Central Washington University Board of Trustees July 20, 2023 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – Shared Governance
During the 2022-23 academic year, a group of faculty and administrators gathered regularly to develop a deeper understanding of traditional shared governance, defined as the interrelationship between faculty leaders, generally through Faculty Senate, the administration, and the Board of Trustees. Information on the work conducted by this group was included on the Shared Governance website for the university community. The website includes the various works we read, including the “Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities,” jointly issued in 1966 by three organizations that represent faculty, administration, and governing boards. This statement is often cited as the foundation for shared governance work. What we learned through this process is that Central Washington University is moving in the right direction through elevating joint planning, communication, and transparency. However, we also realized that we may have different perspectives about shared governance at CWU and that we can learn to work together more closely to advance the university’s vision and mission. As a result, the traditional shared governance group has recommended hosting a broader conversation around shared governance that would involve all employee groups, students, and administrators. The purposes of this broader conversation would be twofold: (1) to develop our own common definition of shared governance and how it operates at CWU, and (2) to nurture a culture where we engage generatively through aligning our priorities. During the July Board of Trustees meeting, members of the traditional shared governance group will join the Trustees to have a conversation around shared governance, including a conversation about the Association of Governing Board Director’s “Statement on Shared Governance” (2017). This will set the stage for the broader conversation at the university during the next academic year.
Approved for Submittal to the Board:
Jim Wohlpart President
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