Why We Work Together

Topics Suggested by Board Members

1. Part of our culture is a spirit of generosity.  How do we keep that spirit of generosity alive in our governance, especially during difficult times?
2. How do we ensure that all parties are focused on the future of the whole college?
3. Our mission does not directly (or, really, indirectly) address governance, but our value of Community does.  How can we ensure that every aspect of that value is reflected in the way we interact to govern the College?  Here’s how we define it:

   Community:  Gustavus has always prized community.  Civility, mutual respect, cooperation, shared governance, and a pervasive sense of concern for every member of the Gustavus community are hallmarks of the College.  Freedom to express a broad range of ideas is central to our sense of community.

4. Is “Shared Governance” too narrow? How do we define this correctly?  The documents we’re dealing with address responsibility and accountability for different aspects of the College.  What’s the right definition of this?
5. Will agreement on long-term plans, and a planning process, help foster engagement and support for actions against that plan?
6. How can good governance help us to achieve the Mission?
7. How can we ensure that what Gustavus provides is a viable offering – i.e., students will still want it in 5-10-20 years?
8. Resources are limited; nobody will get everything they might want.  How do we create closure once a decision is made?
9. How do we create alignment between all of our key constituents?
10. How do we measure results?
11. If there are three main parties sharing responsibility for governance of the College (Administration, Faculty and the Board), how should communication happen in a way that keeps all three parties informed?
12. Does shared governance look any different in a time of (potential) dramatic change within the academy?