It is the process and the procedure that we talk about here. Our experience amply demonstrates that early consultation, from the very beginning of a new initiative, builds trust in the relationships involved in the change process and in the administration of the system. In the most sensitive and delicate decisions, where there is a genuine need for closely held information and confidentiality, the very minimum consultation would be to involve from the beginning the three Faculty Senate chairs. Collectively there is often 75 years or more of University experience which should not be lightly disregarded by high administrators who may be recent arrivals here. Their wisdom is a University treasure and should be valued as such.
Most important decisions are neither so sensitive nor so delicate.
In these circumstances, full information should be shared with and advice sought from the appropriate Senate or Council committees. These committees very often have among their membership faculty with great expertise in the matters at hand. The purpose of these committees is to provide advice to the administration. The current administration may have forgotten that. An administration that does not listen to its constituencies is an administration at risk.