The meeting was called to order by President Dianne McKay at 2:08 p.m.

The minutes for the September 2, 1999, meeting will be approved at next week’s meeting.

No changes were made to today’s order of agenda. Guests will be accommodated if necessary.

Senator Toppel advised that the Student Development Division will elect its second senator by Monday.

Don Cordero advised that the original Balance of Curriculum Committee has sunset, and he requested that the Academic Senate reconstitute the Balance of Curriculum Committee. He suggested that the new committee revisit the Balance of Curriculum plan, particularly in light of request to re-evaluate degrees and certificates being offered. President McKay urged the Senators to attend the Board’s Strategic Conversation scheduled for September 16, 1999. The meeting will be held at Mission College and the topic of conversation is degrees and certificates

Senator Patton clarified that her concern regarding the Assistant to the Chancellor position is based on her concerns relative to the growth of Central Services rather than funding the position itself. Senator Kleppinger also expressed his concern regarding the process used for funding Central Services and the lack of accountability.

1. The Fall Plenary Session of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges will be held in Los Angeles, November 4-6, 1999. President McKay advised that funds are available and urged the Senators to consider attending this session. Senators Kleppinger, Patton, and Toppel expressed an interest in attending the session.

A. Curriculum Committee - President McKay noted that the section on curriculum in the draft document of Chapter 4 of Board Policy will be forwarded to the Curriculum Committee for review.

B. Staff Recognition - No nominations were made at today’s meeting.

1. Dianne noted that three more tenure review teams have been completed as follows:

Zummo: Steve Dinger, Helene Flolo, Edith Dooley

Irvine: Steve Dinger, Marsha Chan, Diane Pette

Cochran: Carol Beck, Deborah LeFalle, Lydia Harris

One more team remains to be filled. It was noted that the ACE contract contains language that states that the Tenure Review Teams must be selected by the time faculty members are selected. Dianne suggests that the Selection Committee and the Tenure Review Teams be selected at the time a position is requested by a department, and that this step be included in the process.

2. No one has volunteered, to date, to serve as Chair of the Instructional Program Review Committee. The position comes with .2 release time and is an extremely critical position. A brief discussion ensued relative to the rights of an instructor and his/her department. It was agreed that there is no language in the ACE contract or the Academic Senate constitution that interferes with an instructor’s right to choose such a position.

3. A call for volunteers will be issued for three faculty members to serve a two year term on the Partnership for Excellence Committee to replace Laurie Collins, Ann Roberts, and Judie Smith

4. Since Laurie Collins has resigned, Dianne advised that there is a vacant Senate seat on the College Governance Advisory Council. Senator Burtch volunteered to serve on this committee and the Senators confirmed his appointment by consensus.

A number of Senators reported on the results of polling their constituents regarding the Spring 2000 commencement. Based on the reports from Senators, it appears that a majority of faculty favor the option of deciding the date and time on a yearly basis. It was noted that 7:30 p.m. is viewed as too late a start time and the weekend prior to Memorial Day is not acceptable. A brief discussion on the safety hazards evoked in using the gym for graduation ensued, and the Senators were advised that President O'Hearn is contemplating another site. Dianne was directed to advise the administration and the Board that faculty’s preference for the coming year is to hold commencement on the last Friday of the semester, starting the ceremony by 6-6:30 p.m.

The Senators reviewed copies of a memo from members of the Business Department regarding the proposed curriculum policy and took it under advisement. It was noted that the division is not represented on the Senate.

Dianne explained that there are often curriculum overlaps that are not disputed by either department involved. However, last spring there was a dispute between two departments, which brought to light the fact that there is no formal written policy in place to handle such disputes. This policy has been designed to resolve any such problems. It is not intended to usurp any discussion; it is intended to serve as a guide for dealing with similar curriculum concerns in the future.

Additional amendments were made to the policy, and the Senators agreed, by consensus, to forward the draft proposal to the Curriculum Committee for review. The committee is expected to bring the policy back to the Senate with any revisions and ultimately, a recommendation for approval.

As the Senators proceeded to review the document presented to them, it became apparent that the proposed revisions did not coincide with the original document, making it difficult to determine which portions of the Board Policy were to be deleted, amended, and/or rewritten.

Since this section of Board Policy deals with academic issues, the Senators expressed their consternation and grave concern, ceasing their review of the document. They directed Dianne to advise the President and the Chancellor accordingly.

The Mission College Academic Senate calls for the election of a Vice-President (VP) from the Senate members. Dianne asked all present to consider serving as VP, noting that she is able to provide .1 release time for a VP who is willing to take on additional responsibilities other than the normal "fill-in" duties of the VP. An election will be held at next week’s meeting.

The following list of discussion items and goals were gleaned from last year’s agendas and will set the direction of the Academic Senate for this academic year:

Goals

Finalize Program Discontinuance Policy

Reconstitute Balance of Curriculum Committee & prepare for WASC visit

Revisit Shared Governance Policy

Review the Equivalency Process

Begin Educational & Facility Master Plan (Spring)

Review Distance Learning Standards & Practices

Agenda Items for Discussion

Report from Subcommittee on Registration, Records, Grades, Pre-Requisites, Co-Requisites Practices

Review Technology Committee Structure

Review Status of Testing Center

Review Status of Workforce Development Committee

Hold a Joint Meeting w Curriculum Committee

Discuss Bookstore Concerns

Review Procedures for Allocation of Full-Time Faculty Hiring

The Senators agreed to form subcommittees to deal with goal issues once provided with an overview and historical background of the issues. New Senators will be provided with documents and pertinent information.

1. Board Meeting - The Board adopted the language approved by the Academic Senate for the Sexual Harassment policy.

2. College Governance Advisory Council - The function and role of the council was discussed.

3. District Council - The position and job description of the Staff Development Coordinator was discussed. This position will report to the college president and be assigned .5 release time. It is anticipated that the position will be filled in time for the Spring semester, with a stipend allotted for work done during the Fall semester.

4. Others: No other reports were made.

1. PFE Task Force - No Report

2. Instructional Technology Committee - No Report

3. Distance Learning Committee - No Report

1. Letter dated August 31, 1999, from the state Chancellor re: Local Targets Regarding the Partnership for Excellence.

2. Letter dated September 3, 1999, from the state Chancellor re: Guidelines on Accessibility of Distance Education Courses for Students with Disabilities.

3. Letter dated September 1, 1999, from the state Chancellor re: Regulation Revisions--Library Standards and Waiver of Program-Based Funding Requirements.

1. The meeting summary for the September 1, 1999, meeting of DBAC.

1. The deadline to get courses to the Curriculum Review Committee for the Spring Schedule is

October 4, 1999.

No new items were added at today's meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p. m. (M/S/U - Toppel/Hudak). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.