Shared Governance

UC Hastings faculty share significantly in the stewardship of the college. Academic institutions traditionally have been constituted by their faculty. They depend on a democratic concept that does not have an exact counterpart in the for-profit sector. That concept is called "shared governance."

Although the Chancellor & Dean is nominally the leader of the institution and is expected to be an academic himself, many of the most important decisions that are made in fact are the result of a deliberative process among the full-time professors. The content of the curriculum, attendance and grading norms, and the appointment of new colleagues, for example, are put to a vote at regular meetings of the faculty. The faculty also elect a new Faculty Executive Committee each academic year. Among its responsibilities is working closely with the Chancellor & Dean in an advisory role.

Shared governance ensures transparency and is a core value for UC Hastings.

Sincerely,
Frank H. Wu
Chancellor & Dean