3400
GOVERNANCE
3410 Shared Governance
Policy - 3000 Board of Trustees || Table of Contents || Back || Next
1.0 Definition
1.1 Shared Governance is a collaborative goal-setting and problem-solving process built on trust and communication. The process involves representatives from appropriate constituent groups who engage in open discussion and timely decision-making in areas of District policy development and implementation not specifically restricted by legal and policy parameters.
2.0 Responsibility/Communication
2.1 In all areas of the District where decision-making is shared, the principals involved must also share accountability. All parties involved in the shared governance process recognize the responsibility to communicate the reasons and rationale supporting a decision to representatives of all appropriate constituent groups.
2.2 In its role as the final decision-making body in the District, the Board shall give reasonable and due consideration to the recommendations and positions developed by faculty, staff and students through the shared governance process. The recommendations developed through the shared governance process will normally be accepted, and if a recommendation is not accepted, the Board or its designee shall promptly communicate its reasons in writing to the affected shared governance body.
3.0 Accountability
3.1 Accountability is defined as the obligation to perform, to justify, to explain and to be held responsible for the consequences and timeliness of an action or decision.
3.2 Principles of accountability, as defined by the District, require the following elements:
3.2.1 Measurable performance criteria, timelines, definitions of roles, clear evaluation of standards, all existing within a legal and fiscal framework.
3.2.2 A process which designates levels of authority/accountability and areas of responsibility.
3.2.3 Established and agreed-upon fall-back procedures, should the process fail, thus allowing District and State mandates to be met.
3.2.4 The realization that two or more separate constituencies can have shared accountability for decisions/recommendations.
4.0 Participation
4.1 Participation in shared governance should be broad-based. Participants are faculty, classified staff, students and administrators.
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