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TASK FORCE ON COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Three weeks prior to the June, 2010 Alumni Reunion, Interim President Matthew Derr asked Jennifer Berman and Al Denman to form and chair an Antioch College Task Force on Community and Community Governance. We invited 10 Antiochians to join us. Five are former community managers, and 4 are alumni and 3 faculty with extensive community building and decision making experience. The TF members span the generations from the 1940’s to present. Jewel Graham and Wally Sikes, the first to join the TF and residents of Yellow Springs, have been our primary advisers from the beginning. The TF has had two meetings, the final day of Reunion 2010 and a mid August weekend retreat at the College.
Matthew Derr directed our TF to prepare background materials necessary to assist students and employees of the College through the first year in developing their Antioch community and governance processes for decision making. We are currently collecting information about what the Antioch community was, how it affected its members, and how it made decisions. We are also gathering opinions about how the TF should do its work and what should be in place a year from now when the College is in full operation.
Our TF faces four goals which determine the substance and pace of our work.
(1) In mid October, we report on our progress to Board of Trustees Pro Tem.
(2) In January or February, 2011, final copy goes to the Antioch Catalog. We will describe materials, structures, courses, processes and persons our TF will use, to help students and employees form their community and make their community decisions throughout the academic year, 2011-12.
(3) April 10, more than 25 admitted accepted students will visit campus. For part of their day on campus, they will likely participate for an hour or two in a concurrent conference on developing mindful relationships and restorative justice. Our TF role will be important, but is yet to be determined.
(4) August, 2011, our TF will welcome students and all employees to the 2011-12 academic year. We will personally assist them in the processes of understanding and implementing background materials and decision making structures drawn from Antioch’s rich experience in community building and shared governance. We will continue our personal assistance throughout the academic year.
