DRAFT Arkansas
State University Definition: Shared Governance is the process by which the University Community respectfully shares responsibility for reaching collective decisions on matters of policy and procedure. It should embody the following principles:
Representation:
Procedural
Integrity: ·
Authority: Shared
governance recognizes the statutory authority of the president and the
trustees of the University. However,
the spirit of shared governance requires that the administrative
rejection of shared governance committee recommendations should be
rare and for compelling reasons, provided in writing and subject to
collective response. ·
Openness: The process should be transparent. ·
Notification: Committees should provide stakeholders with opportunities for
discussion of policy and procedural issues prior to making final
recommendations. ·
Timeliness: Recommendations and decisions on proposals need to be made in
a manner that is timely and appropriate to the issue, yet does not
overlook the governance process for the sake of expediency.
The status of any proposal should be available to all
stakeholders. ·
Oversight: Responsibility for oversight and review of the process, and a
mechanism for initiating oversight and review are essential to ensure
the process is working as intended.
This would include primary oversight and review to ensure
adherence to the spirit of shared governance at all levels of the
university. Governance
Documents and the Scope of Shared Governance: ·
Shared Governance Document:
A document clearly identifying itself as the shared
governance document is needed. The purpose of this document is to: §
Define shared governance. §
Delineate the breadth and scope of shared governance. §
List the principles of shared governance. §
Describe the process by which these principles are
realized. §
Define the relationship of other governance documents,
such as the Faculty, Staff and Student Handbooks, to the governance
process, and indicate their authoritative role. §
Specify the conditions that would justify expedited
decisions and the means by which such decisions can be made consistent
with the principles of shared governance in such a way that is
understood by all stakeholders. Other Governance Processes: Delineated decision making should clarify the linkages
between and among committees, elected bodies and the administration
and should be represented in the organizational chart of the
university. This
includes, but is not limited to, the relationship of shared governance
procedures to strategic planning and budget planning.
All such relationships need to be affirmed and explained.
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