A Commitment to Collaboration

Sierra College has long been a place where groups put aside competing interests to come together and make big things happen. This collaborative culture permeates every level of the college and is reflected in our governance, program review, and resource allocation processes.

The Purpose of Participatory Governance is to:

  • Provide the process for shared development of policies and regulations.
  • Provide the means through which all members of the academic community – students, faculty, administration, and classified – can participate effectively in the orderly growth and development of the College.
  • Provide the coordination of the College-wide standing committees, academic standing committees, and task forces.

Our Governance System


Board of Trustees

The Sierra College District is governed by a locally-elected, seven-member Board of Trustees consisting of community professionals, business officials, public policy leaders, and leading citizens. 

Learn more about our Board of Trustees

Superintendent/President

Guided by the Board of Trustees, the internal and external communities, with adherence to all policies, procedures, regulations and laws, the President is responsible for providing the vision, leadership, and strategic planning for the District.

Learn more about the President’s office.

Institutional Governance Committees

Institutional Advisory Committees

  • President’s Equity Advisory Committee (PEAC)
  • Professional and Organizational Development (POD)
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (EEOC)
    • Purpose: Reviews and monitors equal employment activities on campus including but not limited to promoting/sponsoring diversity activities, reviewing and monitoring budgets, reviewing and approving expenditure requests, and addressing EEO issues or complaints
    • Membership: College-wide. Members are selected annually or when there is a vacancy and selected by the senates
    • Chair Responsibility: Tied to the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer responsibilities; governed by Title V (53000)
    • Decisions: Consensus
    • Reporting: Annual Report prepared by HR Office and submitted to the Chancellors Office. Reports to President and the Chancellors Office
    • Meetings: Monthly
    • Agenda: Emailed to Committee
  • Guided Pathways, Equity, and Student Completion Steering Committee

College Senates

Seeking college-wide input from all constituencies to gain consensus on decision-making is at the heart of Sierra College’s Shared Governance process. To assist in this process, the college has established four main representative committees, the Academic Senate, the Classified Senate, Management and Confidential Senate, and ASSC Student Senate.

Each of the senates has the responsibility through their elected representatives to give the views of constituents at shared governance committee meetings (e.g. Strategic Council) and participate in making recommendations and decisions. The purpose of the four senates is to represent their constituents while working together to reach decisions that benefit the college as a whole.

Academic Senate Standing Subcommittees

Standing Operational Meetings

Bargaining

There are two bargaining units at Sierra College: United Public Employees of California, Local 792 (UPEC) and Sierra College Faculty Association (SCFA). To learn more, visit Collective Bargaining and Compensation by Employee Group.