One participant added that the community of Nacogdoches seemed to be pulling together to support the University. The group noted that there is growing autonomy at SFA for individuals anddepartments to do their own tasks in the best way each sees fit. The strong disagreements that often break out in departmental meetings regarding the curriculum were thought to be good for nurturing the feeling of ownership. The opportunity to be heard and the ability to listen to others provides everyone with a stake in the process and the outcome. Faculty have the freedom to be creative .
Individuals can become institutional owners by designing and teaching a course.
The roundtable reported that faculty are given broad latitude to exercise their creativity in developing new ways to ignite students' passion for learning. Faculty sponsor student organizations . Participants remarked that sponsorship expresses a commitment to students and to the institution. Faculty choose faculty . Because faculty are responsible for hiring new faculty, they play a pivotal role in shaping the institutional character.