Dean Dennis Kratz spearheads the team effort to review not only UTD’s compliance with the SACS Principles but also the UT System’s and Coordinating Board’s compliance. Both the System and the Board play an integral role in UTD’s operation, and to the extent they provide the framework for UTD’s performance, their performance is also a factor. Additionally, this team reviews UTD’s mission statement, how that mission statement translates into action, and the role of the faculty and the administrative staff in leading the institution. Academic governance (the role the faculty plays in determining the direction of the University) is a critical element in UTD’s reaffirmation. That UTD has an active Academic Senate and an active Staff Council suggests that the policies and procedures do have a rigorous review process, and such a review process is an important element in a successful university. That the Student Government has also taken an active role in recent discussions about tuition policy and seats official representatives on virtually every major university committee also suggests that the role of students in the University’s governance is not only important but also vital.