Policy Governance Jan Maggini, Moderator Mike Stearns, Trustee Perspective Tim Nelson, President Per

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Policy GovernanceJan Maggini, ModeratorMike
Stearns, Trustee PerspectiveTim Nelson,
President Perspective

• July, 2009

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Definition of Policy Governance

• Policy Governance is an approach to the job of
  governing that emphasizes values, vision,
  empowerment of both board and staff, and the
  strategic ability to lead leaders.

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Comparison

• Traditional Board vs. Policy Governance Board

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Four Types of Policies

• Ends
• Executive Limitations
• Governance Process
• Board-President-Community Relations

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Ends

• The board defines which human needs are to be
  
• met, for whom, and at what cost.
• Long term perspective and mission related
• Boards long-range planning

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GRCC Ends

• Community Outreach
• Developmental Education
• Diversity
• Entrance Transfer
• Flexible Learning
• Lifelong Learning
• Workforce Development

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Executive Limitations

• The Board establishes the boundaries of
  acceptability within which the President can
  responsibly operate.

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Governance Process

• The Board defines its philosophy, its
  accountability, and specifies of its own job.

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Board-President-Community Relations

• The Board clarifies
• how it will delegate authority to the President
• how it will evaluate the Presidents performance
  based on ends and executive limitations
• how it will interact with the internal and
  external community

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Clear Direction to the President

• Organizational outcomes (goals) are defined
  (Ends)
• Values and priorities are addressed (Ends)
• Values and perspectives of the ownership
  community are expressed (Ends)

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Clear Direction to the Presidentcontinued

• Constraints on operating methods are defined
  (Executive Limitations)
• Worries or concerns are addressed (Executive
  Limitations)
• Any other operational choices not covered in
  policy are left to the President.

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President and Organizational Accountability

• Clear authority is passed to the President so
  that nothing stands in his/her way of
  accomplishing what the Board directs.
• The Board formally monitors the President and
  organizational performance with data-based
  evidence to assure that its policies are being
  carried out.

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Board Accountability

• The board recognizes its rightful role of
  representing the interests of the owner
  community, not the operational organization.
• In order to fulfill this role, the board
  purposefully links with the community to
  understand its values and perspectives.
  (Strategic Conversations, Community
  Conversations, And Community Breakfasts)

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Board Accountabilitycontinued...

• Board job description defines the unique
  value-added role that the Board and the Board
  alone is qualified to fulfill.
• The Board monitors its compliance with its own
  policies concerning its job and its relationship
  with the President.

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Agendas and Meetings

• Board meetings, and agendas, center on the value
  added work of the board, not on operational
  minutiae.
• A process exists for bringing diverse
  perspectives in informed decisions through
  healthy dialog and deliberation.
• Meetings may or may not be shorter, but they
  are almost always more focused and more
  substantive.

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Proactive Policy Development

• A complete set of policies are developed that
  cover anything the Board feels is important.
• A formal process of developing policy is
  followed resulting in policy that is clear and
  serves as a useable reference for decisions and
  behavior.
• New policy development is automatically
  triggered when
• increased understanding, unforeseen events,
  or new
• community concerns or desires are not
  covered within
• current policy. (i.e. Academic Freedom)
• Policy is continually tested and updated
  through monitoring
• and review. (i.e. Retreats)

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Ends Drive the Organization

• Instead of deriving our purpose from what we do,
  our purpose defines what we must do.
• The Ends (which answer the questions of What
  benefits, for Which Recipients, at What
  Justifiable Value) spell out what the College is
  to achieve.
• The President then determines what the College
  needs to be and do in order to realize the
  purpose.

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Steps in Governance Evolution

• A board recognizes that there is a better way to
  deliver on the Colleges purpose for existing,
  its value to the community, and the important
  role that excellent governance plays.
• After education and exploration, the board
  determines if Policy Governance seems to fit.
• A sample Policy Manual is developed.

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Steps in Governance Evolutioncontinued

• The board votes to implement Policy Governance.
• The board begins governing by the new policies it
  has developed.
• Each year the board renews its understanding and
  commitment through education and orientation.
• Over time, the methods, processes, and structures
  of governing with Policy Governance become the
  culture.

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GRCC Website

• www.grcc.edu
• Select Board of Trustees from Quick Reference
  list and select Board Policies from Menu on the
  left.

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• QUESTIONS