LUNCH  (West Ballroom)

1:00 - 1:15 p.m.

OPENING REMARKS 

• Board Chairman Tom Allen
• President Chris Howard
• Introduction of Dr. Tom Longin, Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Workshop Facilitator

WORKSHOP PURPOSES AND AGENDA REVIEW

o   Clarify and understand strategic board responsibilities, especially those related to institutional governance, "integral leadership," and the board - president partnership.

o   Engage in open, honest discussion of board and institutional governance - special attention to review of H-SC bylaws. 

o   Improve capacity of trustees and constituents to maintain strategic focus and to be stewards of the College's governance and welfare. 

o   Enhance relationships among trustees and between the board and the College's constituents. 

o   Develop specific goals / plans for clarifying authority and responsibility for College governance, considering review and revision of bylaws in light of current best practice, and manifesting commitment to effective governance in support of the College's health and well-being. 

1:15 -  2:15 p.m.

STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE IN CHALLENGING TIMES

• AGB Perspective:  Strategic Board Responsibilities, Accountability and Highly Effective Boards [Longin PowerPoint] 
• Discussion of the Board's Strategic Responsibilities  [Plenary Discussion]
  • Did the presentation on Strategic Board Responsibilities align with my experience (board member or constituent) of institutional governance at Hampden-Sydney College?  Where does alignment seem apparent?  Where is misalignment or non-alignment most evident?
    Since the presentation portrays current best practice, what significant changes in practice might Hampden-Sydney's board consider in order to conform more closely to best practice in governance?

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE'S EXPERIENCE:
BYLAWS - BEST PRACTICE & CURRENT PRACTICE

• AGB Perspective:  Illustrative Bylaws for Independent Academic Institutions - Principles, Assumptions, and Articles  [Longin PowerPoint and Plenary Discussion]
• AGB Perspective:  Comparison of Current Practice at Select Peer and Aspirant Colleges to H-SC's current bylaws [Longin PowerPoint and "Tabletalk" / Reporting Out / Plenary Discussion]
  • When comparing H-SC's bylaws to AGB's illustrative bylaws, what principles, assumptions and articles align most closely and which seem most out of alignment?  How much lack of alignment do you attribute to passage of time, lack of periodic review and revision, or H-SC's distinctive mission and culture?
  • As trustees and constituents charged with stewardship of Hampden-Sydney College in the 21^st century, what elements of the strategic governance and bylaw best practice would you identify as most needing close consideration and possible revision in order to bring H-SC more closely into conformity with best practice?

3:30 - 3:45 p.m.

BREAK

3:45 -  5:00 p.m.

ACTION PLANNING

Action #1 - Getting Institutional Governance "Right" for All Participants in Collaborative Leadership / Shared Governance

(1) What is the appropriate relationship between the board and the president?  If, as AGB suggests, it is a partnership, how can the president and board most effectively exercise integral leadership - in governing the College, in strategic planning and implementation, and in monitoring progress on strategic priorities?  (2) What do you see as the most appropriate relationship(s) between board / president and other campus constituents or stakeholders?  (3) What next steps would you recommend for ensuring that all participants in the College's collaborative governance process feel heard, respected and effective in their participation?

[Each participant table will be assigned one of the first two topics / questions (above) as well as the third question. Tables will complete their discussion and formulate recommendations in 20 minutes, then go on to Action #2 (below).]

Action #2 - Bringing the H-SC Bylaws into Alignment with Best Practice in Higher Education Governance

            Based on the conclusions reached in your 2:15 pm session on H-SC bylaws,  participants at each table will discuss the options available to the board and College for review and revision of the bylaws, then come up with two or three recommended next steps for board consideration.  Tables will complete their discussion and formulate recommendations in 20 minutes, in preparations for Action #3 (below).

Action #3 - Recommendations for Board Action

           In a five minute presentation, each table will briefly report to the group its recommendations (without editorial comment) on both collaborative governance and the H-SC bylaws.  After all recommendations have been reported, participants, guided by the facilitator, will discuss the recommendations, striving to arrive at a "guiding consensus" for the board as it considers an appropriate action agenda for the year ahead.  The Board Affairs Committee will be responsible for sorting through the several recommendations generated by the workshop participants, for engaging the board in further discussion, and ultimately for leading board action on both components of the governance issue - the board's strategic focus and revision of the bylaws.

5:00 -  5:15 p.m.

WORKSHOP "TAKEAWAYS" & CLOSING COMMENTS

• Dr. Tom Longin, AGB Workshop Facilitator
• President Chris Howard
• Board Chairman Tom Allen

ADJOURN