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In the spirit of fostering collaboration, communication, and providing access to information among its faculty, staff, administrators, and students, Glendale Community College (GCC) is committed to decision-making through a deliberate and intentional process of Shared Governance. Shared Governance empowers all members of GCC to have a voice in decision-making, encouraging diverse and creative input that advances the success of the College and utilizes interest-based problem-solving (IBPS). Information about GCC’s commitment to Shared Governance can be found in the 2023 Shared Governance Handbook.
What is Shared Governance
Shared governance at GCC refers to structures, processes, and practices through which faculty, staff, administration, and, as relevant, students participate in decision-making and the development of recommendations that impact the college and its community, using transparent communication strategies.
- It recognizes and values the individual expertise and responsibilities of faculty, staff, administrators, and students as true partners in problem-solving.
- It provides a venue and gives voice to common concerns, as well as to issues unique to specific groups.
- It relies on open communication and transparency in planning, deliberation, and implementation.
- It supports the shared vision of community colleges working collectively and responsibly to meet the life-long learning needs of diverse students and communities.
Organization of Shared Governance
Institutional decision-making at GCC utilizes its Shared Governance Council (SGC), Elected Representative Bodies (ERB), College Committees, and Advisory Bodies (CCAB). For Shared Governance to be effective, these groups must communicate, collaborate, and respond in a timely manner.
Questions about the Shared Governance can be sent to sharedgovcouncil@gccaz.edu
Matters of Shared Governance
The shared governance process should be used for all appropriate matters that have a collegewide impact and/or may require the approval of the Glendale Community College President or a Vice President for Implementation.
Examples of matters that may be considered (not a comprehensive list):
- Processes and procedures to implement District policies
- Institutional program creation, expansion, or elimination
- Institutional programs and partnerships
- Organizational restructuring
- Professional development programming
- New base budget funding requests (e.g., regular hires for new full-time employees)
- Co-curricular program creation, expansion, or elimination
- Community programs and partnerships
- College promotion
- Instructional and non-instructional technology
Examples of matters that will not be considered (not a comprehensive list):
- Grievances (instructional, non-instructional, or employee)
- Employee relations and personnel disputes
- Disciplinary actions and conflict resolution
- Interpretation of employee policies