Shared Governance
A Resolution of the Snow College Faculty Senate April 24, 2019
Faculty share in the governance of Snow College according to the principles and guidelines outlined in the “Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities” of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Shared governance is a model of management in higher education founded on democratic ideals and is based on principles of mutual trust, respect, fairness, transparency, accountability, open dialogue and the best use of human talent and physical resources.
The faculty has primary responsibility in areas of academic status and related matters including appointments, reappointments, decisions not to reappoint, promotions, the granting of tenure, dismissal, research, teaching methods and curriculum. The faculty is accountable to the administration in fulfilling these responsibilities. The administration has oversight of university operations, and only in extremely rare instances should object to the faculty’s decisions in the faculty’s areas of expertise and primary responsibility. In such cases the administration should provide clear justification of its actions to the appropriate faculty governing body--Faculty Senate, Division Dean and Department chair. This justification should be provided in a timely manner and allow the faculty governing body to access, and correct, if needed and possible, the situation(s) of concern. Faculty share in institutional governance mainly through academic divisions, departments, Faculty Association and the Faculty Senate. Each department functions within the boundaries of its academic discipline and division on behalf of its students and faculty, while the Faculty Senate serves to represent the faculty as a whole. Departments act as democratic bodies in making decisions. The department chair coordinates the affairs of the department and represents its faculty and students in administrative venues. The Faculty Senate is a democratic body that acts as the voice of the faculty in the formulation and implementation of institutional policy. The Faculty Senate president represents the faculty in administrative venues.
Administration has primary responsibility to coordinate the operations of the college, including but not limited to, defining and attaining institutional goals, procuring and managing funds, representing the institution to the legislature and the public, overseeing the development of institutional policies and procedures, and representing views of faculty, staff, students and other constituents to the governing board. Faculty should work with the administration in reaching common goals and only in extremely rare instances should object to the actions of the administration in its areas of primary responsibility. In such cases the faculty should provide the administration clear justification of its position.
Faculty and administration should work together in a spirit of mutual support and good will as they serve in their complementary capacities to extend the benefits of higher education to students and the community.
Adapted from Utah Valley University’s “Statement on Shared Governance”.