​PCC Needs Shared Decision Making Now

PCC Administration

“The variety and complexity of the tasks performed by institutions of higher education produce an inescapable interdependence among governing board, administration, faculty, students, and others. The relationship calls for adequate communication among these components, and full opportunity for appropriate joint planning and effort.” -AAUP Statement on Government of Colleges & Universities

PCC faces major challenges today, partly because of a lack of communication and joint planning. Real solutions to our problems cannot be handed down from above; we need to build them together by drawing on the deep well of wisdom, talent, energy, and passion of all PCC employees and students. The Faculty and Academic Professionals of Portland Community College believe that when we all work together, we can build a better PCC.  

The current flickers of shared governance around the college are not enough. Nor is this petition the first time that PCC faculty, APs, and staff have demanded change. Even our accreditors recognize the importance of shared governance.


To: PCC Administration
From: [Your Name]

We, the undersigned, envision a PCC in which all of our experience and expertise is valued and our voices are heard. The long work of building a more democratic institution should begin now.

We call for the following changes as first steps towards legitimate shared governance at PCC:

Control Of Our Jobs

For example…
➜ Empower SACs to determine what modalities courses are taught in.

➜ Strengthen groups like the Advising Council (and develop analogous groups) so all faculty, APs, and Classified can collaboratively make decisions about their work.

A Seat At The Table

For example…
➜ Increased presence and voice of Faculty, APs, Classified, and Students in cabinet-level meetings & decision making.

➜ Mandatory negotiation of any large scale management initiatives such as reorganizations that affect the working conditions of our APs and faculty with PCCFFAP.

A Say In The Budget

For example…
➜ Use SAC priorities, as expressed in our Annual Program Updates, to guide budget decisions.

➜ Rely on input from Faculty, APs, and Classified on any decision to hire outside consultants (to determine whether internal expertise could be relied on instead).

These would be first steps. FFAP’s bargaining team will bring them to the negotiating table now, in June 2023. We hope this conversation will continue in the coming years--and, as it develops, include our Classified co-workers, students, and community members. We believe it is essential that PCC develops true shared governance so we can address the challenges we face, together.