Dutchess Community College functions under the auspices of the State University of
New York and is sponsored by Dutchess County. The College is governed by a board of
trustees consisting of 10 members, four appointed by the governor of the State of
New York and five by the Dutchess County legislature. The tenth member, a student
trustee, is the student government president elected by the students annually.
DCC is committed to shared governance, a model that provides a structure for campus
participation in planning, policy development and decision-making. The Professional
Staff Organization of faculty and non-teaching educators and the Student Government
Association are the primary mechanisms through which the voices of constituencies
are heard.