GP-8 Governing Style

The Frederick Community College Board of Trustees will govern lawfully, with an emphasis on outward vision, a commitment to obtaining Ownership input, the encouragement of diversity of viewpoints, strategic leadership, clear distinction of Board and President roles, collective decision-making, and a proactive, future-focus. This means the Board will not be preoccupied with the present or past, or with internal, administrative, or operational detail. The Board, however, should always remain cognizant of and educate new members about present and past milestones to ensure that lessons of the past are not lost as they may and should impact future planning and vision.

1. The Board will cultivate a sense of group responsibility. The Board shall be responsible for excellence in governing. The Board will initiate policy, not merely react to President initiatives. The Board will use the expertise of individual Trustees, and the President to enhance the ability of the Board, as a body, to make policy, rather than to substitute their individual judgments for the group’s values.
   
   
2. The Board will direct, control, and inspire the organization through the careful establishment of broad written policies reflecting the Owners’ values and perspectives. The Board’s major policy focus will be on the intended long-term results to be produced for all stakeholders in the organization, including employees, students and the community the Board serves, and not on the administrative or operational means of attaining those results.
   
   
3. Each Trustee shall exercise self-discipline that is needed in order to govern with excellence. Self-discipline will apply to matters such as attendance, preparation for meetings, policy-making principles, respect of roles, Board behavior, regular self-evaluation, and ensuring the continuity of governance capability. Although the Board can change its governance process policies at any time, it will scrupulously observe those policies currently in force.
   
   
4. The Board will not allow any Trustee of the Board to hinder or be an excuse for not fulfilling Board obligations.