The College of Marin Participatory Governance System is guided by the California Educational Code as specified in Section 70901(b)(1)(E) which states governing boards of community college districts will "ensure faculty, staff and students the right to participate effectively in district and college governance, and the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level and ensure that these opinions are given every reasonable consideration, and the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards as well as other academic and professional matters as are mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate." An effective participatory governance system is required to meet accreditation standards. The College of Marin Participatory Governance System aspires to practice transparency in decision-making.
Participatory Governance System (PGS) Plan, Organizational Chart, and Overview
The Participatory Governance System Plan includes an outline of the governance system, committee charges and responsibilities and governance procedures that guide meeting operation and participatory decision-making processes. A quick link to the Committee Organizational Chart (also included in the Plan) is also posted below.
- Participatory Governance System Plan (Revised March 2016)
- Participatory Governance System Plan (Revised December 2012)
- Participatory Governance Committee Organizational Chart (Revised March 2019)
PGS Overview
Click here to access a quick guide to the College's Participatory Governance System: PGS System Overview.
PGS Standing Committees
The Participatory Governance System consists of the standing committees and councils listed below. Click on the committee name to link to the Committee web page which includes each committee's charge and responsibilities, members, agendas and minutes.
PGS Committee Charges and Web Pages
College Council
Governance Review Council
Planning and Resource Allocation Committee (PRAC)
Educational Planning Committee (EPCc
Facilities Planning Committee (FPC)
Institutional Equipment Committee (IEC)
Guidance, Resources, Integration, and Transformation Committee (GRIT)
Professional Learning Committee (PLC)
Strong Workforce Advisory Committee (SWAC)
Technology Planning Committee (TPC)
Constituent Reporting
Governance Committee members are responsible for reporting back to their constituency regarding committee work and actions.
Senates and Associated Students Organization
The Academic and Classified Senates and the Associated Students of College of Marin represent faculty, staff and students and provide the foundation for the College's Participatory Governance System.
Academic Senate
The Academic Senate represents all certificated instructional personnel including credit, non-credit, full and part-time faculty, which includes instructors, counselors, college nurse and librarians. The faculty elects 15 members to the Academic Senate.
Academic Senate Subcommittees
- Academic Standards Committee
- Curriculum Committee
- Distance Education Committee
- General Education Committee
- Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Council
Classified Senate
The Classified Senate represents all staff other than certificated and management. Senators are elected from the classified staff in proportion to the percentage of CSEA, SEIU and unrepresented employees in the District.
Associated Students College of Marin (ASCOM)
ASCOM represents all College of Marin students to the community and to the legislative bodies.
PGS Committee Participant Surveys
Under the auspices of the Governance Review Committee (GRC), the PRIE Office conducts regular surveys to assess COM employees' perceptions of and satisfaction with the governance system. Results are reviewed by the GRC and used to make recommendations to revise and improve the system.
- Spring 2017 All COM Employees Participatory Governance Survey Results
- Spring 2015 All COM Employees Participatory Governance Survey Results
- Spring 2014 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Spring 2013 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Fall 2012 All COM Employees Participatory Governance Survey Results
- Spring 2012 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Spring 2011 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Spring 2010 All COM Employees Participatory Governance Survey Results
- Spring 2010 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Spring 2009 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Spring 2008 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results
- Spring 2007 and Spring 2006 Governance Committee Participant Survey Results Report
Governance Digest
The Office of PRIE publishes an annual Governance Digest that summarizes PGS committee activities, recommendations and outcomes. The Governance Digest is published in the fall and represents committee work from the previous academic year.
- 2019-20 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2018-19 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2017-18 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2016-17 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2015-16 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2014-15 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2013-14 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2012-13 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2011-12 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- 2010-11 Governance Digest: Governance in Action
- Governance Digest Archive
- Governance Digest Report Form Committee chairs, use this form to submit your committee report to the PRIE Office.