Shared governance is a core principal of higher education in the Commonwealth. It is so vital that in 2020 the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) drafted guiding principles for effective System-level shared governance. That document stated “Shared governance is a fundamental principle of inclusion in key areas of institutional responsibility and decision making.”

Following that process by PASSHE, the Commission on Faculty Shared Governance put forward recommendations, one of which was –

3A.2 Elect a faculty liaison to the Board of Governors and determine term of office. The Board of Governors should make every effort to seek statutory changes to allow the faculty representative to be a full voting member.

While this specific recommendation was never acted upon, now is the time to move forward with true shared governance. Under the current structure the legislature, students, and other stakeholders all hold voting seats on the board. The missing piece is our amazing faculty and staff.  That is why I will be introducing legislation that adds workers’ voices to the PASSHE Board of Governors. This legislation will allow both faculty and staff to each have a voting seat at the table.

I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation that truly brings shared governance to PASSHE by adding those important voices.