By Hannah Fraser (’23)
In a changing world, clarity and trust are vital for functioning organizations. The Houghton College Constitution outlines the roles of decision-making parties at the college and is currently being revised by a committee which the president organizes every ten years. The constitution is a document that summarizes the “shared governance” of the college, which “is the language that higher education uses to indicate the desire that all stakeholder voices are properly consulted and heard in the process of decision making,” said President Mullen.
The committee is organized by the president and typically involves two members of the Board of Trustees, two members of the Administration, and two members of the Faculty. As the president is preparing to step away, there is an urgency in ensuring that all is clarified, and nothing is left ambiguous.
The Board, Faculty, and Administration are the groups who are most directly involved in decision making. They each play a different role, and according to Professor Brandon Bate, “the Board of Trustees is charged with managing the financial aspects of the college, the Faculty with the academic aspects, and the Administration with seeing that these, and other constituencies within the college, work together in cooperative ways.” A revised, up to date constitution allows for a governance system that is “nimble enough to make decisions swiftly,” said Professor Benjamin Lipscomb. He added that trust is fundamental to this process so that all three groups are able to communicate and speak into the areas where they have expertise, but decisions can still be made in a timely manner.
The document should aim at a spirit of collaboration and give clarity of authority, which the committee works to achieve. Professor Bate said, “The committee that is meeting right now is charged with recommending changes to the constitution that we hope will improve the functioning of the college and ensuring compatibility with other foundational, legally binding documents.” The recommendations will go to SGA, faculty, and staff for comments, and then to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
The document clarifies the importance of students’ voices, and President Mullen said, “The college believes that it is important that students have a voice in the governance of the college both because the college exists to serve students well, and because it is an educational opportunity for students to know how shared governance works.” While these revisions have little impact on current students, they determine how decisions are made and who makes what decision, and students are invited to have a voice in this process through representatives in SGA.
Ken Schenk, who represents the Administration on the committee, said, “Students will be glad to know that the new Compact clearly states that you are the reason we exist. All the details of structure, all the clarifications of roles are to provide you with an academically excellent, Christ-centered education that equips you to lead and serve in a changing world.” As the higher education world changes rapidly due to demographic downturns and COVID-19, a flexible constitution will benefit the college as it makes decisions and prepares for a change of presidency. ★
