Minutes of the College Governance Committee
September 17, 2013, at 1 p.m.
The meeting of the College Governance Committee was called to order by Ernie Wade at 1 p.m.
Those in attendance included the following: David Lightfoot, Jim Lemons, Cat Mobley, Ernie Wade, Wanda McGee, Tom Bushley, Linda Daye, John Capps, Peter Dorman, Kimberly French, Leticia Forster, Tim Rhoads, Lucy Carter Smith, Dianne Sykes, Mary Canfield, Irene Wheeler, Abraham Hebert, Ruth Hendrick, Will Sandidge, and Joey Fronheiser.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ernie opened the floor for chair nominations. Lucy Carter Smith made a motion with Jim Lemons duly seconding that Ernie serve a second term. The motion carried unanimously.
Peter Dorman made a motion with Irene Wheeler duly seconding to nominate Leticia for the co-chair. The motion carried unanimously.
CGC Consent Agenda Items:
None at this time.
DISCUSSIONS:
John Capps reported this is the second year of the new Governance Model and stated he felt this was the beginning of the college community gaining power. He stated a complaint was made when he first came to CVCC that the President’s office had too much power. John C. stated it takes all the people working together not just one person (or a small group of people) to advance the mission of CVCC. He stated the Governance Model is the mechanism that will be used to accomplish that feat.
John C. stated the Governance Model did not reach its full potential last year because it was the first year but stated he feels this year a state of maturity will be reached.
John C. discussed one issue that needs to be confronted immediately and that is lack of committee membership participation. He discussed mandated participation and stated it is crucial that all voices be heard. Peter Dorman stated the new faculty evaluation has a requirement for institutional service which includes committee participation. Irene Wheeler stated she felt that attendance can be enforced but not participation. Jim Lemons stated he is on three committees that meet on the same day at the same time, and he tried to rotate each month as to which he attended. Lucy Carter Smith stated she faced the same dilemma as she is on two that meet on the same day and time.
Ernie asked that John C. or Will discuss the strategic plan. John C. stated the overall College plan is connected with the VCCS Achieve 2015 goals, and all college goals should cascade down from those goals. He stated specific goals should be relevant to the College’s mission and even more specific to certain departments. Ernie wanted to know the role of this committee in the strategic plan. John C. stated ideas for improvement of the College begin in the committees, proposals or policies brought to, approved or rejected by the Governance Committee, and then ultimately approved by the President’s cabinet.
Joey stated future plans are to roll out the strategic plan based on a real budget.
John C asked if the committee members knew what their charges and goals should be. He stated maybe meetings to discuss identification of goals should occur at the first committee meetings each year. Will stated sometime in committees with a large membership, they can be divided into subcommittees that can meet additional to the regular scheduled meetings to accomplish their goals. Joey stated he feels the committees need to go through a planning process, transcribe the goals, and then work towards them.
The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m. with the next meeting to be held in October 29.