Participating Effectively in District and College Governance:
Student Responsibilities
Leadership Institute
San Jose, 2004Ian Walton, Vice President
Wanda Morris, At Large Rep
Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges
ASCCC/CCLC Ian Walton, Kate Clark, Hoke Simpson, David Viar
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Today We Will Discuss:
Senate Presentation to Students
Student Rights to participate in
governance
How they compare to faculty rights
How can faculty and students best work
together?
Academic Credit for Governance
Academic Advisor Issues
Student Request to Consultation
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Students and Governance
What provisions ensure students’ right
to participate?
In which areas are students expected
to have participation?
How can students bring their views to
bear on policy discussions?
What can faculty do to promote
student leadership?
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Where it Began for Us: AB 1725 1989 Legislative Act after 5 years of
study Objectives of Legislation
– Established CCCs as a segment of California Higher Education
– Mission Defined and Priorities Set– Established local and system governance
relationship– Offered funding to enable colleges to
improve program quality and meet standards (Program based funding) such as 75/25 full-time credit faculty
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
– Faculty and Staff
K-12-like credentials repealedNew minimum qualifications ensure
students and transfer partners of faculty expertise. Tenure period set at four years
Required faculty evaluation and peer review
Validated the need for Staff Development
Set diversity objectives
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Intent of Reform
In short . . . AB 1725 aimed to
enhance community college image
increase support for more money
move from K-12 to higher education
develop more unified system
institutional renewal
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Board of Governors shall establish "minimum standards" and local governing boards shall "establish procedures not inconsistent" with those standards to ensure:
• faculty, staff and students the right to participate effectively in district and college governance and
• the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.
(see Education Code Sections 70901 and 70902)
The Law
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
From Legislation (AB 1725)--amendable only by subsequent legislation
to System-wide Regulation (Title 5)
--amendable by Board of Governors’ action
to local district implementation through district policy, regulation that must at minimum meet the letter and spirit of Title 5
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Regulations Regarding Student Participation
(a) Governing board adopts policies and procedures that provide students opportunity to participate effectively in district and college governance.
• formulation and development of selected policies and procedures and
• processes for jointly developing recommendations that have or will have a significant effect on students.
Board shall not take action on a matter having a significant effect on students until:
• recommendations and positions by students are given every reasonable consideration.
(Title 5 §51023.7)
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
(b) Polices and procedure that have a “significant effect on students” include : (1) grading polices;
(2) codes of student conduct;(3) academic disciplinary policies;(4) curriculum development(5) courses or programs which should be initiated or discontinued;(6) processes for institutional planning and budget development;(7) standards and polices regarding student preparation and success;(8) student services planning and development;(9) student fees within the authority of the district to adopt;(10) any other district and college policy, procedure or related matter
that the district governing board determines will have a significant effect on students and
(c) policies and procedures pertaining to the hiring and evaluation of faculty, administration, and staff. (Title 5 §51023.7)
Regulations Specific to Student Participation
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Regulations Regarding Academic Senates
(a)The governing board shall adopt policies for appropriate delegation of authority and responsibility to its academic senate.
…providing at a minimum the governing board or its designees
• consult collegially with the academic senate when adopting policies and procedures on academic and professional matters.
(see Title 5 §53203)
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
"Academic and professional matters" means the following policy development and implementation matters:
1. Degree and certificate requirements2. Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses
within disciplines3. Grading policies4. Educational program development5. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success6. District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles7. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including
self study and annual reports8. Policies for faculty professional development activities9. Processes for program review10.Processes for institutional planning and budget development, and11.Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon
between the governing board and the academic senate.
(Title 5 §53200)
Regulations: Areas of Participation for Faculty
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Overlapping Student/Faculty Concerns
(1) grading polices;
(2) codes of student conduct;
(3) academic disciplinary policies;
(4) curriculum development
(5) courses or programs which should be initiated or discontinued;
(6) processes for institutional planning and budget development;
(7) standards and polices regarding student preparation and success;
(8) student services planning and development;
(9) student fees within the authority of the district to adopt;
(10) Other district/college policy that the board determines will have a significant impact on students
Grading policies
Curriculum, including prerequisites
Educational program development
Processes for institutional planning and budget development
Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success;
Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate.
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
What does “Participating Effectively” Mean?
Participating effectively in district and college governance is...
Shared involvement in the decision-making process.
– It does not imply total agreement;
– It does not require the same level of involvement by all;
– Final decisions rest with the local board of trustees or designee.
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Participating effectively in district and college
governance grants faculty a louder voice through its
academic senate requires faculty to seek and consider the
informed views of students and staffrequires policy makers to rely primarily on the
recommendations of faculty senates or to reach mutual agreement with them
requires faculty senates and faculty unions to consult with one another on certain matters
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Practically Speaking . . . How Do Students Contribute their Views and Experiences?
Local Academic Senate Activities:
Grading polices (1) (plus/minus);
Processes for institutional planning and budget development (6);
Standards and polices regarding student preparation and success; (7) (Matriculation, prerequisites,
placement, library standards/hours, student equity plans, graduation requirements)
Student services planning and development; (8) (financial aid, career center, counseling hours,student
activities/governance;
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Curriculum Committee Activities: (established by agreement – senate/administration Title 5 §55002)
Curriculum development (changes in courses, expansion…etc. ) (4)
Courses or programs which should be initiated or discontinued (5) (requires student and
community input;
Board of Trustee Activities at District LevelStudent fees within the authority of the district to adopt (9);Other district/college policy that the board determines will
have a significant impact on students (10)
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Regular Student Presence Is Needed
Representatives to weekly or bi-weekly senate meetings Curriculum Committee meetings Matriculation Committee Instructional councils/committees Academic Affairs Student Affairs Accreditation Faculty Evaluation/research More…...
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Challenges and Opportunities for Students
Involves participation of individuals with limited expertise
Provides opportunity for emergent leaders Uses expertise and analytical skills of many
Takes time from studies and other obligations
Ensures input of students with their expertise
Participants begin with differing expectations and understandings of what has been done and can be accomplished
Builds understanding of objectives/decisions
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Requires accountable, dependable students to attend meetings, read materials, report back, solicit views and seek direction from student body/ student government
Results in personal and professional growth--
and often enthusiastic recommendations
May require considerable time for decision Promotes trust and cooperation
Decreases dissention Builds commitment to implementation
Offers opportunities for conflict resolution Encourages new solutions and perspectives
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
In short, participatory governance is “not a simple process to implement – goodwill, thoughtful people, a willingness to take risks and the ability to admit problems exist – can go far toward establishing a positive environment.”
“The central objective should be creation of a climate where energy is devoted to solving crucial educational tasks . . .”
CCCT/CEOCCC Policy Paper, December 1989
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Another Interesting Legal Provision
Evaluation of Faculty and Administrators
Ed Code 87663
(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that faculty evaluation include, to the extent practicable, student evaluation.
(i) It is the intent of the Legislature that evaluation of administrators include, to the extent practicable, faculty evaluation.
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Regulations Regarding Staff Participation
Governing board adopt must policies and procedures that provide staff opportunity to participate effectively in district and college governance.
• formulation and development of policies and procedures, and
• processes for jointly developing recommendations that have or will have a significant effect on staff.
Board shall not take action on matters significantly affecting staff until
• the recommendations and opinions of staff are given every reasonable consideration.
(see Title 5 §51023.5)
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Faculty/Student Leadership Collaboration
20.02 Spring 2002 Students/Student GovernmentResolved, that the Academic Senate for California
Community Colleges create a task force with representatives from the state student senate to explore ways to assist student
government leaders in their efforts to reach their goals of effective participation in community college governance.
How can we best do this ?
for example – classesfor example ???
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Faculty/Student Leadership Collaboration
20.02 Spring 2000 Students/Student Government
AdvisorsTherefore be it resolved that the Academic Senate for
California Community Colleges reaffirm its position that all student government advisors should be tenured faculty.
How can we best do this ?
Budget ConsiderationsStaffing Considerations
Administrator / Faculty / Classsified Staff
Leadership Institute, 2004 - Ian Walton, Wanda Morris
Consultation Council Issues, May 04
Consultation Digest from Student Senate President
Concern about advisor control over expenditure of funds and permissible uses by Associated Student Organizations
Desire for full-time tenured faculty as advisors
Desire for faculty advisors to receive reassigned time
Requesting Board of Governors action