Minutes of the
MEETING OF THE FACULTY SENATE
APPROVED
PRESENT: Bill Bedford, Judy
Dolan,
ABSENT: Judy Cater,
MaryAnn Drinan, Anne Hohman, Lori Waite
GUESTS:
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order
by the president, Steve Spear, at
Proxy
Votes: Bonnie
Dowd announced the following proxy votes:
Barb
Neault Kelber holding a proxy for Anne Hohman
Sue
Norton holding a proxy for Lori Waite
Doug
Key holding a proxy for Judy Cater
Approval
of Minutes: The minutes of
Welcome: Adjunct faculty
member Senator
Governing
Board: Steve Spear
reported that at the request of the Senate, he asked Jack Miyamoto for
clarification of Academic Due Process. He also provided a written summary of
comments and concerns made by Senate members at the February 23 meeting. Dr.
Miyamoto did indicate that he would respond to the Senate.
He
added that he, Barb Kelber, and Rocco Versaci also addressed the Board on the
recent hate speech incident.
Student
Services
Planning
Council: Maria Miller
indicated that a report of the transfer GPA for
Administrative
Services
Planning
Council: Judy Dolan
reported that the members of the Administrative Services Planning Council
discussed moving the Facilities scheduling from the Instruction area to the Administrative
Services area. The group also discussed cell sites on campus.
Revenue
Allocation
Committee: Bonnie Dowd reported
that RAC did not meet March 16th as it was spring break week. RAC is
not scheduled to meet until April 6th. Bonnie indicated that Jerry Patton is not
anticipating any further cuts based on the recent budget numbers. However,
given the fluidity of state’s budget system anything could change.
Email
Addresses for
Part-Time
Faculty: Bill Bedford
reported that Perry Snyder continues to meet with Berta Cuaron on the issue of
email for all faculty members. A combined effort is underway with Vice
President Cuaron, Human Resources, and Academic Department Assistants to
implement it.
Committee
Appointments:
Academic
Technology
Coordinator: Steve Spear reported
that the position of Academic Technology Coordinator closes at
Professional
Development
Coordinator: Steve Spear reported
that because Judy Eberhart is retiring, an announcement will be distributed to
fill her position as Professional Development Coordinator. The position announcement
will be to complete her term through
Learning
Outcomes
Council: The new
Learning Outcomes Council is in the final stages of approval. Since the Council
will be the main body deciding matters dealing with student learning outcomes,
it will be a faculty-driven body with a solid majority of faculty on the main
council and the sub-group that steers the process: the coordinating committee.
16
Faculty members will be needed to participate on the committee:
·
A
faculty Co-Chair (with 50-60% release time).
·
A
coordinator (with 20% release time) who is also a member of the 2004-05
·
A
coordinator (with 20% release time) who is also a member of the 2004-05
Curriculum Committee.
·
2
coordinators (with 20% release time each) who will be from the permanent
faculty in general.
·
7
faculty members, one from each of the Academic Divisions.
Lengthy discussion
followed on the following issues:
Ř The impact on the
reassigned time in relation to the 50% law, as well as the need for PFF input
and involvement in reassigned time.
Ř It was also noted that
because student learning outcomes is an Academic and Professional Matter, the
Superintendent/President should rely primarily on the
Senate
members also discussed the need to ensure that a shared governance process exists
with regard to student learning outcomes that is instruction driven. Faculty
members must be given the opportunity to provide input on what outcomes they
value within their disciplines, indicate why they value them, and interpret the
data the way they feel it is meaningful for students in their classes based on
their expertise.
Senators
also agreed that in relation to voting and who votes on what issues, this
campus-wide council should address that issue at their very first meeting.
Those individuals on the committee working on the operational side of the
college should vote on issues relating to those items. Faculty Council members must be relied upon
with regard to instructional issues. It
was noted that there must be a distinction made between operational and instructional
functions. To meet accreditation standards, there is a need for these
representatives from every group to talk about student learning outcomes. However
when voting occurs and when it has to do with issues of pedagogy and classroom
instruction and assessment, it should remain with faculty members and the
Senators
pointed out that they are in their third year of contract negotiations while
being asked to take on this tremendous task.
Motion 1 MSC Dowd,
Nebelsick-Tagg: To extend the meeting until
Curriculum: Teresa Laughlin
reminded those present of the Curricunet demonstration on
Ad Hoc
Task Force
Proposals: Recommendations of
the Ad Hoc Task Force were presented at the March 8, Senate meeting. The
proposed Constitutional changes will be presented at the April Faculty Meeting
and will be sunshined to faculty members. The changes to
Motion 2 MSC Dowd,
Laughlin:
*
Senate sub-committees continue to meet at least once a semester and on an as
needed basis with announcements sent electronically to all faculty when
meetings are called as to day/time/place and agenda items to be addressed.
*
Eliminate sub-committee VII Salary and Benefits (obsolete as a result of PFF
representation of these issues.)
*
Eliminate sub-committee V.
*
Clarify the description of the Academic Standards and Practices Committee as
being related to student and classroom issues as compared to the Professional
Procedures Committee, which deals with issues related specifically to faculty.
* Add
the following two duties/responsibilities to the Professional Procedures
Committee: Recusal Policy and Ethics Code (any investigations to be handled by
the chair of the committee appointing a member of this committee to a
sub-committee to include one other Senator and one Faculty member both of which
are not on the Professional Procedures Committee).
*
Change the language in sub-committee VIII
Senate members briefly
discussed the proposed changes. In response to a question about a Recusal
Policy, Bonnie Dowd indicated that the Task Force has created guidelines for
the Senate’s adoption of a Recusal Policy for its use as a body as part of the
Constitutional changes being recommended.
Members of the permanent faculty will be asked to provide input on a
Recusal Policy for use by the faculty as a whole and for the Senate as a body during
the sunshining process of the proposed Constitutional changes. There are two separate
policies in the changes being brought forward from the Senate Ad Hoc Task Force.
Motion 3 MSC
Dowd, Levy:
* A
standard operating procedures manual or bylaws be created to maintain a
historical memory of the body to ensure consistency and avoid a loss of history
for Senators yet to come.
Senate
members discussed how such a large task could be completed and maintained. It
was noted that much of this will be done in the process of updating the Faculty
Manual.
Motion 4 MSC Dowd,
Nebelsick-Tagg:
* Formalize
a New Senator Orientation, other than a regular Senate meeting, to be used to
train new Senators as to rules, responsibilities and practices to be followed
by elected Senators.
Rather
than holding the orientation during the first Senate meeting of the semester, a
separate time will be set aside for this session at the beginning of each
academic year.
Administrative
Evaluations: Maria
Miller reported that Administrative Evaluations are due in the Senate office
today. Members of the committee will meet this week to tabulate the scantrons.
Convocation: There
was discussion regarding the possibility of changing the wording of
Convocation. The day used to be referred to as Faculty Orientation Day. One
Senator suggested titling it, “Plenary Session.” It was noted that this day is a required
contract day for full-time faculty.
While all campus constituencies are encouraged to attend there are other
days dedicated to other constituency groups but this is the only district
faculty day in an academic year. The appropriate name for the day will be
presented for Senate action on March 29.
Board Policies
6310/6810/5030.6: Steve Spear reported that the
following Board Policies would be presented for Senate action on March 29:
Proposed New Policy
BP
6310 Risk Management
The
Board is committed to the establishment of a risk management program that is
consistent with all legal requirements for community colleges. The primary
concern of such a program shall be the safety and health of students, faculty,
staff, and the public and the protection of District property and assets. In
order to ensure that the District is conducting its operations as safely and
efficiently as possible, the Board authorizes the Superintendent/President or
designee to develop and maintain a risk management program that includes
identification, prevention, mitigation, and assumption or transfer of risks
through appropriate agreements, purchase of insurance, pooling with other
agencies or other risk financing practices. The ultimate goal shall be successful
implementation of safety and loss prevention/control practices and the
maintenance of adequate insurance programs. An annual report on the program
shall be presented to the Board.
The
Superintendent/President may delegate to a staff member the authority to administer
and adjust claims up to $10,000 with the advice and concurrence of the
Assistant Superintendent/Vice President for Finance and Administrative
Services. The Board shall approve settlements in excess of $10,000. These
limits notwithstanding, the Board will accept settlements made by an insurance
carrier in the name of the District under terms of applicable insurance
policies.
Government Code Sections 935 et seq.
Proposed New Policy
BP
6810 Illness/Injury Prevention
Pursuant to the Labor
Code and California General Industry Orders, the Board of Trustees recognizes
the necessity of an injury/illness prevention program. No employee shall be
required to work under unsafe or hazardous conditions or to perform tasks that
endanger their health or safety. The District shall make every reasonable
effort to ensure that working conditions and equipment are maintained in
compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
The
Board expects all employees to use safe work practices and to report and
correct any unsafe conditions that may occur. The Superintendent/President
shall name a manager to serve as the safety officer for the District. The
safety officer shall be responsible for maintaining implementation procedures
for this policy in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. These
procedures shall include the development of safe and healthy work practices
through education, training, and enforcement.
Labor Code Section 6401.7; Cal-OSHA Safety
Orders Section 3202
BP 5030.6 Fee Exemption for International
Students
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully
submitted,
Bonnie
Ann Dowd, Secretary