Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 2783

Unapproved Minutes

Thursday, October 21, 1999

I. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by President Dianne McKay at 2:11 p.m. Other: B.Grayson (CRC Chr)
Senators
A P
Senators
A P
Akers-Martin (X 2844)Com X Hudak (Ext. 2879) CommSvc X
Burtch (Ext.2852) AAS X Jackins (Ext. 3420) Math X
Costanza (Ext. 3414) ESL X Kleppinger (Ext.3224) CServ X
DeMarco (Ext. 3337) Tech X McGee (Ext. 3143) Stud Dev X
Flolo (Ext.3309) AAS X McKay (Ext. 3418) Pres. X
Grams (Sub/Moyers) SocSci X Moyers (Ext. 3404) Soc Sci X
Hill (Ext. 3366) CATA X Patton (Ext. 2806) Comm X

II. Approval of the Minutes

The minutes for the October 14, 1999, meeting were accepted and approved with the following correction (M/S/P - Patton/Moyers):

Page 2, Item VI.C.4 (Committee Appointments - Matriculation Advisory Committee):

Donnelle McGee will chair the Orientation Component

Dianne Pette will chair the Assessment Component

III. Order of the Agenda

There were no changes to today's Order of the Agenda.

IV. Oral Communication from the Public

Mike McKenna announced that he is working on a proposal to make Mission College a "Green Campus." He has discussed this opportunity with the MC Facilities/Safety Committee and President O'Hearn and received a positive response. The project would be funded through a REBRAC grant, which Mike currently directs. The first part of the project, which is partially completed, is to bring Mission College into compliance with the Hazardous Materials regulations. The second part is to conduct a waste stream audit. An intern in the Environmental Technology Program would complete the audit. Grant funds are available to establish a "Green Campus."

In addition, Mike is currently working with two start-up environmental companies on what is known as "Non-Point Source Reduction, Storm Water." The EPA and NSF have been approached with a proposal to develop Mission College as a technology certification site for new technology. This would involve the college as a training site for industry on Non-Point Resource, and would bring the college excellent publicity at no cost to the college. In addition, the project would necessarily involve the existing college recycling program and the ASB.

V. Old Business

A. In Depth Discussions on Issues Related to Distance Learning & Issues Related to Registration

Dianne explained that the purpose of these discussions is to deal with issues that continue to arise regarding distance learning and registration. The intent of the Senate today is to sunshine these issues and approach solutions. Chris Moyers, Chair of the Distance Learning Committee facilitated the discussion on distance learning, and Donnelle McGee facilitated the discussion on registration issues. At the end of the discussion periods, both groups reported to the whole body for additional input and reporting purposes.

The distance learning group was comprised of Mike Burtch, Marsha Chan, Phil DeMarco, Betty Grayson, Pat Hudak, Tim Jackins, Chris Moyers, Jane Patton, and Carol Toppel. They were asked to consider the following:

1. What are the issues/problems that are apparent with Distance Learning?

2. How can or how is Mission College assuring quality in Distance Learning courses and delivery?

3. Brainstorm possible solutions.

The results of the discussion are as follows:

Distance Learning (DL) Issues/Problems

a) Is Distance Learning really effective?

b) Is DL comparable to a lecture course?

c) How can we measure equivalency to a lecture course?

d) How does DL address interaction (faculty-student/student-student)?

e) What are the rules about personal contact?

f) How do we track student success and retention?

g) Is there ample training and support for faculty?

h) The issue of faculty load - size.

i) Technical and academic help/support for students and faculty.

j) Monitoring DL classes for specific modality.

k) Testing

l) Student Verification - How do we know the student registered is the student participating in a

class?

m) What needs are we addressing via DL?

n) What population is being targeted/served?

o) Worth opportunity costs?

p) Accessibility issues (e.g. disabled students)

q) DL vs. Telecourses vs. Other forms of DL courses

r) Growth and funds - on-going funding

s) Consider development of Senate position paper on DL philosophy and place??

t) Consider CAP and its effect and DL effect on capped enrollment.

u) Issue: Network issues back up plan for on-line courses.

v) Get input from people not involved with DL

w) Bring policies and issues back to the Senate for broader view and report to constituents.

x) Department and division review of all DL courses before proposals go to CRC.

Quality Assurance & DL Delivery - What Can We Do?

Training and support

Comparison Study between DL and non DL Testing

Appraising On-Line Courses

Make DL Policies in line with state Senate Policies

Distribute Policies/Guidelines (PBS Guidelines)




Quality Assurance & DL Delivery - What Are we Doing?

CRC Forms - Committee reviews course proposals in light of DL mode

Exit Testing

Appraising Telecourse Instructors

Training Instructors

Handbook for Students

State Senate Policies provide guidelines for DL

Teaching According to PBS Guide to Instruction for Telecourses

Possible Solutions

1. Solve budget issues for telecourses.

2. Form subcommittee to investigate faculty load.

3. Refer to ACE re: Load

4. Network Administrator to support servers.

5. Hire a full-time webmaster.

6. Make sure DL issues are addressed in Strategic Planning.

7. Resolve feasibility of DL for a given subject/specific courses.

8. Develop on line evaluations of course and instructor.

9. Distribute guidelines for disabled services for DL courses.

10. Get input from departments re: new DL courses

11. Request Institutional Research Office to obtain student demographics of DL students.

The registration group was comprised of Amelia Akers-Martin, Jennifer Costanza, Celia Esposito, Helene Flolo, Ed Kleppinger, Donnelle McGee, Dianne McKay, and Jane Patton. They were asked to consider the following:

1. What are the issues/problems that are apparent with registration?

2. Are there policies and procedures that need to be created, reviewed, and/or revised for registration/prerequisites that include the Senate?

3. Brainstorm possible solutions.

Registration Problems/Issues

1. Classes not closed - even when department has closed the class.

2. Enrolled in a class with a prerequisite; i.e. English 1A and 1B at the same time

3. Taking English 1B without having taken English 1A

4. Pre-Registration Problems

5. Closed Programs

6. Prerequisite Challenges - "turn around time" - student-supporting data

7. Late adds (after 6 weeks) (one program to another)

8. Class Schedule Organization

9. Pre-registration issues of time for currently enrolled students.

10. Co-Requisites not adequately screened and implemented. Automatic Co-Requisite registration

11. Student took pre-Requisite but can't enroll in co-requisite course because he/she is not currently enrolled in prerequisite course.

12. Remote registration for people far away - late adding from a distance - signature vs. e-mail - DL on-line issue

13. Automatic additional course generation for oversubscribed courses






Are there policies and procedures that need to be created, etc.....

1. Pre-Requisites - How they are implemented - consistency between programs and within programs

2. (Pre-Requisite Challenges) Summer Policy - When Department Chairs are not on campus

3. Relationship of Wait List - Order of students

Closed classes and generation of new sections

4. In class for four weeks and ask for an add slip . . . Does not complete Pre-Req form. . .

5. Posting of grades for short courses only at the end of the semester

6. Positive attendance

7. Forms

Possible Solutions

1. Program Central Services to fix students enrolling in two classes without meeting Pre-Req (Eng 1A and Eng 1B).

2. Orientation to DC's on registration process

3. Resource Manual - Who do you contact?

4. Workshop with someone from the state Chancellor's Office to clarify waivers, pre-reqs. . .

Who Needs the above Information?

Solution 1. Chris Olson (use PFE money)

Lee Callaway

Celia Esposito

Solution 2. DC's

Solution 3. Whoever does Faculty Handbook

Solution 4. Senate

Lee Callaway

Dan Matarangas

Matriculation

Reports from each group were presented to the entire body and additional input was incorporated into the above lists. Primarily, the issues relative to distance learning were referred back to the Distance Learning Committee for review and resolution. The registration concerns will be addressed by a subcommittee of the Academic Senate comprised of Amelia Akers-Martin, Jennifer Costanza, Donnelle McGee, Celia Esposito, Dianne McKay, and Jane Patton. Lee Callaway and Dan Matarangas will be asked to join the group as well. The DL Committee and the Senate Subcommittee on Registration will keep the Senate apprised of their progress.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m. (M/S/U ñ Moyers/Toppel). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.