I. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by President Don Cordero at 1:45 p.m. Senators present: Margaret Boone (AAS, Ext. 3313), Lois Carroll (Instructional Support Serv., Ext. 3226), Betty Christopher (Commercial Services, Ext. 3341), Don Cordero (Pres/Counseling, Ext. 3142), Amy Grams (Associate Faculty, Soc Sci, Ext. 2195), Dianne McKay (Communications, Ext. 3418), Mike McKenna (AAS, 2752), Peggy Messerschmidt (Communications, Ext. 3415), Cliff Monroe (Technology, Ext. 3349), Diane Pette (Student Services, Ext. 3138), Clint Poe (Natural Science, Ext. 3436), Joan Powers (ESL, Ext. 3401), Helayna Thickpenny (CATA, Ext. 3368), Karl Ting (Math, Ext. 3442), and Wilbert Xu (Social Science, Ext. 3447). Also present: Husam Asfoor (ASB Rep) and Diane Lamkin (Curriculum Committee Chair). Guests Present: Fred Barnikel, Carolyn Fisher, Amy Grams, Carolyn Kuri, and Mike Rao.

II. Approval of the Minutes

There were no minutes to approve at today's meeting.

III. Order of the Agenda

Fred Barnikel and Carolyn Fisher are attending today's meeting to discuss Item VIII.G. Don requested that the item remain a floating item, to be addressed upon the arrival of Mr. Barnikel.

IV. Oral Communication from the Public

Mike Rao reported that we have agreement from the burrowing owl advocates to move the portable units up to the west side of the campus in a slightly different configuration than originally planned. This is the only way to ensure a ground-breaking date for the High Tech/Student Center for September 1997. Bid requests went out yesterday.

V. Information & Announcements

1. Margaret is a member of the state Board of Vocational Practitioners and attended a meeting in Los Angeles. The group is considering approval for a new degree and certificate program and proposed modifications to the California state plans for vocational education. This group is

attempting to place core measures and standards under those plans based on the way grades are imposed in vocational areas. In addition, proposed definitions for certificates and degrees in vocational areas, and several Senate representatives strongly urged them to form a task force to

work with the Academic Senate before establishing standards for degrees and certificates. She reported that considerable legislative action is taking place in the vocational area, and there seems to be money that will come down over the next two to three years to evaluate and upgrade programs to get ready for welfare reforms. She encourages everyone with ideas for grants to get it together and submit it; it will probably be approved. The more people involved

in the grant process, the more integration shown of the academic and vocational sides, the more integration you show into high school, industry, the more likely you are to be granted money. She emphasized there is considerable funding that will become available.

2. Don asked the Senators to post information on requests for submissions to "The Forum" in their divisions.

3. Helayna announced that the African American Student Union has displays, food, and activities in the Center Space, today, from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

VI. Administrative Business/Actions/Appointments

A. Staff Recognition - No motions were made today.

B. Statewide Academic Senate Meeting in San Francisco, April 10-12, 1997 - Don encouraged the Senators to try to attend at least one day of the spring session, and passed registration forms to the Senators. Those interested will advise Don, and Don will attempt to obtain the registration fees for those who wish to attend.

Don also advised that he has reread the original 1973 education plan for Mission College. he asked anyone who is interested in a copy for their files to let him know.

C. Committee Appointments

1. Workforce Task Group - Margaret Boone (AAS), Laurie Collins (Student Support), Dianne McKay (Communications), Mike McKenna (AAS), Lin Marelick (CATA), Peggy Messerschmidt (English), Richard Przybylski (Real Estate), Rebeca Sanchez (Student Support) have expressed interest in serving on this committee. Since only three vocational education faculty positions were designated during the formation of the group, Don suggested that the Senate reconsider the designated membership at next week's meeting and the members

as outlined last week be selected today.

Dianne McKay was appointed to represent ESL/Reading/Speech area (M/S/U - Ting/Powers).

Laurie Collins and Rebeca Sanchez were appointed to represent Student Support area (M/S/U - McKenna/Pette). Peggy Messerschmidt was appointed to represent English (M/S/U - Boone/McKay). Karl Ting volunteered to represent Math and was appointed (M/S/U - Boone/Pette). Don and Margaret will discuss how to invite Kathleen Elliott, Bruce Judd, and Regina Stanback-Stroud to join the committee.

2. Evaluation/ACE - Carolyn Fisher and Doug Campbell will work on this committee. We need someone from Mission College. Don will recruit a member from the faculty.

3. Program Review Task Group - This is an ad hoc group that will meet on March 11, and

Don asked for two or three Senators to serve on this committee.

Lois raised the question about the Non-Instructional Program Review Committee. Don offered to investigate the matter and report back to the Senate next week.

VII. Old Business

A. Evaluation of Senate President

Don provided evaluation forms to Diane for his evaluation. He will also distribute the form to the Presidents of the Classified Senate, ACE, the college President, and other Mission College administrators. Any other faculty member interested in evaluating the Senate President is welcome to do so.

As agreed, Item VIII.G will be the next order of business.

VIII. New Business

G. Consider Proposal for Common Course & Renumbering College Courses

Don noted that the Board agenda for March 6, lists "Common Course Numbering in the District." This matter involves curriculum and load issues. The District Academic Senate passed a motion last March that courses with essentially the same content, title, and course number would be the same, understanding that each college had autonomy with their own curriculum. That has since expanded to the possibility of renumbering the entire curriculum. If that is to be the case, it is hoped that there would be some logic in the numbering system that would enable students to determine if a course is transferable or not, if they applied to degrees, if they were basic skills, etc.

It is ACE's contention that the Load Book is linked to common course numbering. Carolyn stated that ACE has been trying to clear up the Load Book and last year proposed that Fred Barnikel be granted one semester release time to clean it up. The proposal was rejected, and ACE has approached the Board on the matter this year. A proposal for release time is to be considered by the Board at a future meeting. Fred Barnikel outlined the history of the many attempts to straighten out the Load Book over the last few years without result, and he explained the concerns relative to load issues at both colleges. Load is driven by the number of hours of lecture and lab the curriculum committee approves for a course; basically, it is a mathematical calculation. The load value of a course is not a decision of the curriculum committee. Someone must check load values to ensure that they have been done correctly.

Various views on how to resolve this matter were expressed during discussion. Don suggested that the way to resolve the entire matter is to renumber. He reminded the Senators that Regina suggested that the Senate consider that there are matriculation funds that are accessible on academic issues related to matriculation and student equity. Certainly, student equity would be part of the renumbering proposal, because it considers retention and student equity. If we make the curriculum more intelligible to students, it will help retention. Don asked the Senators for direction. The Senators agreed, by consensus, to support ACE in its endeavors to straighten out the Load Book issue and to move forward with common course numbering and renumbering.

VII. Old Business (Continued)

B. Review & Discuss Draft of MC Shared Governance Policy/First Reading

This document has been seen by other entities of the institution through the ASB and the Classified Senate. Don noted that there has been discussion regarding the structure of the Division Chair Council and the administrative structure. He asked for feedback on the proposed document.

It was agreed that the Senators will disseminate the document to their constituencies for review and bring back recommended changes to the Senate. The Executive Council will meet on March 6 to review preliminary input, time to be announced. It is anticipated that a shared governance document will be passed by the Senate at the first meeting in May.

VIII. New Business (Continued)

A. Consider Agenda Items for District Senate Meeting, March 11, 1997

The next District Academic Senate meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 1997, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the Ranganathan Room at WVC. The meeting will be video-conferenced via the MC TV studio and the Ranganathan Room. Don asked that those Senators who cannot make the meeting at West Valley College attend via the MC TV studio. Common Course Numbering will be on the agenda and Don will e-mail the final agenda this coming Monday, March 3, for their review.

B. Consider Request from Students Supporting Mission Express Newspaper

Historically, Sandy Sims voluntarily assisted a group of students interested in putting together the Mission Express Newspaper. Sandy became overwhelmed and could no longer assist the students. The paper existed due primarily to the interest of a group of students with the support of financing for printing from the ASB. The Mission Express is no longer a viable newspaper. The matter was taken to the Division Chair Council who elected to partially support the paper's printing expenses. The ASB has brought the matter to the Senate for its consideration. Husam reported that the ASB supports the Mission Express for up to $3,000/year, and a motion was passed by the ASB to provide additional support for the Express, if necessary. The ASB would like to know if the Academic Senate philosophically supports the continuation of the Mission Express. The ASB is currently discussing possible options to continue the paper with Sandy Sims and Jim Taylor. The ASB would like to see the paper continue to avoid its loss. A space will be provided in the Student Center and access to computer labs.

The Senators discussed a number of feasible options. It was noted that currently the college does not offer any Journalism courses and there is no curricular vehicle for the paper at the present time. The students need someone to pull the project together and a place to meet and work in, possibly in the new Student Center. This is a valuable worthwhile activity and resource for the institution. The following motion was passed unanimously (M/S/U - Pette/Thickpenny):

"that the Mission College Academic Senate recognizes the importance of a student publication and supports ASB's efforts to maintain that student publication."

Don asked that Item VIII.D be taken out of order at this time to accommodate Carolyn Fisher. The Senators agreed, by consensus.

D. Establish Tenure Review Committees (Cf. Article 26 ACE Contract)

Don read Article 26 of the ACE Contract which states that, " A tenure review team shall be formed for each member hired. With the consent of the college Academic Senate President, a review team may elect to evaluate more than one contract member. The team shall be composed of two regular members in satisfactory status, selected from the evaluation area, and an administrative designee. At least one of the members name must come from the appraisee's discipline or from a closely related discipline. In special cases, the Academic Senate President, in consultation with the Academic Senate President from the other college, may appoint members from the other college to help assure that at least one member on the team comes from the same or closely related discipline as the contract member being appraised. If the team has not been formed by the time the hiring process has been completed, the formation of the team shall become the responsibility of the administrative designee. The college Academic Senate President or designee, in consultation with the administrator and the department chair shall select the members to serve on the team..."

Don explained that the Academic Senate must seize its responsibility and Don requested that each Senator determine which faculty members in their divisions are on the tenure track, obtain a list of the members of the review team, if formed, and bring it back to the Senate for approval. Lists should be e-mailed to the Senate office.

Carolyn noted that if faculty are not evaluated the first year, they automatically receive a contract for a second year. If they are not evaluated during the second year, they automatically receive a two year contract for their third and fourth year and tenured without ever being evaluated. She has contacted Lee Callaway to ensure that those faculty on tenure track are being evaluated. Every faculty person hired at the college should be followed through the process appropriately. This is a responsibility of the Academic Senate.

C. Discuss Usage of Computer Laboratories

This item was postponed to a future meeting.

E. Review Computer Applications Course Policy

The Senate needs to review this policy, particularly relative to the limitation on the number of units. The Business Office Technology Department is changing to Computer Applications and the Senate needs to consider modification of the current policy.

F. Discuss Proposals for Additional Administrators

A request for additional administrators has been proposed by LRS and Student Services. Don reported that the Organizational Information Group will meet with the Division Chair Council and the administrators in early March to consider several proposals.

IX. Reports

1. Board of Trustees Meeting Report - The most important item was the discussion on common course numbering.

2. Organizational Information Group Report - The group is recommending a reduction in the number of division chairs. Implementation of the recommendation is being considered. The Division Chairs have discussed the issue as well. Lee did a cross analysis, and the cheapest alternative is the current structure other than a structure of eight division chairs with four secretaries. This would overload the secretaries.

3. College Budget Advisory Committee Report - The committee is currently working on the 1997/98 budget. The process seems to be working well. Don noted that supplies and a coach for women's soccer and basketball has been funded.

4. Others - None

X. Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

All correspondence will be listed on a future set of minutes.

XI. Future Agenda Items

No items were added at today's meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:41 p.m. (M/S/U - Thickpenny/McKay). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.