District Academic Senate
Unapproved Minutes
I. Organizational Matters
I.1 Call
to Order/Roll Call
The meeting was called to order
at 2:37p.m.by Co-Chairs Alex Braun and Angelica Buendia-Bangle.
|
Senators |
A |
P |
Senators |
A |
P |
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Beggs (MC)
AAS |
|
X |
Martin (MC)
Technology |
X |
|
|
Berlani (WVC) Science |
|
X |
Mingione (WVC)
AF/Bus |
|
X |
|
Braun (MC) Pres/Technology |
|
X |
Moles (MC)
ESL |
|
X |
|
Brichko (MC)
CATA |
X |
|
Morgan (WVC) Lib/LATC |
|
X |
|
Brueckner (WVC)
Fine Arts |
|
X |
Nash (WVC) Student Services |
X |
|
|
Bangle (WVC) Stud
Services |
|
X |
Ostrander (MC)
Student Services |
X |
|
|
Burzynski (WVC)
Math |
|
X |
Paicius (MC)
AF/CATA |
|
X |
|
Cogswell (MC) AAS |
|
X |
Pape (WVC)
English |
X |
|
|
Cox (MC)
Commercial Serv. |
|
X |
Perlas (MC)
Student Dev. |
|
X |
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Ellis (WVC)
At-Large |
|
X |
Rascov (WVC) Business |
|
X |
|
Hannigan (WVC)
Language Arts |
|
X |
Rounds (MC) Communications |
|
X |
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Holt (MC)
ASB Rep. |
|
X |
Rudy (WVC) PE |
X |
|
|
Juncker (MC) Communications |
|
X |
Shue (WVC)
AAS |
|
X |
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Kashima (MC)
ESL |
|
X |
Smebye (MC)
Comm’l Serv. |
|
X |
|
Kelly (WVC) Social Science |
|
X |
Szabados (MC) CATA |
|
X |
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Laird (MC)
Social Science |
|
X |
Ting (MC)
Math |
|
X |
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Lavallo (MC)
Math |
|
X |
Treseder (WVC) ASB Rep. |
X |
|
|
Mancini (MC)
AF/HM |
|
X |
Other: J.Henderson
(WVCAS) |
X |
|
|
Guests |
Guests |
Guests |
|
N.Biltz |
L.Harris |
D.Masury
|
R.Charland
|
P.Hudak |
A.Moore |
|
R.Dewis |
K.Johnson |
H.Pham |
I.3
Announcements & Information
1.
Relative to the action taken by the members of the District Academic
Senate, Senator Smebye expressed his pride in the District Academic Senate and
his appreciation to the Senators and the Student Representatives for the
important step taken.
2. Senator Szabados announced that the Media
Arts Award Ceremony will take place today at
3. Alex and Angelica urged the Senators to
consider attending the Spring Plenary Session of the Academic Senate for
California Community Colleges, to be held in
II. Oral
Communication from the Public
No one addressed the Senate under Oral Communication.
III. Approval of the Minutes for
The minutes
for the
IV. Business
IV.1 Consider Various Steps Toward Resolving
Issues of Concern and other Matters Related to the Resolution Adopted by the
DAS on February 7, 2006 and Implemented on March 14, 2006
Alex and Angelica opened the meeting with an update report from Pat Andrews relative to progress in negotiations. Pat is unable to attend today’s Senate meeting as she is attending an ACE meeting. During discussion, it was noted that nine negotiation sessions have taken place this semester. Only one meeting was held in January, and eight meetings were held after the resolution of February 7, 2006 passed. A Senator stated, however, she has been advised that there has been no movement and there is great frustration among the negotiators. Others offered the opinion that Pat’s report indicates some positive changes. The question of who will determine if the District is negotiating in good faith was posed, and an opinion was offered that it is up to Pat Andrews to report the facts and the District Academic Senate to determine if progress has been made. Angelica advised Senators to be cautious about formal versus informal reports. Angelica also recognized that it appears that the Senate resolution has made a difference. She urged Senators to recognize the strength found in the District Academic Senate.
Alex reported that the Chancellor has offered to make the Community College League of California (CCLC), a CEO organization, available to conduct mediation between the administration, the Board of Trustees, and the Academic Senate, specifically on matters of shared governance. Alex advised that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) offers technical assistance and includes the CCLC. Alex and Angelica were directed to ensure that the ASCCC leads any such mediation efforts.
Doug Masury, President of the MC Classified Senate stated that the Classified Senate met on Tuesday to discuss the resolution and suspension of shared governance activities. He reported that the MC Classified Senate voted unanimously to continue with the terms of the resolution, including the suspension of shared governance activities. Classified Staff are hopeful and looking forward to resolving the problems and eliminating what is perceived as deception by the District over the last three years.
The Senators received a report from the task force it empanelled to consider details of the suspension, to develop criteria to assist in the determination of progress in the areas of concern, and to identify specific outcomes that the administration must demonstrate as a condition for lifting the suspension. In addition, the members of the task force were asked to decide whether or not certain committees should be exempt from the suspension of faculty participation. The report listed four specific steps to be taken and seven specific recommendations, including non participation on all committees. The recommendations are as follows:
1) That the DAS resolution stand in effect until May 1, 2006.
2) That a directive be sent to all faculty not to participate in all college and district committees, including hiring committees and tenure review committees and excluding those individuals that receive assigned time or compensation for a particular service on a committee.
3) That a request for technical assistance be made immediately to the ASCCC to facilitate mediation and workshops for training purposes, particularly on shared governance.
4) That a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees and the District Academic Senate be held as soon as possible.
5) Identify the specific issues under each key area of concern and develop a process by which those issues can be resolved.
6) Both parties need to make a commitment to participate in the processes that will institute positive change.
7) If things seem to be improving by May 1, 2006, the DAS could show good faith and lift suspension on a few things, i.e., if the Board and the administration make themselves available and participate in a workshop facilitated by the ASCCC and the CCLC, the DAS could agree to reinstate the Curriculum Committee.
During review of the report and the recommendations of the task force, several Senators and guests reported faculty’s concerns relative to hiring committees already in progress and tenure review teams. A lengthy discussion followed on that particular issue, citing specific examples and concerns relative to tenure track faculty and the hiring of new faculty.
In order to consider the recommendations of the task force, the Senators agreed that the first and second recommendations related directly with the resolution and committees. Recommendations three to seven related to other areas of concern dealing with services that could be provided by the ASCCC and the CCLC. A motion to deal with each recommendation separately was passed (M/S/P – Kelly/Mingione) and a motion to group recommendation #1, #2, and #7 followed by #3, #4, #5, and #6 as a group was passed (M/S/P Cox/Juncker).
Discussion ensued on recommendation #1, #2, and #7. It was stated that the Senate has taken a very serious step and must stand strong and firm. Relative to recommendation #1, the May 1st deadline is a statement from the Academic Senate that asserts if changes are not made, other actions will be taken. Regarding tenure, it was noted that it has been past practice in the District that the result of an evaluation is not grievable. One cannot grieve the results but one can grieve the process. If a part of the process is not completed on time and does not meet the deadline, the faculty member cannot be penalized. In addition, since the March 15th layoff deadline is passed, faculty on the tenure track would not be penalized by the suspension. In researching the Ed Code, it was determined that there was no specific language that related to this particular issue concerning tenure review teams. The concerns regarding hiring committees already in progress were discussed and considered as well. The following motion was made (M/S –Cox/Berlani):
“that the District Academic Senate agree to amend recommendation #2 to allow already constituted hiring committees with scheduled interviews to proceed and to allow the observation of faculty under tenure review to proceed as part of their contractually required institutional responsibility.”
A lengthy discussion ensued relative to the above motion. Several Senators who had indicated their concerns prior to the adoption of the resolution, restated those concerns relative to the above motion. The Senate was admonished not to move forward without considering the consequences of any action taken. It was stated that the intent of the above motion is to provide instructions to faculty on tenure review teams to fulfill their institutional responsibilities by continuing to observe the faculty member on the tenure track. On May 1, 2006, faculty can be directed to complete their tenure review responsibility. The rationale behind allowing hiring committees with scheduled interviews to continue is because the colleges have extended invitations to individuals outside of the District. A call for the question passed (M/S/P – Hannigan/Cox) and the above motion was passed.
The following motion to amend recommendation #7 was made and passed (M/S/P – Cox/Kelly):
“that recommendation #7 be amended by changing the word “by” to “before” and change the word “could” to “will” at the beginning of the sentence.
The above motion was followed by a motion to adopt recommendations #1, #2, and #7 as amended (M/S/P – Cox/Berlani).
Discussion continued regarding the term “good faith” in recommendation #7. It was stated that the task force discussed how to be proactive and show good faith and developed recommendations #3 through #6. These are concrete things to do. The Board of Trustees and the administration is being asked to participate in mediation in order to learn what each of the problems are so that both sides can be proactive. A call for the question passed (M/S/P – Kashima/Cox) and the motion to adopt recommendations #1, #2, and @7 as amended passed.
The Senators agreed to continue discussion for an additional 20 minutes (M/S/P – Cogswell/Cox) and proceeded to discuss recommendation #3 through #6. Alex advised that #3 and #4 are concrete steps. A motion to adopt recommendation #3, #4, #5, and #6 was made (M/S – Cogswell/Juncker). As discussion continued, Alex advised that the District Academic Senate will seek technical assistance from the ASCCC and CCLC.
It was noted that the members of the task force discussed drafting a proposal with specific actions. It was decided not to present such a proposal to the Senate today, but the proposal will require that the Board and the Administration must participate in workshops and mediation meetings. The intent is to develop a process whereby all Board members and administrators will be required to participate. A call for the question passed (M/S/P – Hannigan/Cogswell) and the above motion on recommendations #3 through #6 was passed.
As the meeting drew to an end, the Senators agreed, by consensus, that the special task force will continue to be empanelled through May 25, 2006. A District Academic Senate meeting will be called prior to May 1st and a meeting on May 2, 2006, will be called to deal with the May 1st deadline.
V.
Future
Agenda Items
No new items were added at today’s meeting.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m. (M/S/U – Hannigan/Kelly). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.