Chaparral 2022-2023: 31.6 Governance TidBits

Governance Tidbits

by Frankie Strong
Governance Office Coordinator

Hi everybody!

We did it! We’ve made 2022-2023 another successful academic year.

Just as the past three years have brought on many innovative solutions, we move forward with adapting these changes to our on-campus life. We continue to keep the focus of our students as the forefront of our decision-making.

I want to take this moment to thank you for participating in our decision-making processes—our governance system—be it serving on a governance committee, serving as an elected agent of your constituency, serving on the Academic Senate, or serving on other important committees such as a hiring committee [plug for Human Resources, become an EEO Rep!]. Your contributions help to ensure that GCC remains the premier community college of our region. I’d like to share with you some highlights of our accomplishments.

In governance it is all about collaborating, sharing information, and open communication. There are 5 standing committees which are tied to the 5 major areas of the college (College Executive, Institutional Planning, Academic Services, Student Services, and Administrative Services). Additionally, there are 25 governance subcommittees. Governance committees follow guidelines from Administrative Regulation 2511: Governance Document. This document is undergoing a thorough revamp; the updated version will be available for the Fall 2023.

The actions of the governance committees are reported monthly in the Governance Update.

Thus far during the 2022-2023 year 85 governance committee meetings were reported with 158 motions passed. There are a few more governance committee meetings scheduled for the remainder of the month of May and June, so those numbers may increase by the end of June.

I applaud the committee chairs and minutes recorders for working tirelessly to ensure that agenda are shared and that minutes are reported monthly. The result of your efforts has ensured that information is kept flowing. These consistent practices ARE an accomplishment in my eyes.

Further accolades to the 504 participating members on all governance committees including voting, non-voting members, and minutes recorders; some serving on one or more governance committees.

Academic Senate hy-flex meeting.

Upcoming changes: the move to using BoardDocs for agenda and minutes. The Board of Trustees currently uses this platform, as well as the Academic Senate and some governance committees. Mentioned earlier the revamp of Administrative Regulation 2511; Governance Document, that we refer to for guidance on governance processes.

Looking ahead, our students and the college benefit from your participation in governance. I look forward to seeing what other innovation/upgrades are brought forth to how we do governance. We truly appreciate each and every contribution you have made and continue to make.

The future looks bright – how do I know? Because of the dynamic people that I am honored to work with, and that are part of our GCC community.

Wishing you much happiness and health in the upcoming summer months!

Frankie
Your friendly neighborhood Governance Office person