Although there is a large body of scholarship on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), their governance practices have been underresearched. What little research that is available on the topic points to campus climates that are "president-centric" and hierarchical structures that do not encourage faculty governance. However,…

It is important for governing boards to understand that faculty see themselves less as employees than as officers of the institution, charged with constantly seeking the best for their discipline even if the values they advance seem at odds with those of the administration or board. They cherish collegiality, direct communication, and respect for…

Examines three assumptions that underlie the argument that shared governance must be reformed, and based on the professional literature and experience, counters them. The assumptions are that the bureaucracy appropriate for industry is appropriate for a higher education institution, democratic decision making undermines effective college and…