What is governance? How does governance work at UT? If governance means "control," how is that control exercised?
To what degree does the Board of Trustees, for example, actually govern?
What might Brinbaum mean when he suggests that "to some extent our colleges and universities are successful because they are poorly managed"?
Does it make sense that the governing board of a college or university usually consists of non-academics? Why?
To what degree are private colleges and universities likely to have a different sort of governance? Why? Would it be easier to govern a college or university affiliated with a church?
Why might politics play an important role in the appointment of an individual to the board of a publicly funded college or university? What difference might this make?
What, if anything, might be done by the university or college to minimize or reduce board conflict?
Boards are supposed to make policy decisions. How specific should a policy be? Should boards be involved in the implementation of the policy?
How might campus or system administration influence the board?
How are policies implemented from the top to the bottom?
To what degree should faculty be represented and involved with the creation and implementation of policy?
How many funding sources can you identify for a college or university? What are the major differences between privately funded and publicly funded colleges or universities? What is the difference between "state supported" and "state assisted"?
If the University were "run like a business," how might things differ?
Is it likely that colleges and universities will strive to become more "business-like" in the future"? Why?
To what degree should faculty share in governance? To what degree are they likely to share?
Some colleges and universities have faculty unions that bargain collectively? How might this impact governance? Is such unionization a good idea?
The NLRB has held that faculty members are "management." Does this seem reasonable? Are academic librarians "management" or faculty?
Is it really possible to make substantial changes in the academy from the top? From the bottom? At all?
How should the academic library fit in the organizational structure? How does it? The library serves the teaching, research, and public service of others. Should that make a difference in reporting relationships?
Many colleges and universities, UT for example, have a Faculty Senate Library Committee. How might this impact governance and reporting relationships?
