Deans Rising #2: Re-Forming University Shared Governance w/ Brian Rosenberg
July 9, 2025
9AM-12M Pacific time
Early bird pricing until June 11, 2025
Payment in USD
July 9, 2025
9AM-12M Pacific time
Early bird pricing until June 11, 2025
Payment in USD
July 9, 2025
9AM-12M Pacific time
Early bird pricing until June 11, 2025
Payment in USD
Overview
“Shared governance as practiced within higher education is far better at guarding against disruptive change than it is at encouraging and enabling such change. It proceeds at a pace that might generously be described as stately and less generously described as glacial. It was designed for an industry and is best suited for an industry whose goal is stability and gradual, deliberate evolution.” Brian Rosenberg (2023)
Higher education is at an inflection point. Institutions are being tested to clarify not only what they stand for, but how they govern themselves in ways that reflect those commitments. It is in these moments of acute pressure that governance systems fully reveal their strengths and cracks.
This workshop will be a deep dive into systems of shared governance at higher education institutions. While shared governance systems have their own uniquenesses at each institution, they share complex structures of committees, task forces, town hall meetings, and working groups. How can these structures better serve the immediate needs and long-term outcomes of higher education?
What is shared governance appropriate for and what does it impede? How might shared governance processes and structures be adapted to both enable innovation and serve the interests of institutional stakeholders?
Please join us with Brian Rosenberg, former President of Macalester College and author of Whatever It Is, I’m Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education to share experiences, co-learn, and co-develop shared governance practices and policies for the next era of higher education.
As this workshop combines both navigating disruptions and collective capacity to be in right relationship, it is being co-hosted by Solvable’s Departments of Disruption and Interconnection.
BRIAN ROSENBERG
From 2003 until 2020, Dr. Rosenberg served as the 16th President of Macalester College. He is the author of Whatever It Is, I’m Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education, published in 2023 by Harvard Education Press. His articles on higher education appear regularly in The Chronicle of Higher Education and have also appeared in publications including The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. He serves as senior advisor and director at the African Leadership University and as a member of the board of the Teagle Foundation. Prior to arriving at Macalester, he served as dean of the faculty at Lawrence University and as professor and chair of the English Department at Allegheny College.
DESIRED OUTCOMES
Equip you with knowledge and practices to navigate institutional shared governance
Discernment between generative and restrictive governance policies & practices
Deepen understanding of your institutional roles and micro leadership opportunities
Increase your courage and stamina to operate within zones of conflict
Uncover insights into the complexities of your institutional system and the field of higher ed
Broaden your network of senior administrators from other institutions to learn and confide
PROTOCOLS
We recognize the sensitivity of these times in who shows up where and what is being said. This is designed as a closed and confidential container. Recording of any kind will not be permitted, nor will the attendees be made public. Solvable spaces are hosted on Canadian Zoom servers.
DEANs RISING SERIES
This is the second workshop in our Deans Rising series as part of our work in Higher Education Futures. Participants will receive a discount code for future workshops.
QUESTIONS?
Please email us with any questions you have about the workshop or series.