Board Policy

3.17.2 Shared Governance

In compliance with Section 53203 of Title V, it shall be the policy of the West Valley Mission Community College District to rely primarily upon the advice and judgment of the Academic Senate in all eleven areas identified in Title V.

The recommendations of the Senate will normally be accepted, and only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will the recommendation not be accepted. If a recommendation is not accepted, the Board or its designee, upon request of the Academic Senate, shall promptly communicate its reasons in writing to the Academic Senate. ( Section 53203, Paragraph D, Subsection 1).

In the following areas :

1. Curriculum (including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines),;

2. Degree and certificate requirements;

3. Grading policies;

4. Educational program development;

5. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success;

the District Academic Senate shall bear the primary responsibility for developing policy recommendations with the shared governance participation of students, classified staff and administrative representatives of the Board of Trustees.

In the areas of curriculum and educational program development, it is understood that proposals for the development of new programs and courses may be initiated by either the Senate or the College Council prior to consideration by the curriculum committee.

Policy recommendations developed by the Senate using this process may be presented as information items to College Council and Chadco prior to action by the Board of Trustees.

In the remaining areas of Senate responsibility identified by Title V:

6. District and college governance structures as related to faculty roles;

7. Faculty roles and involvement in the accreditation processes, including self-study and annual reports;

8. Policies for faculty professional development activities;

9. Processes for program review;

10. Processes for institutional planning and budget development;

11. Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the Board of Trustees and the academic senate;

policy recommendations will be developed under the auspices of the College Council and in a shared governance mode. That portion of such recommendations identified by Title V as Senate responsibilities shall be reviewed by the Academic Senate President to determine if the recommendation relies primarily on the advice and judgment of the Academic Senate. If it does not, the recommendation must be returned to the College Council or developing committee for further consideration.

This shared governance policy shall be evaluated at the conclusion of the 1992-93 academic year for the purpose of improving the shared governance process.

The procedures for implementation of this policy will be jointly developed and approved by the Academic Senate and the Chancellor or designee(s).