Shared Governance

Defined

Shared governance at Clark College is a decision-making framework in which institutional policies and priorities are determined by the decision-making body¹ in collaboration with those affected. Roles and responsibilities of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees will need to be clearly defined and communicated to ensure accountability. Effective shared governance requires all members of the college community to contribute to an environment of mutual respect and trust.

Principles of Shared Governance

The college will participate in shared governance through these principles: Equity and Representation, Transparency and Communication, and Responsibility and Accountability.

Equity and Representation:

• Those members of the Clark College community who are most greatly affected by the decisions will be represented during the decision-making process.

• Decision-making bodies will include and engage with individuals who hold systemically non-dominant identities through collaboration with Employee Resource Groups, student clubs, and other groups.²

• All materials will be made available in accessible formats³ to include the entire college community, and will be available in a central, easy-to-access location, allowing for multiple ways to participate and communicate in the processes taking place.

• When participating in decision-making processes, participants are expected to act in good faith, allowing for members of the decision-making bodies to uphold the values of the institution and bring forth their constituency’s input above their own self-interest.

• It is important that all Clark College community member voices are consistently acknowledged for their contributions to final decisions, and are invited to deepen their contributions and further participate in the decision-making process.

• Ecosystems affected by College decisions are vital participants in our community, and will be represented by designated human voices to ensure the long-term sustainability of our environment.⁴

Transparency and Communication:

• Groups and/or members of the decision-making body will be clearly identified to the Clark College community in an accessible format,³ which will be available in a central, easy-to-access location.

• All decision-making bodies will communicate their work to the college in an accessible format³ which will be available in a central, easy-to-access location, in the interest of transparency.

• All decision-making bodies will invite feedback at important intervals determined by the body of the group.

• All representational bodies will communicate their goals, responsibilities, and progress at intervals determined by the group.

• How membership is determined will be communicated in an accessible format,³ which will be available in a central, easy-to-access location.

• Member names and contacts will be available to the college in an accessible format,³ which will be available in a central, easy-to-access location.

Responsibility and Accountability:

• All decision-making bodies will define their responsibility and accountability, and reassess these definitions at intervals determined by the body of the group.

• Final decisions and policies will be communicated in an accessible format, which will be available in a central,
  easy-to-access location.

• Plans for reassessment and effectiveness will be defined for each decision as deemed necessary.

• When the decision-making body is not directly responsible for the implementation of a policy or plan, they will take the responsibility to ask for reports or outcomes and support bodies responsible for implementation.

More Resources

Please access the Shared Governance and You page for how you as an individual can effect shared governance, as well as the Equitable Decision Making Tool (PDF) that will guide you to better decision making.

You can also download a PDF of the Shared Governance document that includes the Shared Governance and You and the Equitable Decision Making Tool.

1 Decision-making bodies need to be defined more broadly than those described as legally responsible, but also not an over reaching term designated to any department or person who makes decisions at the college.

2 How this can be achieved will be determined in future implementation of the principles.

3 Accessible formats will address needs of multi-lingual audiences, individuals with visible and invisible disabilities, and will align with the Office of Disability Support Services’ requirements for workplace accommodations.

4 As the college moves towards a better understanding of our impact on the environment, it will become clearer to everyone how our decisions impact our ecosystems. 

proposed - awaiting EC approval 10/2020