Governance

This governance website is intended to be, for everyone in the Kutztown University Community, 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 menu contain a context for understanding the decision-making process and select items represent the various facets of the KU Shared Governance System, as they include elements that are unique to Kutztown University. The Policy Register is a listing of local policies and procedures that govern every area of activity at the university. 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 follow the “Policy Register Procedures”, which can be found on the Policy Register page. That page also contains a list of all the current policies.  

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 some 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 Engage. 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 Senate (senate@kutztown.edu). 

APSCUF Representative Council not only approves changes to bylaws for the four major contract committees (Promotion, Tenure, Sabbatical, and Curriculum), but also has its own committee structure that is listed on the APSCUF-KU website. Faculty members do not have to be members of the APSCUF Rep Council in order to serve on APSCUF committees. Contact the APSCUF-KU office in Old Main or emailing APSCUF (apscufku@kutztown.edu). 

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.