Governance

The Board of Regents

Under the powers prescribed by law, the Board of Regents functions as the policy-making body of Northwest Missouri State University. The eight-member Board of Regents is entrusted with the formulation of the general, educational and financial policies of the University. In addition, the Board has the power to carry out any further functions which are permitted by its bylaws or by the articles of incorporation.

Northwest Leadership Team (NLT)

The NLT leads Northwest’s strategic course and charts daily operations by providing executive leadership for all organizational operational portfolios. Additionally, the NLT is the interface between the university faculty, staff, and students and the Board of Regents. The NLT is composed of the President, the Provost, the Vice President of Finance, the Vice President of Student Affairs, the Vice President of Information Systems, the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, the Chief Public Relations Officer, the Vice President of Human Resources, and the Director of Athletics.

Strategic Planning Leadership Team (Extended Leadership Team)

The Strategic Planning Leadership Team (SPLT) not only helps to chart Northwest's strategic course, but it also contributes to the shaping of daily operations. The SPLT ensures cross-departmental cooperation, transparency, and widespread input and sharing of information. Members include the Northwest Leadership Team members, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, the Dean of the Booth College of Business and Professional Studies, the Dean of the Graduate School, the Dean of the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing, the Dean of Enrollment Management, the chairperson of the Academic Chairs Council, the president of the Faculty Senate, the president of the Support Staff Council, a representative of the professional/administrative staff, the president of the Student Senate, and the director of Environmental Services.

Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate is the representative body of the faculty. According to the Faculty Constitution, “The Faculty Senate is authorized to formulate policy in the areas of responsibility assigned to the faculty by the Board of Regents or the President and to advise appropriate authorities in other areas assigned to the faculty by the Board of Regents.” In addition, “The Faculty Senate is authorized to provide a forum for discussion of matters which are of concern to the faculty and to make recommendations concerning their findings on these matters to the appropriate body or authority.”

Administrative/Professional Council (A/P Council)

A/P Council serves as the liaison between the administrative and professional staff, administration, faculty, support staff and students. The council is a recognized part of the University and works cooperatively with other groups for recommendations, requests, and pertinent information to the President. A/P Council meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m., hosting showcases from around campus, discussing and sharing division issues, concerns, and ideas and developing activities and events targeted at A/P employees.

Support Staff Council

Support Staff Council serves as the liaison between the support staff, administration, faculty and students. The council addresses campus-wide issues and raises money for scholarships which are awarded to support staff employees’ dependents.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council, made up of elected graduate faculty members, graduate students and the dean of the Graduate School, recommends all policies and programs involved with graduate study. It coordinates, with the Faculty Senate, all recommendations for approval of upper-division undergraduate courses which may also be approved for graduate credit if taken by eligible graduate students. The Graduate Council also reviews recommendations from the Council on Teacher Education as these relate to advanced programs in teacher education.

Student Senate

Student Senate is the representative governing body of the Student Government Association, which includes all students. The Senate serves students in many capacities: proposing beneficial changes in University policies, acting as a liaison between students and administration, screening the formation of new organizations, supervising campus-wide elections and approving fund-raising activities on campus.

Council on Teacher Education

The Council is composed of one member from each college’s designated teacher education faculty with two teacher education faculty members from the College of Education and Human Services, one graduate education student and two undergraduate education students. The Council is responsible for establishing standards, curriculum, and degrees in teacher education and in teacher education admission and retention policies.

Deans Council

The mission of the Deans Council is to facilitate the development and implementation of a shared vision with our faculty colleagues so that the academic core at Northwest Missouri State University meets the needs of the constituencies it serves.

University Committees

The committees organization provides faculty, students and support and administrative staffs an opportunity to participate in the affairs of the University. The Northwest Leadership Team, in cooperation with the Faculty Senate, coordinates the University committee assignments.

Board of Regents

Northwest Missouri State University Presidents