USM Policy

Shared Governance Committee

I – 6.00 - POLICY ON SHARED GOVERNANCE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SYSTEM
(Approved by the Board of Regents, October 4, 1996)

Purpose

The University of Maryland System consists of 13 institutions with distinct but complementary missions. It is appropriate, therefore, that the structures to provide for governance by faculty, students and staff also be distinct. This policy provides for a variety of governance structures that are reflective of individual institutional missions but that ensure consistency with the principles of shared governance contained in the “Joint Statement of Government of Colleges and Universities” formulated in 1966 by the American Association of University Professors, the American Council on Education, and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.

Practice

1. By May 15, 1997, each UMS institution and major unit of each institution shall have in place procedures and structures which provide for appropriate collaboration between and among administration, students, staff, and faculty. The structures and procedures for the decision-making process shall be developed cooperatively, disseminated widely prior to adoption, and reviewed periodically by administration, staff, students and faculty.
2. Using the principles articulated in the “Joint Statement of Government of Colleges and Universities,” each institution shall define the areas of responsibility appropriate for staff, faculty and students in the shared governance process.
3. Institutional structures and procedures for shared governance shall address the role of non-tenure track, part-time and adjunct faculty, as well as long term contractual non-faculty employees.
4. The presidents of institutions shall seek consultation with elected representative bodies of faculty, students and staff as appropriate, and shall report periodically to the Chancellor on policy and procedures in place to achieve that dialogue.
5. In accepting roles within the governance structure of institutions, participants share with their presidents and with the University of Maryland System Administration responsibility for:
   1. being informed on issues confronting higher education, the UMS, and the institutions;
   2. acting within time constraints often imposed by external agencies and influences;
   3. appropriately sharing information and providing timely feedback;
   4. recognizing the individual goals and needs of the institution, and being accountable to the groups they represent;
   5. differentiating roles played by various units in decision making and administration;
   6. recognizing that there may be rare occasions when institutional leaders must act in the best interest of the institution without full benefit of the shared governance process, and shall inform appropriate elected representative bodies in a timely fashion;
   7. informing appropriate constituencies in a timely manner when institutional leaders choose to reject, in whole or in part, the advice and recommendations of those constituencies. The representative body may, if it chooses, present a written statement of its position and/or any objections to the administration’s position. This written statement will become part of the institution’s record on this issue;
   8. recognizing that while participation by staff, faculty and student sin governance is necessary and important, the final responsibility for decision-making rests with institutional presidents, the chancellor, or the Board of Regents, who are ultimately held accountable by the public and its elected leaders.