FEC will be bringing relevant legislation before the faculty assembly this spring. Another matter for consideration comes from the recent discussion on increasing Enrollment. As we decide on how much growth the college anticipates on the McMinnville campus, we may also want to consider how we accommodate new faculty in our system. If Chairs of Divisions were to constitute an enhanced layer of administration for an increased number of faculty, they would be able to administer larger programs without adding new administrators from outside, but by adjusting the responsibilities of those Division heads. Closing the Gap between Assessment and Planning One important charge from the recent Accreditation visit is that we close the gap between assessing our programs and planning for them.
Improved communications are central to doing that.
We need to share more often and more completely the data and the ideas that different parts of the college contribute. We think that the new model proposed above for expanding some committees can build bridges between previously insular groups. This system will help us use more fully our institution-wide talents and knowledge and reduce the mistrust the faculty feels about governance processes and outcomes. Having the Faculty Executive Council and the President's Advisory Council meet at least twice a year will be a first means of sharing views and information between faculty and administration. We recommend that these joint meetings of the two committees serve as a structural conduit for transmitting assessment and planning issues.