Governance Overview
This governance website is intended for everyone in the Kutztown University Community – as a one-stop location for reviewing policies and policy makers related to the operation of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, a member of The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education that consists of 14 state-owned universities.
The linked topics in the table to the left (also referenced below) appear in sequential order from statewide down to local control at Kutztown University. The list provides a context for understanding the decision making process. The Policy Register is a listing of local policies and procedures that govern every area of activity at the University. The items in bold print below represent the various facets of the KU Shared Governance System, and include elements that are unique to Kutztown University. The elements appearing above and below this central portion are similar to those existing at any other institution in PASSHE or at institutions belonging to other state systems of higher education.
PASSHE: Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
PDE: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Kutztown University Mission
KU Council of Trustees
KU President
Shared Governance Structure
Policy Register
University Senate
Committee on Committees
Governance Committee Structures
Governance Committee Descriptions
APSCUF: Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty
University Curriculum Committee
Administrative Council
SGB: Student Government Board
Professional Staff Unions
How you utilize this information will vary depending on your role at the University; we hope this information will provide clarity about university governance for faculty members, administrators, professional staff members, students, parents, alumni, or others interested in Kutztown University.
Changing a Policy or Creating a New Policy
As a general rule, to change a policy, one must follow the approval process used to create the current policy in effect in the Policy Register. To create a new policy you must examine the governance structure to determine which body or bodies would have jurisdiction. The organizational chart showing the Shared Governance Structure will give some indication of which body initiated certain policies or which one should create new policies. You should pay attention not only to the bodies linked directly to the University Senate, APSCUF Representative Council, and Administrative Council, but to the staff committees at the bottom of the screen. By clicking on the various bodies, you can view each one’s current membership structure. Sometimes consulting a member is the most effective way to learn about what they do and how they operate. This chart with live links allows you to quickly identify who is on the committees you would like to learn about.
Faculty, Staff, and Students Getting Involved
The structure and description of each governance body's work and/or jurisdiction provides information helpful to anyone interested in serving on these bodies. This includes faculty, students, and staff. The Committee on Committees makes faculty and staff appointments to Governance Committees, and informs the Student Government Board of vacancies to be filled by students. Each spring the Committee on Committees solicits volunteers to serve on Governance Committees. Interested faculty and staff may complete the Willingness-to-Serve form that is available through Profs Online. This produces a list of volunteers for filling vacancies. One could also volunteer at any time at the University Senate Office in Old Main or emailing any Senate Officer.
APSCUF Representative Council not only approves changes to bylaws for the four major contract committees (Promotion, Tenure, Sabbatical, and Curriculum), but also has a committee structure of its own that does not appear on the Shared Governance Structure organization chart. Listed on the APSCUF-KU website, these include Academic Concerns, Athletics, Audit, Black Faculty Liaison, Bylaws, Coaches, Gender Issues, Grievance, Health & Welfare, Legislative, Meet & Discuss, Membership, Negotiations, Nominations, Public Relations, Retirement, Student Liaison, and Temporary Faculty. Faculty members do not have to be members of the APSCUF Rep Council in order to serve on these committees. Contact the APSCUF-KU office in Beekey Hall either in person, by phone or email.
Faculty members wishing to serve may do so as their academic department’s representative to the University Senate or to the APSCUF Rep Council. These representatives would be your best source of information as to how these bodies work and where energetic committee members are needed. Being elected as the department representative to either the Senate or Rep Council is a good first step to getting involved.