TITLE: Shared Governance and the 21st Century University
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: February 06, 2013 10:06 AM
DESC: 
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BODY:
Mitch Daniels, the new president of Purdue University, says
this about shared governance in
<A HREF="http://www.purdue.edu/president/messages/2013/130118-MED-letter.pdf">
   An Open Letter to the People of Purdue</A>,
his initial address to the university community:

<BLOCKQUOTE><EM>
I subscribe entirely to the concept that major decisions
about the university and its future should be made under
conditions of maximum practical inclusiveness and consultation.
The faculty must have the strongest single voice in these
deliberations, but students and staff should also be heard
whenever their interests are implicated.  I will work hard
to see that all viewpoints are fairly heard and considered
on big calls, including the prioritization of university
budgetary investments, and endeavor to avoid surprises even
on minor matters to the extent possible.

Shared governance implies shared accountability.  It is neither
equitable or workable to demand shared governing power but
declare that cost control or substandard performance in any
part of Purdue is someone else's problem.  We cannot improve
low on-time completion rates and maximize student success if
no one is willing to modify his schedule, workload, or method
of teaching.

Participation in governance also requires the willingness to
make choices.  "More for everyone" or "Everyone gets the same"
are stances of default, inconsistent with the obligations of
leadership.
</EM></BLOCKQUOTE>

I love the phrase, <EM>inconsistent with the obligations of
leadership</EM>.

Daniels recently left the governor's house in Indiana for the
president's house at Purdue.  His initial address is balanced,
open, and forward-looking.  It is respectful of what
universities do and forthright about the need to recognize
changes in the world around us, and to change in response.

My university is hiring a new president, too.  Our Board of
Regents will announce its selection tomorrow.  It is probably
too much to ask that we hire a new president with the kind of
vision and leadership that Daniels brings to West Lafayette.
I do hope that we find someone up to the task of leading a
university in a new century.
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