August 19, 2025

Dear SRJC Community,
 

On June 10, 2025­­­­­­, with the support of constituent leadership and College Council, the Board of Trustees approved the redesigned Participatory Governance structure. This milestone reflects the collective effort to bring greater clarity and consistency to how decisions are made at SRJC. In this message, you’ll find the final approved structure, a link to the new governance website, and plans for the first year of implementation.
 

The approved model defines clear roles for Central Committees and Operational Committees, including Academic Senate Consultation Committees, ensuring transparent recommendation pathways and equitable representation across constituent groups. You can view the full structure on the new Participatory Governance website—governance.santarosa.edu—which provides:

• An overview of the governance framework
• Committee listings with charges, membership, and meeting details
• Resources for participating in SRJC’s governance process, including a committee calendar

The site is designed to make information easy to find, helping all members of the college community understand how decisions are made and how to get involved.

In October, committees will begin their work under the new structure. If your constituent group hasn’t already done so, they’ll be sending out requests for committee appointments soon. This is a great chance to get involved and help shape how SRJC moves forward.
 

In this first year of the new structure, the focus will be on building a strong foundation for future success. Chairs will receive training and support to guide their groups effectively, and members will spend time reviewing their charges and processes, noting where improvements might be made. As this is a year of learning and adjustment, the committee self-review process will not begin until 2026–27. At that time, a formal cycle of self-review and feedback will help us evaluate how the structure is working and where it can be strengthened.
 

Thank you for your continued engagement in shaping SRJC’s governance and advancing our shared mission.

In community,
College Council Tri-Chairs

Dr. Angélica Garcia, Superintendent/President
Dr. John Stover, Academic Senate President
Linda Jay, Classified Senate President

and on Behalf of College Council Members

Laura Aspinall, Executive Secretary, Academic Senate 
Anne Donegan, AFA President 
Alia Dunphy, Vice President of Human Resources 
Dr. Robert Holcomb, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Kate Jolley, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services 
Nick Perrone, History Instructor
Dr. Molly Senecal, Vice President of Student Services
Sandy Sigala, SEIU President