Dear MATC Learn Pillar Faculty, Staff, and Administration,

As you know, MATC has a long tradition of shared governance, and we thank you for your patience this semester as Executive Level, Learn Pillar, and Local 212 leaders met regularly to collectively examine our shared governance structures to ensure that they are student-centered, inclusive, transparent, and diverse. We came together with a mutual desire to recommit to our student-centered shared governance approach.  By incorporating and expanding on the successful approach of the Learn Pillar Integration Committee (LPIC), we are excited to move the Academic Integration Council (AIC) into its next phase of implementation.

From its inception, LPIC has asked for increased support from the college to build its capacity to advocate for student-centered initiatives, processes, and approaches, while maintaining its commitment to provide a clear pathway to implementation at the onset of all projects and work teams. AIC will provide this support; LPIC will become fully integrated into this expanded shared governance structure that will continue to place students at the heart of our shared work and decision-making processes. 

In addition to LPIC’s student-centered approach and focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, and quality review, AIC will add to our shared governance capacity by also including Academic Planning and Improvements as well as Academic Support initiatives into its structure. This expanded structure will continue to be re-evaluated and adjusted for improvements in a collective quality review process, and opportunities for your increased input and feedback will be provided throughout the spring semester. The diagram illustrates the concept and guiding principles for this new joint venture.

We know that you have been patiently waiting to receive the work team all-call, so you can raise your hand to be a part of this important work of the college–the wait is almost over! Next week, the Spring 2024 work teams will be announced and an all-call for volunteers will go out in a special edition of Center Connections, so you can sign-up and select your preference for the work teams that you are most passionate about. Through our evolved AIC structure and processes, we are looking forward to the sharing of our collective wisdom and experience on these collaborative work teams and the benefits this work will provide for our students. We hope that through this slightly-shifted shared governance iteration, we can gain more representation, greater accountability, and clearer communication and decision-making.

At MATC, we know that we are stronger together. 

Sincerely,

Philip King,

Executive Vice President of Student Success

Lisa Conley, President, Local 212

Dwayne Schlund, Executive Vice-President, Local 212

Traci Clark, Vice-President Full-Time Faculty and Shared Governance, Local 212