Taft College Academic Senate Council Minutes
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Cafeteria Conference Room
Members Present: President Geoffrey Dyer, Vice President Vicki Jacobi, Greg Golling, Gary Graupman, Dan Hall, Mike Jiles, Danielle Kerr, Don Thornsberry, Juana Rangel-Escobedo, Candace Duron, and Tori Furman.
Guests: Diane Jones, Eric Berube, and Brian Jean.
The meeting was called to order at 12:00pm.
Public Commentary
Approval of January 18, 2017 Meeting Minutes
- The January 18 minutes were approved as corrected.
Guided Pathways: A faculty Perspective (BC Professor Jennifer Johnson)
- Special Presentation on Faculty Perspective of Guided Pathways from Bakersfield College. Jennifer Johnson’s presentation emphasized four pillars: clarity, intake, support, and learning as well as the student perspective.
Guided Pathways (Dyer)
- Applications for the California Guided Pathways Project are due on February 28th. Between 15 and 20 colleges will be selected to participate in this three-year project. Geoffrey Dyer would like to know the Academic Senate’s opinion on whether Taft College should apply.
- This project is not a grant and is separate from the $150 million dollar one time grant funds for guided pathways.
- The cost of the project is $15 thousand per year plus travel however; this would be an allowable expense through SSSP and Equity.
- The project team would consist of at least five members: Superintendent/President, VPSS, VP Instruction, faculty lead, plus one.
- The team would visit and train at six different colleges for three years.
- There are concerns over workload and initiative fatigue.
- The advantage is that the Taft College team would interface with experts.
- This project takes a commitment from the college and while the purpose is appreciated not much time has been allowed for campus wide discussions.
- There has already been positive movement with integration of initiatives.
- Scheduling decisions are more intentional with the use of counseling liaison model.
- On a motion by Greg Golling, seconded by Mike Jiles, and opposed by Geoffrey Dyer, the recommendation not to apply for the California Guided Pathways Project was approved.
Resolution Honoring Dan Hall (Dyer)
- A resolution honoring Dan Hall as Academic Senate Secretary for the past two years was presented.
- On a motion by Tori Furman, seconded by Vicki Jacobi, and unanimously carried, the resolution honoring Dan Hall was approved to move forward to the senate-of-the-whole.
Nominations for Emeritus Status (Dyer)
- Divisions made nominations of Emeritus Status for retiring faculty.
- The Learning Support Division has put forward Dr. Eric Berube for Professor Emeritus Status.
- The Liberal Arts Division has put forward Gary Graupman for Professor Emeritus Status.
- On a motion by Vicki Jacobi, seconded by Mike Jiles, and unanimously carried, the Emeritus Status nominations were approved to move forward to the senate-of-the-whole.
Accreditation Follow-up Report (Berube)
- There was a review of the draft Accreditation Follow-up Report.
- There continue to be improvements made specifically to recommendation three, the Distance Education Plan that is being addressed by Dan Hall.
- On a motion by Greg Golling, seconded by Juana Rangel-Escobedo, and unanimously carried, the Accreditation Follow-up Report was approved to move forward to the senate-of-the-whole.
SLO Assessment Manual (Jacobi)
- The SLO Assessment Manual is a work in-progress. Once it is used then it can be modified to meet the needs of those using it.
- A suggestion was made to include in the introduction of the manual a statement of the nature of the document as a living document with the intention of continual improvement and progress.
- A recommendation was made for the SLO Committee to review the manual annually.
- On a motion by Mike Jiles, seconded by Juana Rangel-Escobedo, and unanimously carried, the SLO Assessment Manual was approved to move forward to the senate-of-the-whole.
Distance Education Plan (Hall)
- There was a review of the Distance Education (DE) Plan with specific attention given to the goals.
- Dan continues to develop the narrative of the plan.
- A discussion was had regarding goal 2.1.1: Establish a minimum threshold of professional development that all DE faculty will complete every two years.
- There is agreement in the importance of maintaining quality in online coursework especially if planning to participate in online course exchange. How this goal is implemented may involve the Faculty Association.
- It was suggested that the DE plan be integrated as part of the annual program review allowing for the Distance Education Plan goals to be aligned with program goals. The recommendation was made to post the DE plan on the planning website.
- On a motion by Greg Golling, seconded by Tori Furman, with comments from Eric Berube to add timelines (start and stop dates) and specific activities to the goals, and unanimously carried, the Distance Education Plan was approved to move forward to the senate-of-the-whole.
Replacement of Retiring Faculty & Process for Ranking Faculty Position Requests (Dyer)
- A summary of the past Academic Senate minutes related to the replacement of positions when a faculty member retires was presented.
- There was a discussion over the timeline for making faculty recommendations, timeliness of retirement announcements, the role of the division in determining what is needed within the division, and the timeframe for posting of positions to ensure quality candidates.
- The topic of replacement of retiring faculty & process for ranking positions will remain on the agenda for further discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 1:09pm.
Submitted by Candace Duron, Secretary.
Approved 03.15.2017
