Last week I offered some thoughts on University Senates, which are empowered to exercise authority on academic matters.\u00a0 It is important that all those who deal with curriculum and other academic issues have a voice on that body, through their elected representatives; but this is currently not the case, and thus some review of the Senate membership would be a good idea. \u00a0One can and should say the same thing about departmental and Faculty boards, although I am aware that some of the former do reserve a place for the representation of Contract Instructors.\u00a0 More should follow suit!<\/p>\n
For non-academic matters, including the appointment of senior administrators, significant policy decisions, and all matters related to the institution\u2019s finances and its physical space, it is the Board of Governors (BoG) which wields authority.\u00a0 BoGs are interesting creatures, and each one has its own membership rules and regulations, usually reflecting the institution\u2019s particular history.\u00a0 In most Canadian jurisdictions, for example, a certain number of the members are appointed by the provincial government. \u00a0And in some other countries the situation is actually quite dire, with Boards composed almost entirely of externally-appointed members.\u00a0 At Carleton, some seats are reserved for faculty, students, staff, the Senate, and the Alumni Association, but the majority are held by members of the larger Ottawa community, reflecting Carleton\u2019s unique origin as a university founded by neither church nor state.\u00a0This is not necessarily a bad thing, and I certainly believe it preferable to having appointments made from Queen\u2019s Park; but as Nick Falvo observed in the blog to which I referred last week, it only works well in practice if those appointed from outside the university become actively engaged with the campus and its issues, something that is not always easy for very successful and very busy people to do.\u00a0 I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of former and current members of the Carleton Board, and can certainly attest to their esteem for the institution and desire to serve it well.\u00a0 I should add that there is no remuneration offered for taking on this august responsibility.<\/p>\n
As most of us very quickly come to realize, there is no perfect system \u2026 for university governance, or anything else in life for that matter.\u00a0 All systems have their strengths and their weaknesses, and most are workable if one makes an effort.\u00a0 What is necessary for success are a commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability, coupled with a talent for making good choices when electing or selecting the individuals who serve.\u00a0 Is there room for improvement in that regard at Carleton?\u00a0 Of course.\u00a0 No situation is ever beyond improvement.\u00a0 But I think we get most things right most of the time, and certainly more often than many other universities that I know, which is why I have been happy to continue in my current administrative position for so many years.\u00a0 There will always be challenges, and we shall always make mistakes, both individually and collectively. \u00a0\u00a0We just have to hope that they aren\u2019t fatal ones!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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