The Biglan Studies of Differences Among Academic Areas

This paper focuses on the status of student participation in university governance. Analyses utilize data from two separate questionnaires sent to all department heads and committe chairs in a large multi-campus system. Findings indicate that students now have a much greater voice in academic matters than they did a decade ago. Students are actively involved and are generally regarded as effective contributors at the department level as well as the college and administrative levels, but less so at the academic senate level. A major implication for effective student participation in governance revolves around its educational potential. Future improvement of student particpation depends on developing new organizational structures that build trust and promote a sense of common enterprise.