Supporting Innovation with
Democracy
Vicki Golich, Sandra Haynes, Elizabeth Parmelee and Mark Potter
Metropolitan State College of Denver
A time of disruption…
Education for job training…
or education for democracy …
Or democracy in our institutions?
• Silos…?
… or Fiefdoms?
A radically changing environment
requires…
Innovation
Innovation
Democracy
Social capital
Leadership
Innovation
Democracy
Leadership
Social capital
METRO LEADS
• Program suggested to the President by a staff
member who was encouraged to take the risk
of trying it out.
• Annual program with a cohort of 20 Metro
Leaders drawn from all ranks.
• Metro Leaders develop and participate in a
series of 8 day-long seminars.
• MetroLeads supports democracy, creates
social capital and builds leadership.
Democracy
• Higher ed is not a democracy…
• Shift to a democratic culture
– Opportunities for voice (not exit)
– Respect and trust
– Civility and clarity
• Democratic vision: Top administration
must commit and make it visible.
Metro State's institutional culture is
democratic in nature and a respectful
place for all who work here. A high level of
trust exists between administration, staff,
and faculty, which enables us to do great
things together. Civility and clarity
describe our communications,
conversations, and collaborations with
each other.
Innovation
Democracy
Social capital
Leadership
Social capital
• Networks of trust and reciprocity
• Make democracy work
• Do institutions with greater social capital
have stronger democratic practice?
• Make innovation possible by supporting
voice, risk and growth of ideas…
Collaboration…
Trust…
Metro Leads
Reciprocity…
Leadership
• Metro Leads creates a cadre of leaders
across campus.
• University Council being created to
strengthen leadership and voice.
• President’s leadership is central in
developing democracy and supporting
innovation.
• Employees must be allowed and
encouraged to take risks.
“We don’t always agree with Steve at the
start, but we trust him. We know that
failure sometimes accompanies risk, but
we believe that risk is good.”
Terrence MacTaggart. 2001. Leading Change: How Boards
and Presidents Build Exceptional Academic Institutions.
Washington DC: AGB Press.
Innovation
Social Capital
Leadership
Democracy