Skip to main content

Shared Governance Task Force

The Shared Governance Task Force is charged with studying, designing and recommending a new structure for shared governance at Roanoke College. Meant to provide clear, deliberative, inclusive, and agile pathways for policy development and strategic decision-making, the new model will support innovation and effectiveness, making Roanoke an exemplar among small colleges navigating a dynamic and rapidly changing higher education environment. 

The task force's creation comes at the board of trustees' request, with members appointed by the president, as specified in a resolution at the board’s October 2023 meeting, which reaffirmed the institution's commitment to shared governance. 

Shared governance has always been foundational to the success and evolution of Roanoke College,” said Malon Courts ’92, chairman of the board of trustees, following the October meeting. “With a new president and growing challenges for colleges and universities nationwide, now is the perfect time to explore ways to include more voices in shared governance at Roanoke and to find ways to strengthen collaboration and communication as we work together for the good of the College.

The task force is designed to clarify roles and processes, strengthen trust and communication, and expand representation across campus. The group will consider the scope of shared governance and the primary responsibilities for each constituency, along with developing inclusive processes for policy development and communication.  

Comprised of representatives from each of the major constituencies, the task force will model the collaborative, institutional, deliberative, and inclusive mindset and culture on which the College's new shared governance structure will be based.

The task force will undertake its work alongside a campus-wide planning team charged with designing Roanoke's next strategic plan, recognizing  that a strong, agile, and inclusive system of shared governance and leadership is essential for executing strategy and institutional change. 

The Shared Governance Task Force will begin its work in February 2024 and issue recommendations to the president by December 19, 2024.

What is shared governance?

Shared governance in higher education broadly refers to structures and processes by which faculty, staff, administration, governing boards, and when appropriate, students, participate in policy and decision-making that influences a college or university. 

In 1966, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) drafted a document entitled Principles of Shared Government of Colleges and Universities, which was also commended by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Association of Governing Boards (AGB).  These principles identify the board of trustees, the president (administration) and the faculty as the three formal parties to shared governance, and specify the roles, responsibilities and authorities of each.  Over the decades, many institutions have expanded shared governance to include and value the role of staff and students in policy development and decision-making. Roanoke College will include these constituencies in our shared governance framework. 

Guiding Questions

The Task Force will undertake its work based on the following guiding questions, identified by the president and the board of trustees, which include basic assumptions about the definition, scope, and processes inherent in effective models of shared governance. 

  1. What should be the College’s shared governance structure, and what are the primary responsibilities of each constituency (faculty, staff, administration, students, and trustees)?
  2. Since it is generally understood that not every constituency can or should have an equal voice on every issue or policy, what policies or issues should be decided by shared governance? 
  3. In what circumstances are other constituencies consulted or given approval authority for a new policy?  
  4. How is a College policy proposed, adopted, revised, or removed?
  5. If a particular constituency is proposing a policy, how and when do other constituencies provide feedback and if appropriate, approval?
  6. Where does documentation of a policy reside and what officer, position, or Roanoke College department holds responsibility for monitoring compliance or making regular updates?
  7. Outside of policy-making, how can a shared governance structure be utilized as a general feedback and communication mechanism for other types of decision-making?
  8. What professional development can be offered regularly to ensure that the Roanoke College community understands shared governance and the College’s specific structure?

President's Charge to the Task Force

With the above guiding questions in mind, the Task Force is asked to recommend to the president a shared governance framework that is deliberative, clear, inclusive, transparent, agile, and conducive to rapid innovation. 

Additional elements of the work include: 

  • Developing recommendations for establishing a staff council to represent the needs and interests of staff in shared governance.
  • Developing a plan recommended by an ad hoc group of faculty for establishing a unit at the College with a focus on rapidly developing, piloting, and assessing innovative program ideas.  
  • Working closely with faculty and administrators whom the board of trustees has tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review and revision of the Faculty Handbook by April 2025.  

A draft report is requested for the president's review by December 19, 2024.

Task Force Members

Coordinating Committee

  • Jennifer Berenson (Faculty) | Professor and Chairperson of Religion and Philosophy
  • Kirk Betts (Board) | Trustee and Chairperson of Institutional Advancement Committee
  • Ennis McCrery (Staff) | Executive Director for Administration
  • Kathy Wolfe (Senior Administration) | Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Membership

  • Jesse Bucher (Faculty) | Associate Professor of History and College Historian
  • Chris Buchholz (Faculty) | Associate Professor of Psychology
  • Joe Carpenter (Board) | Trustee  
  • Judy Hall (Board) | Trustee and Chairperson of College Life Committee
  • Kathy Harkness (Board) | Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
  • Jack Graves (Student) | Senior – History major and peer mentor
  • Kathy Martin (Staff) | Associate Vice President for Human Resources  
  • Joshua Masten (Student) | Junior – History major and President of the Student Government Association
  • JP Pennix (President’s Cabinet) | Vice President for Enrollment Management  
  • Roger Petersen (Board) | Trustee and Chairperson of Trusteeship Subcommittee
  • Catherine Potter (Staff) | Advisor to the President  
  • Len Pysh (Faculty) | Professor of Biology
  • Teresa Ramey (President’s Cabinet) | Vice President for Community, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Karin Saoub (Faculty) | Professor and Chairperson of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
  • Tom Rambo (Staff) | Dean of Students
  • Leslie Warden (Dean’s Leadership) | Assistant Vice President for Curriculum and Advising  
  • Brandon Wolfe (Staff) | Director of Institutional Research 

Ex Officio

  • Malon Courts | Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
  • David Mowen | Vice President for Business Affairs  
  • Frank Shushok, Jr. | President