‘Our board sets the tone for the entire district’
During a recent conversation with a community member, I was asked about the role of Board of Trustees in college governance. The question was a great one because I really appreciate talking about the College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees. The CR board is exemplary. I am fortunate that our board is a cohesive group of intelligent and hardworking individuals, whose principal focus is to ensure the wise and prudent delivery of education on behalf of the people in our communities.
The question also made me realize that the public is not aware of the role our board plays in helping govern the college, or what makes a great trustee. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to discuss a few key responsibilities of the board.
Our board is comprised of laypeople elected by the community to represent the community to the college, and advocate for the college in the community.
Our board’s role is significantly different from my role as president and others employed at the college. One way to think of it is that the board does not do the work of the institution, but ensures that work gets done. The board acts as a buffer between the college and pressure from special interests. They ensure that the faculty and I have the freedom necessary to explore and address a wide variety of issues facing the institution.
First, it is important to know that our trustees have authority only when they are meeting as a board. It is the board as a whole that is the legal governing unit. Trustees contribute their collective talents, skills, and perspectives to the board, but they do not have individual power.
Individual trustees have no authority to direct any college staff, make no statements representing the board (unless they are reports of adopted board positions and policy), and support board decisions once they are made.
One of the most important responsibilities of the board is to make good policy, which then provides guidance for college staff. Trustees focus their efforts on representing community interests through the policies they adopt. The policies are most effective when they delegate the day-to-day operations to the president; the board can then concentrate on future needs and institutional effectiveness.
A primary policy focus of CR’s board is setting the institution’s mission and strategic vision. It requires that each trustee serving on the board is deliberate in his or her thinking and understands the educational needs of our community. Our board recognizes that our environment is fluid and CR needs to be flexible and to hire personnel who are willing to evolve, adapt, and grow in response to the changing needs of the community.
Another important responsibility of the board is to ensure the college spends the public’s money wisely and well. Our board has established very good policy and parameters for the use of public funds, and they review annual audits conducted by firms that they hire to ensure the college remains fiscally responsible and solvent.
Our board sets the tone for the entire district. Through their actions and behavior, our trustees establish a climate in which learning is valued, professional growth is enhanced, and where our most important goal is student success.
Serving on the College of the Redwoods Board of Trustees is a difficult but rewarding job. I appreciate the dedication and commitment each trustee brings to the board.
One of the most important responsibilities of the board is to make good policy, which then provides guidance for college staff.