Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 5413

Approved Minutes

Thursday, April 14, 2005 

 

I.       Call to Order/Roll Call

            The meeting was called to order by President Alex Braun at 2:10 p.m. 

 

Senators

   A

   P

Senators

   A

   P

Braun      (Ext. 5355) Pres/Tech

 

    X

Martin     (Ext. 5356)  Tech.

    X

 

Brichko    (Ext. 5222)  CATA

      

    X

McKay    (Ext. 5312)  Comm

    

    X

Cogswell (Ext. 5388)  AAS

    

    X

Musat      (Ext. 5331) Math

    X  

 

Cox        (Ext.5164)  CommSvc

 

    X

Ostrander  (Ext. 5274) Stud Dev.

 

    X

Dooley    (Ext. 5379)   AAS

    

    X

Perlas      (Ext. 5041)  Stud.Dev.

    

    X

Harris     (Ext. 5413)  AF/Comm

      

    X

Rath       (Ext. 5413)  AF/CIT

    

    X

Kashima  (Ext. 5319)  ESL

    X

 

Smebye   (Ext. 5305) CommServ

    

    X

Laird      (Ext. 5186)  SocSci

    X 

 

Szabados  (Ext.5289)  CATA

    

    X

Lavallo    (Ext. 5399)  Math

    

    X

Zeisler     (Ext. 5426) Comm

    X 

 

Other: T.McCracken (ASB Rep)

   X

 

Other: K.Raczkowski (ASB Rep)

    X

 

Guests:  J.Burrell, F.Chong, R.Dewis, E.Estrada, P.Hudak   

   

    X

    X

Guests:  H.Robles, J.Smith

 

   X

  

 

 II.    Approval of the Minutes

            The minutes for the meeting of March 24, 2005, meeting were accepted and approved (M/S/P – Dooley/Szabados) as submitted.

             

III.    Order of the Agenda

            There were no changes to the order of today’s agenda.  

             

 IV.    Oral Communication from the Public

            There were no communications from the public at today’s meeting at this time. 

        

  V.    Information & Announcements 

         1.   Alex reported that he attended the Spring Plenary Session of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) last week.  There were a number of breakout sessions with important information that he will pass on to the Senators.  He noted that Ian Walton was elected President of the ASCCC, Mark Liu of Ohlone College was elected Vice President, and Jane Patton was elected Treasurer.   In addition, Jonathan Brennan was selected as the Area B recipient of the Regina Stanback-Stroud Diversity Award.  Jonathan’s wife Natalia, Frank Chong, and Lin Marelick attended the award luncheon.  Alex acknowledged that this is a prestigious and significant award and Alex commended Jonathan for his achievements.

            2.   The Mission College Academic Senate’s Faculty Recognition Award Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 12, 2005, in Hospitality Management.  Invitations have been delivered and Alex requested that the Senators RSVP as soon as possible.

            3.   Senator Harris announced that a College Consortium on Mediation groups will be held on April 29th, location to be announced.  Senator Harris is now a trained and certificated mediator and suggested that the Senators consider the formation of a mediation center and training class here at Mission College.

            4.   Senator Brichko reported on her trip to France with students and will present pictures and video from the trip at a Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday, April 19th from Noon – 1:00 p.m.  Location to be announced.

            5.   Senator Szabados announced that a regional event will be held at Mission College on May 16th at 7:00 p.m. in the large conference room in the Telecommunications Building.  A guest speaker will discuss the Business of design.

            6.   Senator Cogswell noted that Jon Langthaler is at Mission College as an exchange professor from Prague.  His participation at Mission College is part of the program in which Lin Marelick participated.

            7.   Senator Perlas announced that the Mission College Scholarship and Achievement Award event will be held on Wednesday, May 11th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Location to be announced.

            8.   Senator Cox advised that a videotape of last Tuesday’s Library event with guest speaker, poet Suji Kwock Kim  is available for those who were not able to attend the event.  Cathy noted it was a wonderful experience.

            9.   President Chong presented the Senators with a draft of his proposed organizational realignment.  He advised that this proposal stems from need as well as a recommendation in the Accreditation Report.  He reviewed the chart with the Senators and noted that the proposal does not involve additional administrators and is cost neutral.  In essence, the realignment proposal would eliminate Lin Marelick’s position and create a Dean of Instruction position.  The proposal also includes changes to the current reporting structure.  He asked the Senators to review the proposal and he will return next week for comments and recommendations.  He is open to feedback and would like consensual support for the proposal.                     

            10. Each Senator was provided with a copy of the Brown Act for their Senator’s Notebook. 

 

VI.    Administrative Business/Actions/Appointments    

 A.     Curriculum Committee  -  Dianne McKay, Chair of the committee reported that the committee approved a long list of submissions for first and second readings on Monday, April 11th.

         • The committee is looking at the Hours-by-Arrangement issue and has shifted its focus to a positive approach, helping people get into compliance.  A draft proposal will be prepared and presented to the Senate.

         •  The committee is also working on a proposal for archiving courses that have not been offered for a number of years and yet continue to be listed in the catalog. This is unfair to the students.  She acknowledged that the faculty is reluctant to inactivate courses because they cannot be reactivated.  They have to be recreated.  The compromise is to start a review process and archive courses not offered over a three-year period and pull them from the catalog.  In accordance with Title 5, courses are to be reviewed every five years.

         •  Dianne reported that she attended a conference on Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) with Carol Toppel, Myo Myint, and Lin Marelick.  The conference was sponsored by the State Chancellor’s Office and funded by a VATEA grant.   Dianne described an SLO assessment cycle model that was discussed and she advised that Mission College has Title V grant money to fund a pilot program at the college.  Four departments will pilot the process and develop a model for the college.  The Curriculum Committee is discussing the development of a new curriculum form in light of the process that will be developed.  She will try to schedule a flex day session on the process for the college.  Dianne emphasized that this will be a faculty driven process.

         •   The committee approved curriculum for Spring 2006.  The committee will continue to meet and faculty can submit courses for Fall 2006.

         •  Faculty have been notified that the committee has agreed to extend the deadline for Distance Learning courses.  There are faculty who may be displaced due to construction and may consider offering the course online.  Dianne urged faculty to submit those requests as soon as possible.  They will need to be approved in September in order to make the class schedule.

         •  The Curriculum Review Committee members will make a presentation on the college’s curriculum process to new faculty at the orientation for new faculty.

 B.     Staff Recognition -  No resolutions were presented at today’s meeting.

 

 

 

 C.     Committee Appointments 

         1. Fixed Cost Subcommittee Update – Alex will continue to serve on this committee.  He has approached Steve Dinger on this matter and Steve has not made a decision as yet.

         2.  Select Three Senators to serve on the Selection Committee for MCAS Faculty Recognition Program – Senators Dooley, Ostrander, and Smebye volunteered to serve.

         3.  Select Two Senators to Serve on GAP Subcommittee to Review & Revise the Mission College Mission Statement – Alex volunteered to serve, and his appointment was unanimously confirmed (M/S/U – McKayPerlas).  The Senators suggested that this matter be placed on the agenda for next week’s meeting in hopes of getting another Senator to volunteer.

 D.     Oral Reports - No reports were received at today’s meeting.

 

VII.   Old Business

 

   A.   Update Report on Purchase of Anti-Plagiarism Software or Service

            Senator Cox advised that Pat Hudak has asked that she and Senator Kashima make a presentation to the Technology Committee on this matter at its next meeting on April 26th.  A report will be brought back to the Senate on May 5th                                 

 

  B.    Update Report on Wait List Practices and Datatel Priority

            This item was postponed for discussion to the next Senate meeting.                         

 

  C.    Update Report on Impact of Priority Registration at WVC for Club Members on Mission College Enrollment

            President Braun reported that he has been advised that the WVC Matriculation Steering Committee selects the groups eligible for priority registration at West Valley College.  The groups mandated by the State (EOPS and DESP) make up the first tier and the committee decides what other groups are extended the privilege.  The question relative to club members was not addressed, and Alex agreed to follow up on the question relative to club members and report back next week.  

 

  D.    Continue Discussion on Senate’s Role re: Academic Directions Relative to Facilities

            Alex advised that he invited Jim Burrell to address the Senate on this issue.  It was agreed that discussion on this item will be postponed until later in the meeting, when Jim arrives. 

 

            It was reported that Dr. Chong held a forum on April 8th and the general plan was discussed.  Dr. Chong advised that the construction on the third floor will begin sometime in September/October. Plans for the second floor have been submitted to the State, and the plans for the first floor are currently being reviewed and revised.  It is anticipated that Student Services, the President’s Office and the Vice President’s Office will be on the first floor.  The rest is uncertain.  Alex advised that Sean Blalock and Brigit Espinosa will be on the Mission College campus every Tuesday and Thursday.  He will personally invite them to the next Senate meeting to address this issue.          

 

E.      Consider Approval of Information Competency Implementation Plan

            Judie Smith presented the proposed information competency implementation plan as requested by the Academic Senate.  The Senators reviewed the plan and there was some discussion as to whether or not the plan needs to be approved by the Board of Trustees.  It was decided that the Board approves policy and the Board must approve the graduation requirement, but the plan is merely information as to how the college plans to implement the requirement. This would allow for a change in the implementation process in the future if desired. The following motion was passed unanimously (M/S/U – Cox/Harris):

           

            “that the Mission College Academic Senate accept the Implementation Plan as presented.”     

            Judie agreed to forward the documents she has prepared to take to the Board to Alex.  Alex will discuss format with Albert Moore.

 

            At this time, Jim Burrell arrived and the Senators agreed, by consensus, to go back to Item VII.D (M/S/U-Cogswell/Harris).

 

D.      Continue Discussion on Senate’s Role re: Academic Directions Relative to Facilities (Continued)

            Jim Burrell advised that the Facilities and Safety Committee will expand to include members of the construction management company, Worku and Cal Baker. The committee will serve as the body responsible for providing information to the college community.  The committee is mindful of the master plan and trying to ensure that the plans stay within the goals of the master plan.  The committee will consider the amount of money and how it is to be allocated.  Jim stated that the costs of construction will escalate the longer construction is delayed.  The college has $100 million for construction, and the goals and plan need to be evaluated to determine what can actually be built. 

 

            Jim reported that the plans for the Library half of the third floor are in the hands of the State’s Department of Architecture.  He advised that the manufacturer of the carpets chosen has agreed that when the college decides to replace the new carpets, they will be removed and recycled by the manufacturer.  The third floor plans do not include the Middle College offices or the North and West Side of the third floor. What to do with the Middle College must be determined as there are some conditions of the college’s contract with the high school district that must be met.  A call for bids should be issued some time in July/August and construction should begin sometime in September/October.  The project will take approximately one year.

 

            There was a brief discussion on the status of the lawsuit filed by a citizen.  Jim stated that it is expected that it will be thrown out as the results would effect all of California.  In the meantime, until the suit issue is resolved, the Bond money is withheld.  The Land Corporation will provide operational monies to proceed if necessary.

 

            Jim also reported that a web site is being developed so that information on the construction sites at both colleges is available and can be accessed.   Deb Nunez, Sean Blalock’s representative, will have an office on the MC campus and will be responsible for facility planning and serve as a contact person.  Bruce Thompson, a new member of the CCS group will work with Harriett Robles and will lead us through the revisions to the E&FMP to ensure that the new construction incorporates the education programs of the college. 

 

            The expanded Facilities and Safety Committee will have a permanent agenda position for these people, so that the first part of the meeting will be dedicated to discussions on construction.  The committee will function as a clearing-house.  Jim emphasized that construction needs to remain within the State’s guidelines for  “supportable buildings.”  This involves square footage, efficiency, etc.  Currently, State funds are being sought for a “Wellness Program” (aka PE) Building, and it is important that the college ensure that this program continues.  Another issue being considered is the implementation of a security component; the construction provides an opportunity to develop and incorporate security components.

 

            Jim was advised to make certain that the architect is aware of the codes that are applicable to the college, particularly ADA codes.  Another suggestion was to consider flooring other than carpeting. Jim agreed to look into the matter and offered to keep the Academic Senate apprised on construction and progress.

 

 

F.      Consider Approval of Proposed Revision to 508 Policy

            The Senators were provided with a revision to the adopted 508 Policy as proposed by President Hartley at West Valley College.  Alex explained that the intent of the proposal is to ensure that the style is in keeping with District Policies.  Helen Ostrander reported that she, Carol Toppel, and their counterparts at West Valley College have no objection to the proposed revision.  The policy  essentially remains the same.

 

            Discussion ensued, and it was stated that the Senate adopted the policy as stated and Albert Moore can adapt the policy to fit the written style of the Board’s policies without changing the adopted policy.  A motion to accept the proposed revision to the 508 Policy was made (M/S-Smebye/McKay) and a motion to amend the previous motion to include “approve in concept” was made and passed unanimously  (M/S/U – Cogswell/Perlas).  The final following motion was passed unanimously (M/S/U – Smebye/McKay):

 

            “that the Mission College Academic Senate accept the proposed revision to the 508 Policy in concept.”

 

            Alex was directed to bring the adopted policy to Albert Moore to prepare for presentation to the Board.

 

VIII.  New Business

 

   A.   Consider Approval of the Faculty Selection and Recruitment Manual’s Revised Step 14

            Alex explained that the Selection and Recruitment Manual distributed to Senate members was prepared by Human Resources with the Academic Senate Presidents and is being used to train faculty hiring committee members.  The manual conforms to the proposed District Faculty Hiring Policy to ensure the District is in compliance with Title 5. The decision was made to develop the manual based on the intent of the proposed District Faculty Hiring Policy and past practice until the new hiring policy is adopted. This is in keeping with the resolution passed by the District Academic Senate last year. This will ensure that the new faculty hires will be in compliance with Title 5 regulations. The existing policy, adopted in 1990, is obsolete and does not ensure compliance with the new regulations. 

 

            The revised version of Step 14 is intended to follow past practice at each college.  Alex noted that the process shown for Mission College is inaccurate.  After some discussion, it was agreed that Dianne and Alex will rewrite Step 14 to incorporate motions passed by the MCAS and to reflect current practice at Mission College, and bring it back to the Senate for approval.           

             

X.     Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

         Correspondence 

         Publication/Minutes

         1.   The agenda for the April 6th, and April 13, 2005, meeting of GAP, and the unapproved summary notes for the March 9, 2005, meeting.

            2.   The agenda for the April 21, 2005, meeting of the Mission-West Valley Land Corporation.

3.         The agenda for the April 6, 2005, meeting of DBAC and the unapproved minutes for the March 16, 2005, meeting.

            4.   The approved minutes for the March 3, 2005, meeting of the ACE Executive Council.

            5.   The March 24, 2005, issue of DVC FORUM from the Diablo Valley College Faculty Senate.

         Announcements/Conferences

         1.   The MC ACCESS Program has received a $1.2 million grant to provide services to underrepresented students at Mission College.  The combination of this U.S. Dept. of Education grant and the current federal grant will enable ACCESS to continue its operations through August 2011.

            2.   The Mission College Professional Development Day will be held August 26, 2005.

            3.   The MC Distance Learning Committee will hold a symposium on Monday April 25th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Telecommunication Building’s large conference room TAV 130.

 

XI.    Future Agenda Items

No new agenda items were presented at today’s meeting.

 

XII.   Adjournment

            The meeting was adjourned at 4:16 p.m. (M/S/U – McKay/Cox).  These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.