The faculty and staff at UWSP are dedicated to the success of our students and institution. Shared governance is a collaborative process involving the administration, faculty and staff through Common Council, and students through the Student Government Association, SGA. Shared governance has traditionally played a strong role at UW-Stevens Point. Shared governance gives faculty and academic staff members administrative responsibility over academic activities, and all university personnel play an important role in recommending policies to the administration in many other areas.

The Constitution of the Common Council specifies the Common Council as the primary governance representative body of the faculty and staff. All members of the university may attend and speak at meetings of the Common Council, though only members of the Common Council (Councilors) may offer and second motions and vote.

All meetings of the Common Council and its committees are open to the public in compliance with Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. Meeting agendas are posted publicly on the Common Council website. Common Council meets the 1st Wednesdays of the month during the academic year.

Common Council agendas include:

  • Reports by the Student Government Association, the chancellor, and the provost.
  • General Council business, including reports from the appropriate standing committees, and reports from personnel council representatives.
  • Faculty Senate business, including reports from the appropriate standing committees.

The officers of the Common Council and the chairs of the standing committees of the Common Council constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee meets the 2nd Wednesdays of the month during the academic year. The Executive Committee also serves as an advisory council to the chancellor at the chancellor’s request.

Within the Common Council structure, each personnel category has a representative standing council:

  • Academic Staff Council
  • Faculty Council
  • University Staff Council

The Faculty Senate deals with academic policies and curriculum. Its standing committees include:

  • Academic Affairs Committee
  • Curriculum Committee
  • General Education Committee
  • Graduate Council

Other standing committees include the EDI Policy Committee and the University Personnel Development Committee. Common Council also has two steering committees for our campuses in Marshfield and Wausau. Standing committees use subcommittees for specific work such as sabbaticals; program review and assessment; awards; and mediation.

Shared governance committees, councils, and subcommittees are filled through election or by appointment as specified in the Constitution. The elections for governance seats Takes place in the spring and terms start in the fall.