Board Self-Assessment Policy

Approved by the Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College on November 20, 2014.

Purpose

The Board is committed to assessing its own performance as a board in order to:

  1. Comply with the expectations of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education, Accreditation Standard 4: Leadership and Governance that an accredited institution possess “a procedure in place for the periodic objective assessment of the governing body in meeting stated governing body objectives.”
  2. Ensure that the Board and its individual members are carrying out their roles/responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner.
  3. Identify strengths and areas for improvement in the Board’s functioning.

Process

The Board shall determine the instrument or process to be used in Board self-evaluation. Any evaluation instrument shall incorporate criteria contained in these board policies regarding board operations, as well as criteria defining board effectiveness promulgated by recognized practitioners in the field. The process for evaluation shall be recommended to and approved by the Board.

If an instrument is used, all Board members will be asked to complete the evaluation instrument and submit them to the Assistant to the President/Secretary to the Board.

A summary of the evaluations will be presented and discussed at a board session scheduled for that purpose. The results will be used to identify accomplishments in the past two years and goals for the following two years in order to strengthen Board effectiveness.

This process shall occur at least once during each term of the Board’s officers.