Developing an Academic Governance Model for a Baccalaureate College

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Developing an Academic Governance Model for a
Baccalaureate College

• The MacEwan Process
• by
• Jerry Zdril, School of Business
• Dr. Chery Ann Hoffmeyer, Faculty of Health
  Community Studies

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Grant MacEwan College
Four Campus Model
Alberta College Campus
City Centre Campus
Centre for the Arts and Communications
South Campus
Robbins Health Learning Centre
Student Residence
3
Grant MacEwan CollegeAs a Comprehensive College

• Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• 1971 MacEwan founded as a public college
• 1986 University Transfer began
• 2004 Mandate to offer undergraduate degrees
• Student Population
• Full Time 11,000 FTEs
• Total 42,000 annually
• Programs 70 Diplomas
• 4 Applied Degrees
• 4 Baccalaureate Degrees
• Corporate Training

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Current Baccalaureate Degrees

• Bachelor of Arts (8 majors) (BA)
• Anthropology Economics
• English History
• Philosophy Political Science
• Psychology Sociology
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
• Bachelor of Child Youth Care (BCYC)
• Bachelor of Commerce (3 Majors) (BComm)
• Management International
• Supply Chain
• Approved for delivery
• Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary
  Popular Music

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Diploma Degree Post Degree DiplomaChild
Youth Care Child Youth CareBusiness
Diploma Degree Public Relations
Human Resources Mgmt.
The MacEwan ArchitectureComprehensive Academic
Programming
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A Sample of Changes 2006 - 2007

• Accreditation and Peer Review
• Formal on site university reviewers 24
  universities
• Peer review of proposals 42
  universities
• New Full-Time Faculty
• Canada US Europe/Australia/Other
• Fall 2006 23 4 11
• Fall 2007 16 6 3
• 39 10 14
• Two-Year Review of Academic Governance
• New Master Space Plan

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The Legislative Framework

• An amendment to the Provincial Post-Secondary
  Learning Act
• (Section 47) provided colleges and technical
  institutions in Alberta with the option to
  establish an alternative form of Academic Council

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Why consider a different Governance Council?

• MacEwan needs a structure of governance
  appropriate to a baccalaureate-granting
  institution
• In a baccalaureate-granting institution, academic
  decisions must be made by academics
• A change in the structure of governance may be
  necessary for future membership of the college in
  groups such as Association of Universities and
  Colleges of Canada (AUCC)

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The Opportunity

• Creates an academic governance structure more
  reflective of and appropriate to MacEwan and a
  degree-granting institution
• Knowledge-intensive environment places
  decisions closer to those closest to the
  knowledge
• Places responsibility for academic integrity and
  accountability within the Academic Council
• Creates recognizable path for accreditation
• Identifies one body in the college to consider
  academic priorities, decisions and outcomes
• Defines alignment for college academic committees

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What is consistent?

• Academic Council has a significant mandate firmly
  established and defined in legislation.
• The alternative council continues to assemble
  members of the college community to address
  academic matters.

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Task Team Formation

• In 2006 a task team was formed with
  representatives from
• Faculty
• Staff
• Administration
• Students
• Board of Governors

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Academic Governance Task Team
Dolf Ryks - Faculty
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Task Team Activities

• Review Documentation
• Create Statement of Goals
• Visit to Malaspina College
• Create Information Packages
• Consultations Academic College Committees
• Schools Faculties

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• Website www.MacEwan.ca/academicgovernance

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Statement of Task Team Goals

• 1. Collect information related to the
  transitional processes and outcomes from other
  post-secondary institutions with experience in
  changing academic decision-making structures.
• 2. Conduct literature reviews and samples of
  higher education academic decision-making
  systems.
• 3. Create a framework for consultation within the
  MacEwan academic community.

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• 4. Present draft recommendations to college
  committees of the college.
• 5. Analyze all input.
• 6. Share results of consultations, draft
  recommendations, governance model with the
  college community.
• 7. Make recommendations to Board of Governors on
  college academic governance decision-making
  model.

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What changes?

• Council has greater decision-making authority
  and responsibility
• Faculty members are the majority members of
  council
• This is a shift to shared governance between
  the BOG and the alternative council
• The alternative council has more duties

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Standing Committees
Sub-Committees
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Roles Responsibilities of the New Council
Approval of

• Programs of study
• Admissions standards and policies
• Provide for the granting of academic credentials,
  including undergraduate degrees
• Rules for academic awards
• Policy conditions for student withdrawal

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Roles Responsibilities of the New
CouncilApproval of

• Process for appeals of academic decisions
• Consider matters submitted to AGC and provide
  notice of opinion or action
• Recommend to and advise the Board on academic
  programs and other matters

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Summary of Differences

• Academic Council Today
• Constituent Representation
• President is standing member
• Faculty are represented by the FA and members
  elected by the General Assembly of the FA
• Recommend programs of study
• 27

• A Shared Governance Council
• Majority faculty members
• President and EVPA standing members
• Faculty will be elected through a process
  determined by the Board of Governors
• Formally approve programs of study
• 43

Composition of Council Members
Election of Faculty
Powers and Duties of Council
Membership Numbers
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Composition
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Other Aspects of the Model
Provision For Change Initial 3 year
review Ongoing 5 year review
Chair of AGC President or designate
Termination of Membership Written notice from AGC
Chair or Absence for 3 consecutive meetings
Terms of Office 2 years (students 1 year)
Vacancies One annual by-election to replace
Alternates Not permissible
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Other Aspects of the Model(contd)
Quorum 60 of AGC members of which 60 are faculty
Frequency of Meetings Minimum of 6 per year
Voting System in Council Regular agenda items
Simple majority (50 1) Constitutional changes
2/3 majority
Code of Conduct Consistent with College
values Emphasize accountability and transparency
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Other Aspects of the Model(contd)
Standing Resource Associate VP Academic
Non-standing Resources By invitation
AGC Executive Committee AGC Chair AGC Vice
Chair Provost/Executive VP Academic Faculty
member Student member

• AGC Secretariat
• Conduct elections
• Standing resource for logistical support
• Orientation, briefing training members
• Coordination support of standing
• and sub-committees

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Other Aspects of the Model(contd)
Nomination Process Candidates submit nomination
forms to AGC Secretariat Students co-signed by
5 full-time students Staff co-signed by 5
members of MSA Faculty signed by 5 faculty
members from same school or faculty
Election Process Conducted by AGC
Secretariat Nominations solicited in April for
following year Online and paper ballots Students
Single member plurality (first-past-the-post) Fa
culty and Staff Block voting