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I. TITLE
The official title of the College’s shared governance council
shall be the Skyline College Council.
II. PHILOSOPHY OF SHARED
GOVERNANCE
The primary mission of Skyline College is to provide quality
education to its students in partnership with its community. Shared
governance is a method of college management in which decision makers,
whether with primary or delegated authority, are committed to involving
affected constituencies in decisions as much as possible. Shared
governance is based upon individuals having a voice in decisions
that affect them.
Shared governance is carefully
planned, instituted and evaluated. It is designed to lead to effective
participation in decision making that unites constituencies, produces
an improved college environment, and draws upon the strength of
diversity. Shared governance includes the structures and processes
for decision making that engage students, staff, faculty and administrators
in reaching and implementing decisions that further the primary
mission of the college–to educate students. The groups formed
to address college matters are properly charged and empowered, the
members carefully selected, and processes clearly structured. The
structures and processes for shared governance vary according to
task.
In order for shared governance
to work, there must exist a covenant of mutual trust, honesty, open
agendas, equity, and respect for differing views. Essential to maintaining
this covenant are open communications and feedback from all constituencies.
All parties must commit to and take responsibility for fostering
and maintaining an environment in which shared governance can occur,
as well as being well informed regarding issues.
Members of the constituent
groups must commit to participating in the implementation of decisions
made through shared governance processes and to working within legal
and pragmatic parameters of decision makers. The partners in shared
governance acknowledge that traditional and legally mandated roles
continue within the context of shared governance; e.g., the publicly
elected members of the Board of Trustees have the ultimate legal
and ethical responsibility for setting policy and making decisions
regarding the operations of the District’s colleges.
One of the ways shared
governance is implemented is through the Skyline College Council.
The purpose and operations of the Council are carefully defined
in this charter and bylaws. Membership for the Council is broad-based
and is representative of the College community. The Council actively
participates in decision making regarding major College issues.
The Council is the primary planning group for the College, thereby
establishing the criteria and processes to be used by other units
and committees in accomplishing specific tasks. Although the purpose
of the Council is broad-based, it is not intended that the Council
deal with all issues nor micro-manage individual units. The meetings
of the Council are open and public.
III. PURPOSE
The Skyline College Council is the primary planning and policy
formulation group for the College, thereby establishing the charges
to other units and committees in accomplishing specific tasks including
but not limited to, the following areas: budget, programs, student
equity, accreditation and program review. The Council is responsible
for reviewing the progress and accomplishments of the units and
committees. The Council serves as the umbrella shared governance
committee for the College and is a major participant in decision
making for the College.
IV. MEMBERSHIP
1. Members: The College Council will consist of the President
of the College, the Vice Presidents, and the Presidents and Vice
Presidents of the Academic Senate, Classified Council, and Associated
Students. In cases of absence, the member’s representative
or designee will attend the meeting. (This should be the exception,
rather than the rule).
2. Removal/Replacement
of Members: Members may be removed only by the group that selected
them. Any vacancies created by members resigning, changing office,
or being removed shall be filled by the original designating group.
3. Expectations of College
Council Members: Among the expectations for members of College Council
are the following:
a.
Members possess an open-mind and are willing to develop a college-wide
perspective and an understanding of constituencies other than
their own.
b.
Members are willing to commit to active and regular participation
in College Council meetings and activities.
c.
Members keep lines of communication open by informing those outside
the College Council of issues and developments.
d.
Members observe standards of ethical conduct.
4. Guests: Guests are
encouraged to attend Council meetings and to participate in the
discussion of agenda items. Guests are expected to follow the guidelines
for meetings and will not be included in any polling for consensus.
V. MEETINGS
1. Quorum: A quorum for meetings will be 50% of the Council
members plus one. A quorum requires at least one member from each
designated unit.
2. Open Meetings: All
meetings of the Skyline College Council will be open and public.
3. Meeting Times: Regular
meeting times will be once a month. Special meetings may be called
as needed.
4. Conduct of Meetings:
Meetings of the Skyline College Council will be conducted in a flexible
manner which promotes open discussions and full participation of
all members and takes into account the nature of the agenda items.
The President will serve as chair of the College Council.
VI. AGENDAS
1. Agenda Building: Items may be placed on the agenda in the
following ways:
a.
Items for discussion will usually be determined at the close of
the previous meeting of the Council.
b.
A Council member may request that an item be placed on the agenda
by submitting it to the President’s Office at least 2 weeks
prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
c.
At the outset of a meeting, a Council member may request the inclusion
of an item for discussion. The item will be placed last on the
agenda unless otherwise agreed to by the members present. If there
is not sufficient time to discuss the item, it will be carried
over to the next agenda or a special meeting may be called.
d.
Members of the Skyline College community may request that an item
of College concern be placed on the agenda by contacting their
representative at least seven working days prior to the next regularly
scheduled meeting.
2. Agenda Order: The normal
order of the agenda for Council meetings will be to prioritize the
agenda for that meeting; b) to consider the various agenda items;
c) to develop the next agenda.
3. Agenda Format: When
items are submitted for the agenda, the member will include the
purpose–reporting, problem solving, planning, reacting, decision
making_--and the approximate time needed. The member will also recommend
the process to be used for that agenda item and if a facilitator
is needed.
VII. DECISION MAKING/RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Decision Making: The Skyline College Council will use consensus
building as its principal method for decision making. However, in
cases where consensus cannot be reached, a vote will be taken following
parliamentary procedure.
2. Recommendations: If
the College President or other primary decision maker rejects a
recommendation of the College Council, the College President or
other primary decision maker will provide a written explanation
to the Council members of why the recommendation was not accepted.
In addition, the College President or other primary decision maker
will include a statement to the individual or group to which the
decision is to be forwarded (usually the Chancellor or Board of
Trustees) that their recommendation differs from the College Council.
VIII. COMMUNICATIONS
1. Notification: A clearly labeled agenda will be distributed
to Council members 2 weeks prior to each meeting. The agenda will
show the time and location of the meeting with an invitation for
all interested parties to attend. A clearly labeled meeting summary
or minutes will be distributed to Council members. Council members
are responsible for posting agendas and meeting summaries in prominent
areas where their constituents have access to the agendas and summaries.
In addition, a website will be constructed where meeting agendas
and minutes will be posted.
2. Reporting to Constituents:
Members will be responsible for keeping their respective groups
informed regarding activities of the Skyline College Council by
reporting back to those bodies and eliciting input regarding items
under consideration.
3. Annual Report: An annual
report summarizing the work of the Skyline College Council will
be distributed to the College community.
IX. COMMITTEES
The Skyline College Council may appoint one or more Council
subcommittees, consisting of one or more Council members and any
number of non-members, with such duties and responsibilities as
the Council shall deem appropriate.
X. AMENDMENTS
This Charter and Bylaws may be amended by consensus or a vote
in the absence of consensus of the members of the College Council.
A new Charter and Bylaws may be adopted by the unanimous consent
of all the members of the College Council in consultation with their
respective constituents.
Source: How to Make Meetings
Work, Doyle and Straus.
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