Reorganization On The Academic Senate In America Research University (1966-present)

Academic research is an important mission of research universities,and academic governance is an important content of research university governance.With the continuous improvement of scientific research level,the competition faced by research universities in the process of development is increasingly fierce.Therefore,improving the academic system of universities and strengthening academic governance of universities have become a common topic of concern for all countries.Throughout the world,American research universities are recognized as the world-class university group,and their academic governance with the aim of "improving the level of university research and education" is quite characteristic.Academic senate is the main carrier in American research university to carry out academic governance activities.After nearly 140 years of development,this academic governance institution has developed its operating mechanism and governance model very mature,and it is unique in the aspects of scale,organizational structure,membership,power allocation and so on.In recent years,with the implementation of the major strategic decision of "double first-class" construction in the field of higher education,the requirements of academic governance in universities in China have been further improved.Therefore,through the reorganization of the academic senate of American research universities,it can bring certain reference value and enlightening significance to the development of academic governance in China.The main Sections of this paper include the following five parts:Part I:Reviewing the status of academic senate in American research university before 1966,i.e.the start-up and formation of academic senate in American research university from 1880 to 1915;and the development and consolidation of the academic senate in American research university during the establishment of the American Association of University Professors(AAUP)in 1915 to1966 when the system of "common governance" was proposed.Part II:Presenting the background of the first reorganization with the concept of "common governance "(1966-1988),that is,the background,content and significance of the promulgation ofthe “statement”;and selecting Academic Senate in the Penn State University as a case study,studying its history,membership after 1966,organizational structure and other aspects of the reorganization practice research with the goal of " common governance ",presenting Academic Senate in the Penn State University in 1966 with the concept of "common governance" reorganization practice;During the first reorganization period,the difficulties of the academic senate in American research universities were summarized and evaluated.During this period,the difficulties were "under-representation of members" and "delicate administrative —— academic relations ".Part III:Presenting the background of the second reorganization(1988-1998),which is guided by "legalization ",that is,the prelude,content and chapters related to the academic senate of the AB1725,and the study of the reorganization practice around the distribution of functions by the Academic Senate in the University of California as a case study.Presenting analysis and evaluation of the difficulties and improvement situation faced by the academic senate in American research universities in this period,the predicament of this period is " excessive power of teachers ","inefficient implementation of decision-making ",and its improvement is "the academic relationship of administrative —— has been alleviated ".Part IV:Presenting the background of the third reorganization(1998-2019),supplemented by the "Seven Principles ",namely the promulgation of the “Governance Declaration”,introducing its main contents and comparing it with the 1966 “Statement”;selecting the Academic Senate in University of California Berkeley as a case,presenting its third practical study on the " excessive teacher power " and " inefficient decision-making implementation " in terms of the power allocation,personnel composition and structure of its members and committees;The general characteristics of the academic senate in American research universities in this period are summarized and evaluated.The characteristics of this period are " clear constitution,complete record of teacher's manual,clear organizational structure,wide membership and clear assignment of duties ".Part V:The last section is the summary part of this study,it is a summary of the deep reasons for the successful reorganization of the academic senate in American research universities,which is divided into two aspects.on the one hand,external support,that is," government and association support ";on the other hand,internal rectification,that is," the combination of adherence and adjustment ".With the world's attention to the Academic governance of universities,the governance of higher education in China is constantly in need of self-breakthrough,so the successful experience of the reorganization of the academic senate in American research universities can bring inspiration and reference to the governance of higher education in China from different angles.