Mastering the balancing act of shared governance in higher education: implementing and managing the HyFlex modality on a university campus

Purpose Enrollment in higher education is declining, while the needs of college students are changing. COVID-19 forced universities to reckon with the changing nature of student profiles. Amid fears of declining enrollment and retention, and COVID safety precautions limiting in-person instruction, faculty began actively implementing new pedagogical approaches. Students now expect flexible learning environments. Universities must develop strategies to support faculty in their efforts and meet student needs. The purpose ot this case study is to explore how a regional public university leveraged shared governance, faculty engagement, and institutional support structures to successfully implement HyFlex teaching as an organizational response to evolving student needs and shifting higher education environments. Design/methodology/approach This case study outlines the shared governance model to implement and manage HyFlex teaching at Montana State University Billings (MSUB), a public, regional comprehensive university with many online and adult learners. It includes faculty and student feedback regarding HyFlex experiences, explains how faculty were incentivized to participate and explains how administration developed institutional supports to ensure quality courses using this modality. Findings With more than two-thirds of faculty trained and approved to teach HyFlex, and nearly 100 classes available to students across different disciplines, MSUB is a success story that can be adapted for use at other institutions. Originality/value This case study provides a road map for other higher education institutions. Through application of a true shared governance model, university leaders were able to effectively enact changes to course design and delivery, which may otherwise have been controversial. While it is always important when managing the implementation of academic initiatives, the additional workload and pedagogical redesign needed for HyFlex teaching required buy-in among faculty from the start. This study outlines how educational organizations can foster a truly collaborative governance model.