Slides for a workshop on how to create an appropriate academic governance structure for a college transforming into an open university

1. Transformation of
Academic Governance
for an Open University
WORKSHOP
PROFESSOR ALAN TAIT
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2. Aim of workshop
To produce plan for transformation of academic governance for an open
university
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3. Governance: what is it?
all processes of governing
whether undertaken by a government, market or network
whether over a family, tribe, formal or informal organization or territory
whether through laws, norms, power or language
Wikipaedia
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4. Academic governance: scope of term
can be interpreted in a number of ways, from the narrow concept of a focus on
key academic issues such as the curriculum and ensuring standards, to a broader
notion of all aspects of governance which involve the academic life of the
institution.
University of Gloucestershire
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5. Academic governance: what is it?
Governance developed specifically for post–secondary educational institutions
Separation of academic from Council business
Dedicated to teaching, research, and community or external mission
‘Community of scholars’
Experts in teaching research and service govern policy and practice
Self-governance
Professional status
Student affairs
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6. Academic governance
Academic governance typically includes:
student admissions
subject curriculum
assessment of learners
academic standards and awards
academic quality
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7. Academic governance for an Open
University
What might be specific to academic governance for an Open University?
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8. Structures and areas of responsibility
Academic Board or Senate
Plus focuses on
Academics standards and awards, and assessment
Learning and teaching
Research
Student affairs
Relationship with Faculty committees
Reporting to Council and vice versa
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9. Council
Council: ‘corporate issues’
But includes determining educational character and mission of institution
Finance and sustainability
Buildings
Staff
Quality and review
Council-Academic Board relationship?
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10. Academic governance: what is it for?
1 Purpose
* that institution has recognised excellence in teaching and research
* that policies and decision-making draw on academic expertise
* academic and professional community have sense of ownership and inclusion
2 Means
* government structure of committees
* people
* process and culture
3 Outcomes
* decisions made and implemented
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11. Challenges for academic governance?
Relationship of academic governance and management
Academic Board and Senior Management Team?
Professionalism and accountability?
Collegial, democratic practice and hierarchy?
Representative positions through election?
How to ensure special expertise on committees?
Ex officio positions by virtue of organisational position?
Student voice?
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12. Effective governance should have
Appropriate membership
Clear and effective terms of reference
Full or near full attendance
Relevant and appropriate agendas
Focus on relevant academic business
Wide engagement of members in business
Effective chair and leadership
Well-written committee papers
Open and collegial atmosphere
Good participation by students
University of Gloucestershire
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13. Less effective academic governance may
show
Not enough time to discuss business
Agendas too full
Too many members
Too much open-ended debate that lacks focus
Failure to follow through minutes
Poor implementation of decisions
Lack of communication of decisions to staff
Lack of focus on strategy and university aims
Lack of understanding of governance business cycle
University of Gloucestershire
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14. Supporting staff: the questions?
All staff
academic
and other professionals?
Tutors?
Students?
Motivation of staff and students to participate
Committee behaviours
Role of chair person
Committee secretary
Writing of committee papers and minutes
Responsibility for follow-up and implementation
Communications of decisions to staff
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15. Terms of reference
Need to be clear about
* Purpose
* Scope
* Authority
within which committee should work
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16. Issues for transformation
What is best structure and substructure?
How to support staff, academic and professional, HQ and regional, into new academic
governance?
How to motivate staff to participate?
Including regional centre staff, tutors and students
How to ensure follow-up and implementation of decisions?
How to communicate discussion and decisions to staff and students?
How to ensure implementation of decisions?
How to review effectiveness?
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17. Planning for transformation of academic
governance for an open university
1 Structure for
academic governance
2 People: who?
3 Process and culture
4 Outcomes,
implementation, and
communication
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