{"685401":{"#nid":"685401","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Shared Governance: Why it Matters at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech shares its governance with our faculty. But what does that actually mean?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt means that our faculty community has specific rights and responsibilities that allow them to govern themselves and uphold high academic standards. The success of this model hinges on faculty contributions and voices. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a busy campus filled with enough buzz to keep schedules fully booked, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/dima-nazzal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDima Nazzal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, chair of the Faculty Executive Board, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/adam-michael-steinberg\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdam Steinberg\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, secretary of the faculty, explain why faculty governance is a commitment that matters. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: Why do you think faculty governance matters, especially given everything else faculty juggle?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.policylibrary.gatech.edu\/faculty_handbook\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efaculty handbook\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E says it\u2019s both a right and a responsibility. Faculty are responsible for maintaining the highest standards for teaching, research, and resources. Many of us don\u2019t think about how policies are made until we\u2019re part of the process. Faculty governance gives us that voice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E For me, it\u2019s about impact. I could publish a paper that gets cited hundreds of times over the years. But through governance, I can help make a decision that affects 50,000 students immediately. That\u2019s powerful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: What makes Georgia Tech\u2019s governance structure unique compared with other universities?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E One major difference is that half of our faculty are research faculty \u2014 many in GTRI. That\u2019s unusual, and it shapes governance. We have both an Academic Faculty Senate and a Research Faculty Senate, with the Faculty Executive Board and Standing Committees of the Faculty bringing those together. Another unique element is that the president presides over the Senate, whereas at many universities it\u2019s an elected faculty member.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E Beyond structure, the culture matters. At Tech, governance is collaborative, not combative. Even when there\u2019s tension, the spirit of the faculty community is aligned with our mission to support students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: Why should students and staff care about faculty governance?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E Students come here for the best education, and faculty governance is how we oversee, adapt, and advance the academic mission. Everything from degree programs to academic integrity policies to campus services passes through this system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E And it\u2019s not just faculty voices. Students and staff serve as full members on many standing committees. Their input shapes outcomes, whether it\u2019s curriculum, services, or even student fees.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: Could you share how you first became involved in faculty governance at Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E My first service involvement beyond my School came during the pandemic. As an industrial and systems engineer, I volunteered for the Covid-19 recovery task force. That experience showed me how Georgia Tech runs \u2014 how every person and unit is essential. After that experience, I decided to run for the Faculty Services Committee, then the Faculty Senate, then the Faculty Executive Board. Eventually, I was persuaded to run for vice chair and chair of the Faculty Executive Board.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E I came to Tech as an associate professor and joined the Institute Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (IUCC). At first, I just observed. Later, I chaired a subcommittee during a major curriculum review, and that\u2019s when I really engaged. From there, I became vice chair of IUCC, and then I was encouraged to run for secretary of the faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: For faculty who are skeptical, what would you say about the impact they can have through governance?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E Some impacts are easy to measure, like new degrees or policies approved through committees. But much of the work is behind the scenes \u2014 building trust, shaping resolutions, finding alignment, and preventing conflicts. It\u2019s hard to see unless you\u2019re inside, but it matters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E If governance stopped, you\u2019d notice immediately. New programs wouldn\u2019t move forward, and policies wouldn\u2019t be adapted. The deeper you engage, the more you see how essential it is.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: If I\u2019m a faculty member who has never been involved, what\u2019s the best way to start? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E Many people start with service in their School or College committees, then move into Institute-level work. At the Institute level, you can run for one of the 15 standing committees, each with a clear focus \u2014 like benefits, accessibility, IT services, or curriculum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E Standing committees do the detailed work, while the Faculty Senate deliberates and acts on those recommendations. Both are good entry points, and temporary committees also provide opportunities to engage when new issues arise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQ: What\u2019s your elevator pitch for why faculty should participate?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENazzal:\u003C\/strong\u003E Three things: You grow your network, you gain perspective on how Georgia Tech works, and most importantly, you get to influence how things get done here.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteinberg:\u003C\/strong\u003E I\u2019d add that it\u2019s also leadership development. Many of Tech\u2019s current academic leaders cut their teeth in faculty governance. It\u2019s a way to make Tech better and grow professionally at the same time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThere are opportunities throughout the year to become involved in Faculty Governance at Georgia Tech. You can find out more about the various committees and branches where you can plug in via the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/facultygovernance.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Governance website\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFaculty leaders Nazzal and Steinberg explain how governance shapes academics, supports students, and offers faculty a chance to make an impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Faculty leaders Nazzal and Steinberg explain how governance shapes academics, supports students, and offers faculty a chance to make an impact."}],"uid":"36284","created_gmt":"2025-09-30 14:51:10","changed_gmt":"2025-09-30 15:00:14","author":"chenriquez8","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678217":{"id":"678217","type":"image","title":"Dima Nazzal","body":null,"created":"1759244034","gmt_created":"2025-09-30 14:53:54","changed":"1759244034","gmt_changed":"2025-09-30 14:53:54","alt":"Dima Nazzal","file":{"fid":"262212","name":"Dima-Nazzal.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/30\/Dima-Nazzal.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/30\/Dima-Nazzal.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1123344,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/30\/Dima-Nazzal.png?itok=J5EfjTQk"}},"678219":{"id":"678219","type":"image","title":"Adam Steinberg","body":null,"created":"1759244368","gmt_created":"2025-09-30 14:59:28","changed":"1759244368","gmt_changed":"2025-09-30 14:59:28","alt":"Adam Steinberg","file":{"fid":"262214","name":"Adam_DN.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/30\/Adam_DN_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/30\/Adam_DN_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1067626,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/30\/Adam_DN_0.png?itok=IMtgd_Pz"}}},"media_ids":["678217","678219"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/policylibrary.gatech.edu\/faculty-handbook\/2.-faculty-governance","title":"Policy Handbook: Faculty Governance"},{"url":"https:\/\/facultygovernance.gatech.edu\/","title":"Faculty Governance Website"}],"groups":[{"id":"1250","name":"Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems (CHHS)"},{"id":"1242","name":"School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE)"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWriter: Brittany Aiello, Faculty Communications Program Manager, Executive Communications\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}