Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 5413

Unapproved Minutes

Thursday, November 10, 2005

 

I.       Call to Order/Roll Call

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

 

Senators

A

P

Senators

A

P

Beggs (Ext. 5188) AAS

 

X

Mancini (Ext. 5413) AF/HM

 

X

Braun (Ext. 5355) Pres/Tech

 

X

Martin (Ext. 5356) Tech

 

X

Brichko (Ext. 5222) CATA

X

Moles (Ext. 5113) ESL

X

Cogswell (Ext. 5388) AAS

X

Ostrander (Ext. 5274) Stud Dev.

 

X

Cox (Ext.5164) CommSvc

 

X

Paicius (Ext. 5413) AF/CATA

 

X

Juncker (Ext.5229) Comm

X

Perlas (Ext. 5041) Stud.Dev.

X

Kashima (Ext. 5319) ESL

X

Rounds (Ext. 5288) Comm

X

Laird (Ext. 5186) SocSci

X

Smebye (Ext. 5305) CommServ

X

Lavallo (Ext. 5399) Math

X

Szabados (Ext.5289) CATA

X

 

 

 

Ting (Ext. 5330) Math

 

X

Guest: D.McKay (DC), H.Robles

 

X

 

 

 

 

II.     Approval of the Minutes

            The minutes for the meeting of October 27, 2005, were accepted and approved as submitted (M/S/P –Mancini/Cox).

 

III.    Order of the Agenda

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

IV.    Oral Communication from the Public

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

        

V.    Information & Announcements

         No informational items or announcements presented at today’s meeting.

 

VI.    Administrative Business/Actions/Appointments

A.    Curriculum Committee - No report was presented at today’s meeting.

B.   Committee Appointments

            1. Plagiarism Procedure Subcommittee – Rob Dewis volunteered to serve on this committee and was appointed (M/S/U – Cox/Cogswell) by the Senate. Will Paicius volunteered as well and was appointed to this Senate committee (M/S/U – Cogswell/Cox).

         2. GAP – Ray Charland volunteered to fill the second faculty vacancy on GAP. It was explained, however, that Ray will not be able to attend this semester, but can begin to serve next semester. The Senators unanimously agreed to appoint Ray to GAP (M/S/U – Cox/Cogswell) effective next semester.

         3. SLO Assessment Committee – Rick Hobbs volunteered to serve on this committee. It was suggested that the Senate ask the division chairs to recruit volunteers from each division. The following motion was passed unanimously (M/S/U – Cogswell/Paicius):

              “that the Mission College Academic Senate requests the Division Chair Council to recruit representatives from each division for the SLO Assessment Committee.”

                 4.  Information Competency Task Force – Rebecca Tran has volunteered to serve on this committee and was appointed by the Senators (M/S/U – Cox/Rounds).

C.    President’s Reports -

         ASCCC Fall Plenary - Senators Brichko, Cox, and Kashima attended the ASCCC Fall Plenary Session along with President Alex Braun. There were a number of breakout sessions dealing with academic freedom, 75/25 ratio, shared governance, etc. Alex provided the Senators with a list of resolutions presented at the session.

         Senator Kashima reported on information she gleaned on SLOs and student equity, and information she networked on assessment tools. Stephanie also advised that many colleges have one or two full weeks of staff development. This college only has two days, which is very limiting. She also reported that the retention of new faculty is a problem statewide, and she shared the college’s new faculty orientation, which impressed all.

         Senator Cox reported that she attended a session on the compressed calendar and how it affects Instructional Support Services and Student Services. On Work-to-Contract issues, Cathy reported that schools handle institutional responsibilities differently. Many institutions do not specify a time amount so that when Work-to-Contract begins, all committee work stops unless it is agreeable to the union and the senate. Regarding the definition of a Distance Ed course, Cathy reported that the college handles this issue well. The fact that the Curriculum Review Committee, the Tech Committee, and the Distance Learning Committee are subcommittees of the Academic Senate is a good plan. It was suggested that Senators visit the ASCCC website for available information. It is empowering and makes one aware of responsibilities of the Senate.

            District Council – Alex reported that Sandi Dillon has drafted a Classified & Management Recruitment & Selection Procedures document. The Senators were provided with copies of same and asked to review the document and be prepared to discuss it at next week’s Senate meeting. Dianne McKay stated that it is her belief that an administrative hiring policy exists and specifies the makeup of administrative hiring committees. Senator Paicius requested that the policy be distributed and included in the minutes.

 

VII.   Old Business

 

A. Discuss Standards for Kuwait Project Feasibility Study & Appoint Senators to Task Force

            Alex advised the Senators of the following motions passed by the West Valley College Academic Senate at its last meeting:

 

            “that the WVCAS establish a task force that will identify parameters that will guide the feasibility study for a possible campus in Kuwait.”

 

            “that the task force include, as part of the parameters, to address the District’s policy for Global Education.”

 

            The WVCAS appointed six Senators to the task force.

            Alex explained that this is in keeping with the motion passed by the District Academic Senate at its last meeting. The next District Academic Senate meeting will be held on December 1st at Mission College. The main agenda item will be to identify standards for a feasibility study. In essence, the District is establishing a third campus in Kuwait. This is an extremely important matter and the criteria and standards must be established by the Academic Senate.

 

            A lengthy discussion ensued and it was suggested that the task force be a combined committee of WVC and MC Senators. A number of concerns and questions were considered. The question of revenue was discussed, and it was suggested that the task force ensure that any revenue gleaned from this venture be distributed to the colleges and not flow through the budget allocation model. It was stated that by establishing the task force, the District Academic Senate will set the parameters and conditions that must be met by the feasibility study.

 

            At this time, the Senators agreed to extend the discussion an additional ten minutes (M/S/U), and discussion continued primarily to provide clarification. It was stated that by agreeing to set standards and parameters for the feasibility study does not mean that the project is approved. The following motion was passed (M/S/P – Cogswell/Paicius):

 

            “that the Mission College Academic Senate establish a task force that will identify parameters that will guide the feasibility study for a possible campus in Kuwait.”

 

            For clarification purposes, it was stated that the committee will decided how it will proceed and that the intent is to direct the college committees to join and work together. The following senators volunteered to serve on the task force: President Alex Braun, Senator Cathy Cox, Senator Helen Ostrander, and Senator Will Paicius. It was suggested that additional members be recruited to serve on the task force. Ron Smebye and Jane Patton were suggested as possible members. Alex agreed to ask them both to consider serving on the committee.

 

B.  Continue Discussion on Codification of MC New Faculty Hiring Process

            The Senators were provided with revisions to the existing process by Betti and reviewed the proposed changes. Harriett Robles, VP of Instruction expressed her view that the proposed dates are too late as they are based on an 18 week calendar and suggested that the dates be aligned with the Fall 2005 timetable. She agreed to provide a timetable, and no decision was made at this time.

 

            A question of process arose, relative to an issue regarding an internal faculty hire and the vacancy resulting from that hire. If a position is filled from within, what type of priority would be given to the backfill of the vacated position? As discussion continued, the Senators agreed to extend the discussion (M/S/U) and it was stated that, in the past, such vacancies have been included in the next ranking process for faculty hires. It was suggested that this might result in the loss of an existing position. The Senators were asked to consider the revisions and the changes to procedure and be prepared to discuss the matter further and consider action at next week’s meeting.

 

VIII.  New Business

 

A.     Discuss Mission College’s Mission Statement

The Senators received a number of proposed versions to revise the college’s mission statement. Alex noted that accreditation requires colleges to review their mission statements periodically. He noted that a task force was formed last summer to review the college’s mission statement and a number of versions were prepared. Alex developed another version based on input he received from the faculty at the college-wide forum. He shared that version with the members of GAP on August 10th and suggestions were made that resulted in an additional option. Alex opened the floor to discussion and asked for direction.

 

Discussion ensued, and it was noted that the existing statement must simply be reviewed and does not necessarily require revision. It was stated further that the MCAS will provide a recommendation to GAP. The Senators were asked to review and consider the various versions of the college’s mission statement received, and be prepared to draft a recommendation on the statement for presentation to GAP.                                                              

 

B.     Discuss Status of District’s Benefit Committee

            Alex advised that the members of this committee are upset that their meetings have been cancelled. Hence, the members called for another meeting of this committee, held on Monday November 7, 2005, at Mission College. This matter will be placed on next week’s agenda for further information and discussion.

 

IX.    Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

     Correspondence

1.    E-Mail dated October 28, 2005, from Malcolm Brodrick concerning ACE and hard data.

2.    E-Mail dated October 31, 2005, from ACE re: District’s proposal for Article 13.

3.    E-Mail dated October 31, 2005, from ACE re: District’s compensation proposal.

4.    E-Mail dated October 31, 2005, from Randy Castello re: Benefit scenarios.

     Publication/Minutes

1.    The agenda for the November 3, 2005, meeting of the Board of Trustees.

2.    The agenda for the November 2, 2005, meeting of GAP.

3.    The agenda for the November 3, 2005, meeting of ACE.

4.    The agenda for the November 2, 2005, meeting of DBAC and the unapproved and approved minutes for the October 19th meeting.

5.    The October issue of the Perspective newsletter from the CCCFT, AFT, AFL-CIO.

6.    The Summer 2005 issue of Accreditation NOTES from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

         Announcements/Conferences

 

X.   Future Agenda Items

1. Discuss Move from .6 to .8 loads for Associate Faculty. (?)

 

XI.    Adjournment

            The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m. (M/S/U – Cogswell/Mancini). These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.