West Valley College Academic Senate

Unapproved Minutes

Tuesday,  April 8, 2003

Academic Senate Office, Ext. #2075

 

 1.0.  Call to Order

            The meeting was called to order at 2:14 p.m. by President King.

 

 1.1      Roll Call

 

Senators

   A

   P

Senators

   A

   P

 

Berlani      (Ext. 2563)   Science

    

   X

King        (Ext. 2547)  At-Large

 

   X

 

Brueckner  (Ext. 2472)  FineArts

   

   X

Kopernik (Ext.2578) Lib/TechCtr

 

   X

Buendia-Bangle(Ext.2476)StudSer

 

   X

Lock      (Ext. 2442) Pres-Elect

 

   X

Carey       (Ext. 2419) AtLge/Bus

   X

   

Mingione (Ext. 2075)  AF/Bus

 

   X

Cisneros   (Ext. 4014) English

   X

 

Sarlo        (Ext. 2526)  PE

 

   X

Ellis        (Ext. 2568)  Math

 

   X

Schock     (Ext. 2447)  Business

 

   X

Hasty     (Proxy for Thelin)

 

   X

Smith      (Ext. 4082)  LangArts

   X

   

Javan       (Ext. 2498)  AAS

 

   X

Thelin      (Ext. 2147) SocSci

   X

   

Other:

 

 

 Guests: M.Conroy, H.Diamond

 

   X

 

1.2    Approval of the Minutes

            The minutes for the April 1, 2003, meeting were accepted and approved with the following corrections (M/S/

 

            Page 3, Item 4.3 – Senator Sarlo’s term is not completed.  Rather, she will be on leave next semester.

            Page 3, Item 6.3, last paragraph, third sentence reads as follows:  “Counting zeroed classes as zero”  should be changed to, “Some classes are listed with zero enrollment cap.”

            Page 5, Item 6.4, first sentence: Vivian clarified that the picnic planned by Staff Development will be held on May 2, 2003 at Sanborn Park.

 

1.3    Order of the Agenda  

         It was agreed by consensus that the order of agenda will be changed to accommodate guests.

             

2.0    Oral Communication From the Public  

            See Item 6.1

 

 3.0   Information & Announcements (College & District)

            1.   The April 15th meeting of the WVC Academic Senate will start at 3:00 p.m. so that Senators can attend the ACE forum to be held on that date.  

          

4.0    Administrative Business/Actions/Appointments

4.1    Curriculum Committee – Linda reported that the bulk of the committee’s curriculum has been completed for the year and presented to the Board.

4.2    Committee Appointments 

         a)  The District Academic Senate motion passed at the March 18, 2003, meeting has been presented to the Board.  This motion requests that a subcommittee of the Board comprised of two faculty representatives from each college and two Board members be formed.  The charge of this committee will be to develop a reorganization plan for district-wide services that significantly reduces the size of the district-wide budget, prioritizes shifting funds to the areas that fulfill our district goals and mission statement, and develop controls to ensure that over spending the district-wide budget does not continue.  After discussion, the Senators agreed to appoint Jim Wilczak and Vivian Lock to this committee (M/S/U – Buendia-Bangle/Mingione),  Jim as the WVC Academic Senate’s Budget Analyst and Vivian as its President Elect. 

         b)  District Academic Senate Delegate to the ASCCC Plenary – Angelica volunteered to attend if her schedule permits.  If she is not able to attend, the MC Academic Senate will be asked to appoint a delegate.

 

5.0    Old Business

5.1    Review Board Agenda/District Council  - Linda has forwarded the District Council agenda and minutes to the Senators for their review.

5.2    College Council  -  The College Council minutes and agendas have been forwarded to the Senators for their information.

5.3    ACE Issues/Liaison – ACE will hold a forum next Tuesday, April 15, 2003, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in AAS 10.  Also, ACE will conduct an all day hearing on April 18, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria.

 

6.0    Old Business

 

6.1    Continue Discussion on Budget Cuts and Concerns

         Heidi Diamond, an Associate Faculty member of the Business Division addressed the Senate with her concerns regarding the reduction of all associate faculty from the General Business program and the future of the program.  She expressed concern about the students and their ability to complete their programs and achieve their goal for an AA degree.  She asked how best to serve her students who are very concerned about the program reductions, what advice she could give them, and what she can do to alleviate the situation.  The Senators encouraged Heidi to tell her students to be optimistic and to attend the April 17th Board meeting to voice their concerns and individual situations.  It was stated that the district has a legal obligation to provide the necessary courses for the students to complete their programs.  Statistical data on the number of students participating in a program is available for each department and Linda urged the Senators to forward such information to her before Thursday, when she and Jane will meet with the Chancellor and the President of the Board.   It was noted that although some departments have experienced a lesser reduction in force than others, all departments have had to cut 25% across the board. Those cuts will affect all departments.  Their students will have to bear the burden of dealing with the cuts across the curriculum and programs.

 

            Linda advised that everyone is aware of the plight of the associate faculty and the Senate is working to resolve the crisis.  Communication to the Board members and the legislators is a key factor.  A Senator suggested that all associate faculty members be contacted and urged to attend the April 17th Board meeting and students be encouraged to attend as well.  It was announced that ACE will hold a legal hearing on April 18, 2003, in the Cafeteria from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..   

 

         President King advised that there have been a large number of positive responses to the e-mails that have emanated from the Academic Senate Presidents.  A Senator reported that a number of faculty have indicated they feel encouraged that the Academic Senate took action and made some progress.  Recent events have brought faculty together and there is strength in unity.    

 

            At this time, the order of the agenda was suspended and moved to Item 7.3 to accommodate Ms. Conroy.

 

7.2    Consider Resolution Advocating Preservation of TRDP

            At last week’s meeting May Conroy asked the Senate to consider a resolution for presentation at the ASCCC’s Area B meeting on Friday, April 11, 2003, at Mission College.  The intent of the resolution is to advocate for the preservation of the Teacher and Reading Development Partnership (TRDP) at the state level.  May reported that other colleges have prepared a similar resolution for the ASCCC’s consideration at its Plenary Session in May.  She explained further that the funds are allocated by the state through grant funds.  This money is not in competition with any other program and will not adversely affect the college.

 

            The following resolution was accepted and passed unanimously by the Senate (M/S/U – Kopernik/Sarlo):

 

            “Whereas, Thirty-three district/colleges throughout the California Community Colleges system have established Teacher and Reading Development Partnership (TRDP) programs to clearly articulated transfer-track teacher preparation programs for students from diverse backgrounds, and

 

            Whereas,  The original five year promise of $10 million per year beginning 2000/01 was reduced in 2002/03 to $5 million by the Governor, and further cuts proposed for 2003/04 will severely and disproportionately reduce funding to the TRDP programs statewide rendering them non-existent in most cases, and

 

            Whereas,  The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and local academic senates are primarily responsible for the maintenance and success of curricular/student success programs leading to transfer, and specifically for the success of students from underrepresented backgrounds – all of which support the “highest priorities” of the community college system, and

 

            Whereas,  State faculty leadership has not consulted with the TRDP program directors in the field and therefore seemingly being uninformed and unable to defend against disproportionate budget cuts and de facto program discontinuance, which will severely impact the success of students from diverse backgrounds, and

 

            Be It Finally Resolved,  That the Academic Senate for West Valley Community College urge the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to inform the Consultation Council, the Chancellor, and the Board of Governors to advocate the Legislature and the Governor that they restore the promise to lower divisional teacher preparation programs in the community colleges be restoring the TRDP budget with reductions at no more than the percentages afforded to other student success categorical programs such as EOPS, DSPS, and Matriculation.”

 

            President King will bring the above motion to the Area B meeting for presentation at the ASCCC Plenary Session.

 

            Ms. Conroy reported that she attended a meeting of teaching faculty in Sacramento, and that comments from FACCC reps and others indicated that the West Valley-Mission CCD and a few Southern California community colleges were experiencing resistance with their administration relative to the budget crisis.  She announced that a hearing will be held on April 29th at 1:30 p.m. in Room 430 of the Capitol Building in Sacramento to discuss reductions to community colleges for the 2003/04 budget.  She encouraged faculty to get involved.

 

            The order of the agenda was resumed.

 

6.2    Select Recipients of Faculty Recognition Awards and Plan Event

            The Senators reviewed the nomination and candidate forms submitted for this year’s consideration and ranked the candidates.  It was agreed that an Open House Tea will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2003, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at which time the recipients will be announced and the occasion celebrated.    

 

         Other staff development activities include a field trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco on April 25, 2003, and a picnic on May 2nd at Sanborn Park.  Announcements will be distributed soon.

 

6.3    Discuss College and District Leadership

         There was a brief discussion on the current college and district leadership.

 

 7.0   New Business

 

7.1    Lab Consolidation Task Force

            This item was postponed to the next Senate meeting.

 

7.3    Discuss Evaluation Requirements of On-Line Instruction

            Linda reported that Ken’s concern regarding the on-line courses with Labs by Arrangement was brought to the Performance Goals Committee meeting for discussion. Mal indicated that changes will be made to ensure the appropriate apportionment will be made for those classes that are offered on-line. Linda stated that Ken’s second concern, which dealt with an annual evaluation report, is resolved for now.  The college does submit an annual report to the state, and she noted that our report is considered a model for a distance learning report although there is room for improvement, which can be an issue for next year.. 

 

            A Senator suggested that issues brought to the Academic Senate for consideration in the future should be thoroughly researched prior to bringing the matter to the Senate.  Linda noted that Ken’s perception regarding the apportionment allocation was accurate and needed to be corrected.  She expressed her appreciation for his watch dogging and diligence, which will improve our calculations for reaching our WSCH goals.

 

8.0    President's Reports – No report was made.

 

9.0    Future Agenda Items

            1.   Discuss and Report on Best Practices for Academic Senates 

 

10.0   Correspondence, Publications, and Announcements

         Correspondence

         1.   An e-mail message dated April 2, 20093, from the State Chancellor, Thomas Nussbaum with an update on the state’s budget crisis.

            2.   An e-mail message dated April 6, 2003, with an update on Retirement Incentives from ACE.

         Publications/Minutes

         1.   The agenda for the April 9, 2003, meeting of DBAC.

            2.   The agenda for the April 3, 2003 meeting and the April 10, 2003, meeting of the College Council and the meeting summaries for the March 20th and April 3, 2003, meetings of the College Council.

            3.   The agenda for the April 7, 2003, meeting of the Performance Goals Committee and summaries for the meetings of January 27, 2003 and March 17, 2003.

            4.   The agenda for the April 9, 2003, meeting of the District Council and the unapproved minutes of the March 12, 2003, meeting.

         Announcements/Conferences

         1.   The ASCCC Area B meeting will be held at Mission College on Friday, April 11, 2003, from Noon until 4:00 p.m. in Campus Center Room 219/20.

 

11.0   Adjournment

         The meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m. (M/S/.U – Schock/Ellis).  These minutes are respectfully submitted by Grace Hazán, Academic Senate Secretary.