College Governance

Welcome to the Renton Technical College (RTC) governance web page! The links to the left include information about RTC’s governance model and the councils that make up the system. All members of the RTC community are invited and encouraged to contribute to the governance model at the College. For more information about each council, contact the council chairperson or another representative of the council.

In 2012, RTC began the process of adopting and implementing its current governance model. The goal of developing a shared governance model was established when the College Board of Trustees decided to govern by policy. The concepts shaping the model were agreed upon by a task force identified by the college president.

RTC’s governance model includes planning, development and monitoring of policy for the college and is made up of five councils: Resource and Planning Council, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council (DEIC), Facilities Council, Learning Council, and Technology Council. Four of the five councils have responsibility for specific college functions. In addition to its scope of work, the college council is charged with responsibility for the operation and effectiveness of the college governance model as a whole.

The faculty, classified staff and Associated Student Government (ASG) all have rights to appoint their representatives to councils. The president appoints executive cabinet members to councils. All employees of RTC have the right and opportunity to participate in college governance. The representatives and their appointing authority can be found on the memberships page.

Each council works within a charter and scope of work statement. Councils act within the information flow charts outlined in the RTC Guide to Councils, Committees, Work Groups and Task Forces, which can be found by clicking on the general information page.

The governance model, in its entirety, is responsible to the board of trustees through the college president.

Questions and comments regarding college governance can be directed via email to info@rtc.edu.

Membership

RTC’s governance model recognizes stakeholder groups and administration members through representational roles and appointments on the college’s five councils. Stakeholder groups include: the faculty, classified staff, ASG, any and all college employees represented or not represented by a union. All stakeholder groups have the right to appoint their representatives to each council. The president appoints executive cabinet members to councils.

Guiding Principles

  1. Everyone plays a role in college governance.
  2. The governance model will provide stakeholders with participation in the decision making process and will rely on collective wisdom.
  3. All stakeholders have a right to representation on college governance committees.
  4. As directed by the board of trustees, the President is responsible for developing the college governance model. The President is responsible to the Board of Trustees for decisions made within the governance model.
  5. The governance model will be efficient and effective, balancing the need for timely, informed decisions with the need to provide adequate time for meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
  6. The governance model will encourage and promote a wide range of opportunities for employees and students to provide leadership, regardless of their formal positions at the College.
  7. The governance model will provide clear, frequent, consistent, and timely communication within governance groups and between groups and the larger college community.
  8. The governance model will include clear decision processes.
  9. The governance model will be open, and will provide consistent and accessible records of council and committee work.
  10. Participants will have access to pertinent information to fulfill their role within the governance model.