Academic Senate Minutes
\nTaft College
\nThursday, August 20, 2015
\n11:10am\u20141:00pm
\nCougar Room<\/u><\/p>\n
Call to Order at 11:12 am
\nPublic Commentary: none
\nApproval of Minutes: approved by Robert\u2019s Rules without objection<\/p>\n
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Agenda<\/u><\/p>\n No questions regarding electronically submitted updates from STC, Budget, Curriculum or ADC.<\/p>\n Open for discussion<\/p>\n Jacobi expressed feedback from others.\u00a0 Should have had this presentation in the past, but pleased it was recorded so future faculty can review.<\/p>\n Kulzer expressed interest in how other Academic Senates (AS) use elected representatives instead of entire voting body.<\/p>\n Dyer echoed interest in other models of AS.<\/p>\n Jiles suggested representative AS might exclude faculty from the discussion and decision process.<\/p>\n Dyer continued: All AS represent all full-time faculty. Some colleges require representatives to rotate so that no one voice dominates others.\u00a0 In California, there are four colleges with systems like Taft College.<\/p>\n Legislative statewide issues took the backseat on this agenda as local issues took precedence.<\/p>\n Thompson- Because of the increased budgetary needs, including plenary and meeting lunches, considering a representative structure might be prudent.<\/p>\n Oja appreciated distinguishing between the roles of the AS and the faculty association.<\/p>\n Polizzotto mentioned the AS uses of \u201cmutually agreed upon\u201d and \u201cgenerally relied upon\u201d on our campus and asked how TC uses these terms.<\/p>\n Jacobi mentioned these terms\u2019 presence in the Governance Guide.<\/p>\n Thompson added this document came to the AS last academic year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dyer presented the historical documents he was able to find which included the 1979 constitution (thanks to Dennis McCall).\u00a0 The next document was from January 20, 1994 disputing the move to a representative AS at Taft College.<\/p>\n Discussion of the committee membership, members of the executive committee, and efforts to gather models from other colleges\u2019 AS ensued. Dyer presented a fabulous Excel spreadsheet comparing the AS at all 113 CCCs.\u00a0 This document can be used to guide discussions and research constitutions at other CCCs.<\/p>\n Discussion continued about what our AS should do.\u00a0 There was an attempt to make and amend motions about how to write our constitution.\u00a0 Eventually, Devine made a motion to establish a taskforce discuss the status quo, analyze the current constitution, and identify current practice.\u00a0 Jiles seconded the motion.\u00a0 Discussion continued about the importance of moving forward to create a new constitution and identifying current practice. Jean recommended inviting past AS presidents to serve of the task force. After discussion, the motion passed. There were four senators in opposition: Altenhofel, Blake, Eveland, and Roth.<\/p>\n Berube updated the AS on the Accreditation process.\u00a0 Materials submitted to the site team at the end of Spring semester.\u00a0 Over the summer, proofread materials were submitted to the Commission.\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>Weblinks deemed insufficient.\u00a0 All files saved onto flash drives and resubmitted.<\/p>\n The September site team visit is scheduled for September 28-October 1, 2015.\u00a0 Cougar Room will be the site team logistical center.\u00a0 A question surfaced about when we will know with who the site team will want to speak while on campus.\u00a0 Berube thought that a list of individuals would be forthcoming.<\/p>\n Taft College received notification from ACCJA regarding our Annual Report There were incomplete areas, like CTE, because of an unanticipated position vacancy, complicating submission efforts and additional information regarding institutional set standards.<\/p>\n Jacobi presented on the importance of the connection between the new standards and ISLOs.\u00a0 Currently there is limited data gathered on ISLOs.\u00a0 Faculty completed a survey on assessing the ISLO about community and global consciousness and responsibility.\u00a0 Jacobi shared the idea of a \u201cDialogue Day\u201d which would be a campus-wide discussion of ISLOs.<\/p>\n Devine presented a resolution to divide Liberal Arts and English\/ESL into separate divisions, each with its own chair, instead of the current co-chair model.\u00a0 The discussion included questions about meeting the \u201cminimum requirement\u201d, stated in the resolution.<\/p>\n Eveland made a motion to accept the resolution on the first reading.\u00a0 Layne seconded.\u00a0 None opposed. Rancano abstained.<\/p>\n Berube brought forth a revised schedule for the Annual Review Process which shortens the timeline from eighteen months to twelve.\u00a0 He shared that the work would be facilitated by increased use of technology, especially in the area of goals and their budgets. This falls under the purview of the AS in that it is not a change to the process, but a change to the timeline only.<\/p>\n Discussion about the program lead positions ensued.\u00a0 Meeting called back to order by Eveland with the recommendation that the faculty association be invited to discuss workload of program leads.<\/p>\n Eveland made a motion to approve the timeline as submitted.\u00a0 Polski seconded.\u00a0 Motion passed.\u00a0 None opposed.\u00a0 Oja abstained.<\/p>\n See attached from Devine.<\/p>\n Discussion about strategies for improvement. Polizzotto mentioned accessible technologies.\u00a0 Dyer mentioned Blake\u2019s studies on Intro to Engineering as potential models for our campus. M. Martinez shared the past practice and on-going weekly math department meetings. Berube reminded the group that this is a new reporting mandate, but not new practice on campus.\u00a0 Roth would like to invite Clayton, Johnstone, or other experts to campus for professional development.<\/p>\n Duron suggested the need to adopt guidelines for consistency in screening committee selection for classified and management positions.\u00a0 Dyer shared his current practice and asked if his practice is an acceptable alternative to adopted formal guidelines.\u00a0 Discussion about the need for a selection process.<\/p>\n Oja made a motion to use the presented three question structure presented by Dyer until a constitution could be approved.\u00a0 Thompson seconded.<\/p>\n Further discussion to include \u201ctenured, untenured, grant, and adjunct\u201d hierarchy language to the ranking order of selection.<\/p>\n Eveland made a motion to continue with current practice until a constitution could be approved.\u00a0 Jiles seconded.\u00a0 Motion passed.\u00a0 None opposed.\u00a0 No abstentions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Report by Altenhofel: Over the summer, Academic Development Committee (ADC) members drafted a charter.\u00a0 However, yesterday\u2019s ADC meeting, the group discussed the duplication and triplication of efforts among different groups on campus.\u00a0 Altenhofel mentioned the possibility of creating an \u201cAcademic Development Coordinator\u201d hoping for VPI Williams\u2019 continued support.\u00a0 Funding has not been guaranteed.\u00a0 This position would be responsible for the coordination of success measures for students starting college at the pre-collegiate level.<\/p>\n Kulzer suggested the \u201cgenius\u201d idea of merging the ADC with the Student Success Committee. Kulzer mentioned a caveat to the merger.\u00a0 If the AS chooses to dissolve the ADC, would there be unintended consequences because of the reporting bodies, ADC to the Academic Senate and Student Success to Governance.<\/p>\n Altenhofel reported having spoken to VPSS Bogle about this proposal. It was reportedly received with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n The word \u201cgenius\u201d was used again to describe the potential merging of ADC and Student Success, hyperbole abounds.<\/p>\n Jacobi made a motion to table this discussion to a later date.\u00a0 Jiles seconded.\u00a0 Passed unanimously.<\/p>\n Before then, the ADC and the Student Success Committee will discuss the potential impact.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Other <\/p>\n The next Taft College AS meeting will be held on August 31, 2015 at 12:10 pm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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\nAdjournment 1:15 pm<\/p>\n
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