Shared Governance from the Perspective of the Community College Information Professional

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to pilot a survey meant to learn about shared governance opportunities of Information Professionals within a library or learning resources environment in a community college setting. Participants were Chief Academic Officers (CAOs) from each of the 19 community colleges in Alabama. The ten-question survey instrument was prepared using the www.surveymonkey.com website and sent as links via e-mail after an initial phone call soliciting participation. The survey was available for two-weeks; 79% of the CAOs responded. Statistical analyses revealed that Information Professionals were most often selected as second or third appointees to committees, following administrators and faculty members, and they were predominantly appointed to legal/policy-making committees rather than economic or social/political decision-making bodies.

Key Words:

• Shared governance
• committee appointments
• decisions
• decision-making
• image
• community colleges