The governing board of Shenandoah University is the Board of Trustees, consisting of no less than 30 and no more than 48 members, excluding ex-officio appointments. Appropriate continuity in membership is assured by staggered terms of three years. The only exceptions to this procedure are for ex-officio trustees, who may be appointed as members of the Board for the tenure of their position. More detailed information may be found in the university’s Bylaws.
The Board of Trustees has broad responsibilities for setting institutional policies, securing financial resources to enable Shenandoah to fulfill its mission, and selecting the president of Shenandoah. Policies are expressed through the actions of the Board as recorded in minutes of all meetings and institutional handbooks, which establish the duties and responsibilities of the chief administrative officers, the pattern of faculty organization, and all other policies that affect the members of the faculty, staff, or other personnel. Copies of the Bylaws and the handbooks should be placed in the Office of Institutional Research.
The following organizational charts are provided to inform the faculty of the administrative structure of the university. Faculty may use the links provided for additional information regarding the responsibilities of each position. Position descriptions containing detailed descriptions of responsibilities and duties of the president and the vice presidents are kept in the Business Office under the supervision of the Director of Human Resources. Position descriptions of those administrative personnel who report directly to the vice presidents (e.g. deans and directors) are kept in the office of the respective vice president.
2.2.1 University Administrative Structure
Shenandoah University Administrative Officers
2.2.2 Academic Affairs Administrative Structure
Academic Affairs Organizational Chart
Academic Affairs Colleges & Schools Organizational Chart
2.3 University Councils
University councils function in cooperation with the Faculty Senate in most matters. Any matters that fall within the Charge/Duties and Purpose statements of the Faculty Senate Bylaws shall be referred by the provost to the appropriate Senate committee. Faculty are elected to council and attend meetings, but do not speak for the Faculty Senate.
2.3.1 University Cabinet
2.3.1.1 Purpose
The University Cabinet is the chief policy-making body on campus that advises the president on all matters, including recommendations from the Faculty Senate and other sources.
2.3.1.2 Membership
Members are: senior vice president & vice president for advancement; vice presidents for Admissions & Marketing, Administration and Finance, Student Life, and Student Success; the provost; the deans of College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, School of Health Professions; School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and Spiritual Life; associate vice president for Administration and Finance; directors of Institutional Research, Intercollegiate Athletics, Physical Plant, and University Libraries; Chief Marketing and Creative Officer, Executive Director of Recruitment and Admissions; the presidents of Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and Student Government Association. The president of the university will chair the Cabinet.
2.3.2 Academic Cabinet
2.3.2.1 Purpose
Because there is a formal senate system of faculty governance, the provisions of which are spelled out in Section 3, the Academic Cabinet serves a somewhat different purpose than the other university councils. The Academic Cabinet provides an opportunity for the members to share information and to coordinate various administrative functions among the academic programs. Issues that relate to any area specified in this Faculty Handbook as an activity of faculty governance (e.g., curriculum or academic policies) are referred to the Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate brings related recommendations to the provost, who will usually consult with the Academic Cabinet before determining whether to bring the recommendation to University Cabinet. Issues that are limited to concerns of academic administration are resolved within the Academic Cabinet. Issues that concern other administrative areas are referred to the appropriate council or to the University Cabinet.
2.3.2.2 Membership
(Revised January 2020, May 2022)
The voting members include the provost (chair), associate provost & director of General Education, associate provost of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, associate provost of Academic Innovation, associate provost of Academic Technology, the deans of College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, School of Health Professions, School of Nursing, and School of Pharmacy; directors of International Programs, Transformative Teaching & Learning, University Libraries, and University Advising; the Registrar; and the vice president of the Faculty Senate. Non-voting members include director of Institutional Computing; executive director of Recruitment and Admissions, director of Institutional Research and Assessment, assistant vice president of Marketing Communications, and dean of Student Success. The recorder of the minutes will be the executive assistant to the provost.
2.3.3 Staff Council
2.3.3.1 Mission Statement
The Shenandoah University Staff Council acts as the representative body for all university staff and serves to advise, communicate, advocate and make recommendations on their behalf. The Staff Council supports Shenandoah University in the achievement of the university’s mission.
2.3.3.2 Definitions and Responsibilities
(Updated June 2012)
Staff Council serves as the official liaison between staff and senior administration and is a recognized part of the university governance process. The Council shall represent the voice of staff and provide a forum to facilitate shared governance for staff in university planning and decision making, and serve as an advocate for staff welfare and development. The Council shall not address complaints that are resolved under existing university policies including, but not limited to, those found in the Staff Handbook.
2.3.3.3 Membership
All benefited full-time staff, with a minimum of one year of employment, shall be eligible for membership on the Council. Other than the president of Staff Council, members of the University Cabinet shall not be eligible to serve on Council.
Eligible Staff Council members will be nominated and elected by staff members by the following job categories:
- managerial/administrative — 1 member
- clerical/support services — 1 member
- service/maintenance — 1 member
- at-large — 10 members
(Per the Board of Trustees Bylaws amended April 22, 2011; updated August 2017)
One faculty member is invited to attend the meetings of each of the following committees of the Board of Trustees, with the exception of the Academic Affairs Committee, which has two faculty representatives
- Academic Affairs Committee
- Advancement Committee
- Building & Grounds Committee
- Finance and Audit Committee
- Student Life and Enrollment Management Committee
Faculty representatives to university councils and Board committees are elected or selected in accordance with procedures detailed in Section 3, Faculty Governance. The representatives of the Senate to the Committees of the Board of Trustees shall attend all scheduled meetings of the Board of Trustees, present and advocate positions adopted by the Senate, and report to the Senate the discussions and decisions of the Board but do not have voting privileges.
The Honorary Degree Committee is an Estate Committee, a joint committee of the Senate, administration, and the Board of Trustees. The Honorary Degree Committee has three faculty representatives. The faculty representatives to the Honorary Degree Committee are voting members.