Monroe Community College Shared Governance Policy

Shared governance is a foundational building block in assuring institutional effectiveness. Its primary goal is to assure MCC achieves its mission and goals in a manner that is effective, efficient, and beneficial to the college and our students. Each institutional constituency has separate but complementary roles and responsibilities, and shared governance engages these institutional constituencies to offer informed and timely input on college policy- and decision-making.

MCC has a strong commitment to shared governance in institutional practice that is grounded in the longstanding joint American Association of University Professors/American Council on Education/Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges “Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities” (1966, as updated 1990) and relevant SUNY and Faculty Council of Community College statements and policies.

Policy Statement

As required by its accrediting body, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and in the spirit of collegial and responsive institutional government, Monroe Community College has a system of governance that clearly defines the roles of institutional constituencies in policy development and decision-making. In shared governance, faculty, staff, administration, governing board, and students participate in the development of policies and in decision-making that affects the institution. MCC has a strong commitment to shared governance in institutional practice.

Three elements are central to successful shared governance:

An understanding that certain areas of authority within college governance and policy are set and defined by state law, board by-laws or negotiated labor contracts, as such they fall outside this policy;
An understanding that in all other cases the authority assigned to an institutional constituency within shared governance should be linked to its professional responsibilities, competence, and/or specific expertise;
A commitment to governance grounded in respect, collegiality, communication, and cooperation across all stakeholder groups.

MCC recognizes five institutional constituencies within this shared governance framework:

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees structure provides an organization within which it can carry out its scope of its policy and governance responsibilities as outlined within NYS Education Law Article 126. These include, but are not limited to, adopting curriculum; preparing a budget; acquiring property; protecting, preserving and improving this property; entering into contracts; appointing and evaluating a president; appointing officers and other College hires upon recommendation of the president. The Board of Trustees is unique within shared college governance as the sole College body responsible for reviewing and approving College policies. The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees (or formal designee) serves as its voice and liaison on matters of shared college governance.

Administration

The Administrative structure provides an organization within which it can administer the affairs of the College within the bylaws, resolutions, and policies of the Board of Trustees. The President serves as the College’s CEO with full authority to administer this scope of duties and the responsibility to provide leadership for achieving the College’s long-range goals and short-term objectives in support of the College’s mission. The President (or formal designee) serves as the administration’s voice and liaison on matters of shared college governance.

Faculty

The Faculty Senate structure provides an organization within which it can develop and recommend policies and guidelines in all areas of Faculty responsibility. In addition, the Special Committee on Administrative Affairs of the Faculty Senate exists to offer recommendations to the Administration on the selection and/or appointment of some administrative personnel, and on the creation or redefinition of administrative offices. Recommendations from the Faculty shall pass through its President to the President of the College. The Faculty Senate, in the person of the Faculty Senate President (or designee), serves as the faculty’s voice and liaison on matters of shared college governance.

Support Staff

The Support Staff Planning Council provides an organization through which Staff can participate in shared college governance. It addresses recommendations of policies and guidelines that fall outside of the scope of the bargaining unit contract. Recommendations from the Support Staff Planning Council shall pass through its Chair to the Administration in the person of the Executive Director for Human Resources and Organizational Development. The Support Staff Planning Council, in the person of its Chair (or designee), serves as the staff’s voice and liaison on matters of shared college governance.

Students

The Student Government structure provides an organization within which it can develop and recommend policies and guidelines in areas impacting student life. The College may establish individual student government bodies at its campus with the understanding that collectively, they represent the voice of the Students. Recommendations from Student Government shall pass through its President(s) to the Administration in the person of the Vice President for Student Services. The Student Government, in the person of the Student Government President(s) serves as the students’ voice and liaison on matters of shared college governance.

Background

Monroe Community College’s shared governance framework is drawn from principles set in place in the longstanding joint American Association of University Professors/American Council on Education/Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges “Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities” (1966, as updated 1990) and relevant SUNY and Faculty Council of Community College statements and policies, as noted below. MCC’s accrediting body, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, requires its member colleges evince collegial and responsive institutional government.

Applicability

This policy addresses the role of each party within institutional governance. It recognizes that certain areas of authority within college governance and policy are set by state law, board by-laws or negotiated labor contracts, as such they fall outside this policy.

Responsibility

Responsibility for assuring adherence to this policy falls to the liaisons identified above. Responsibility for leading a periodic review and updating of this policy falls to the college president.

Contact Information

Office of the President