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Campus Governance Leaders Toolkit
What Are My Duties and Role as a Campus Governance Leader?
Because shared governance can function effectively only where there is mutual respect, good faith, and meaningful engagement, the Faculty Council of Community Colleges (FCCC) supports governance systems and leadership that are inherently collegial in nature.
Within that framework, the College Governance Leader (CGL) plays an essential role in the health and effectiveness of any governance system. As the principal liaison between the faculty and broader college community and the administration, the CGL often helps shape the quality, credibility, and effectiveness of shared decision-making across the institution.
While the specific responsibilities of the CGL may be defined in an institution’s constitution and bylaws—and those governing documents should always serve as the primary point of reference—the role generally includes the following:
- Chairing the Executive Committee, or its equivalent, including preparing and distributing agendas and supporting materials in advance, facilitating meetings, ensuring adherence to established procedures, and following up on committee actions and decisions.
- Providing leadership for the governance body’s direction and priorities, including helping to shape its vision, agenda, and key initiatives.
- Chairing meetings of the faculty governance body—whether Senate, Council, or Assembly—including distributing agendas and materials in advance, overseeing procedure, facilitating deliberation, and conducting votes.
- Serving as the central liaison between the faculty and college community represented by the governance body and the college administration.
- Supporting and overseeing the work of governance committees to help ensure continuity, coordination, and progress.
- Communicating the actions, decisions, and recommendations of the governance system to the administration, and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
- Representing the governance constituency at appropriate college functions and in institutional settings where faculty governance perspective is needed.
- Managing the day-to-day operations of shared governance, helping to sustain an effective, responsive, and credible governance process
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