Purpose
The MU Faculty Council on University Policy recognizes the importance of genuine shared governance to the success of our University. With this in mind, the Council created this award to recognize individuals and groups who have demonstrated a commitment to and excellence in shared governance on our campus. Up to two awards will be given each year (one individual, one group). The Individual Award recognizes a member of the MU community who has made a significant contribution to shared governance. The Group Award recognizes a committee, office, or other collective of University community members that has made a significant contribution to shared governance.

In January 2024, a task force of the UM System Intercampus Faculty Cabinet described shared governance as follows: 

 Shared governance relies on interdependent members of the university collaborating to best exercise stewardship and responsibility in its governance.  The success of shared governance depends on the attitude of the faculty who are willing to step up and who look to the common good: the well-being of the university as a whole. In practice, shared governance consists of a set of structures and practices through which faculty, administration, Curators, staff, and students participate in the development of policies and in decision making that affect the institution.  At its best, shared governance creates an environment of stewardship and responsibility that fosters interdependence and interaction within the university community, grounded in shared information.

Award
Thanks to the generosity of the university president, each category receives a $1000 award.

Eligibility
The individual award may be given to any member of the MU campus (faculty, staff, administrator, student). Current Faculty Council members are not eligible for recognition.

The group award may go to a committee, office, division, department, or other recognizable collective of MU campus members. Faculty Council standing committees are not eligible for recognition, though a committee that includes a member (or members) of the Faculty Council and/or Faculty Council appointees may be considered for recognition.

Some considerations for winning entries:

• Efforts beyond the normal course of duties. Participating in a committee, by itself, may not be enough. Playing a critical role in it might. Many committees play a role in fostering shared governance on our campus. Successful nominations clearly demonstrate how the committee work represents one or more aspects of shared governance.
• Variety of stakeholders. By definition, shared governance requires multiple layers of groups or individuals. 
• Impact: You might have a hard-working nominee, but demonstrating the tangible results of that effort could make the difference. This might include a published task force report, policy changes resulting from the nominee’s work, or other changes advanced through shared governance processes

Nominations
Any member of the MU faculty may propose nominations for individual and group awards.

Nomination materials will include:

• For both categories: A nomination letter describing the activity or activities that qualify the candidate for nomination. The letter should also specifically address the impact of the nominee’s contributions to shared governance on campus.
• For individual award: A recent CV –or– list of shared governance-related activities, with roles and dates where possible.
• For group award: A description of the committee/division/department’s responsibilities, tasks, and/or charges (preferably a formal/“official” one), together with a list of its current members. The list may also include notable former members if the nominator believes it relevant.

Submissions

All nominations and supporting materials must be received no later than, Wednesday, February 26, 2025.  Please submit all materials electronically to facultycouncil@missouri.edu.  The recipient of each award will be notified by March 12, 2025.

The awards will be presented at the General Faculty Meeting on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 3:30 pm at the State Historical Society, 605 Elm Street.

The Shared Governance Symbol
This was created by the students in the Graphic Design Program in the School of Visual Studies led by Professor Ric Wilson.  The students were invited to collaborate and work to create a symbol that could visually represent shared governance. Using the keywords of governance, balance, shared, democracy, and Mizzou, the students created the cube that you see today.  The four bars used represent the four seats of shared governance, and that is of the (1) Faculty, (2) Provost, (3) Chancellor, (4) President. In the cube symbol, the bars are equally intertwined and complement each other, with two bars a bit larger than two others, but important to complete the four equal sides of the cube, of the balance of shared governance.