Mission College Academic Senate
Ext.
5413
Unapproved Minutes
Thursday, March 27, 2003
I. Call
to Order/Roll Call
The
meeting was called to order by President Jane Patton at 2:06 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 |
|
ASB Rep. S.Hanna, J.Weston Guests. J.Samuels R. Smebye |
|
X X |
Guests: K.Armstrong,
R. Dewis, S.Dinger, M.Grayson, L.Harris . |
|
X X |
II. Approval of the Minutes
The
minutes for the March 13, 2003, meeting of the MC Academic Senate were accepted
and approved as submitted (M/S/P
– Mancini/Estrada).
The
minutes for the March 18, 2003, District Academic Senate meeting were accepted
and approved with the following corrections (M/S/U - Charland/Mancini):
Page
1, Item I.1 (Roll Call):
Senators Oliver and Musat were not listed and both were absent.
Page
3, Item II.1 b) (Establish Policy and Subcommittee on Possible Faculty
Reductions) second paragraph:
“A
study of district-wide services was reported. The cost of these services have increased 2.27% since last
year.”
Senator
Brennan requested that it be clarified that the increase was over a three-year
period, going from 12.47 % in 2001, to 12.2% in 2002, and to 14.47% in
2003. The increase becomes a more significant
figure when reviewed over the last three years.
Page
1, Item I.4 (Oral Communication from the Public), first paragraph: Senator Charland read a summary of an open letter from Don Cordero
to be presented to the Board. Senator Charland requested that the minutes
include Don’s statement that he does not feel that it is in the best
interest of the district to move forward with a vote of no confidence at this
time.
The
minutes for the March 20, 2003, MC Academic Senate meeting were accepted and
approved with the following corrections (M/S/P Charland/Toppel):
Page
2, Item A (Select Senators and Division Chairs to DAS Crisis Subcommittee)
second paragraph, first sentence: it was suggested that because the number of
targeted positions is in question, that the “59 targeted positions”
be changed to “nearly 60 targeted positions.”
III. Order of the Agenda
There
were no changes to today’s order of the agenda.
IV. Oral
Communication from the Public
Senator Van Tassel announced that he is unable to complete his term as Senator representing the Technology Division. Alex Braun has been selected by the Division to replace Jim and complete his term, effective immediately.
Interim President Joe Samuels addressed the Senate in response to the MC Academic Senate’s minutes for the March 13th Senate meeting that indicated he needed to keep the college community informed of events as they occur on a regular basis. He acknowledged that the statement is correct, and he thanked the Senate for bringing this to his attention. In a time of crisis the President should report to the college community on a regular, consistent basis. It should not be assumed that everyone knows everything that is taking place. President Samuels stated that he intends to start communicating regularly through e-mail, through GAP minutes, and in person when possible. He expressed his regret that he has not been able to walk the campus and visit departments, particularly during this difficult time. He is hopeful that he will be able to do so in the near future.
President Samuels noted that there has been a change in the budget picture. The District anticipated a $15.2 million deficit in the worst case scenario. That figure has been reduced to $10.9 million. This is a significant change and he will continue to share such information with the college, as well as things that are discussed at GAP. When asked if the $10.9 million figure is stable, President Samuels responded that the number could go up because of categorical funds. The state has not yet clearly defined the cuts for categorical funds, and, at this time, there are two opposing statements emanating from the state Chancellor’s Office. It could go up some. However, negotiations continue to move forward and it is anticipated that the picture will improve. President Patton thanked him for taking the time to personally respond to the Senate.
V. Information
& Announcements
1. President Patton encouraged all the faculty to be sensitive to students who may be feeling overwhelmed and experiencing some difficulties due to the war situation. She suggested that the students be referred to the Student Health Center or the Counseling Department for assistance. Senator Charland advised that a sign inviting students to discuss their concerns with Counseling has been posted. Jane suggested that it be sent via e-mail to all faculty.
2.
Chancellor Arterberry
has announced that he will recommend to the Board that Fred Chong be appointed
the Mission College President.
Jane expressed her approval of the selection and her anticipation that
President Chong will provide what the college needs during this time of
instability and uncertainty.
3.
The District Academic
Senate will meet next Thursday, April 3, 2003, at 2:15 p.m. at Mission College
in Campus Center 219/220.
VI. Administrative
Business/Actions/Appointments
A. Committee
Appointments -
None
B. Oral Reports
1) Other:
a)
Senate Subcommittee on Graduation Requirements: Senator Brennan reported that the Senate’s
subcommittee on the English 1A and Oral Communication requirement met and
discussed the issues raised by Senator Charland at a Senate meeting,
particularly that an additional graduation requirement may not be appropriate
at this time. It is the
recommendation of the committee that the English 1A requirement be included in
the catalog and that the implementation of the Oral Competency requirement be
discussed further with representatives from ESL and Communication Studies. The following motion was made (M/S
– Brennan/Charland):
“that
the Mission College Academic Senate accept the recommendation of its
subcommittee to include the English 1A requirement in the catalog, and that the
implementation of the Oral Competency requirement be developed with the
assistance of representatives from English, ESL, and Oral Communication
appointed by the Academic Senate.”
Discussion ensued, and the
concerns of the Counseling Department relative to additional GE requirements
were expressed. If a course
is to be required, students’ choices become more restricted. Jane advised
that the State Academic Senate is revisiting the topic of listing English 1A as
a graduation requirement in the Ed Code, and she noted that WVC currently
requires English 1A. Senator Charland reported that both Peggy Messerschmidt
and Don Cordero have agreed to the inclusion of the requirement in the
catalog. It was noted that the
current student population will not be effected.
With regard to the Oral Competency requirement, Senator Rosner advised that the recommendation of the ESL Department is that the course employ listening and speaking requirements through individual and/or group communication. The subcommittee will continue to prepare its recommendation relative to oral competency and Jane suggested that either she or Betty Ensminger assist in this task. The above motion was passed with two abstentions.
The question of the Information Competency requirement arose, and it was agreed that the committee will keep working on how to implement this requirement.
2) Staff Development Report - Betty invited everyone to today’s Chocolate Festival at 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. She also announced that Staff Development has engaged a specialist in Critical Incident Debriefing to work with faculty and staff who may have difficulty dealing with events regarding budget reductions as they occur. Also, a specialist in reorganization of life and finding other employment will be engaged as well. The funding for these two people will come from Staff Development funds from the Land Corporation allotted for this year.
At this time, the Senators agreed, by consensus, to a request from President Patton to move the agenda moved to Item VII.B.
B. Continue Discussion of Budget Crisis and Areas Under
Academic Senate’s Area of Responsibilities
President Patton reported that the District Budget
Advisory Committee (DBAC) met yesterday.
DBAC is charged with the development of a preliminary budget that must
be approved by the Board by April for presentation to the State. This is a difficult task at best, since
there are so many unknowns. The
budget model is based on a number of assumptions, including no lay-offs, no
COLA, no growth, and that SB 18X will be passed. SB 18X if passed will reinstate some categorical funds. The anticipated $15 million deficit is
now expected to be approximately $11 million, which reduces the Mission College
deficit from $5.6 million to $4.2 million.
As discussion opened, concerns were expressed as to how
the rollbacks of cuts will be addressed in light of the new figures. Jane advised that one issue is
lay-offs, the other is the prioritized list of services prepared by GAP. She advised that Worku is working with
DBAC and Finance to ensure that Mission College receives its fair share; the
monies are divided in accordance with the Budget Allocation Model. It was also reported that ACE has
retained a forensic accountant to review the district’s finances for the
last five years.
CBAC has dealt with the mid-year cuts. If SB 18X is passed and categorical
funds are restored, it is most likely that those funds will be rolled over to
deal with next year’s projected deficit. GAP has been reviewing all services for the college with
subgroups conducting detailed research on individual services. Those subgroups have made
recommendations to GAP, and the committee has made progress. It may be possible to reduce services
by approximately $1.5 million, although final cuts have not yet been
defined. The President will
consider potential reductions and bring his recommendations back to GAP for
further review. The list will be
shared with the college community.
The deadline for presenting reductions to the Board is April 14,
2003. It was emphasized that GAP
considered the impact on students and their ability to reach their academic
goals as a primary factor.
Concern was expressed that the focus will be placed
on reductions and not on readjustment.
It may not necessarily be the best approach to just restore services on
the prioritized list to a given financial point. It was stressed that
qualitative and quantitative criteria must and will be considered. It was also emphasized that enrollment
cap goals must be kept in mind.
The Senate was urged to ensure that instruction is reinstated wherever
possible. It is critical that the
Senate maintains its focus on the priorities of the college.
A. Follow
Up on District Academic Senate Meeting
Jane
reported that both motions passed by the District Academic Senate (DAS) on
March 18, 2003, were read to the Board on March 21, 2003. In accordance with the motion, the
Mission College Academic Senate appointed two division chairs and two senators
to the DAS Crisis Subcommittee on March 20, 2003. West Valley College Academic Senate (WVCAS) met on that date
and did not appoint members to this committee in response to concerns brought
to the senate by some faculty members.
A motion was passed to ask for clarification from ACE regarding the
individual roles and responsibilities of each entity before any appointments
are made to a “restoration committee.” In addition, the WVCAS motion requests that representatives
from each division serve on the committee. President King was directed to
contact the State Academic Senate requesting assistance regarding the
restoration process.
The
WVCAS will meet again next Tuesday and make a decision as to whether or not to
appoint members. Jane asked for
direction on how to proceed, especially in light of the fact that four MC people
have been appointed to begin the charge of the committee.
Discussion
ensued, and it was stated that the resolution as passed unanimously by the
District Academic Senate binds both colleges to act accordingly. The resolution clearly states that the
subcommittee was to meet as soon as possible and be ready to report back to the
District Academic Senate at its next meeting, scheduled for April 3, 2003. This committee is not intended to serve
as a “restoration” committee. The resolution clearly states:
“…That we (the DAS) establish a subcommittee of the DAS to develop
guidelines for joint Division Chair Council/College Academic Senate meetings to
consider the district-wide impact of local college decisions, to establish
criteria for the reductions and changes, and to address the underlying issues
which are responsible for our financial predicament.” In addition, the Academic
Senate’s role and responsibility is quite clear as defined by law (Title
5). The intent of the subcommittee
is to establish criteria for looking at courses, programs, and cuts. This issue falls under the purview of
the Academic Senate and the DAS needs to proceed accordingly.
It
is critical that the two colleges work together, and it is apparent that the purpose
of the DAS’s subcommittee has been misconstrued. It is critical that the DAS move
forward with the issues the district is facing. Any delay could result in the
Chancellor and the Board moving forward without the appropriate participation
of faculty through the DAS. President Patton was directed to meet with the
appropriate representatives of ACE and to attend the WVC Academic Senate
meeting next Tuesday to impart the opinion of the MCAS. Senators Estrada and Braun will try to
attend the meeting as well.
Jane reported that she and Linda King, President of the WVCAS, met with Chancellor Arterberry on Tuesday as directed by the District Academic Senate. An agenda was prepared for that meeting in accordance with the list of concerns presented at the DAS meeting, and included the following discussion items:
• The motions/resolutions passed by the District Academic Senate
• The restoration process
• The credibility of senior administrators
• Shared governance concerns
• Explanation for extreme fiscal problems
Jane reported that they dealt with all the items on the agenda. The Chancellor was advised of the following:
1) The Board of Trustees must respect the Senate Presidents as the representatives for the entire faculty at both colleges. The motions read to the Board came from the District Academic Senate and necessitate a reply to the requests made in those motions. He promised to follow up on that matter promptly.
2) Regular communication from the top administrators at the district and college level is absolutely necessary.
3) He was advised that this district has built up years of collegial rapport since the ousting of a previous Chancellor. Jane and Linda advised him that the trust factor within the district was decimated during that period. They advised him of some of the serious problems under that Chancellor and how the district has worked for years to overcome the climate of distrust.
4) They discussed the administrative evaluation process and the fact that the faculty has not been involved in the process as required by Board policy.
5) The issue of Shared Governance was discussed at length, particularly relative to the actions taken by the EMT. It was not prudent to make the decisions at the EMT level and expect everyone to buy-in to those decisions. The Chancellor stated that the EMT did not decide to layoff personnel. The EMT met only to determine the degree of the deficit and how the split would take place within the three entities (District, MC, and WVC). The Chancellor then directed the college presidents to deal with the problem at their individual colleges using the college’s shared governance mechanisms to deal with the deficit. Jane advised him that that did not take place. There is some confusion regarding the directive from the Chancellor; the Chancellor states that he did not tell the college presidents to cut FTE.
Discussion ensued, and Jane advised the Senators to discuss the current situation with their constituents, to determine how to proceed, and to be prepared to discuss a vote of no confidence at next Thursday’s District Academic Senate meeting. She emphasized the importance of separating negotiation issues from the Academic Senate’s issues. In addition, consider that although Central Services has made some reductions, they are not considered to be deep enough, particularly since those services are the farthest from students’ needs.
As discussion continued, several Senators expressed disappointment in the tone of the District Academic Senate’s meeting minutes as written. The discussion that took place at that meeting was ardent and filled with frustration, acrimony, and resolution, and the minutes as written are not reflective of that discussion. Jane acknowledged that the tone of the minutes was softened anticipating the one-on-one meeting with the Chancellor. The Senators strongly urged that today’s minutes reflect the actual level of concern and clearly indicate the faculty’s disappointment and frustration with the current leadership. There is evidence that the Chancellor has demonstrated a history of top down management in the past and is apparently trying to function in the same manner within this district. The members of the Board of Trustees must be informed and advised accordingly and they must take responsibility. The Board has the ability direct the Chancellor to operate differently. In addition, the Academic Senate can deal directly with the Board. The Senators were urged to e-mail the individual Board members with their observations and concerns.
X. Correspondence, Publications,
& Announcements
Publication/Minutes
1. The March 24, 2003, issue of FA
NEWS from the Foothill-DeAnza
Faculty Association.
Announcements/Conferences - None
XI. Future
Agenda Items
1. Elect Vice President of MC Academic
Senate (April 17, 2003)
XII. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. (M/S/U - Sippel/Toppel). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.