The community college governance structure established by the community college reform legislation(AB 1725 [Stats. 1988, Ch. 973], required the Board of Governors to establish and maintain a Consultation Process at the state level to ensure local community college district participation in system policy making (Ed. Code 70901(e)). In turn, local districts are required not only to employ participatory governance within their districts (Ed. Code § 70902(b)(7)), but to "[p]articipate in the consultation process established by the board of governors for the development and review of policy proposals." (Ed. Code § 70902(b)(14).)

The process established by the Board of Governors pursuant to this mandate has evolved over the years into a "Consultation Council" comprised of 18 representatives of institutional groups such as trustees, executive officers, students, administrators, business officers, student services officers, and instructional officers, and representative organizations, such as faculty and staff unions and associations. Pursuant to Education Code Section 70901(e), its purpose is to facilitate the participation of community college districts in the development of community college policy in order to insure that the best interests of the students, the system, and the state are served. The Consultation Council is chaired by the Chancellor and meets once per month to review and evaluate new policy proposals necessitated either by legal requirements or local need, appoint task groups to develop new policy proposals, review and provide advice on policy issues currently in development, and review and provide advice on the work of standing committees developing annual system proposals, such as the budget and legislative programs.

The formal Consultation Process allows the entire community college system to advise the Chancellor, who makes recommendations to the Board of Governors, on matters of policy. The purpose of the Consultation Process is to strengthen a system of communications, policy development, and review to ensure the quality and effectiveness of college operations and programs.