ARTICLE I. INTENT
It is the intent of the Board of Regents: 1) that the faculty, staff and students shall share in the governance of the university, 2) that shared governance is an integral part of the business of the university, and 3) that participators in shared governance are empowered by the Board of Regents to carry out their governance responsibilities to the best of their abilities without interference or fear of reprisal.
ARTICLE II. NAME
The Board of Regents hereby establishes a mechanism for system governance consisting of faculty, staff and student representatives which shall be called the System Governance Council, hereinafter "Council."
ARTICLE III. AUTHORITY, ROLE
A. Authority
The Council receives its authority by policy 03.01.01 of the University of Alaska Board of Regents which derives its authority from the Constitution and statutes of the State of Alaska. The Council shall carry out its functions subject to the authority of the Board of Regents and the President of the University.
B. Role
The Council shall provide an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to interact with the university president, regents and others regularly to discuss matters including, but not limited to, the following: policies and procedures for, and participating in, the university budget process; the framing of long range plans; university development; enhancing the university's public image and educating the public. The Council shall communicate the results of those discussions to the university community. The Council may also coordinate matters of mutual concern to the Alliance of Faculty Senates, the Staff Alliance and the Coalition of Student Leaders.

ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION
A. Voting membership
The voting membership of the Council shall consist of one faculty, one staff, and one student representative each from the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska Southeast, one staff representative from Statewide Administration Assembly and one additional at-large student representative.
Voting members shall communicate their governance activities to their constituencies, and to their supervisors or professors as appropriate, on a regular basis.
B. Selection
Faculty and staff representatives to the Council shall be selected in such a manner as prescribed by the local governance groups. Student representatives shall be selected by the Coalition of Student Leaders as prescribed in the Coalition Constitution.
C. Terms of office
Representatives to the Council shall serve a minimum of a one year term. D. Qualifications
Representatives to the Council should have prior shared governance experience wherever possible.
E. Recall of members
Any member may be recalled by the body by which the member was chosen. The local constituent body shall select a replacement to complete the term of office.
F. Ex-officio, non-voting membership
Ex-officio, non-voting membership in the Council shall include the President of the University, the chancellor or other administrative officer, and one alumni from each MAU, and any other such person or persons as the President may designate, and such others as determined by the Council.



G. Official Spokesperson
1. Election
The official spokesperson for the Council shall be elected by and from the voting membership by a majority vote. 2. Duties
The official spokesperson for the Council shall a) preside over all meetings of the Council, b) represent the Council, and c) serve as primary Council contact to the President of the University and the Board of Regents.
H. Task Forces
The Board of Regents, the President of the University, or the Council may establish task forces to consider complex system issues pursuant to Council responsibilities. These task forces shall, in all cases, include governance representatives appointed by the Council. These task forces are a formal part of shared governance, and as such, are subject to the Alaska Open Meeting Law, per V.C., below.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
A. Regular and special meetings
The Council shall meet a minimum of four times per year. At least once per year, all governance group spokespersons shall meet with the President of the University to identify system issues and plan for the coming year. Special Council meetings may be called by the Board of Regents, the President of the University, the spokesperson of the Council, or on petition of one-third of the membership of the Council.
B. Voting
Voting shall be by simple majority of the full voting membership except for amendments to the constitutions or bylaws. Amendments to the Council constitution affecting membership rights shall require a consensus with no negative votes.
C. Open Meetings
All meetings of the Council are subject to the Alaska Open Meetings Law, AS 44.62.3101 and any additions or exemptions thereto, and Regents' Policy 02.06.01 and university regulations 02.06.01 through 02.06.04. This means that meetings of the Council are open to the public, agendas must be posted, and meeting records kept. Council activities shall be regularly communicated to the university community.
ARTICLE VI. QUORUM
A minimum of a simple majority of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The parliamentary authority shall be the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VIII. CONSTITUTIONS AND BYLAWS,AMENDMENTS, APPROVAL
A. Constitutions and bylaws
The Council constitution and bylaws, once passed by the Council, shall be transmitted to the President of the University for approval and to the Board of Regents for action. Copies of Council constitutions and bylaws shall be maintained in the system governance office.
B. Amendments; distribution prior to voting
Amendments to the constitution and bylaws shall be sent to all members of the Council at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which they will be considered. Amendments to the Council constitution affecting membership rights shall require consensus with no negative vote.
C. Transmittal to the President and Board of Regents for approval
Amendments passed by the Council shall be sent to the President of the University for approval and for transmission to the Board of Regents.
ARTICLE IX. REVIEW AND TRANSMITTAL OF PROPOSALS
A. Review
Administrative proposals and issues affecting the university system or system community shall be submitted to the executive officer who shall send the items to the Council for review as appropriate. The Council shall respond to these proposals and issues within 40 days after receipt from the executive officer. Those administrative proposals submitted in the summer months shall be acted upon by the Council by October 15. Responses shall be transmitted to the executive officer for compilation and submission to the President of the University. Proposals requiring immediate implementation for compliance with state or federal law shall be submitted to the Council for review, but may be implemented prior to their action.
B. Transmittal to the President
The executive officer shall submit the original proposal, together with the majority and minority views, in writing to the President of the University for information or action as appropriate.
C. Transmittal to the Board of Regents
The spokesperson for the Council may present Council views, including majority and minority views, in writing directly to the Board of Regents as a regular agenda item of the Board on any issue within the purview of shared governance. The Council may also present its views to Board committees as appropriate.
ARTICLE X. ACTIONS OF THE PRESIDENT, AND BOARD OF REGENTS
A. Action by the President
The President of the University shall, in writing, approve, disapprove, or modify a Council, and notify the spokesperson and the executive officer within forty-five (45) days of receiving notification of the action by the executive officer.
B. Modifications by the President
The President of the University may modify a Council action if the modification does not effectively contravene or nullify the purpose or principle involved in the action.
C. Disapprovals
The President of the University shall inform the Council of the reasons for any disapproval or modification within one month of disapproving or modifying a Council action.
D. Board of Regents notification and action
Council actions which are modified or disapproved by the President of the University, together with the statement of reasons, shall be placed on the next Board of Regents' meeting agenda for the information of the Board if requested by the Council. At the request of either the President of the University or the Council, the Council action which has been modified or disapproved shall be brought before the Board for action. The decision of the Board of Regents is final.

ARTICLE XI. HANDBOOK
The Council shall annually submit a directory of Council members, a description of the Council and how it works, and the annual Council calendar to the executive officer for inclusion in the governance handbook. This handbook shall be distributed to the Board of Regents and to the shared governance groups.
ARTICLE XII. REPORTS
The Council shall annually prepare a report of activities. These shall be submitted to the executive officer for compilation into a single annual report of governance activities for submission to the President of the University and the Board of Regents. The executive officer shall maintain Council communications electronically.