Developing an

Academic Governance Model

for a Baccalaureate College
The MacEwan Process
by
Jerry Zdril, School of Business
Dr. Chery Ann Hoffmeyer, Faculty of Health & Community Studies

www.MacEwan.ca

Grant MacEwan College

Alberta College Campus

Four Campus Model

City Centre Campus

Centre for the Arts and Communications

South Campus

Robbins Health Learning Centre

Student Residence

www.MacEwan.ca

Grant MacEwan College

As a Comprehensive College
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1971 MacEwan founded as a public college
1986 University Transfer began
2004 Mandate to offer undergraduate degrees
Student Population
Full Time: 11,000 FTEs
Total
42,000 annually
Programs:
70 Diplomas
4 Applied Degrees
4 Baccalaureate Degrees
Corporate Training
www.MacEwan.ca

Current Baccalaureate
Degrees
Bachelor of Arts (8 majors)
(BA)
Anthropology
Economics
English
History
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

(BScN)

Bachelor of Child & Youth Care

(BCYC)

Bachelor of Commerce (3 Majors) (BComm)

Management
International
Supply Chain
Approved for delivery
Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music
www.MacEwan.ca

The MacEwan Architecture

Comprehensive Academic Programming

Diploma

Degree

Post Degree
Diploma

Child & Youth Care

Child & Youth Care

Business Diploma

Degree
Public Relations
Human Resources Mgmt.
www.MacEwan.ca

A Sample of Changes
2006 - 2007
Accreditation and Peer Review
Formal on site university reviewers: 24 universities
Peer review of proposals: 42 universities
New Full-Time Faculty
Canada
US
Europe/Australia/Other
Fall 2006
23
4
11
Fall 2007
16
6
3
3910
14
Two-Year Review of Academic Governance
New Master Space Plan

www.MacEwan.ca

The Legislative Framework

An amendment to the Provincial PostSecondary Learning Act:
(Section 47) provided colleges and
technical institutions in Alberta with
the option to establish an alternative
form of Academic Council

www.MacEwan.ca

Why consider a different

Governance Council?
MacEwan needs a structure of governance
appropriate to a baccalaureate-granting institution
In a baccalaureate-granting institution, academic
decisions must be made by academics
A change in the structure of governance may be
necessary for future membership of the college in
groups such as Association of Universities and
Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
www.MacEwan.ca

The Opportunity

Creates an academic governance structure more reflective of and

appropriate to MacEwan and a degree-granting institution

Knowledge-intensive environment: places decisions closer to those closest

to the knowledge

Places responsibility for academic integrity and accountability within the

Academic Council

Creates recognizable path for accreditation

Identifies one body in the college to consider academic priorities, decisions

and outcomes

Defines alignment for college academic committees

www.MacEwan.ca

What is consistent?
Academic Council has a significant
mandate firmly established and defined in
legislation.
The alternative council continues to
assemble members of the college
community to address academic matters.
www.MacEwan.ca

Task Team Formation

In 2006 a task team was formed with
representatives from:
Faculty
Staff
Administration
Students
Board of Governors
www.MacEwan.ca

Academic Governance Task

Team
Dr. Paul Byrne and Dr. Don Fisher

Margo Baptista Executive Assistant

Dr. Janet Paterson-Weir Provost/EVPA

Dave Kato Academic Council

Louise Rogers - MSA

Dr. Chery Ann Hoffmeyer - Faculty

Jerry Zdril Faculty Association

Robert Seidel - Board of Governors

Dr. Chaldeans Mensah Board of Governors

Justin Benko Students Association

Curtis Smith Students Association/Board

Dr. Susan May, Associate VP Academic

Donna-Mae Winquist - MSA

Janna Jorgenson MSA

Lidija Thompson-Ward MSA

Alan Vladicka Strategic Planning

Dolf Ryks - Faculty

www.MacEwan.ca

Task Team Activities

Review Documentation
Create Statement of Goals
Visit to Malaspina College
Create Information Packages
Consultations: Academic & College Committees
Schools & Faculties

www.MacEwan.ca

Website
www.MacEwan.ca/academicgovernance

www.MacEwan.ca

Statement of Task Team Goals

1. Collect information related to the transitional processes
and outcomes from other post-secondary institutions with
experience in changing academic decision-making
structures.
2. Conduct literature reviews and samples of higher
education academic decision-making systems.
3. Create a framework for consultation within the MacEwan
academic community.
www.MacEwan.ca

4.

Present draft recommendations to college committees

of the college.

5.

Analyze all input.

6.

Share results of consultations, draft

recommendations, governance model with the college
community.

7.

Make recommendations to Board of Governors on

college academic governance decision-making model.

www.MacEwan.ca

What changes?
Council has greater decision-making authority
and responsibility
Faculty members are the majority members of
council
This is a shift to shared governance
between the BOG and the alternative council
The alternative council has more duties
www.MacEwan.ca

Standing Committees

Sub-Committees

Student

Academic

Success

Policies

Faculty
Faculty
Development
Evaluation
(inc. Mentorship)

Animal Care
Academic
Student Services

Technology

& Ethics

Council

Academic

MacEwan
Governance

Policy

Governance
Curriculum

Council

Council

Research
Global
Ethics
College
Board

Distance &
Admissions and
Selections

Research
Distributed
Council
Education

www.MacEwan.ca

Roles & Responsibilities

of the New Council
Approval of:
Programs of study
Admissions standards and policies
Provide for the granting of academic
credentials, including undergraduate degrees
Rules for academic awards
Policy conditions for student withdrawal
www.MacEwan.ca

Roles & Responsibilities

of the New Council
Approval of:
Process for appeals of academic decisions
Consider matters submitted to AGC and
provide notice of opinion or action
Recommend to and advise the Board on
academic programs and other matters
www.MacEwan.ca

Summary of Differences
Academic Council Today
Composition of Council Members:

Constituent Representation
President is standing member

A Shared Governance Council

Majority faculty members
President and EVPA standing
members

Election of Faculty

Faculty are represented by the FA

and members elected by the
General Assembly of the FA

Faculty will be elected through a

process determined by the Board
of Governors

Powers and Duties of Council

Recommend programs of study

Formally approve programs of

study

Membership Numbers

27

43
www.MacEwan.ca

Composition
Academic Governance Council (43 members)

President/CEO (or designate)

Provost/Executive VP Academic

Academic Staff (26 elected)

Students (5 elected)
Arts & Science = 8
VP Academic, Student Executive Council
Health & Community Studies = 8
Arts & Science = 1, School of Business = 1
School of Business = 4
Centre for the Arts and Communications = 1
Centre for the Arts and Communications = 4
Health & Community Studies = 1
Non-Instructional Faculty = 2

Senior Officials (7)

Deans/Associate Deans = 4

Board Appointees (3 elected)

Registrar

Continuing Staff Members (elected) = 2

Chief Librarian

MacEwan Alumni = 1

VP Finance or Director, Financial Services

www.MacEwan.ca

Other Aspects of the

Model
Chair of AGC
President or designate

Terms of Office
2 years*
(*students = 1 year)

Vacancies
One annual by-election to replace

Provision For Change

Initial 3 year review
Ongoing 5 year review

Termination of Membership
Written notice from AGC Chair or
Absence for 3 consecutive meetings

Alternates
Not permissible

www.MacEwan.ca

Other Aspects of the Model

(contd)

Quorum
60% of AGC members
of which 60% are faculty

Frequency of Meetings
Minimum of 6 per year

Voting System in Council

Regular agenda items: Simple majority (50% + 1)
Constitutional changes: 2/3 majority

Code of Conduct
Consistent with College values
Emphasize accountability and transparency
www.MacEwan.ca

Other Aspects of the Model

(contd)

Standing Resource

Non-standing Resources

Associate VP Academic

By invitation

AGC Executive Committee

AGC Secretariat

AGC Chair
AGC Vice Chair
Provost/Executive VP Academic
Faculty member
Student member

Conduct elections
Standing resource for logistical support
Orientation, briefing & training members
Coordination & support of standing
and sub-committees

www.MacEwan.ca

Other Aspects of the Model

(contd)

Nomination Process
Candidates submit nomination forms to AGC Secretariat
Students = co-signed by 5 full-time students
Staff = co-signed by 5 members of MSA
Faculty = signed by 5 faculty members from
same school or faculty

Election Process
Conducted by AGC Secretariat
Nominations solicited in April for following year
Online and paper ballots
Students = Single member plurality (first-past-the-post)
Faculty and Staff = Block voting

www.MacEwan.ca