Development of the Roles of Student Councils in Having Shared Authority in University Councils

Abstract

For the purpose of this study, three objectives are set. The first is to determine practices of shared authority on campus by students as members in the university councils, both in Thailand and abroad. The second is to propose a model for appropriate shared authority. The third is to offer guidelines for the implementation of the model. Sources of data were derived from printed documents accessible by the researcher from 33 private universities in Thailand. Moreover, printed materials, namely, texts, journals and research reports on shared authority on campus by students were collected and analyzed. The 3,545 titles of printed materials were scanned which lead to the findings of the study. The model proposed comprises of four major elements. They are (1) roles and responsibilities of presidents of the student body as representatives of students in university councils; (2) organizational structure appropriate for the offices of the student council comprising the president, the secretariat and the financial controller; (3) rules and responsibilities of the office student administration, (4) public relations research and development in support of the president‘s decisionmaking. Guidelines for model implementation based on research findings are (1) acculturation (2) morale building (3) communications (4) empowerment (5) team-building and (6) outcome-oriented activities.