The Future‐Shaping Function of the Governing Board

Effective shared governance processes enhance institutional effectiveness and sustainability, but governance in higher education is complex. The concept of shared governance lacks common understandings and practice, and models are outdated and need to be more inclusive, nimble, and flexible. Community colleges are responsive institutions and therefore well‐positioned to have a role in rethinking shared governance. However, before we can create new models, we need new ways of thinking about governance. Based on trends in research on shared governance in this chapter, we argue that new perspectives on shared governance include a focus on trust and transparency and provide examples of shared governance opportunities and challenges through the perspectives of key stakeholders. We suggest interest‐based bargaining as one of the tools for institutions to manage important conversations about stakeholders’ shared responsibility for student success. We may never agree on shared governance, but we need to find a way of effective, participatory governance. This chapter creates some opportunities for creating such a space.

Section: Governance Structures and Rolesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting to shared governance: New perspectives for implementing governance

Kater

Burke

2022

“…The organization of community colleges at the state level is important as it determines the type of state and local trustee functions and the political power that can be associated with the trustee role (Gillett‐Karam, 2013; Smith et al., 2001). Arizona and Michigan have no state‐level governance of community colleges giving local trustees greater responsibility and greater power.…”

Section: State‐level Community College Governance Across the Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some states are not easily classified within the five major categories and as such, the state may be represented across categories of governance and coordination. One example of a state not easily classified is Florida in which the State Board of Education coordinates the Florida State College The organization of community colleges at the state level is important as it determines the type of state and local trustee functions and the political power that can be associated with the trustee role (Gillett-Karam, 2013;Smith et al, 2001). Arizona and Michigan have no state-level governance of community colleges giving local trustees greater responsibility and greater power.…”

Section: State-level Community College Governance Across the Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community college governance and trustees as advocates for fiscal support

White

2022

Community college boards of trustees are not highly visible, but they play a vital role in college and student success through governance and oversight of the mission of open access higher education. The stakes are high as community colleges compete for scarce resources in state budgets making the local and state-level trustee/governing role as fierce advocates of utmost importance. This chapter describes the different roles and functions of community college trustees across the states with a particular focus on college finance. The article begins by describing community college governance arrangements and duties of state level boards followed by a description of duties for locally governed colleges. The chapter then moves to a discussion of state and local budgetary support of community colleges. The chapter closes with a discussion of political power and implications for trustees to expand budgetary support for community colleges through advocacy.

“…Another important consideration for boards of trustees is meeting the needs of diverse communities and the importance of equity and diversity on the boards themselves (Association of Community College Trustees, 2018; Brekken et al., 2021; Eckel & Trower, 2016; Gillett‐Karam, 2013). In addition to fulfilling their access mission by serving high percentages of students of color, low‐income students, and part‐time and older students (American Association of Community Colleges, 2021), community colleges have a long‐standing tradition of being both market and community responsive in their missions.…”

Section: Governance For Workforce Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing workforce needs and educational opportunity through board action

D’Amico

Turk

Hancock

et al. 2022

Boards of trustees provide the policy, strategy, and accountability that set the direction for community colleges, all while being accountable to the states, regions, districts, and local areas they serve. One of those particular mission areas of community colleges is the preparation of the workforce to meet the needs of local economies and the simultaneous offering of relevant education that helps individuals achieve social and economic mobility. A critical component of that is to provide educational opportunities that allow individuals to continue to build on levels of education so that there are no "dead ends" as they progress through their careers. In this chapter, we discuss how Boards can embrace the TECH (transparency, equity, career, holistic) approach when governing colleges that address workforce needs and advance educational opportunities.