SLSC Recommendations - March 2026This button links to a SharePoint directory that includes Shared Leadership Steering Committee recommendations on internal communication, budget transparency, governance structures, and leadership development. There is also a spreadsheet to track the status of each recommendation.

2025-26

Following up on one of the recommendations in the COACHE report (see below), the COACHE steering committee was refashioned as a broader Shared Leadership Steering Committee (SLSC). The SLSC provided leadership to act on our commitments to shared leadership, with representation from as many impacted constituencies as possible, promoting a culture of effective shared governance and shared leadership among faculty, staff, and administration to actively support our mission. The Steering Committee was in place from July 2025 through May 2026.

Key Results & Deliverables by the SLSC during 2025-26 (updated from its original charge):

• Disseminate Workshop Findings: By September 30, 2025, the SLSC presented and distributed comprehensive findings from the May 2025 Shared Governance Workshops to all relevant stakeholders across the university through multiple communication channels (e.g., dedicated website section, email summaries, departmental presentations).
• Develop and Initiate Actionable Follow-Up: By October 31, 2025, the SLSC designed a process to establish concrete action plans based on the outcomes of the May 2025 Shared Engagement Workshops and the twin reports from faculty governance on shared governance.
• Establish and Oversee Working Teams: The SLSC established and dedicated working subcommittees of SLSC for high-priority action items related to shared leadership and shared governance. It ensured each subcommittee has clear objectives, timelines, and assigned leadership.
• Monitor and Report Team Progress: The SLSC reported on developments and achievements to the university community through Lakers Ready.
• Formulate Future Recommendations: By March 31, 2026, the SLSC shared concrete recommendations for further action to implement and sustain shared leadership and governance initiatives throughout the 2026 calendar year.
• Reconvene conversations between the SLSC and SLT:  The groups met for two workshops -- in late March and early May 2026.  A report on the May workshop will be shared in August 2026.

Contact Ed Aboufadel ([email protected]) and Krista Benson ([email protected]), co-chairs of the SLSC, with any questions.

2023-25

GVSU is a member of The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE). This long-term project at the Harvard University's Graduate School of Education, led by R. Todd Benson, focuses on faculty. As part of the collaboration, during the Winter semester 2024, faculty were asked to participate in COACHE's Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey. 

COACHE provided GVSU diagnostic reports and regular consultations with the COACHE team on how to make meaning and act from the data. During the Fall 2024 semester, GVSU faculty had several discussions to review the findings and consider next steps. Discussions were hosted by the COACHE Steering Committee and also within the University Academic Senate. University senior leaders also reflected on the findings during their meetings. After a planning process during the Winter 2025 semester, facilitated conversations between faculty and administrators were held in May 2025.

COACHE at GVSU