Appendix
The following passage, selected from the AGB white paper Shared Governance: Changing with the Times, presents insights gained as a result of focus group conversations with more than 200 governing board members, senior administrators, and faculty leaders. AGB is grateful to the Teagle Foundation for supporting that project. THRESHOLD CONDITIONS FOR HIGH-FUNCTIONING SHARED GOVERNANCE ññ A shared commitment on the part of faculty, administration, and board members to the principles of shared governance,4 and a current, shared understanding among faculty, board, and president of what shared governance actually is and how it operates/ functions/works in their institution. ññ A shared and clearly articulated commitment to trust, collaboration, communication, transparency, inclusiveness, honesty , and integrity . ññ An institutional culture of good will, good intentions, and commitment to common values that is reinforced through the practice of shared governance. Clear policies concerning authority and standard operating protocol are important to develop, but without good will and commitment to shared values, they can’t lead to effective decision making on meaningful issues. ññ A shared commitment among all parties to focus the practice of shared governance on the institution’s strategic goals, aspirations, and challenges. ññ Constitutional documents (such as bylaws, faculty handbooks, policy statements) that clearly codify decision-making authority as well as a thorough, nuanced understanding on the part of board members, faculty, and presidents of their own respective roles in shared governance, as well as those of their colleagues. ññ A shared appreciation by board members and faculty of the complexity of the president’s role in facilitating a constructive relationship between the board and the faculty.
4 Specific reference to the AAUP Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities in the institution’s governing documents is an important foundation for this shared commitment.
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Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
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