Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 5413

Unapproved  Minutes

Thursday, February 26, 2004  

 

I.       Call to Order/Roll Call

            President Alex Braun called the meeting to order at 2:09 p.m. 

Senators

   A

   P

Senators

   A

   P

Braun      (Ext. 5355) Pres/Tech

 

    X

Laird       (Ext. 5186) SocScience

  

   X

Brennan    (Ext. 5313) Comm

     

    X

Lavallo    (Ext. 5399)  Math

 

   X

Brichko    (Ext. 5222)  CATA

 

    X

Martin     (Ext. 5356)  Tech.

     

   X

Charland  (Ext. 5046)  Stud. Dev.

 

    X

Musat      (Ext. 5331) Math

 

   X

Cox        (Ext.5164)  CommSvc

 

    X

Oliver      (Ext. 5427)  AAS

   X

 

Dooley    (Ext. 5379)   AAS

    X

    

Perlas      (Ext. 5041)  Stud.Dev.

   

   X

Harris     (Ext. 5413)  AF/Comm

 

    X

Rath       (Ext. 5413)  AF/CIT

   X

  

Johnson   (Ext.5277)  CATA

    X

 

Smebye   (Ext. 5305) CommServ

 

   X

Kashima  (Ext. 5319)  ESL

 

    X

Zeisler     (Ext. 5426) Comm

  

   X

Other:  

   

 

Guests:   J.VanTassel 

 

   X

 

II.     Approval of the Minutes

            The minutes for the meeting of February 12, 2004, were accepted and approved  (M/S/U – Lavallo/Harris) with the following correction, for purposes of clarification to Page 4, Item C, third paragraph, last line:

                  “This adds up to Future banked leave requests will amount to an unfunded liability of      $2.5 million to be paid over time.”

 

            The minutes for the meeting of February 19, 2004, were accepted and approved as submitted (M/S/U – Lavallo/Harris).

 

III.    Order of the Agenda

            No changes were made to today’s order of the agenda.

 

 IV.    Oral Communication from the Public

            There was no oral communication from the public at today's meeting.

        

  V.    Information & Announcements 

         1.   Alex reported that Propositions 57 and 58 are gaining ground.  The most recent field poll has Proposition 57 at  a 50% approval rating.  Proposition 58 has been demonstrating a favorable rating to date.  Senator Feinstein has come out with her support for Proposition 57, and that may help Proposition 57 to pass. 

            2.   The Division Chair Council has approved a resolution at its meeting of February 23, 2004, to support the re-establishment of the Testing Center.  The Academic Senate has been asked to adopt the resolution and Alex advised that he will place this item on the agenda for next week’s meeting.                                                                                              

         3.   Per their request, the Senators received a copy of the letter sent to the Board of Trustees by the District Academic Senate Co-Chairs regarding the purview of the Senate and the Wrestling course issue.

 

VI.    Administrative Business/Actions/Appointments

 A.     Curriculum Committee  -  No report was presented at today’s meeting.

 B.     Staff Recognition - Two resolutions are in process and will be announced in the future. 

 

 

 C.     Committee Appointments

            1.  GAP  -  Alex explained that Donnelle McGee is no longer able to serve on GAP, and a call for interested faculty was issued from the Senate office.  Four faculty members volunteered, and individual Senators gave a brief profile on each of the candidates.  The Senators elected Carol Beck to this committee by written ballot.

         2.  Commencement Committee  -  Alex explained that the Commencement Committee is a subcommittee of the Academic Senate, and it is the responsibility of the Senators to serve as Marshals during the ceremony.  Ron Smebye volunteered to serve on this committee, if his schedule permits.  Additional information will be forwarded to the Senators to fill the second seat.

D.      Oral Reports

         1.  Staff Development  - No report was presented.

         2. Other:   Senator Laird advised that she will be unable to participate on the Student Readiness Task Force and has been unable to find a substitute replacement from Natural Science, Social Science, or the Humanities.  Chair of the committee, Jonathan Brennan, will try to recruit someone to fill that position.

 

VII.   Old Business

 

    A.   Discuss Status of Resolution of No Confidence in Chancellor

            There was a brief discussion regarding the possibility of a Dean position at Mission College.  Alex advised that as the Senate President he sits on both DBAC and the District Council, which reviews the budget and the agenda.  Any such position would have to be approved by the Board, and Alex stated that he is not aware of any such action.  Generally, college staffing is left to the college president. Alex was asked if the Chancellor has responded on the discussion at last week’s meeting.  Alex reported that no response has been submitted.

 

  B.    Update Report on Transfer Counselor Position

            This item was postponed to next week’s meeting.

 

  C.    Announce Tally Results and Selections for Jonnah Laroche

            The Mission College Academic Senate received seven applications for this award: three for transfer students and four for continuing students.  These students’ applications demonstrated outstanding qualifications for this award, and the Senators reviewed all the applications.  The Senate’s selection in the Transfer Student Category is Tricia Lowe, and the Senate’s selection in the Continuing Student Category is Caroline Johnson.  These two candidates applications will be submitted to the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) for consideration.  The winners of the awards will be announced by the ASCCC by March 15, 2004.  The winners will be honored at the Spring plenary session of the ASCCC.

             

D.      Discuss & Develop District Budget Contingency Plan

            Alex once again presented the question he posed to the Senator’s at last week’s meeting.  He emphasized that when propositions are originally placed on the ballot, and when the rating is low from the onset, historically, those propositions fail.  It is rare for a proposition to start out low and become more favorable toward election time.  That is what has happened with Proposition 57, so the outcome is questionable.  With that in mind, Alex asked the Senators to ponder the question he presented at last week’s meeting.  

 

            Alex suggested that the Senators break up into four groups, brainstorm ideas for how to increase revenue and reduce expenses, and then each Senator is to review the suggestions of each group and mark those that need further consideration.  A lengthy list was developed and reviewed, and the Senators will be sent a typed copy of the list for their perusal.  Those suggestions with the most marks will be used to set up the agenda for study of particular areas.  Alex provided the Senators with a list of Mission College’s Core Values and Goals (2002/03) endorsed by GAP in February 2001.  He suggested that the Senators consider to what degree cuts will impact those goals, consider if the goals are truly operational and realistic, and how should the Academic Senate proceed.

 

            Alex reported that he also serves on the Budget Allocation Model (BAM) Subcommittee of DBAC.  The committee is revisiting the formula of the BAM and looking at the split between the two colleges and the District. Alex urged the Senators to attend DBAC meetings and Board of Trustees meetings.  Both are open to the public and DBAC provides detailed information on the budget.  DBAC meetings are usually held at Mission College in the Spring and WVC in the Fall.  DBAC meets on alternate Wednesdays, from 3:30 p.m. in Campus Center Room 219/220.  The last meeting was held yesterday, and the next will be held March 10th.  The Board meets on the first and third Thursday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m. and alternates its meeting location between WVC (Board Room) and MC (HM Dining Room).  The next Board meeting will be held on March 4th and will be at Mission College.

           

            There was a brief discussion on the number of transfer students there are at Mission College.  There seems to be some question as to the number, and it was suggested that Chris Olson be called to provide that information.                                                      

           

 X.    Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

         Correspondence -  None

         Publication/Minutes

         1.   The agenda for the February 25, 2004, meeting of DBAC and the minutes for the January 28th and February 4th meetings.

            2.   The agenda for the February 25, 2004, meeting of GAP and the approved summary notes for the December 17th and February 11th meetings.

            3.   The agenda for the February 25, 2004, meeting of the District Council.

            4.   The February 20, 2004, Update from the CCLC on the State Budget. 

         Announcements/Conferences -  None

 

XI.    Future Agenda Items

1.   Report on Accreditation  (Brennan) March 11, 2004                                           

 

XII.   Adjournment

            The meeting was adjourned at 4:09 p.m. (M/S/U – Cox/Charland).  These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.