About the Board of Governors
The California Community Colleges Board of Governors sets policy and provides guidance for the 72 districts and 112 colleges that constitute the system. The 17-member board is appointed by the governor and formally interacts with state and federal officials and other organizations. The board selects a chancellor for the system. The chancellor, through a formal process of consultation, brings recommendations to the board.
The Governance Process
The California Community Colleges is guided by a process of shared governance.
The board of governors maintains a consultation process to ensure representatives from all levels of the system have an opportunity to advise the chancellor on state policy decisions. The chancellor considers this information prior to making final reccomendations to the board.
This process has evolved over the years into a Consultation Council composed of 18 representatives of institutional groups such as trustees, executive officers, students, administrators, business officers, student services officers, instructional officers, and representative organizations such as faculty and staff unions and associations. The council is chaired by state Chancellor Brice W. Harris and meets once per month to review and evaluate policy proposals and related issues.
Each of the 72 community college districts has a locally-elected board of trustees. These indivdiuals are responsive to members of their community. Trustees also oversee the operations and budgets of local colleges within their districts.