COM Participatory Governance

The College of Marin Participatory Governance System (PGS) is guided by the California Educational Code as specified in Section 70901(b)(1)(E) which states governing boards of community college districts will "ensure faculty, staff and students with the right to participate effectively in district governance, and the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level and ensure that these opinions are are given every reasonable consideration, and the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibilty for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards as well as other academic and professional matters as are mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate." Further, the College of Marin governance system aspires to practice transparency in decision-making.

Participtory Governance System (PGS)

Senates

The three Senates representing faculty, staff and students provide the foundation for the College's Participatory Governance System.

• Academic Senate

The Academic Senate represents all certificated instructional personnel including credit, non-credit, full and part-time faculty, which includes instructors, counselors, college nurse and librarians. The faculty elects 15 members to the Academic Senate.

• Classified Senate

The Classified Senate represents all staff other than certificated and management. Senators are elected from the clasified staff in porportion to the percentage of CSEA, SEIU and unrepresented employees in the District. There are 16 classified senators.

• Student Senate

The Student Senate represents all registered credit and non-credit students. The Student Senate consists of the Senate President (elected by the student body) and students appointed by the student associations (ASCOM and ASEC).

PGS Plan

The Participatory Governance System manual includes an outline of the governance system, committee charges and responsibilities and governance procedures that guide meeting operation and participatory decision-making processes. The PGS Plan was revised by the Governance Review Council in 2007-2008 based on feedback from committee members and the college community. The revised PGS Manual was approved by College Council in May 2008.

• Participatory Governance System Manual ( PDF) *

Constituent Reporting

Committee members may use the Governance Committee Report form to report to their constituency on committee work and actions. Governance Committee members are responsible for reporting back to their constitency regarding committee work and actions.

Meeting Dates & Times

Committee meetings dates, times, locations and Chair contact information are listed on the online Faculty and Staff calendar. Click on "Faculty and Staff" under "Calendar of Events on the College web page.

Governance Committee Update

At the recommendation of the Governance Review Council, the Office of Organizational Development and Planning presents a governance update to the standing governance committees in the fall.

2007-2008 Governance Committee Update*

Committee Participant Survey

Each spring the ODP conducts a committee participant survey under the auspices of the Governance Review Committee to assess committee members perceptions of and satisfaction with the governance system. Results of the survey are used to revise and improve the system.

• Spring 2007 and Spring 2006 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results Report.*

Governance Digest

ODP publishes a Governance Digest that summarizes the work of the PGS standing committees.

• Fall 2007 Governance Digest*
• Spring 2007 Governance Digest*
• Fall 2006 Governance Digest*
• Governance Digest Report Form Committee chairs use this form to submit your committee report to the ODP Office. Email to kathleen.kirkpatrick@marin.edu.

Standing Committees

• Budget Committee
• College Council
• Governance Review Council
• Institutional Planning Committee
  • Educational Planning Committee
  • Facilities Planning Committee
  • Instructional Equipment Committee
  • Student Access and Success Committee
  • Technology Committee

COMMITTEE RESOURCES

A variety of resources are available to assist committee chairs and members to conduct effective meetings, communicate with their constituency and learn more about participatory governance.

* These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader which you may download for free from Adobe's web site.

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