In spring 2017, Grossmont College administrative leadership, in coordination with the Academic Senate and Classified Senate, solicited assistance from the California Community Colleges’ Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative (IEPI) regarding three areas of focus: participatory governance, annual unit planning, and assessment of student learning outcomes.
In fall 2017, an IEPI-appointed partnership resource team (PRT) of staff, faculty, and supervisors/administrators from community colleges throughout the state visited with various members of the Grossmont College community and recommended that the college reorganize their participatory governance structure to adhere to the standards of good practice set by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) in 2014. Specifically, Standard IV addresses:
“The institution recognizes and uses the contributions of leadership throughout the organization for promoting student success, sustaining academic quality, integrity, fiscal stability, and continuous improvement of the institution… Through established governance structures, processes, and practices, the governing board, supervisors/administrators, faculty, staff, and students work together for the good of the institution.”
In fall 2017, it also became apparent to the Accreditation Steering Committee that the college had work to do as it related to Standard IV. A: Decision-Making Roles and Processes. At that time, the Governance Organization Steering Committee (GOSC) was formed, emerging out of the Administration/Senate Officers Committee (ADSOC), and included representatives from various campus constituency groups, including Academic Senate, Administrators' Association, Associated Students of Grossmont College, and Classified Senate, in addition to representatives from the Accreditation Steering Committee and Professional Development. Led by technical assistance providers Helen Benjamin, Ph.D., retired Chancellor of Contra Costa Community College District; and Debbie DiThomas, Ed.D., retired President/Superintendent of Barstow College, the GOSC met numerous times, including several all-day sessions, during the 2017-2018 academic year to begin the work of redesigning the college’s participatory governance structure.
The new participatory governance structure was approved by the college's former apex governing body, Planning and Resources Council, in fall 2018, and launched its first meetings in spring 2019.
8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, California 92020
619-644-7000
Accessibility
Social Media Accounts
