Working Together to Define Shared Governance Within Our Community

Sent on behalf of University Governance Leaders, the Provost and the Chancellor

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

In response to a University Senate resolution in Spring 2022, we are convening a team of faculty, staff, students and administrators to define shared governance for KU Lawrence and Edwards.

We have a great opportunity before us to re-envision how we work together and create a higher education community that seeks and values the participation of its members in key decision-making activities.

The landscape and horizon of higher education has changed. The pandemic has shown us new ways to come together to discover, learn and work. Changing fiscal realities expose the need for greater coordination and collaboration, alignment of our work with our priorities, and also for accountability to our constituents. Our shared circumstances prompt us to investigate how we might improve the nature, quality and strength of our shared governance principles.

Our effort will be co-led by Interim Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Nicole Hodges Persley, University Senate President Ani Kokobobo, and Vice Provost for Human Resources, Public Safety, Facilities and Operations Mike Rounds. Participants from governance will include presidents and presidents-elect of the University, Faculty, Staff and Student Senates. Representatives from core administrative and academic units will round out regular members. Additional members may be recruited – proportionally from governance and administration – on the basis of expertise or roles related to themes and focus of the work underway. We expect this process to include campus visioning throughout the academic year to ensure broad input from community members.

At this time, we’ve outlined four phases for this endeavor, which we expect will be concluded near the end of the academic year.

Phase 1: Visioning an Exceptional Learning Community and Scholarly Engagement

October 2022 to January 2023

Phase 2: Processes for Decision-making and Communication

December 2022 to February 2023

Phase 3: Processes for Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities in Shared Governance

January 2023 to April 2023

Phase 4: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities for Strategic and Fiscal Planning

February to May 2023

This endeavor has great potential to improve the culture and working relationships at KU. We invite you to learn more about this initiative and how you can provide input.

Respectfully,

Ani Kokobobo, University Senate President

Nate Brunsell, Faculty Senate President

Jessica Chilcoat, Staff Senate President

Hollie Hall, Graduate Student Body President

Sadie Williams, Student Body President

Alessia Garcia, Student Body Vice President

Doug Girod, Chancellor

Barbara Bichelmeyer, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor