UAlbany Survey on Shared Governance
This information is being gathered by your University at Albany Senate Governance Council, in consultation
with the Office of the President, to help the Senate evaluate how its constituents perceive participatory
governance at the University. The questions in this survey are about UAlbany's University Senate, councils
and committees.
Your responses are anonymous and will remain confidential; only minimal demographic information will
be collected.
At the end of the survey, there will be an opportunity to provide written comments.
Even if you are unfamiliar with the governance structure at the University at Albany, your response
indicating unfamiliarity is useful information.
The survey will take about 5-15 minutes to complete.
If you have any questions or concerns about this survey, please feel free to contact me at
jcollins@albany.edu. Thanks for taking the survey -- we value highly your input in this important matter!
James Collins, Chair, Senate Governance Council
The University at Albany, SUNY
Q1
How long have you been at UAlbany?
183 (30%) Less than 1 year
204 (33%) 1-2 years
192 (31%) 3-4 years
32 (5%) 5-9 years
8 (1%) 10 or more years
Q2
How familiar are you with the University at Albany’s Senate and its councils?
440 (71%) Not at all Familiar
162 (26%) Somewhat Familiar
22 (4%) Very Familiar
Q2a
Generally speaking, how well do you feel the Senate addresses your concerns?
44 (27%) Not at all well
112 (68%) Somewhat well
9 (5%) Very well
Q3
Have you been involved in leadership positions in your own college or academic/administrative unit?(For
example: served as a chair or program director, or in your department’s executive committee, or as a student
organization leader (president of group, treasurer, etc.).)
192 (32%) Yes
406 (68%) No
Q3a
In what ways, if any, have you been involved in the University Senate? (Please select the response that indicates
your highest level of involvement.)
64 (39%) I have not served in the Senate or any of its committees or councils, and have not voted in Senate elections.
87 (53%) I have not served in the Senate or any of its committees or councils, but have voted in Senate elections.
6 (4%) I have served on a Senate committee or council.
8 (5%) I have served as Senator.
Q3b
How many Senate Councils or Committees have you served on?
0 (0%) None
8 (57%) 1
4 (29%) 2
0 (0%) 3
0 (0%) 4
2 (14%) 5 or more
Q3c
How many years have you served as Senator (total number of years)?
5 (63%) 1 (or in first year)
1 (13%) 2
1 (13%) 3
0 (0%) 4
0 (0%) 5-9
1 (13%) 10 or more
Q4
Please indicate your highest level of familiarity or interaction with each of the following Senate councils or committees.
Council on Academic Assessment (CAA) Handles various
mandated and cyclical reviews of continuing academic programs.
98 (65%)
I have not
heard of this
Council
50 (33%)
I have heard
of this Council
1 (1%)
I have
interacted
with this
Council
2 (1%)
I have served
on this
Council
Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression,
& Community Responsibility (CAFFECoR) Establishes and
interprets policies and procedures concerning academic freedom
and ethics governing the conduct of the University community.
101 (67%)
43 (29%)
5 (3%)
1 (1%)
Committee on Ethics in Research & Scholarship (CERS)
Establishes and monitors procedures on institutional responses
to allegations of misconduct in research and scholarship.
73 (48%)
75 (50%)
2 (1%)
1 (1%)
Council on Research (COR) Reviews research activities and
the allocation of research funds.
80 (53%)
67 (44%)
3 (2%)
1 (1%)
Council on Promotions & Continuing Appointments (CPCA)
Reviews and recommends to the President individuals for
promotion in rank and/or continuing appointment.
106 (70%)
40 (26%)
4 (3%)
1 (1%)
Graduate Academic Council (GAC) Recommends approval of
new graduate programs and changes in programs.
75 (50%)
60 (40%)
14 (9%)
2 (1%)
Governance Council (GOV) Handles Senate elections,
appointments to councils and committees, proposes
amendments to the Charter and assessment of governance.
73 (48%)
68 (45%)
8 (5%)
3 (2%)
Council on Libraries, Information Systems, & Computing
(LISC) Develops, monitors and reviews policy recommendations
for the Library and IT operations.
87 (58%)
54 (36%)
7 (5%)
1 (1%)
Undergraduate Academic Council (UAC) Recommends
approval of new undergrad programs and changes in programs.
60 (40%)
82 (54%)
7 (5%)
2 (1%)
University Life Council (ULC) Reviews and recommends
policies regarding the quality of university life outside of the
formal instruction program.
85 (56%)
59 (39%)
5 (3%)
2 (1%)
University Planning and Policy Council (UPPC) Advises on
resource implications of changes to the university’s education,
research and service programs.
77 (51%)
64 (43%)
6 (4%)
3 (2%)
Q5
In your opinion, which of the following Senate councils or committees are functioning effectively?
Council on Academic Assessment (CAA)
2 (67%)
This council is
functioning
effectively
1 (33%)
This council is not
functioning
effectively
0 (0%)
Don't Know
Committee on Academic Freedom, Freedom of
Expression, & Community Responsibility (CAFFECoR)
2 (33%)
4 (67%)
0 (0%)
Committee on Ethics in Research & Scholarship
(CERS)
0 (0%)
2 (67%)
1 (33%)
Council on Research (COR)
2 (50%)
1 (25%)
1 (25%)
Council on Promotions & Continuing Appointments
(CPCA)
0 (0%)
2 (40%)
3 (60%)
Graduate Academic Council (GAC)
6 (38%)
5 (31%)
5 (31%)
Governance Council (GOV)
4 (36%)
1 (9%)
6 (55%)
Council on Libraries, Information Systems, &
Computing (LISC)
2 (25%)
3 (38%)
3 (38%)
Undergraduate Academic Council (UAC)
3 (38%)
3 (38%)
2 (25%)
University Life Council (ULC)
3 (43%)
3 (43%)
1 (14%)
University Planning and Policy Council (UPPC)
3 (33%)
5 (56%)
1 (11%)
Q6
How well are the following constituencies represented in the Senate, its councils and committees?
Undergraduate Students
4 (31%)
Not at all well
2 (15%)
Somewhat Well
5 (38%)
Very Well
2 (15%)
Don't Know
Graduate Students
2 (15%)
5 (38%)
4 (31%)
2 (15%)
Contingent Faculty, Part-Time
5 (38%)
2 (15%)
3 (23%)
3 (23%)
Contingent Faculty, Full-Time
5 (38%)
2 (15%)
3 (23%)
3 (23%)
Tenured and Tenure-Track
Faculty
1 (8%)
1 (8%)
7 (54%)
4 (31%)
Professional Faculty & Staff
3 (23%)
1 (8%)
4 (31%)
5 (38%)
Librarians
3 (23%)
3 (23%)
1 (8%)
6 (46%)
Emeritus Faculty
4 (31%)
2 (15%)
1 (8%)
6 (46%)
Q7
How effective is the Senate in consulting each constituency?
Undergraduate Students
2 (15%)
Not Effective
3 (23%)
Somewhat Effective
5 (38%)
Very Effective
3 (23%)
Don't Know
Graduate Students
5 (38%)
2 (15%)
3 (23%)
3 (23%)
Contingent Faculty, Part-Time
4 (31%)
3 (23%)
2 (15%)
4 (31%)
Contingent Faculty, Full-Time
4 (31%)
2 (15%)
3 (23%)
4 (31%)
Tenured and Tenure-Track
Faculty
2 (15%)
2 (15%)
6 (46%)
3 (23%)
Professional Faculty & Staff
2 (15%)
2 (15%)
4 (31%)
5 (38%)
Librarians
2 (15%)
3 (23%)
2 (15%)
6 (46%)
Emeritus Faculty
2 (15%)
3 (23%)
1 (8%)
7 (54%)
Q8
How effective is the participation in the Senate, its councils and committees of the following groups?
Undergraduate Students
4 (31%)
Not Effective
2 (15%)
Somewhat Effective
4 (31%)
Very Effective
3 (23%)
Don't Know
Graduate Students
2 (15%)
4 (31%)
5 (38%)
2 (15%)
Contingent Faculty, Part-Time
4 (31%)
3 (23%)
2 (15%)
4 (31%)
Contingent Faculty, Full-Time
4 (31%)
3 (23%)
2 (15%)
4 (31%)
Tenured and Tenure-Track
Faculty
1 (8%)
2 (15%)
7 (54%)
3 (23%)
Professional Faculty & Staff
1 (8%)
3 (23%)
4 (31%)
5 (38%)
Librarians
2 (15%)
2 (15%)
2 (15%)
7 (54%)
Emeritus Faculty
2 (15%)
2 (15%)
2 (15%)
7 (54%)
Please use the space below for comments:
3 (100%)
UAlbany's Climate for Governance
Q9
How transparent do you feel UAlbany's Senate is?
43 (29%) Not at all transparent
95 (65%) Somewhat transparent
8 (5%) Very transparent
Q9a
How well does the Senate communicate the issues it engages to its constituencies and community?
71 (49%) It is not easy to find information about the issues the Senate is currently considering.
72 (50%) It is easy to find information about some issues the Senate is currently considering but not all.
2 (1%) It is easy to find information about all issues the Senate is currently considering.
Q9b
Please use the space below to provide additional details on your views about transparency in the Senate.
35 (100%)
Q10
Role of Administration and Faculty: Areas of Primary Faculty Responsibility
How often does the University Administration (the
offices of the President, the Provost, and other Vice
Presidents) take into consideration the faculty and/or
Senate councils' recommendations/opinions in
areas in which the faculty has primary responsibility
(e.g., curriculum, tenure and promotion decisions)?
13 (9%)
Never
11 (8%)
Rarely
40 (27%)
Sometim
es
17 (12%)
Often
5 (3%)
Always
60 (41%)
Don't
Know
Q10a
Role of Administration and Faculty: Areas of Faculty Interest
How often does the University Administration (the offices of the President, the Provost, and other Vice
Presidents) seek meaningful input from faculty on the following issues in which the faculty has an appropriate
interest but not primary responsibility?
Long-term Planning
15 (10%)
Never
13 (9%)
Rarely
36 (25%)
Sometim
es
18 (13%)
Often
5 (3%)
Always
57 (40%)
Don't
Know
Physical Resources
13 (9%)
18 (13%) 38 (27%)
11 (8%)
2 (1%)
59 (42%)
Budgeting
18 (13%) 19 (13%) 31 (22%)
12 (8%)
2 (1%)
61 (43%)
Selection of Management/Confidential Candidates
16 (11%)
13 (9%)
35 (25%)
11 (8%)
6 (4%)
59 (42%)
Q10b
Please use the space below to provide additional thoughts on the items above.
13 (100%)
Q11
What are the top three University or Higher Education-related issues that you would like the Senate and/or
Administration to engage? (Please provide a short explanation.)
Issue
#1:
270 (100%)
Issue
#2:
220 (100%)
Issue
#3:
170 (100%)
Q12
Please use the space below to share any additional thoughts you might have about governance at UAlbany.
80 (100%)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
After you click on the "Submit" button below, you will be automatically re-
directed to the UAlbany Senate home page.
Q0_4
sex
248 (40%) male
377 (60%) female
Q0_5
admityp
277 (44%) Freshman Admit
129 (21%) Transfer Admit
219 (35%) Grad Admit
Q0_6
FTPT
101 (16%) Part-Time
524 (84%) Full-Time
Q0_7
awardlvl
406 (65%) Bachelor's
5 (1%) Certificate of Graduate Study
109 (17%) Master's
1 (0%) Certificate of Advanced Study
104 (17%) Doctorate
Q0_8
ug_gr
406 (65%) undergrad
219 (35%) grad
Q0_9
stulevel
57 (9%) freshman
90 (14%) sophomore
110 (18%) junior
149 (24%) senior
5 (1%) Certificate of Graduate Study
109 (17%) master's
1 (0%) Certificate of Advanced Study
104 (17%) doctoral
Q0_10
ethnic
314 (50%) White, non-Hispanic
71 (11%) Black or African American, non-Hispanic
67 (11%) Hispanic/Latino
34 (5%) Asian, non-Hispanic
0 (0%) American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic
0 (0%) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
19 (3%) Two or more races, non-Hispanic
100 (16%) Non-Resident Alien
20 (3%) Race and ethnicity unknown
