Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 5413

Approved  Minutes

Thursday,  September 19, 2002 

 

I.       Call to Order/Roll Call

            The meeting was called to order by President Jane Patton at 2:05  p.m. 

Senators

   A

   P

Senators

   A

   P

Brennan    (Ext. 5313)  Comm

     

    X

McAlister (Ext. 5087)  Stud.Dev.

    

   X

Charland  (Ext. 5046)  Stud. Dev.

 

    X

Mancini    (Ext. 5855) AF/HM

 

   X

Dooley    (Ext. 5379)  AAS

 

    X

Martin      (Ext. 5356)  Tech.

    

   X

Estrada     (Ext.5164) CommSvc

 

    X

Musat       (Ext. 5331) Math

 

   X

Guich      (Ext. 5270) Social Sci.

 

    X

Oliver       (Ext. 5427)  AAS

 

   X

Johnson   (Ext.5277) CATA

 

    X

Patton    (Ext. 5296) Comm Stud

 

   X

Lavallo    (Ext. 5399)  Math

 

    X

Rivas       (Ext. 5282)  CATA

    

   X

Light       (Ext. 5717) AF/CIT

     

    X

Rosner     (Ext. 5317) ESL

    X

   

Lynne      (Ext. 5248) CommSvc

 

    X

Sippel      (Ext. 5118) Comm

 

   X

 

 

 

VanTassel (Ext. 5334) Tech

 

   X

Other:   A.Braun (CRC),

   

    X

Other:  B.Grayson (Staff Dev)

    X  

   

S. Ghiya, S.Hanna (ASB Reps.),

D.Matarangas

 

    X

    X

Guests: K.Armstrong, J.Burrell, J.Hacker, C.Kuri, P.Sienna,

L.Witschi, S.Zeisler

 

   X

   X

   X

                   

 II.    Approval of the Minutes

            The minutes for the September 12, 2002, meeting were accepted and approved as submitted (M/S/U - Lynne/Guich).

             

III.    Order of the Agenda

            It was agreed (M/S/U - Charland/Lynne) that the order of the agenda will be changed to accommodate guests.  Item VII.B and VII.A will be addressed immediately following Item III.

 

VII.   Old Business

 

   B.   Report on Proposed Compressed Calendar

            Jane announced and congratulated Jim Burrell on his selection to assist the Vice President of Instruction, taking Sumi's position for one year. 

 

            Over the summer, Jim was asked to try to resolve some of the questions and concerns relative to the compressed calendar.  Jim advised that he took this fall semester's schedule and attempted to compress it into a sixteen-week calendar.  He consulted with the Division Chair Council, providing them with the constraints involved and asked them to assist him with details.  Jim explained the criteria and concerns relative to class start and finish times, and he offered a number of options that might be considered.  He noted that there are some departments that want to control their own time schedule, and it was his determination that some flexibility could be included in the development of the calendar.  In addition, there are some classrooms dedicated to particular disciplines that can also work into the calendar. In developing the mock calendar, Jim employed common sense and as much flexibility as possible.   It is his contention that the calendar can work.  The question is, however, is it desirable?  Is it pedagogically sound?  Jim expressed the need to be sensitive to all programs and their needs, as well as to provide students with a sense of order.  A major concern is the time block of 3:40 p.m.-6:50 p.m. for a three hour class.  It is currently difficult to get MC students to start at 4:00 p.m.  Jim noted that West Valley College has synchronized classes and has implemented 95 minute blocks.

 

            Jane stated that the Division Chairs had several questions and a number of faculty were going to contact counterparts at other colleges to glean as much information as possible.  Some research has indicated that the greatest impact of a shortened calendar is on the lower level basic skills courses.  Generally students who do well, will continue to do so.  Those students who need skill development need additional time to succeed in any case.

 

            Discussion veered to the student survey distributed this week and some concern was expressed that the wording in the survey might skew the results.   Senator Lavallo read a letter from Tim Jackins,    endorsed by the Math Department, which expressed a number of concerns about the needs of MC students as they relate to a compressed calendar.   In essence, the letter indicated his opposition to the implementation of such a calendar.  Senator Brennan expressed similar concerns, but opined that less class time is not the issue for those students who struggle. There are other reasons for their struggle and other interventions to better assist them.  Senator Sippel expressed concerns regarding the impact of the calendar on services, and a radical restructure of services might be required, particularly during an intersession.  In addition, hidden costs may not be evident until the calendar is implemented, i.e. an increase in support services. 

 

            During discussion, Phil Sienna asked pointedly, several times, why the Senate was not honoring the vote taken last year that indicated a mandate from faculty to implement a sixteen-week calendar.  He expressed frustration and dismay that today's discussion appears to ignore the fact that the faculty was asked to vote by ACE and by the Senate.  ACE honored the faculty vote and the MC Academic Senate continues to discuss the matter without consideration of the mandate from faculty.

 

            Jane, and other members of the committee responded that last year a calendar committee comprised of administrators, faculty, and students worked long, hard hours to tackle this issue.  It was decided by the committee that faculty, staff, and students needed to be surveyed. The opinion of the committee and the Senate was that much more information was needed to make a decision. The committee did not feel this was only a decision of the faculty.  In addition, there is no research evidence that moving to a sixteen-week calendar was of any benefit to the students.   It was felt that the committee was on the right track and its work was circumvented; the committee came under tremendous pressure to conduct a survey.  The survey was not well put together, and although it is true that more people said yes than no, there was a small turnout.  The committee opted to disband and brought the matter to the Senate.  Since a number of serious concerns and questions remained unresolved, the Senate forwarded the matter to GAP.  GAP did not move on the issue, and Jim was asked to investigate the room utilization concerns over the summer.  This is one key factor.  The other was the student survey, which is underway this week.   At this time, the DC's are looking into areas of concern and will make a recommendation to GAP.  Ultimately, the issue will be brought back to the Senate, but at this time, the Senate is not holding up the process. Phil expressed his view that few faculty considered the vote as a survey, and that the Senate is setting precedent..

 

            The question of a timeline was discussed, and Jim advised that a proposal must eventually be submitted to the state for approval prior to implementation.  In order to implement a sixteen-week calendar for next fall, most decisions should be agreed upon by the end of October, or beginning November.  He noted that the DC's have not established a timeline and have expressed interest in the results of the student survey.  The ASB representatives on the Senate indicated uncertainty regarding the calendar as well.  The following motion was made (M/S - Brennan/Rivas):

 

            "that the Mission College Academic Senate requests that GAP, the Division Chairs, and all other interested parties provide research materials, survey results, and relevant concerns to Mission College Academic Senate by Noon, Monday, October 7, 2002, and that the Academic Senate sets the deadline to vote on a compressed calendar on October 17, 2002." 

 

            Concerns were expressed that the Senate was forcing a time constraint, and after discussion on this question, the above motion was passed.   

 

   A.   Consider Formation of Crisis Intervention Committee as a Standing Committee of the Academic Senate

            It was reported that this committee has met several times.  The intent of the committee is to develop policy for dealing with disruptive students in the classroom, and how best to assist faculty and handle students when in crisis mode.  The committee feels it is appropriate that it become a standing committee of the Academic Senate.  Jane asked the Senators to consider the request and be prepared to take action at next week's meeting.                                                                                      

         The order of the agenda was resumed.

             

 IV.    Oral Communication from the Public

            There was no oral communication from the public at today's meeting.

        

  V.    Information & Announcements 

         1.   Jane reported that, due to budget cuts, some programs have been asked to cut back on services.  If students complain to faculty, faculty are encouraged to express empathy and explain the rationale for the cuts to the students.

            2.   The Chancellor will be seeking two faculty members to serve on the President's Search Committee. Jane asked the Senators to consider and recruit faculty members for this committee.

            3.   The Equivalency Committee will meet Friday, September 27th, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to discuss Faculty Service Areas (FSA's).  Jane explained that the law requires that the FSA master list be updated periodically.  Senator Sippel agreed to attend the meeting with Jane.

            4.   At next week's meeting, Jane will ask Senators to participate in one of three subcommittees of the Senate on the following:  a) MCAS Constitution, b) Graduation Requirements, and c) Overall Review of the Curriculum.

 

VI.    Administrative Business/Actions/Appointments

A.     Curriculum Committee  -  No report was made.

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

C.     Committee Appointments  - No appointments were made at today's meeting.

  D.    Oral Reports

        1.  Staff Development  - No report

         2.  Instructional Technology Committee  - No report.

         3.  Program Review Committee  - Jody Hacker advised that the task force hopes to complete its

                  task to review and select a program review model by Thanksgiving.  The group is looking at different models, as well as documents from the state Academic Senate.  Lydia Harris is working on the Student Services aspect.   The administrative and instructional reviews will be considered as well.  The committee will meet next Wednesday.

         4.  District Information Technology Steering Committee  - No report.

         5.  Other:   None

 

VII.   Old Business (Continued)

 

   C.   Consider ACE Policy on Associate Faculty Guaranteed Interviews

            The Senate members discussed a proposed policy brought to the Academic Senate last spring by Associate Faculty members of ACE.  The intent of the proposal is to ensure that Associate Faculty members currently employed by the district are guaranteed an interview for open full-time positions.    After a brief discussion, a motion to defer discussion on this matter to next week was passed unanimously (M/S/U Johnson/Oliver).    

 

   D.   Consider Change to Policy re: Curriculum Approval Process

            The subcommittee of the Senate met with Alex Braun this afternoon to consider a proposal to change the current curriculum approval process, delegating the college president as the final authority for approval rather than the Board of Trustees.  Jane explained that this proposal was initiated by the Community College League of California, a body representing administrators and trustees, and brought up at the District Council for consideration.   The intent of the proposal is to facilitate and speed up the curriculum approval process.  A motion to consider and discuss a draft policy was passed unanimously (M/S/U - Brennan/Charland). 

 

            During discussion, it was stated that the delays experienced with the current curriculum approval process have more to do with the schedule/catalog deadlines than with any delays experienced with the Board of Trustees.  It was agreed that this matter must be deliberated seriously.  The Senate could risk losing control over curriculum.  There is much to lose and little to gain.  After discussion, the following motion was passed unanimously (M/S/U - Lynne/Sippel):

 

            "that the Mission College Academic Senate opts to retain the current curriculum approval process."

 

            Jane was directed to notify the Chancellor and the District Council of the Senate's decision.

 

Due to the late hour, the remaining business items were postponed to the next meeting.

 

X.     Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

         Correspondence - None

         Publication/Minutes

         1.   The new Accreditation Standards adopted by the 2004 Standards for Accreditation at its meeting on June 9, 2002.

            2.   The agenda for the September 19, 2002, meeting of the Mission-West Valley Land Corp.

            3.   The amended agenda for the September 19, 2002, meeting of the Board of Trustees.

            4.   The agenda for the September 18, 2002, meeting of DBAC.

            5.   The agenda for the September 23, 2002, meeting of the MC Curriculum Review Committee, and a summary of the September 9, 2002, meeting.

         Announcements/Conferences

         1.   The ACE Forum at Mission College is scheduled for Thursday, September 26, 2002, in Room S3-501 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

XI.    Future Agenda Items

No new items were introduced at today's meeting.

 

XII.   Adjournment

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