Academic Senate

Academic Senate

Grossmont College

Monday, April 4th, 2005 – Griffin Gate

CALL TO ORDER

A. Approval of Agenda

B. Approval of the Minutes from March 7th, 2005

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Follow Up to Governing Board Meeting on March 15^th

Plenary Session

III. COMMITTEE REPORTS

IV. ACTION ITEMS

Faculty Serving on Committees

INFORMATION ITEMS

B. Faculty Serving on Committees

B. Philosophy Statement on Discipline-Wide Equivalencies – (Attachment #1)

Academic Senate

Grossmont College

Minutes of the Meeting – March 7^th, 2005

PRESENT:Beth Smith (President); Bonnie Schmiege (VicePresident); Jennifer Carmean (Senate Officer at Large); Victoria Howitt (Senate Officer at Large); P.J.Ortmeier (Administration of Justice);, Suda House, Jeff Irwin (Art); Israel Cardona, Teresa Jacob, Gregg Robinson (Behavioral Sciences); Dave Wertlieb, Ruth Botten, Craig Milgrim (Biological Sciences); Judith Zander (Business Administration); Rick Kirby, Jerry Buckley (Cardovascular Technology); Tom Olmstead, Jeff Lehman (Chemistry); Mary Courtney, Amy Obegi (Child Development); Joel Castellaw (Communication); Janet Gelb, Diane Mayne-Stafford (Computer Science); Mary Rider, Debbie Lim, Renee Tuller (Counseling); Evan Enowitz (Culinary Arts); Jane Nolan, Carl Fielden (Disabled Student Services); David Mullen for Kathy Meyer (Dance); Mark Goodman, Gary Jacobson for Tim Cliffe, Mike Matherly (Earth Sciences); Gary Phillips, Sydney Brown for Qais Sako Julie Cardenas, Stephanie Mood, Margaret Van Blaricom for Linda Mitchell (English); Virginia Berger, Nancy Herzfeld-Pipkin, Chuck Passentino (ESL); Sylvia Montejano, Michael Perez (EOPS); Jim Symington, Laura Burger, Karen Caires, Larry Larsen (Exercise Science and Wellness); Ruth F. Konopka (Foreign Language); Mel Amov, Carlos Contreras (History); Nadra Farina-Hess (Library); Peg Hovde, Ray Funk, Shirley Pereira (Math); Evan Wirig, William Snead (Media Communications); Nancy Tendall (Nursing); Marcelle Karlin (Occupational Therapy); Joan Ahrens, David Milroy (PartTime Representatives); Bill Hoaglin (Philosophy, Humanities & Religious Studies); Ross Cohen (Physics, Astronomy, & Physical Sciences); Shahrokh Shahrokhi (Political Economy); Lorenda Seibold- Phalan (Respiratory Therapy); Beth Mallette- Anderson, Craig Everett (Theatre Arts).

ABSENT:, Rick Michelson, Lance Parr (Administration of Justice); Jim Wilsterman (Art); Virginia Dudley (Biological Sciences); Brian Keliher (Business Administration); Illyana McManus (Business Office Technology); Sheri Guseman (Communication); Tom Gamboa (Cross Cultural Studies); Joe Orate (Culinary Arts); Pat Miller, Priscilla Rogers (International Business); Steve Davis, Irene Palacios, (Math); Steve Baker (Music); Zoe Close (Philosophy, Humanities & Religious Studies); Dennis Collins (Physics, Astronomy, & Physical Sciences); Will Cummings (Political Economy)

GUESTS: Pamela Amor, Associate Dean – Evening Division

Scott Barr, DSPS

Joe Braunwarth, Faculty – Political Science

Rosa Buss, Supervisor – Chancellor/Governing Board Office

Ezequiel Cardenas, Faculty – Foreign Languages

Dean Colli, Vice President – Academic Affairs

Gay Cox, Faculty – Exercise Science & Wellness

Alex Jones, Reporter – Grossmont College Summit

Patricia Morrison – Library

Sue Gonda - History

Bonnie Price, Coordinator – Title III Grant Activities

Mike Qualls, Faculty – CSIS

Leonel Sanchez – The San Diego Union Tribune

Deanna Weeks – Governing Board Member

RECORDER: Tasa Campos

I. CALL TO ORDER

Beth requested that all senators please be sure to sign in and pick up a blue index card. The cards will be used in today’s possible votes to make sure that only designated senators are being counted. She reminded everyone that only acting senators are able to vote.

A. Approval of Agenda

M/S/U Gelb/Rider

It was noted that item III-A in Committee Reports would be moved to the end of the meeting.

B. Approval of Minutes from February 7^th, 2005

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the February 7^th, 2005 meeting.

M/S/U Courtney/Milgrim

C. Approval of Minutes from February 28^th, 2005 – Special Meeting

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held on February 28^th, 2005. M/S/U Montejano/Mayne-Stafford

ll. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Beth informed the group that a College Planning Retreat was schedule for this Friday, February 11^th.

The Professional Relations Committee will be holding events this week on building better relationships. This has been a San Diego wide event. The Committee will be providing treats after today’s meeting outside in Griffin Gate’s side room. Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8^th, there will be a workshop on "Conflict Resolution" in the Griffin Gate at 12:30.

lll. COMMITTEE REPORTS

Curriculum Committee (Will include an update from the English Department)

This item was moved to the end of the meeting. Sue Gonda gave a report on current information from the Curriculum Committee. She reviewed a list of new courses. She shared that the English Department has been updating and modifying their courses. It was stated that the English Department and the Counseling Department will need to keep communication open regarding the changes to developmental courses. The Curriculum Committee is taking a close look at SLOs – Student Learning Outcomes, and diversity.

Nomination and Election Committee

Jennifer Carmean shared that the terms of the Academic Senate President, Vice President and both Senate Officers at Large will expire at the end of the Spring Semester. The Nomination and Election Committee is composed of Jennifer Carmean, Bonnie Schmiege, Sylvia Montejano and Joan Ahrens. A call for nominations will go out electronically some time this week. The first call will be for the President’s seat and all nominations will need to be submitted by March 18^th. Once the President’s seat has been filled an additional call will put out for the Vice President and the two Officers at Large seats.

It was stated that "Student of Note" nomination information will be sent out electronically and in the mail boxes sometime during the next week. The actual ceremony will be held in May.

Distinguished Faculty

Bonnie Schmiege shared that information on this year’s Distinguished Faculty award will be sent out electronically in mid-March. All deadlines will be included in this information. If you have any questions regarding the process or would like to be involved with the selection committee, please contact Bonnie. One faculty member from each division needs to be represented on the committee. Beth shared that last academic year’s winner of the Distinguished Faculty award was Zoe Close and today she was in Sacramento receiving an additional award.

lV. ACTION ITEMS

Resolution of No Confidence in Chancellor Omero Suarez

A motion was made to place the action item "Resolution of No Confidence in Chancellor Omero Suarez" on the table.

M/S/C Wertlieb/Milgrim

Beth reviewed the current version of the resolution on an overhead with the group. She indicated that there would be one additional word change to the document where the word "administering" in the third "Whereas" would be changed to "implementing". The group then discussed the effectiveness, possible impacts, and work the resolution would create and require.

A vote count was requested regarding the "Resolution of No Confidence in Chancellor Omero Suarez". There were 62 ayes, 2 nays, and 0 abstentions.

Beth stated she would present the resolution at the next Governing Board meeting on March 15^th and then the Academic Senate will go from there. The Senate will also stay in communication with the California State Academic Senate and the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

Faculty Serving as Team Co-Chairs for Accreditation

Beth reviewed, on the overhead, Title 5- Section 53203 regulation with the group. There had been some questions as to the role of the Academic Senate in appointing faculty members to serve on college committees. The regulation states: "The appointment of faculty members to serve on college committees shall be made, after consultation with the chief executive officer or designee, by the Academic Senate."

The group then reviewed, for approval, the structure of the Accreditation Self-Study and the faculty members that have been designated to serve in the different Standards as co-chairs.

A motion was made to accept the list of faculty designees.

M/S/U Wertlieb/Tuller

Beth thanked the faculty members who had agreed to participate in the development of the Accreditation Self-Study.

V. INFORMATION ITEMS

Selection of Faculty Co-Chair for Accreditation Process – (Candidates are Cary Willard, Craig Milgrim and Chuck Passentino)

Beth stated that the senate would select a faculty member for the Co-Chair who will be facilitating the Accreditation process. The senate requested the following two items be listed as important; 1) The Co-Chair will have a plan to keep the Senate informed; 2) That assessment is linked to accreditation, and senate wants more reports on SLOs. The three candidates, Cary Willard, Craig Milgrim, and Chuck Passentino each gave a brief presentation as to why they were interested in assuming this responsibility.

Mel Amov stated that in all his years here in the District, this is the first time that there have been three such qualified persons willing to take on this task.

Due to the Accreditation process timeline, a selection would need to be made today.

A motion was made to move the item to action.

M/S/U Wertlieb/Burger

The group approved the idea of using the blue cards on which to write the name of their selection. The Senate Officers collected the cards and left the room to count.

After the votes were counted, it was determined that Chuck Passentino had been selected as the Accreditation Co-Chair. All candidates where thanked.

Faculty Serving on Committees

Beth reviewed an additional list of faculty to serve on Committees. The list was an information item only. The list will be looked at again next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

*The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 4^th, in the Griffin Gate.

BS:tmc

DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT

Philosophy Behind the Conversion to Discipline-Wide Equivalencies from Course-by-Course Equivalencies for Part Time Faculty

Part time faculty are an essential part of both Grossmont and Cuyamaca College’s academic and student services programs. To ensure that the most qualified person is selected for part time hire, departments generally uphold the Minimum Qualifications established for teaching in the discipline. In the event that a potential part time faculty member does not meet the Minimum Qualifications for the discipline but, clearly possesses other equivalent education and professional experience relevant to the assignment, both colleges have been hiring part time faculty using a course-by-course equivalency method. A recent legal opinion, obtained by the State Academic Senate, concludes that "a district is not authorized to establish a single course equivalency as a substitute for meeting Minimum Qualifications in a discipline." Further, in a recent paper adopted by the State Academic Senate (Spring 2004), colleagues across the state agree that "single-course equivalency is particularly disturbing as it fundamentally violates the principles of establishing minimum qualifications to assure students and the public in general that our instructors have achieved the high degree of academic preparation and professional qualifications that we deem essential for quality instruction."

In response to these findings, the Academic Senates of Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges will recommend to the Governing Board that the District:

Begin granting discipline-wide equivalencies for all new part time faculty hired.

Formalize the process used to determine equivalences as it currently occurs, namely at the department level at each college, with consultation of the division dean and confirmation of the appropriate vice-president.

Establish a District-wide Equivalency Process and Practice Committee as an oversight group. This Committee would review issues of implementation, as they arise, and review and confirm departmental recommendations for discipline-wide equivalencies for any full-time academic employee (faculty or administrator).

Continue to request technological support for departments and divisions in order to accurately track part time faculty assignments and other pertinent information.

Recognize that an equivalency granted by either college constitutes an equivalency for that part time faculty member as an employee of the district, and each college retains the right of assignment of any part time faculty member.

Develop a method to "grandfather" current part time faculty who have received assignments with a course-by-course equivalency.

Note: Both quotes may be found in the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopted paper, Qualifications for Faculty Service in the California Community Colleges: Minimum Qualifications, Placement of Courses within Disciplines, and Faculty Service Areas. The legal opinion is found in Appendix B, page 38; and the second quote may be found on page 7.