On Thursday, Oct 9, prominent leaders of the campus community came together to reaffirm Connecticut College’s commitment to shared governance. College President Katherine Bergeron, Student Government Association President Ethan Underhill ’15, Co-Director of the Office of Sustainability and Chair of Staff Council Josh Stoffel and Dance Department Chair/representative of the Facutly Steering and Conference Committee David Dorfman ’81 were all present at the signing before the start of the SGA general meeting.
A defining tenant of Connecticut College, the concept of shared governance incorporates communication and cooperation between students, staff, faculty and administration into each decision made at the College. It permeates every aspect of on-campus activity, from residential living to course offering to hours of operation for campus services. One of the most significant impacts of shared governance in recent years has been the process of General Education Reform. These curriculum revisions continue to combine the voices of students, faculty, staff and the administration, representing “true collaboration on our campus,” said President Bergeron. As our campus decides what we want the defining characteristics of the education to be offered at Connecticut College to be, diversity in responses from all levels of the campus community allows greater input and opportunities for collaboration, which, said President Bergeron, “makes us make better decisions.”
While the covenant does not guarantee that each voice heard will carry equal weight, it does guarantee that these voices will be heard. Defining shared governance as “a system in which separate constituencies are all represented fairly,” the covenant also decrees that each governing body that represents said constituency – administration, students, faculty,and staff – is required to receive “an inclusive view of the decision-making process.” Indeed, the shared governance covenant declares that, when “it is feasible and practical, decision-making power should be shared.” The shared governance covenant, a written document signed by representatives of each constituency, represents “a formal commitment to strive towards realizing” these values that define our college community.
The signing of the covenant, a formal ceremony started in 2010, reflects the willingness of Connecticut College to form new traditions from old values. Continuing “almost accidentally” after President Bergeron took office last January, the signing of the covenant has become a celebration “of a central tenant of this community,” one that symbolizes the mutual respect present in relationships built by each person on this campus, Bergeron affirmed. These central values are ones that have come to define the early months of her administration, in which President Bergeron has made multiple efforts to include the voices of faculty, staff and students.
One such example of this commitment has been the introduction of monthly “open hours,” where students can register for an individual appointment with President Bergeron and share their thoughts on academics, campus culture and the campus community as a whole. This opportunity reflects her commitment to building relationships with members from each level of the campus community, an effort that will hopefully continue throughout the rest of her administration at Connecticut College. As the president of a college that acts under a system of shared governance, President Bergeron reflected, “Every decision you make, you don’t make alone.”
After a brief reception with refreshments, including “Presidential Punch” and camel cookies, the representatives from each constituency united on stage to make a formal statement before signing the covenant. SGA President Ethan Underhill opened the ceremony with a short introduction, where he asserted the importance of the shared governance covenant as “a reaffirmation of our commitment to each other.” Before signing the covenant, David Dorfman also shared similar sentiments. “Shared governance,” he affirmed, “is one of the special, special qualities of this school,” a particularly important characteristic of Connecticut College that Dorfman has observed both as a student and as a respected faculty member.
With signatures from four of the foremost leaders of our campus community, the signing of the shared governance covenant represents the commitment of the Connecticut College community to continue to work towards the creation of a more inclusive decision-making process throughout the entire campus. As the College continues to generate even more opportunities for the administration, students, faculty and staff to collaborate in pursuit of common goals, the shared governance covenant will serve as a reminder of the shared sense of community that defines Connecticut College as a leading institution in the liberal arts. •
