a group of individuals with equal power or authority; esp., an administrative board for a Soviet commissariat
See collegium in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kə-lēˈjē-əm)
nounpl.col·le·gi·a(-jē-ə) or col·le·gi·ums
An executive council or committee of equally empowered members, especially one supervising an industry, commissariat, or other organization in the Soviet Union.
A group whose members pursue shared goals while working within a framework of mutual trust and respect: “This standing firm … enables the college to be a community, a collegium of students and faculty working at common problems and possibilities”(Robert A. Spivey).