Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 5413

Approved Minutes

Thursday, March 6, 2003

I. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by President Jane Patton at 2:10 p.m.

Senators	A	P	Senators	A	P
Brennan (Ext. 5313) Comm		X	Martin (Ext. 5356) Tech.		X
Charland (Ext. 5046) Stud. Dev.		X	Musat (Ext. 5331) Math		X
Dooley (Ext. 5379) AAS		X	Oliver (Ext. 5427) AAS		X
Estrada (Ext.5164) CommSvc		X	Patton (Ext. 5296) Comm Stud		X
Johnson (Ext.5277) CATA		X	Rivas (Ext. 5282) CATA		X
Lavallo (Ext. 5399) Math		X	Rosner (Ext. 5317) ESL		X
Light (Ext. 5717) AF/CIT		X	Sippel (Ext. 5118) Comm		X
Lynne (Ext. 5248) CommSvc		X	Toppel (Ext. 5089) Stud Dev	X
Mancini (Ext. 5855) AF/HM		X	VanTassel (Ext. 5334) Tech		X
			Xu (Ext. 5273) SocSci		X
Other: A.Braun (CRC)		X	Other: B.Grayson (Staff Dev)		X

Division Chairs	A	P	Division Chairs	A	P
Chandler (Social Science)		X	Dinger (Commercial Services)		X
LeFalle (Sub for Chan (StudServ)		X	Lowenberg (Sub for Hacker(ESL)		X
Chiang (Math)	X		McKay (VP of Instruction)	X
Cowels (AAS)	X		Messerschmidt (Communctns)		X
Delongchamps (CATA)		X	Poe (Natural Science)		X

Guests

A.Akers-Martin, J. Burrell, W.Chiang, H. Dennis, M. Grayson, J. Halasa, L.Harris,

P. Hudak,

S. Hirose, L.King, D.Lamkin, E.McAlister, M.Myint, T. Nguyen, H.Ostrander, D. Przybylski, K.Schock, L.Witschi

II. Joint Meeting of the Division Chair Council and the Mission College Academic Senate

Jane advised that the purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the budget situation, its effects on academic programs, services and faculty. The Division Chair Council (DCC) members were invited to consider the issues the college faces, the ramifications of the budget cuts, and to clarify the areas of responsibility that fall to the DCC and the Senate.

Jane explained that she attended the DCC meeting last week, at which time they reviewed all classes offered and began to develop a process to determine cuts in the event of a cutback. She asked Jim Burrell to explain and Jim reported that he prepared spreadsheets with specific information on each department in the college. The worst case scenario includes the elimination of all associate faculty positions, all overload, all release time, and the cancellation of summer school. That translated into 188 FTEF, approximately 940 sections (a 41% cut), and a savings of $3.7 million. This deep a cut could decimate some programs and other resources must be considered. If need be, however, it could be done. There are two major criteria to consider: 1) Support the programs that generate WSCH and 2) maintain a balance of curriculum. Many are concerned that this process begins a downward spiral – the less WSCH/FTE, the less money the district will receive next year. It is critical that a balance is maintained. One proposal considered at the DCC meeting was to look at all class offerings over the last two semesters and target classes with a trend for consistently low enrollment. If additional FTE needs to be cut in the fall, we could consider eliminating all low enrollment classes, thereby allowing the more efficient ones to survive. This has not been discussed with the Performance Goals Committee (PGC).

Discussion ensued, and it was noted that one full-time faculty member is equal to two associate faculty members. It was also stated that full-timers cannot be laid off unless all the associate faculty in a department are gone. The Associate Faculty Senators have established a web site at mcassociatefaculty@yahoo.com . for associate faculty to gather information on the district. It was stated that the DC’s were not consulted regarding the targeted list of faculty for layoff; the decisions were made arbitrarily as a fiat from above. It was explained that the Chancellor targeted the positions. Some understood that the targeted positions were based on non-tenured faculty, non-teaching faculty, the number of people in a department, and the number of sections taught by associate faculty. There was discussion on the process for a Recall of the Board of Trustees and the possibility of a Vote of No Confidence against the Board and the Chancellor.

It was reported that the recommendation to the College President from the DC’s was that no tenured track faculty should be targeted. Some of those present expressed consternation that the district’s administration made the reductions without the approval of DBAC or other shared governance groups. Shared governance consists of full consultation and collaboration and shared governance was not followed in the decision-making process. It was noted that the DC’s at WVC have been required to reduce their offerings by 25% across the board and the WVC fall schedule is greatly reduced. There is concern that the decisions at WVC are happening quickly and could have a direct impact on Mission College, particularly in regard to RIF and bumping rights. Jane explained that WVC cuts are presented as a “fait accompli.” Mission College’s cuts are a work in progress, and she voiced her faith in the DCC and the MC administrators to work together on this matter. However, there are serious concerns that should be addressed. Senator Schock (WVCAS) noted that during the 1993 budget crisis, the WVC Academic Senate developed a set of criteria for the reductions that stayed away from revenue generators, including WSCH, FTE, Enrollment, Transfer Programs, Enrichment Programs, etc. The reality is that some cuts need to occur and viable alternatives need to be considered.

A brief discussion on the purpose of the newly formed District Educational Services and Programs Council took place. This body, composed entirely of administrators, is reportedly expected to present a reorganization plan this December.

Jane emphasized that a mechanism for the DCC to work closely with the Academic Senate is needed, particularly as the DC’s consider the allocation of FTE. The overall balance of the curriculum falls under the purview of the Academic Senate. It was suggested that several senators join with the DC’s to serve as active participants in the PGC and report back to the Senate to ensure that the responsibilities of the Academic Senate are not usurped. The following motion was passed unanimously (M/S/U – Rosner/Mancini):

“that the Mission College Academic Senate agrees to appoint three Senate members to attend the Performance Goals Committee meetings for the remainder of the semester or until no longer necessary.”

Senators Estrada, Dooley, and Rivas volunteered to sit in on the PGC meetings. They are held every other Monday from 10:30 – Noon.

Specific concerns were addressed, as well as how the college’s students, faculty, and staff will be impacted and several points were considered for the purpose of a resolution to be presented to the Board at tonight’s meeting. The following resolution was passed unanimously (M/S/U – Brennan/Oliver):

“Whereas, The West Valley-Mission Community College District is facing an unprecedented financial crisis, and

Whereas, The Mission College shared governance process embedded in AB 1725 and Board Policy is a long-standing, effective and essential process to respond proactively and effectively to impending crises, and

Whereas, This shared governance process has been disregarded in recent actions, and

Whereas, Creative alternatives to meeting budget shortfalls have not been explored to the extent attempted by other districts throughout the region and state, and

Whereas, The criteria for cuts appears not to be based on accreditation studies, master plans, or other long-range college or district goals, and

Whereas, The Division Chairs were given a directive rather then engaged in a shared governance process, and

Whereas, Mission College faces the potential loss of conscientious, skilled, and valuable full-time and part-time faculty if these cuts go forward, and

Whereas, The proposed cuts will have a devastating effect on the students of Mission College and the surrounding community,

Therefore, Let It Be Resolved, That the Board reaffirm to all administrators the absolute necessity of consultation, partnership, and shared responsibility in the development and implementation of a plan, and prevent any unilateral action that takes place outside this shared governance process, and

Let It Further Be Resolved, That the Board require the District to seriously, deliberately, and promptly consider all options, especially those put forward by college faculty and other representative groups in resolving the budget deficit, and

Let It Further Be Resolved, That the Mission College Academic Senate/Division Chair Council urge the Board to consider the students’ needs as the primary focus in this process.”

Jane was directed to read the resolution to the Board at this evening’s meeting of the Board of Trustees. In addition, Jane was directed to advise GAP that the issue of academic support services falls under the purview of the Academic Senate. The Senate will identify and develop a list of academic support services, develop criteria for prioritization, and prioritize the list at next week’s Senate meeting.

The remaining agenda items were postponed due to the late hours.

IX. Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

Correspondence

1. E-mail dated March 4, 2003, from Chancellor Nussbaum with a budget update.

Publication/Minutes

1. The February 28, 2003, issue of the DVC FORUM from the Diablo Valley College Faculty Senate.

2. The January 31, 2003, statement of Revenues, Expenses, and Debts for the Mission-

West Valley Land Corporation.

3. A copy of the Grant Application for the Strengthening Institutions Program Under Title III of the Higher Education Act for Mission College.

4. The agenda for the March 5, 2003, meeting of DBAC.

5. The agenda for the March 6, 2003, meeting of the MC Classified Senate.

6. The agenda for the March 6, 2003, meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Announcements/Conferences

X. Future Agenda Items

No new items were introduced at today's meeting.

XI. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. (M/S/U – Oliver/Charland). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.