2nd Annual Shared Governance Day

The Second Annual Shared Governance Day will be celebrated by the UB Office of University Shared Governance: Faculty and Professional Staff Senates, in conjunction with students, administration, and alumni. In the spirit of positioning UB as a leader in the SUNY system of shared governance, the UB Faculty Senate and Professional Staff Senate have declared that the first Tuesday of March be known as “Shared Governance Day” and that it be observed together by the five pillars of shared governance, including faculty, staff, students, administration and councils, as well as our alumni associations, through a series of informative, collegial, and celebratory events.

The featured event of the day will take place at 3:00pm in the Center for Tomorrow: the second historic joint session of the UB Faculty Senate and the UB Professional Staff Senate. Fredonia President Dr. Virgina "Ginny" Horvath, University Senate Parliamentarian Sharon Cramer , University Faculty Senate President Peter Knuepfer , UB Undergraduate Student Association President Matt Rivera, UB Council Student Representative James Corra, UB Graduate Student Association (GSA) President Tanja Aho, UB JSMBS UB JSMBS Polity President Connor Arquette, Provost Charles "Chip" Zukoski and others will address attendees and along with Faculty Senate Chair Philip Glick and Professional Staff Senate Chair Domenic J. Licata will participate in a panel discussion and audience Q&A on shared governance. Following the joint session, Campus Dining and Shops will provide specially prepared selections from @UBBigBlue and @UBLittleBlue.

Shared Governance Day was started in 2016. In the fall of 2015, a resolution to change the name of the Faculty Senate and Professional Staff Senate office name to The Office of University Shared Governance was approved by both senates and promulgated by President Satish Tripathi. The change signifies that in regards to each other and with the other members of UB shared governance, the senates will inculcate of the values of trust, collegiality, dialogue, sharing perspectives, listening, shared sense of purpose, recognizing differences while remaining open to finding common ground and transparency of information.

Share Governance in the SUNY system has been enthusiastically supported by Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and the SUNY Voices Initiative. Shared Governance is a collaboration between faculty, staff, students, administration and governing boards in carrying out the paradigm of shared governance. This collaboration includes but is not limited to: trust, collegiality, dialogue, mutual respect, sharing perspectives, listening, a shared sense of purpose, and shared accountability; always being mindful of diversity and inclusion; always remembering some of us have certain privileges and experiences of life that others have not; remaining humble, recognizing differences while remaining open to finding common ground and transparency of information. In essence it boils down to “effective and constructive” engagement by the administration and trustees with the faculty, staff and students. Not just effective and constructive engagement, but also timely engagement. We need to be proactive, not reactive on important issues. As most importantly, we all need to be at the table, with a voice and a vote.

At 2:00pm in 531 Capen there will be a special meeting of the UB Campus Governance Leaders group with Ginny Horvath. The CGL was convened by previous Chairs Ezra Zubrow (Faculty Senate) and Ann Marie Landell (Professional Staff Senate) and includes leadership from constituent groups across the UB community, including the UUP, CSEA, PEF, PBA, RF, GSA and SA. The CGL meets regularly to discuss governance issues and shared concerns.

The Faculty Senate and the Professional Staff Senate are making significant efforts towards meaningful representation of their constituents and their roles in shared governance. The SUNY Governance Handbook defines shared governance as the “structures and processes through which faculty, professional staff, administration, governing boards and students participate in the development of policies and in decision making that affect the institution.” Policy is not something that “just happens,” but rather should involve those with specific areas of experience and expertise who are directly impacted.

For more information, contact the UB Office of University Shared Governance,
543 Capen Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, 716-645-2003.
Philip Glick, Chair of the Faculty Senate, glciklab@buffalo.edu 716-812-6629.
Domenic J. Licata, Chair of the Professional Staff Senate, djlicata@buffalo.edu @djlicata