This is to inform the campus community that, on 5/15/03, I approved the attached Shared Governance Policy of Leeward Community College and the Principles of Shared Governance at Leeward Community College (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Shared Governance Policy or the Policy).
The Policy was drafted by the Accreditation Implementation Committee (AIC)
on Campus Council Constituency Roles and Governance, initially chaired by Dale
Hood until he retired in December 2002 and then by Acting Chair James West.
Also attached is the memorandum, dated 5/8/03, from the Committee to me transmitting
the Policy for my approval. As noted in that memorandum, the Shared Governance
Policy was developed "with widespread input from all campus constituencies,"
including through several open forums, and was approved by the Faculty Senate
on 11/27/02 and by the Campus Council on 3/6/03. See the approval or signature
section of the attached Policy.
Also attached is the document, dated 4/11/03, entitled "Report on the Relationship of the Faculty Senate to the Campus Council and a Description of Campus Council Constituencies." Although technically not a part of the Shared Governance Policy, this Report is integral to understanding the Policy and the respective roles of the Faculty Senate and the Campus Council in the context of shared governance and the relationship of one to the other. The Report also articulates for the College community a description of the various constituencies represented on the Campus Council and their respective roles on the Council and within the College as a whole. The Report therefore directly addresses the accreditation recommendation discussed below. As Provost, I officially accepted this Report, including the description of the various Campus Council constituencies, on 5/15/03. On the attached copy of the Report, my acceptance is indicated and dated on the last page.
Also attached is Committee's Progress Report dated 4/11/03. This Report provides helpful background information on the Committee's work and the development of the Shared Governance Policy and other written work products cited above.
The Recommendation of the October 2000 Accreditation Visiting Team
The AIC on Campus Council Constituency Roles and Governance was established in August 2001 to review and help implement the following recommendation made by the October 2000 accreditation visiting team: "...that the college clearly define the role of all constituencies on the Campus Council." The related, earlier recommendation of the 1994 visiting team was as follows: "The team recommends that the college develop and implement a written policy which articulates a decision making process which includes persons in the process who will be [a]ffected by the decisions and clearly states the role and participation of faculty, support staff and students on College governing, policy making, planning, staff budgeting and special purpose bodies."
The recommendation made by the 2000 visiting team was a follow-up or carryover recommendation from the 1994 recommendation. In determining that the follow-up recommendation was necessary, the 2000 visiting team indicated as follows:
"The college set up the Campus Council, a representative governance body in response, and established a Charter and By-laws for the body. This was a major effort, and the College should be commended for its work. However, at the time of the team visit, there was considerable tension on campus regarding the roles of constituent groups in the Campus Council. The Faculty Senate was circulating a policy [draft of a shared governance policy] that would put all academic matters, as well as budgeting and planning, under their purview. Other segments of the college felt that this change would be tantamount to excluding them from college governance. This issue dominated college meetings at the time of the accreditation review, and it was clear to the team that the problem that led to the 1994 recommendation has not yet been put to rest."
In another part of its report, the 2000 visiting team indicated that "...the role of the faculty in governance has been contentious. Some on the Faculty Senate view their roles as guardian of academic issues to include personnel, budget and planning decisions. This view is in conflict with the representative organization of the Campus Council. This issue, which must be addressed internally, was a major point of discussion during the team visit."
In the context of the foregoing, the 2000 visiting team indicated that it was therefore recommending "that the college clearly define the role of all constituencies on the Campus Council."
For additional concerns expressed by the visiting team, see the team's Evaluation Report which has been posted on the LCC accreditation website at:
http://www.lcc.hawaii.edu/ac2006/
The Policy and Its Implementation
The approval of the Shared Governance Policy, including my official acceptance as Provost of the "Report on the Relationship of the Faculty Senate to the Campus Council and a Description of Campus Council Constituencies," in essence addresses and resolves the recommendation of the 1994 visiting team calling for a shared governance policy and the recommendation of the 2000 visiting team to define the role of the various constituencies on the Campus Council.
I thank and commend the Committee, the Faculty Senate, the Campus Council, the various constituencies represented on the Campus Council, and the faculty and staff at large for all of your efforts in reviewing and debating the various issues and in reaching consensus agreement on the final draft of the policy. I consider this a major achievement in collegial decision-making. I especially acknowledge and applaud James West for his diligent efforts in shepherding this policy initiative through its various reviews and revisions to its final approval.
As indicated in the attached 4/11/03 Progress Report of the AIC on Campus Council Constituency Roles and Governance, the College must now "publicize the policy to insure that all constituencies and decision makers throughout the college know that the policy exists, understand the policy, and practice the policy." (Emphasis added.) This e-mail gives notice to the campus community that the Shared Governance Policy has now been approved as College policy and transmits electronic copies of the Policy and related documents. It is an important step in disseminating and publicizing the policy.
The Policy will also be included in the next update of the LCC handbook for faculty and staff: "For Your Information: A Guidebook for Faculty and Staff." By the end of Summer 2003, the Policy will also be posted on an LCC "policy webpage" together with other LCC policies so as to make them more readily accessible to the campus community. Effective Fall 2003, the Policy will also be covered in orientation sessions for new employees.
One of the principles enumerated in the Policy states as follows: "The Provost and the administration and all campus constituency leaders and representatives shall adhere to the shared governance policy." (Emphasis added.) As Provost, I pledge my support and the support of the Administrative team in following the Shared Governance Policy. May I also ask that everyone in the campus community and all campus constituencies and their respective leaders or decision-makers also support and follow the Policy and Principles of Shared Governance.
In the future there may arise honest differences of opinion as to whether the Shared Governance Policy and Principles were fully or strictly adhered to in particular cases or by particular decision-makers. However, as a campus community let us all do our very best, in good faith, to follow the Policy and the principles enunciated in the policy.
The definitions section of the Policy defines "shared governance" as "the act of collegial decision-making." In turn, "collegial decision-making" is defined as "the process of enabling constituencies, through consultation, to participate in giving input to affect decisions made at Leeward Community College." Relatedly, the policy section states in part that "Any individual or group of individuals on campus has the right to provide their views on any issue important to them. The college shall educate the faculty and staff of this right and provide opportunities for faculty and staff to provide input." And as indicated in the attached Progress Report: "Shared governance can only become a reality when individuals both understand the decision-making processes and engage themselves in those processes in a creative, meaningful, and collegial manner."
In my view, the process involved in formulating, reviewing, debating, revising, and approving the attached Shared Governance Policy was itself a noteworthy example of shared governance--of collegial decision-making.
The broad purpose of accreditation is institutional quality and self improvement.
Mahalo,
Mark Silliman
Provost