Lions, Tigers, and Boards…. Oh My! Michelle Grimes-Hillman, Mt. San Antonio College Joseph Bielanski, Jr. Berkeley City College Roberta Eisel, Citrus College

Why this breakout on Boards of Trustees and governance? AASCU Policy Brief (January, 2012) Little Hoover Commission Report (February 2012) ACCJC Newsletters in Spring & Summer (2011)

American Association of State Colleges and Universities (January 2012) Of the ten policy issues cited, #3 was Governance Structure and Regulatory Reform Several states have proposed and enacted reforms to include combining, reducing, or eliminating coordinating and governing boards. There is a focus on boosting efficiency, cost savings and productivity, while also ensuring institutional accountability and transparency. Focus on fiscal matters such as those involving tuition setting authority, procurement, personnel policy, and rules regarding campus construction.

Serving Students, Serving California: Updating the California Community Colleges to Meet Evolving Demands Little Hoover Commission, February 2012 Reviews the history of the governance structure from 1907 to today. Impact of Prop 13 (1978) Local control of the community colleges has eroded significantly

The Little Hoover Commission The Legislature plays the dominant role in governing CCC LHC advocates to make the System Office a separate entity and give the BOG the same authority as the State Board of Education While the LHC doesn't make any recommendations regarding local governing boards, does state "whether California needs to have 72 separate community college districts, however, remains a legitimate question, and one that deserves further consideration."

ACCJC Newsletter, Spring 2011

ACCJC Newsletter, Summer 2011 Trends in Deficiencies Leading to Sanction The main deficiencies for sanction are related to Program Review, Planning, Board Roles, Internal Governance, and Financial Management and Stability. Deficiencies due to weak board governance, which is a critical factor for the effective performance of an institution, is increasing, whereas issues related to internal governance have decreased as a reason for sanction.

Sanctions

So where does this take us? Other questions? Given this background and information should there be a change in the governance of California Community Colleges? Is it time to look at our structure? Is there a need for a more unified system? Should the State Chancellor's Office be removed from the Governor's Office and given more authority as a separate entity? Should the BOG be able to set policies and not simply be a regulatory body or a body that works for passage of specific Senate Bills and Assembly Bills? Should the system look at some consolidation?

And more…. Should we always turn to the Legislature for statutory solutions to address day-to-day challenges and what might be the alternative? Should we seriously address system and local governance of the California community colleges? Should we continue going on in the same way we are now, the way things have been since 1967? Should the system look at some consolidation?