Minutes of the

Minutes o= f the

MEETING O= F THE FACULTY SENATE

October 3= 0, 2006

APPROVED

PRES= ENT: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mark Bealo, Bill Bedford, Monika Brannick, Mary Cassoni, Judy Cater, Molly Faulk= ner, Jenny Fererro, Brent Gowen, Richard Hishmeh, Kalyna Lesyna, Teresa Laughlin, Marilee Nebelsick-Tagg, Sue Norton, Patrick O’Brien, Fari Towfiq=

ABSE= NT: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Candi Francis, Lawrence Hahn, Julie Ivey, Stan Levy

GUES= TS: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Miche= lle Eichelberger

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CALL= TO ORDER: &= nbsp; The meeting was called to order by the president, Brent Gowen, at 2:00 p.m., in Room SU-30.

Appr= oval of Minutes: &n= bsp;

Moti= on 1 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; MSC Nebelsick-Tagg, Laughlin: Faculty Senate approval of the minutes of October= 23, 2006, as amended.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Senator Bill Bedford requested that the following wording be added to the October 2= 3, 2006, minutes under Motion 3, concerning the role and responsibility of the Faculty Council.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; “This information wi= ll be included in the proposed Constitutional changes that will soon be distribut= ed to all permanent faculty members (and to all emeritus faculty at their requ= est) for approval.”

Publ= ic Comments: &nbs= p; There were none.

Anno= uncements: &= nbsp; There were none.

ASG:= &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Michelle Eichelberger reported that members of the ASG will attend the Student Senate Conference this coming weekend.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; On the basis of the results of its smoking-on-campus survey, the ASG will pres= ent a resolution to the Strategic Planning Council asking for a 100% smoking ba= n on campus. 60% of students polled favored a total ban on smoking, and 55% also favored a penalty for smoking on campus. 24% of the students who were smoke= rs favored the 100% ban, and 42% of smokers favored designated smoking areas. =

Pres= ident Deegan: = Brent Gowen reported that he and Marilee Nebelsick-Tagg attended their weekly mee= ting with President Deegan earlier in the day. Among the issues discussed were R= OP courses and legislation sending the ROP programs and courses back to the hi= gh schools by 2011. Colleges can choose to respond to this move in a variety of ways, including requesting special dispensation or absorbing ROP courses as non-credit courses. There is, of course, concern for the 6 full-time non-tenured faculty who currently teach ROP courses, some ofwhom have taught at Palomar for many years. Jackie Martin-Klement will attend ne= xt week’s Senate meeting to provide more information on this issue.=

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Brent stated that trustee Mark Evilsizer has requested a report about Palomar’s outreac= h to students interested in becoming teachers. The college plans to gather informa= tion on how the district identifies and advises them. Senators discussed various ways to = assist these students, including promoting the many disciplines that have teacher = prep. materials available already. Consolidating that information would be benefi= cial. There was discussion regardin= g the role of counselors in developing these materials.

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Senate representat= ion is needed on the Grant Process Workgroup. Research & Planning recognizes t= he need to create a work group to establish a process for identifying available grants, applying for those that are promising, and ensuring that awards do = not bring prohibitive costs to the college.

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On the subject of grants, Brent added that the state has made available $10 million dollars to the 109 community colleges to identify and provide non-credit basic skills instruction to students who left high school in 2006 without passing the California High School Exit Exam. The request for proposal does not stipula= te how the colleges are to use these monies. Senate members expressed concern ab= out the potential impact of such instruction on special education and certifica= te programs. Senators questioned whether the grant is geared more toward preparing students for the exit exa= m than for developing special classes. Brent indicated that he will get more speci= fic information before asking the Senate to support the grant.

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Brent added that h= e and Marilee also discussed issues relating to online instruction with President Deegan and the need to consolidate and bring coherence to all on campus discussions about it.

Instructional Planning

Coun= cil: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mark Bealo provided the following report of the most recent Instructional Planni= ng Council meeting:

= · = Linda Halttunen provided information on the Early Acceptance Program.<= /span>

= · = The Council discussed the history of assessment at Palomar. The college projects that 1,800 students will attend an upcoming orientation session and has received an extra $30,000 from the state to cover its cost.

= · = The Council continued discussion on the college’s organizational structur= e.

= · = Members received copies of the Budget and Accounting Manual from the ChancellorR= 17;s office.

Student Services

Plan= ning Council: = ; Patrick O’Brien provided the following report of the most recent Student Serv= ices Planning Council meeting:

= · = Members discussed the Council’s implementation of the Strategic Plan.

= · = Matriculation monies that were reduced several years ago by 30% have been restored. The Council discussed how best to u= tilize these funds.

including filling = the full-time counseling supervisor position, increasing three 45% positions to 100%, and finishing wireless and phone upgrades.

= · = Given the cost of the Early Acceptance Program to be initiated in June, members suggested that a calendar of events and activities on campus be created to serve as a recruiting tool.

= · = Subway may be replaced by Quizno’s on campus, and Coke will be replaced by P= epsi in all vending machines.

= · = Bruce Bishop is running for a seat on the Encinitas School Board.

= · = John Woods reported that the returns on the Athletes Assessment electronically distributed to faculty were at an all-time high of 40%.

Administrative Services

Plan= ning Council: = ; Molly Faulkner provided the following report of the most recent Administrative Services Planning Council meeting:

= · = Discussion continues on the copy machines currently available to faculty and staff. The six high-speed copiers now in use are old and in various states of disrepai= r. New copiers would cost in excess of= a million dollars, so the college is considering various leasing options.

= · = The Council discussed the Annual Implementation Plan.

= · = Members also discussed traffic safety concerns in parking lot 1, particularly the a= rea where two lanes merge into one lane.

= · = Employees are now prohibited from using cell phones in district vehicles, including carts.

= · = There is a proposal on the table to use $70,000 in one-time monies to upgrade the playground in the child care center.

= · = The Council discussed signage on campus, including potential changes to how buildings are named and numbered, and the addition of “You are Here” signs.

Learning Outcomes

Coun= cil: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Teresa Laughlin reported that members of the Learning Outcomes Council met with the Art department the previous Thursday.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; The larger council is scheduled to meet on Thursday, November 2, and will discu= ss how best to spend the $514,000 the state appropriated to Palomar for the development of a basic skills program. The group will continue to discuss t= he feasibility of initiating an honors program, and faculty liaisons will cont= inue to visit various departments. Teresa added that she will send another updat= e to the faculty on the research that faculty have garnered regarding the honors program.

Equi= valency Committee: F= ari Towfiq stated that the Equivalency Committee continues to meet regularly to review applications and that the current process is going well. The committ= ee has scheduled a meeting for December 5 to discuss a process for reviewing applications when the entire committee is not present on campus.=

Othe= r: &= nbsp; Fari Towfiq reminded Senators of the letter sent by the Faculty Senate last spri= ng to the Human Rights Commission of the United Nations supporting education f= or Bahá’í students in Iran. A= fter the campaign, the Senate received the following response:=

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY of the BAH= Á'ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES 536 SHERIDAN ROAD, WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091-2849 =

The Situation of Bahá’í Students in = Iran

September 2006

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With the advent of the 1979 Islamic revolution = in Iran, Bahá’í students have been officially barred from attend= ing universities in that country, even when they passed entrance examinations w= ith excellent marks. A particular issue arising from attempts of Bahá’í youth to sit for entrance examinations was that = the forms announcing the results identified them as Muslims, an identification = they could not in good conscience accept for it would mean recanting their faith= in order to gain admission to Iranian universities. In recent years a concerted effort has been mounted worldwide to counter this barrier.

With the intensification of the campaign involv= ing governments, educational institutions and nongovernmental organizations, so= me international organizations have been prompted to investigate the matter. O= n several occasions, including in official responses, Iranian government representati= ves stated their position that the reference to religion included on the forms = did not identify university applicants by their religion, but only gave the religious studies subject on which they had been examined.

The Universal House of Justice, the internation= al governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, has received written evidence of this explanation and has decided to accept the clarification offered. Accordingly, Bahá’í students who passed the la= test entrance examinations tested the validity of the explanation by attempting = to register for university courses. More than 300 Bahá’ís throughout the country have been admitted to a number of universities at as= sociate diploma and degree levels in day, evening, full-time, and part-time courses. Still more applicants are awaiting admission.

It remains to be seen whether the students will face obstacles that would prevent their continuing their education. While t= hese are welcome developments, it is too early in the process to be fully confid= ent that the Bahá’ís’ access to education will be on a par with their fellow Iranians. There remain many milestones and more time = to pass before such progress can be said to have been secured. Such rights, so arduously gained, are easily denied.

Bahá’í International Community, Office of Public Information

Stat= ewide Academic

Sena= te:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; Monika Brannick and Brent Gowen attended the fall session of the Statewide Academic Senate on October 26 – 28. Monika provided a report on some of the matters taken up and how they affect Palomar:

= ·      =    Requirements for the AA degree at Californ= ia community colleges increased to a college level English course and Intermed= iate Algebra. Palomar already has these requirements in place.=

= ·      =    Palomar needs to concern itself more systematically with online courses and short-t= erm classes. Many colleges currently have standing committees that address the demands of these non-traditional offerings. Monika will bring these issues to = the Curriculum Committee and ask it to consider establishing a new standing com= mittee.

= ·      =    Members of the statewide Senate expressed the need for agreed upon definitions of t= he AA and AS degrees. This is also a Curriculum Committee issue.

Othe= r:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   Marilee Nebelsick-Tagg announced that two faculty members have been hired for the weekend/evening nursing program. The positions will begin in January, and twenty students will be admitted.

Comm= ittee

Appo= intments:        &= nbsp;            There were no committee appointments.

Curr= iculum:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Moti= on 2        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           MSC Brannick, Cater: Faculty Senate ratification of the Curriculum items brought forward on October 23, 2006.

Moti= on 3        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           MSC Nebelsick-Tagg, Laughlin: To suspend the agenda to discuss information item= F, ASG Resolution.

ASG Resolution:     &n= bsp;            Michelle Eichelberger read the following resolution recently passed by the ASG:=

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; ASG Resolution to invite transfer students to wal= k at Commencement Ceremony

Whereas hundreds of students are denied the opportunity to participate in Palomar College’s Commencement Cerem= ony, and

Whereas these students put forth academic effort equal to or greater than those students who are invited, and

Whereas many other community colleges invite transfer students to participate in th= eir commencement ceremonies, and

Whereas we all support increasing participation a= t our Commencement Ceremony.

Let it be resolved that the Associated Students of Palomar College, the official representative of all students at Palomar College, request the Governing Bo= ard to extend the invitation to participate in Palomar College’s Commence= ment Ceremony to our transfer students, students who deserve recognition for the= ir determination and commitment to academic achievement.

Michelle indicated= that although this recommendation was brought forward last year and the Senate v= oted against it, members of the ASG are asking the Senate to reconsider.

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Many Senators spoke against supporting the resolution, arguing that while transfer students are= a valued, integral part of this institution, students who don the cap and gown have completed a course of study at Palomar College; whereas mo= st transfer students are moving on to complete a higher degree.

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Michelle Eichelber= ger stated that many transfer students have completed their transfer requirements or certifica= te programs and should be acknowledged.

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Lengthy discussion followed. Senate members reiterated their support of the Transfer Center Recognition event created to acknowledge the achievements of transfer-ready students. Some Senators sugge= sted that transfer students could participate in commencement by walking with the graduates, being in the program, and being acknowledged at the event, but n= ot wear caps and gowns.

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It was also sugges= ted that the ASG review the minutes of last spring’s Senate discussion of this matter and bring back questions it may have.

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Michelle indicated= that she will inform the ASG of the Senate’s response and, in turn, inform= the Senate of the ASG’s response.

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This item will rem= ain on the agenda.

Motion 4&nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      MSC Nebelsick-Tagg, Fererro: To resume the agenda.

Membership of the

Campus Police

Comm= ittee:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;       Brent Gowen stated that Tom Plotts will attend the November 13 Senate meeting to discuss the membership of the Campus Police Committee.

Text= book Rental

Prog= ram Taskforce:     &nb= sp;        Brent Gowen reported that the Textbook Rental Program Taskforce will meet on Wednesday to discuss effective ways to communicate with departments and fac= ulty members on this proposal.

Full= time faculty

Numb= ers & Diversity:    &nb= sp;    Brent Gowen indicated that the Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee is currently discussing faculty diversity. The administration has committed to increasing the number of fulltime faculty but as yet has no plan. He asked Senators whether a workgroup is necessary to create a plan. Senators noted that if a workgroup= is formed, it should include representatives of the PFF, and faculty members do not need to be drawn from the Senate; any faculty member wishing to serve c= ould do so.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Brent stated that he will speak with members of the PFF about forming such a workgroup and will bring back its suggestions for further discussion.<= /o:p>

ADJO= URNMENT:        &= nbsp;      The meeting was adjourned at 3:28 p.m.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Respectfully submitted,

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Teresa Laughlin, Secretary