SUBJECT: Draft Policy on College Community Linkages

PROPOSED ACTION

That the Board review the draft policy on college-community linkages.

RELATED BOARD POLICY OR RESOLUTION

This item is consistent with policies B-5, Policy Development. There is currently no Board policy on this topic.

RATIONALE

The draft policy would give principles to cover various types of linkage activities between the College and the community.

BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

None.

RESOURCE PERSONNEL

Carol Nasworthy, Chair, Board of Trustees
Beverly Watts Davis, Trustees
Hunter Ellinger, Trustee
Richard Fonte, President

ATTACHMENTS

Proposed Policy [May 23, 1998]
Proposed Policy [May 18, 1998]

COLLEGE-COMMUNITY LINKAGES

It is important that the College create and maintain strong community linkages at many levels. Such linkages should be part of coordinated plans based on principles and priorities adopted by the Board or President. Accordingly:

A. Communication Linkages:

[1] Staff-community linkages: The President shall ensure that the College maintains a system to provide external advice on how the College can best serve its community, especially from sectors which directly deal with the College's entrants or graduates. This system shall be structured so as to promote productive faculty-community interaction. The President shall also ensure that the College has appropriate representation to relevant community organizations and events.

[2] Board-community linkages: In addition to the activities individual Trustees choose to undertake as elected officials, the Board shall have an organized program of interaction with the community. The Vice-Chair of the Board shall coordinate this program, aligning it with a priority list adopted annually by the Board.

B. Operational Linkages:

The College shall respond to community needs by creating appropriate partnerships or contractor-client relationships with community organizations. Negotiation of such agreements is the responsibility of the President, subject to Board approval if they are multi-year agreements or involve expenditures in excess of the approval limits established in policy C-10, Purchasing. Proposals for partnership agreements should include an economic analysis, and should ensure that each party bears an appropriate share of the costs.

C. Reports to the Board:

The President shall report annually to the Board on the nature and extent of linkage activities, on the financial terms and operational results of community partnerships, and on any plans or recommendations for changes in this area.