This study examines the academic senate within the context of university governance in Canada. Data were obtained from a survey of university senate secretaries on senate structure, composition, and operation, and from a survey of senate members on their perceptions of the senate, their role as senate members, and the nature of their work. The…

The University of Minnesota's University Senate was established in 1912. At the time the proposal to expand it was developed in 2003, the senate had two subordinate bodies, the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate. Although the subordinate bodies could and did take action on their own, most of their actions were subject to final approval by the…

While some social constructionists are unprepared to confront the role of ethics in the process of communication, the fact must be faced that as a person constructs reality, he or she makes judgments about that reality. Here are four situational perceptions that affect how decisions are socially constructed as ethical or not ethical within…

In November 1993, the chief executive officers (CEO's) and academic senate presidents at all 107 California community colleges were surveyed regarding faculty members' role in shared governance. Study findings, based on an 84% response rate, included the following: (1) the CEO's and senate presidents agreed that faculty were greatly involved in…

This paper offers a legal examination of shared governance in higher education. It discusses what shared governance is; the legal character of faculty senates; faculty handbooks as enforceable contracts for governance provisions; faculty enforcement of statutory shared governance protections (the California experience); shared governance, "no…

This report summarizes existing practices as reported by the faculty development survey respondents, outlines steps and offers recommendations that local senates can take to increase faculty involvement in faculty development programs, and provides information on possible untapped professional development funding sources. It includes the following…

Examines influence of gender and race on perception of sexual harassment and on recommended punitive measures by college judicial boards for potential harasser. Significant gender-based differences were found in perception of an ambiguous sexual-harassment situation, with men tending to attribute greater responsibility to victim than did women.…

Asserting that college reforms usually fail for structural reasons, outlines some barriers to change and offers suggestions to overcoming them. Barriers include: people cannot agree on the problem to be solved, time frames and structures are not clear, and there are no evaluative criteria. Strategies include: define roles and time frames, seek…

Asserts that the distinctive moral traditions of faith-based colleges and universities can help them resist corporate demands on academia, but only if their faculties are allowed to question institutional policies. Describes five main sources of governance problems in religiously affiliated schools. (EV)

Asserts that to prevent incursions on academic freedom, faculty members must make a strong commitment of time and expertise to institutional governance, and they must promote regulations and behavior that support academic freedom. Describes how the administration, faculty, and board of Calvin College, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church,…

This booklet contains materials designed to assist local academic senate leaders in forming and leading stronger and more effective senates. Section I explains the sources and objectives of the booklet. Section II looks at the role of academic senates in California community colleges, while section III considers the characteristics of effective…

The shifting of presidential talent, the extent to which success in leadership is the product of situational factors, and possible ways to improve the selection of college and university presidents are discussed. (JD)

Introduces ad hocracy, an emerging alternative system of junior college government, which encourages informal student involvement, allowing students to participate in activities of special interest without demanding lengthy commitments. (TP)

A study revealed that many faculty and administrators believe most decisions are made in informal meetings that occur at times other than in the formally convened and formally conducted business meetings. The concept of meeting is expanded to include any gathering of members of an organization who assemble together informally and deliberately in…

Explores problems with shared governance between administrators and faculty at various colleges and universities, and why Black colleges appear to be more prone to these types of problems. (EV)