Effective academic governance is a hallmark of a mature educational institution. Therefore, all participants have the duty to strive to make academic governance:

  1. A cooperative process that demands a joint effort between the Vice President/ Academic Dean and the faculty of Columbia College with appropriate participation by students, alumni, and staff; (4)
  2. An open process that is characterized by a courteous, free-flowing exchange of information and opinions between all interested parties;
  3. A respectful process that gives increased weight to the opinions of participants who are accountable for the matters under consideration;
  4. A comprehensive process that assumes that any issue may be relevant to the academic enterprise;
  5. A bilateral process that produces policies that apply to Columbia College as a whole, and policies that apply only to one college or non-collegiate academic unit; and
  6. A responsible process that is subordinate to governmental authority, the final institutional authority of the Board and the delegated authority of the President. The level of participation by the faculty in the academic governance process varies. It includes but is not limited to;
  7. Participation in the selection of course materials
  • Participation in the selection of instructional equipment and other educational resources
  • Systematic evaluation and revision of the Institutional curriculum
  • Assessment of student learning-outcomes
  • Assist with the planning for Institutional effectiveness
  • Consultation – A body of faculty members who discuss with and inform the administrator with authority and responsibility for the decision. Such a committee is not a deliberative body; there is no vote. Rather the members express their views to inform an administrator‘s decision.
  • Advice or Recommendation – A deliberative body of faculty members who recommend policies or actions to an administrator who is authorized to make decisions. There is a vote. The administrator is not bound by the recommendation and accepts responsibility for the decision.
  • Shared Responsibility – A deliberative body of faculty members who make recommendations concerning policies or actions to an administrator who is authorized to make decisions. There is a vote. If the administrative and the deliberative body cannot agree and a decision is needed, the recommendation of the administrator and the deliberative body will be submitted in writing to the next higher administrative level for resolution.
  • Delegated Authority – A deliberative body of faculty is authorized to make decisions on specified matters. There is a vote. Such decisions are subject to administrative review, but will be altered only in rare circumstances.