American Samoa Community College

IV.A.2. The institution establishes and implements policy and procedures authorizing administrator, faculty, and staff participation in decision-making processes.  The policy makes provisions for student participation and consideration of student views in those matters in which students have a direct and reasonable interest.  Policy specifies the manner in which individuals bring forward ideas and work together on appropriate policy, planning and special-purpose committees. 

The changes made at the College to comply with this standard were guided by Recommendation 1and 2.

The Participatory Governance Manual clearly details the roles Governance Groups, Operational Groups, and Task Groups have and are responsible for in governance, planning, and budget development.1. Policy 1001 Governance and Organizational Structure, Policy 1003 Board Policy and College Regulations/Procedures, Policy 1003.1College Regulations/Procedures, and Policy 1004 Comprehensive Program Review and Assessment of Instructional Programs, Students Services, and Administrative Services describe in detail the structural organization that supports the implementation of policies, regulations, and procedures.2

The College uses Bi-weekly and Quarterly Reports as the mechanism in which deans, directors, and officers report progress toward achievement of outcomes. These reports are submitted through the Compliance Assist data system and are accessible to the Leadership Team and reviewed by the Leadership Triangle on a regular basis. Fact sheets are distributed each semester. Fact books are distributed annually. The IE Academic Program Review Summary is distributed in the Fall semester of the academic year. 3 The Academic Program Review Summary and Findings is posted on the College website. 4.

The College has become very evidence based with the requirement of all divisions to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). These SOP provide for a more consistent manner in which operations are carried out and follow approval processes that reflect the organizational structure and communication protocol. The development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each College division was a result of institutional program review and divisional assessment data that indicated the need for clear and specific processes and procedures. Continual assessment and feedback from students and personnel through surveys have prompted divisions to review and improve SOPs and forms.

Each individual is held accountable for their responsibilities to the College division in the achievement of the division goals and outcomes. Performance evaluations are conducted on an annual basis for all full time faculty and staff.

The Governance Manual, Personnel Manual, and Faculty Handbook identify the responsibilities and authority of the faculty and of academic administrators in curricular and educational matters. The Participatory Governance Structural Manual summarizes the policies, the roles, and the responsibilities that all constituencies have in governance and decision-making on educational matters. The Human Resources Office keeps an accurate and updated record of the job description of each faculty and academic administrator within the employee’s file. The file includes the annual Faculty Performance Evaluation detailing the performance evaluation of the faculty or academic administrator and the Plan of Action for areas in need of improvement.

Students are given an integral role in the decision-making processes of the College. As detailed in the Participatory Governance Structural Manual,5 the Student Government Association is the elected body providing recommendations to the President on issues, concerns, and processes that impact students. The Student Representative to the Board of Higher Education serves a one-year term and has full voting rights as a Trustee on policies and processes that govern the College.

1 - Participatory Governance Structural Manual, pp. 13-19
2 - Participatory Governance Structural Manual, pp. 2-4
3 - IE Academic Program Review Summary
4 - Academic Program Review Summary and Findings
5 - Participatory Governance Structural Manual, pp. 13-14