Two policies are proposed for discussion at the 9-23-96 Austin Community College Board of Trustees Committee meeting.

Open Communication

College Organizational Principles

RATIONALE:

(1) proposed policy on Open Communication

Successfully addressing the many challenges the College faces will require high-quality information which can only come from critical analysis of issues from many directions. The proposed policy would set a policy-level basis for such open, informed communication within the College. It would forbid such practices as instructing employees to withhold their opinions, to restrict the availability of information needed by others, or to remain silent while misleading or inaccurate statements are made.

Such encouragement of discussion is not intended to keep the College from acting; the proposed policy also contains a provision to remind people that they are obliged to implement authorized decisions even when they disagree with them.

(2) proposed policy on College Organizational Principles

While the Board has repeatedly rejected proposals to operate ACC as a multi-college district, this topic is not addressed in current Board policy. The proposed policy states that historical pattern as a principle, as well as the need for all employees to act to maintain a college-wide perspective.

The policy also states that the College President, as Chief Executive Officer, has the responsibility both for defining the roles and staffing of subordinate offices and for keeping the two other chief officers well enough informed to ease any transitions.

proposed Board policy on

Open Communication

The College shall be managed in accordance with these principles:

1. Open expression of differences of opinion on the merits of proposals, actions, and conditions is encouraged.
2. Information relevant to College issues shall not be restricted in distribution except when it clearly meets confidentiality criteria established by the President.
3. Whenever employees observe what they consider significant misinformation being provided about College operations, especially to an officer or to the Board, they have a responsibility to see that alternative corrective information is provided.
4. Even when sincere differences of opinion exist, employees are required to accept and implement the decisions of managers acting within their authority.

Employees shall not be discouraged from reporting, to an authority of their choice, any instances in which they feel that action is being taken against them for acting in accordance with these principles.

Hunter Ellinger 9/13/96

proposed policy on:

COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES

Austin Community College is a single college with multiple campuses and teaching sites, not a multi-college system. All employees, especially those with management responsibility, shall act to support the unity of the College by aligning their activities with the directives of the College's chief officers and of the college-wide instructional task forces, and by fostering cooperation rather than competition between campuses.

The President shall build a broad, unified, and diverse leadership group. As Chief Executive Officer, the President is responsible for determining the staffing and powers of individual managerial positions and of college-wide councils or committees. The President shall keep the chief academic officer and the chief business officer well informed about Board and Presidential issues, activities, and plans; either of them should be prepared to temporarily act as President if the need should arise.

Hunter Ellinger 9/13/96

This page was prepared by Hunter Ellinger, 837-3113, ext. 525. It was last updated on September 18, 1996.