The role of the administrator is to 'service' the committee. Now I'm a grown woman but I can't help a brief titter at this point. Maybe if I was actually 'servicing' the committee in a nudge-nudge kind of way people would actually read the minutes?!
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| My my! What a BIG agenda! |
Anyway the theory of governance by committee is a bit like democracy. Lovely idea in theory and when it works, it's beautiful to behold. Honestly, seeing a committee properly scrutinise an external examiner's report makes my heart get all big and full, like a water balloon.
But when a committee goes bad (which incidentally sounds like the title of the lamest horror film ever) it's like a car crash in slow motion. Rambling digressions, non-sequitors and misunderstandings. And all of it supposed to be minuted.
Fortunately the University of Cockleton has devised an ingenious way around the inconvenience of committees: the working party. This is a selected group that examines a particular issue and reports back to a committee. The working party will make 'recommendations' to the committee but if the working party is chaired by the Dean of Really Important Stuff and the committee is chaired by Professor Bluster...well, the working party's recommendations become policy. Working parties are not obliged to publish their minutes as commitees are, or to have student representation so you have to ask who exactly scrutinises these groups and holds them to account?
Despite the fact that they're long and boring committees are the proper forum for decision-making in a university. After all, Important Stuff (eg tax) is nearly always a little bit dull. Committees can work if they are chaired properly and given a properly defined remit. That way, there's no need for administrators to have to practice the dark art of Creative Minute Writing.
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| The empty chair is in case Jesus comes again |
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