Mission College Academic Senate

Ext. 5413

Approved  Minutes

Thursday,  December 13, 2001

 

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

Bell-Cheung  (Ext.5385) AAS

    

    X

Mancini   (Ext. 5855) AF/HM

 

   X

Brennan    (Ext. 5313)  Comm

    

    X

Martin     (Ext. 5349) Tech

    

   X

Cochran    (Ext. 5176)  Stud Dev

   

    X

McGee     (Ext. 5042) Stud Dev

   

   X

Estrada      (Ext.5164) CommSvc

 

    X

McKean   (Ext. 5326)  Math

 

   X

Guich       (Ext. 5270) SocSci

    X

    

Moore     (Ext. 5382)  AAS

 

   X

Jackins      (Ext.5322 )  Math

 

    X

Myint      (Ext. 5316) ESL

 

   X

Johnson    (Ext.5277) CATA

 

    X

Patton    (Ext. 5296) Comm Stud

 

   X

Light       (Ext. 5413) AF/CIT

 

    X

Sippel      (Ext. 5118) Comm

 

   X

Lynne      (Ext. 5248) CommSvc

 

    X

VanTassel (Ext. 5334) Tech

 

   X

 

 

 

ASB:  C.Vincenz

    X

 

Other:  B.Grayson (Staff Dev)

    X

 

Guests:  H. Stephens

 

   X

             

 II.    Order of the Agenda

            The order of the agenda was approved.

 

III.    Oral Communication from the Public

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

             

 IV.    Approval of the Minutes

            The minutes for December 6, 2001, meeting were accepted and approved with the following corrections (M/S/U – Mancini/Johnson) as indicated by strikethru and underlined italics:

 

            Page 3, Item VI. D. NISOD Awards   Oral Reports– Carol Beck was nominated for this award by Mary Moore, and the Senators unanimously approved Carol as a recipient of the NISOD Award (M/S/U – VanTassel/Brennan).  In addition, Jane advised that the names of last spring’s recipients of the Faculty Recognition Program  awards will be forwarded, as well as the ASB’s selection for teacher of the year for full-time faculty and associate  faculty.

 

            Page 3, E. Oral Reports

         1.  Staff Development – Betty Grayson presented a recommendation to the Academic Senate for consideration relative to the academic calendar.  She recommends that the Friday flex day scheduled for August be deleted dropped and replaced by a flex day scheduled on the day before Thanksgiving.  This would necessarily require that final exams begin one day earlier, on a Wednesday.  that an additional day be added on the fall calendar so that final exams would start on Friday, December 13th instead of Thursday, December 12th.  She asked the Senators to discuss the proposal with their constituents.

 

            The minutes for November 8, 2001, November 15, 2001, and November 29th, 2001, were all corrected to indicate that Senator Mary Moore was in attendance at those meetings (M/S/U).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 V.     Old Business

 

 A.     Second Reading/Consider Approval of Child Development Department Proposal

            Jane advised that the Senate’s Academic Policy and Procedures for Establishing New Programs and Departments, as well as an approval process sign-off cover sheet, was adopted by the Academic Senate in March 1999.  She noted that the Child Development Program was brought to Mission College prior to that date, with the understanding that the process to establish a department would necessarily involve approval by appropriate department authorities, the Division Chair Council, the Curriculum Committee, the Executive Administrative Team, and ultimately, the Academic Senate. She opened discussion to the floor.

 

            It was stated that the approval process as experienced by this department was inappropriate, and the Academic Senate must take a firm position to ensure that the policy and process as adopted by the Senate is enforced.  It was noted that, in the past, the Curriculum Review Committee’s (CRC) process required the signatures of department chairs and other entities before a course proposal could be approved.  However, the CRC approval process does not consider resources; that falls under the purview of other entities. The concerns of the DCC relative to the Child Development Department proposal primarily involved resources and funding for the program, and this type of information, although important, was clearly not part of the approval process.

           

            It was also recommended that curriculum should not be approved without the approval of the Academic Senate if the curriculum submitted does not fall under a specific program or department.  Under those circumstances, the issue should be brought to GAP or any other appropriate entity to ensure that the desire for the program/department meets the goals of the college and that resources are available.  Jane stated that she intends to call a joint meeting of the CRC and the Senate to clarify issues of this nature. Linda explained that apparently one can have a program that may not necessarily become a department.  On that basis, curriculum can be proposed and approved.  Linda opined that there is a lack of communication between the Academic Senate, the Division Chair Council (DCC), and the CRC.  There does not appear to be a check and balance system in place to ensure that the process is progressing as required.

 

            As discussion ensued, it was recommended that further discussion on the policy and procedures be set aside until next semester.  This is a critical issue and there are other concerns relative to curriculum that need to be examined further.  For example, it was reported that courses continue to be listed in the catalog which are no longer offered.  This issue will be placed on the agenda for further discussion in January.   

 

         The focus of discussion shifted to the program proposal itself, and Linda advised that the Child Care Center will cover at least 5/6ths of its operating costs. No additional expenditures for faculty are anticipated unless the program grows rapidly.  She has a projected budget, which she offered to share with anyone that is interested.  Linda also reported that she works closely with the WVC program and students can attend either college to complete their coursework.  She noted that programs at other local community colleges are similar to MC’s program.. She expressed confidence that the program will make the college proud, serving as a demonstration site and model program for the state. Linda extended an invitation to all interested parties to a department presentation to be given as part of the Flex Days program.

 

            The Senators unanimously passed the following motion (M/S/U – VanTassel/Jackins):

 

            “that Mission College create a Child Development Program.”

 

         Jane congratulated Linda and commended her for all her hard work in the development of the program.

VI.    Information & Announcements 

         1.   Senator Myint and Senator McKean will leave the senate.  Jane thanked them for their contribution to the Senate this semester, serving as substitutes for their department’s elected senators, Julaine Rosner and Carmen Musat, who were unable to serve this semester. 

            2.   Jane thanked the Senators for their contributions to the Senate and for helping her through her first semester as president.  She wished everyone a happy holiday.

            3.   The Board passed a resolution to hold a bond election next March for approximately $268 million.  The funds are intended primarily for needed facilities at both colleges.

            4.   The next MC Academic Senate meeting is scheduled for January 24, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. in Campus Center 219/20. 

            5.   Senator Brennan requested that the Senate discuss changes at the state level that effect the hiring process and the Chancellor’s Committee on Faculty and Staff Diversity.    

 

VII.   Correspondence, Publications, & Announcements

            Correspondence

         Publications/Minutes

         1.   Fall 2001 issue of LEAGUE IN ACTION from the Community College League of California.

            2.   The meeting agenda and minutes for the November 28, 2001, meeting of DBAC.

            3.   The revised agenda for the December 13, 2001, Board meeting.

            4.   The December 7, 2001, issue of the DVC FORUM from the Diablo Valley College Senate.

            5.   The agenda for the December 10, 2001, meeting of the MC Curriculum Review Committee.

            6.   The flex brochure for January 10-11, 2002 from Staff Development.

         Announcements/Conferences

1.   The 2002 Vocational Education Faculty Leadership Seminar will be held in Santa Cruz, March 7-9, 2002.  Seminar activities will commence Friday at 10:00 a.m. and conclude on Saturday

      at 3:00 p.m.  Registration information is available from the Academic Senate Office.

2.   The Community College League of California will hold its Annual Legislative Conference, “Stepping Up 2002” in Sacramento, February 3-4, 2002.  Information and registration form is available from the Academic Senate Office.

 

VIII.  Adjournment

            The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m. (M/S/U – Moore/Sippel).

 

            These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.