Shared governance pushes for standing committee
The Shared Governance and Communications Committee plans to create a standing committee, the first ever at Central Michigan University, charged with oversight of shared governance on campus.
The SGCC formed a working definition of shared governance in February, calling it a "dynamic collection of the best practices for engaging, voicing, listening and discussing the interests of all groups when planning, making and implementing decisions for the university."
“There will be 12 people on the committee,” Academic Senate Chairman and Co-chair of SGCC Jim McDonald said. “Chairing the committee will be one member of administration and one faculty member to be selected by the A-Senate.”
McDonald said the committee will meet twice a year to discuss ideas for shared governance and report any suggestions they’ve received over the course of the year.
“This committee will also prepare an annual report to share with the university community,” McDonald said.
During the presentation, former co-chair of the SGCC Jim Hageman revealed four responsibilities University President George Ross charged the committee with.
In forming another committee, Ross requested they review national conversations and past work on shared governance, prepare a statement on what shared governance means to CMU and develop an action plan for improving and ensuring the future of shared governance.
Over the past 20 years, there have been four separate shared governance committees, and each one has failed for one reason or another.
According to the presentation last week, the failures of the previous committees were largely due to a “major breakdown in communication and climate” and “frequent turnover in leadership.”
While a final shared governance report has not yet been approved by A-Senate, a working draft is available online.
“The report begins with a history of shared governance,” McDonald said. “The charge is in there, but the other part is to have a concrete historical document about CMU.”
The report also reveals suggestions from guest speakers Terrence MacTaggart, a senior fellow at the Association of Governing Boards, and Adrianna Kezar, associate director at the Pullias Center for Higher Education, who came to campus in February to discuss shared governance from an administrative perspective.
MacTaggart suggested the construction of a physical space for all members of the campus community to meet and converse. Both speakers emphasized the importance for communication on campus.
The SGCC last met April 3 to continue reading and discussing CMU documents that offer guidelines on operational shared governance.
