Philosophy

The Governing Board of the Ventura County Community College District is dedicated to offering educational excellence to our students.

1.0 General

The Governing Board has the responsibility for formulating broad public policy in community college education. It shall function as the legislative and policy making body charged with the oversight and control of the District. The formulation and adoption of policies shall constitute the basic method by which the Governing Board shall exercise its leadership in the operation of the District. The Governing Board must be sensitive to the hopes and ambitions of the community, and be able to respond readily to community needs. The study and evaluation of reports concerning the execution of policies shall constitute the basic method by which the Governing Board shall exercise its control over the operation of the District. Responsibility is delineated in five areas:

2.0 Responsibilities

2.1 Leadership

2.1.1 Philosophy: To prepare, review, and adopt a districtwide statement indicating basic educational beliefs.

2.1.2 Objectives: To ensure educational quality and communicate the District’s mission and goals to the community.

2.1.3 Professional Leadership: To determine the quality of leadership consonant with carrying out the established philosophy and objectives of the District; to select and appoint the Chancellor of the District.

2.1.4 Fiscal: To oversee the financial stability and accountability of the District.

2.1.5 Academic: To be informed about and involved in the accreditation process.

2.2 Adoption of Policies

2.2.1 Personnel: To establish clearly defined personnel policies, which can be administered impartially, and in concert with employee “Agreements.”

2.2.2 Academic Freedom: To promote and support academic freedom within the colleges and the District and to ensure that controversial issues are presented in an open and balanced manner.

2.2.3 Students: To approve uniform policies regarding admission and retention standards, scholastic standards, record keeping, registration practices, student conduct, and student mobility from one college to another.

2.2.4 Facilities: To review and take appropriate action on matters relating to site selection and utilization and physical plant development.

2.2.5 Finance: To approve the annual budget; to review and approve expenditures; to approve matters of capital outlay; to establish procedures for accounting of receipts and disbursements of funds under the supervision of the District.

2.2.6 Curriculum: To approve all curricula and courses of study.

2.2.7 General: To formulate such other policies as are necessary to promote the programs of the District.

2.2.7.1 All policies shall receive a first and second reading by the Governing Board prior to adoption.

2.2.7.2 Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, any District employee, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a person authorized by the employee, unless a policy or regulation expressly provides otherwise.

2.2.7.3 The Governing Board shall regularly evaluate its policies and review them as necessary.

2.3 Evaluation

2.3.1 Educational Program: To examine follow-up studies and reports on student achievement and curricular offerings.

2.3.2 Chancellor: To evaluate the Chancellor on an annual basis pursuant to Governing Board policy E.12B.

2.3.3 Governing Board: To perform regular self-evaluation of the performance of the Governing Board.

2.4 Maintaining Relationships

2.4.1 Community: To consider communications and requests from citizens and organizations on matters of policy, administration, and other items of public concern affecting the District; to provide means of communication Governing Board policy and decision to the community; to identify statewide community college issues, study them and, through regular Governing Board procedure, adopt District goals and positions for communication to legislators and state officials.

2.4.2 Employees: To provide for the establishment of the necessary procedures for the receipt and consideration of recommendations developed by management.

2.4.3 All Segments: To serve as a public forum for students and employees on matters of Governing Board policy.

2.4.4 Shared Governance: To provide the opportunity for faculty, staff, and students to participate effectively in District and college governance.

2.5 Personnel

2.5.1 Personnel: To consider and act upon administrative recommendations concerning appointment, retention, discipline, or dismissal of faculty and staff members as required by State law. The Chancellor is authorized to take personnel action when there is an immediate educational necessity, subject to ratification by the Governing Board.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Governing Board delegates to the Chancellor the employment of professional experts, and the compensation of professional experts, pursuant to Section 88076 of the Education Code.

2.5.3 Employee Welfare: To review salary schedules, employee welfare programs, and working relationships at all employee levels.

This policy supercedes all of the Governing Board's past practices and prior expressions of intent related to the issues set forth herein.