All colleagues in the system, regardless of their respective roles as faculty or administrators, have an obligation to honor and support the decisions reached through the collegial process. Leadership, reason, persuasion, and cooperation are the hallmarks of the collegial system. All colleagues have the opportunity to participate, directly or through elected representatives, in the collegial process. Good faith consultation and mutual respect among colleagues are fundamental principles of the collegial system. All university decisions are preceded by dialogue among relevant constituencies, followed by appropriate rationale.
Academic freedom is an essential element of collegial governance.
When a decision is reached by the person responsible for making the decision, and that person has considered all recommendations made pursuant to this document, that decision is reached through the collegial process. Colleagues are bound by the decisions relating to or affecting matters which are reached through collegial processes. All colleagues are bound equally by the results of the system and seek to implement those decisions. Of course, a colleague is free to seek to change policy within the collegial system. Generally speaking, faculty bodies have primary responsibility for recommendations in matters directly related to academics, including curricula subject matter and methods of instruction, research, faculty status, and those aspects of student life which directly relate to the educational process.