How We Work Together

Topics Suggested by Board Members

  1. In a covenant community, expectations are settled, and behavior doesn’t depend on “performance by the other side”.  Are we a covenant community?  Can we be?
  2. A steady commitment and strategy to deepen trust will help our governance. Bottom line this has to do with relationships… we need to sort out what communication is helpful, too little and overkill.  But trust is bigger than just communication.
  3. Civility. It went away. How do we get it back?
  4. Respect went away too.  How do we get it back?  These are likely related.
  5. What new communication channels/methods are required to achieve the goals of inclusivity and transparency?
  6. How do we get all the players focused on a common goal – i.e., an effective culture of collaboration and a set of governance structures that support it?
  7. What’s our process for communicating in a crisis?  Face to face, and in writing?
  8. At times, communication is too formal – can we create a confidential forum where we can talk out our issues?  This can only happen if things are truly, entirely confidential – otherwise nobody will talk.  How do we get that guarantee?
  9. What’s the right way to keep conversation going (always, not just in crisis) with the faculty and administration?
  10. How can we keep our disagreements out of the classroom?  What do we need to do to ensure that?
  11. Which decisions need to be explained, and which just need to be made and acted upon?
  12. There’s a difference between a disagreement and a conflict.  A disagreement doesn’t need to be a conflict, but lately the two have been the same thing.  How can we ensure that disagreements are openly discussed, but needn’t always be viewed as conflicts?
  13. When we trust each other, we don’t need to pull out the rulebook.  What, specifically, needs to happen to restore a culture of trust?
  14. What is the Gustavus communication style?  Do we have one?
  15. If we spent more time together – eating together, “cafeteria time” – what would that do for us?
  16. What is our culture of input?  When input is provided, what is given in return?
  17. What is our culture of notice?  What is our culture of awareness?