Shared governance isn't a new or revolutionary idea. The concept reached a pinnacle in the political and social unrest of the 1960s when students capitalized on their right to govern themselves and demanded representation in college decision-making bodies such as boards of trustees. Hence the need for drastic action at SLU in 1999. The shared governance model calls for a united front in leading an institution. Rather than a few individuals making all decisions, the power to facilitate change and determine future goals shifts to a group made up of constituencies who have an equal and vested interest in the organization's daily operation.
Shared governance is simple in definition, but difficult in application.
At SLU, students and university officials often clashed when it came to implementing shared governance. Student leaders, for example, differed from administrators when it came to selecting which committees warranted student, faculty, and staff seats. Rather than passing down rules from the top, administrators work together with students and faculty, who now can question the rationale behind decisions. Student representatives sit on all departmental advisory boards, including committees to interview job candidates, and we're working to create a seat on the board of trustees. We're working continually to build allies and support structures within the university system, but shared governance has opened the door for every member of the campus community to have a voice in decisions that affect them.