Academic Senate
Grossmont College
Minutes of the Meeting – November 20, 2006
PRESENT:
Beth Smith (President); Bonnie Schmiege (Vice President); Victoria Howitt (Senate Officer at Large); Jennifer Carmean (Senate Officer at Large); P.J.Ortmeier, Tina Young (Administration of Justice); Jennifer Carmean (ASL); Paul Turounet (Art); (Behavioral Sciences); Virginia Dudley, Michael Golden, Michelle Perchez (Biological Sciences); Judith Zander, Evan Enowitz (Business Administration); Linda Snider, Mark Pressnall (Business Office Technology); Rick Kirby, Don Ridgway (Cardiovascular Technology); Martin Larter (Chemistry); Mary Courtney, Sheridan Dewolf (Child Development); Joel Castellaw, (Communication); Janet Gelb, Diane Mayne-Stafford (Computer Science); Mary Rider, Debbie Lim (Counseling); (Culinary Arts); Jane Nolan, Scott Barr (Disabled Student Services); David Mullen (Dance); Chris Hill (Earth Sciences); Joan Ahrens, Tony Ding, Tate Hurvitz, Micah Jendian (English); Barbara Loveless, Chuck Passentino (ESL); Sylvia Montejano (EOPS); Jim Symington, Laura Burger, Steve Johns, Larry Larsen (Exercise Science and Wellness); Paul Vincent (Foreign Language); Sue Gonda, Devon Hansen (History); (International Business); Pat Morrison (Library); Peg Hovde, Shirley Pereira, Jenny Vanden Eynden, Jeff Waller (Math); Evan Wirig, (Media Communications); (Music); (Nursing); (Occupational Therapy); David Milroy, Raul Sandelin (PartTime Representatives); Zoe Close, Bill Hoaglin (Philosophy, Humanities & Religious Studies); (Physics, Astronomy, & Physical Sciences); Brian Jennings, Jim Wood (Political Economy); Lorenda Seibold-Phalan (Respiratory Therapy); Craig Everett (Theatre Arts).ABSENT:
(Administration of Justice); (ASL); Jim Wilsterman, Suda House (Art); Israel Cardona, Teresa Jacob, Gregg Robinson (Behavioral Sciences); (Biological Sciences); Nate Scharff (Business Administration); (Business Office Technology); (Cardiovascular Technology); Jeff Lehman (Chemistry); (Child Development); Sheri Guseman (Communication); (Computer Science); Tom Gamboa (Cross Cultural Studies); Renee Tuller (Counseling);Joe Orate, James Foran (Culinary Arts); (Dance); (Disabled Student Services); Judd Curran (Earth Sciences); Gary Phillips, Julie Cardenas (English); Pat Bennett, (ESL); (EOPS); (Exercise Science and Wellness); Ruth F. Konopka (Foreign Language); Marty Ennis (History); Priscilla Rogers (International Business); (LRC); (Math); William Snead (Media Communications); Steve Baker (Music); Tom Oertel (Nursing); Christine Vicino (Occupational Therapy); (PartTime Representatives); (Philosophy, Humanities & Religious Studies); Ross Cohen (Physics, Astronomy, & Physical Sciences);(Political Economy); (Respiratory Therapy); Beth Mallette (Theatre Arts).GUESTS:
John Colson – Interim Vice President, Student ServicesDella Elliot – District Staff, Public Information Assistant
Kendra Jeffcoat – Interim Assistant Dean, Student Affairs
Veronica Powell – SDSU Intern
Bonnie Price – Accreditation Co-Chair
Debbie Yaddow – Faculty, Nursing
RECORDER:
Tasa CamposI. CALL TO ORDER
Beth informed the group of a Teacher’s Institute being offered by the State Senate on February 16 through the 18 in San Francisco. If interested in attending please contact a Senate Officer.
A. Approval of Agenda
A motion was made to approve the agenda.
M/S/U Wirig/Montejano
Approval of Minutes from November 6, 2006
A motion was made to approve the minutes from the November 6, 2006 meeting.
M/S/U Waller/Wirig
II. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Beth reported since the election results were determined she has contacted all five Governing Board members to schedule meetings. She has met with three, Tim Caruthers, Greg Barr, and Bill Garrett. She will continue trying to meet with Deanna Weeks and Rick Alexander.
Pick a Prof
Beth informed the group of a new website called Pick a Prof. The company gathers grading data from colleges across the country and publishes the grade distribution percentages on-line. Beth has learned our district submitted information to this company this fall. Academic Senate was not aware of the submission of information. The group discussed the following:
·
Reasons to be concerned·
Information being taken out of context·
Student shopping for instructors and grades·
The information affecting hiring·
Common practice and ethical uses·
Ratemyprofessor.com and My Space·
Photos being used·
Invasion of privacyThe group agreed the subject would be a beneficial discussion topic during flex week and possible a Joint Senate meeting issue. Beth will follow-up.
Election
Nominations for the Academic Senate President Election opened at the last Senate meeting on November 6 and will be closed at today’s meeting. Two candidates have been nominated and have accepted, Scott Barr and Chris Hill. Beth asked if there were any additional nominations, there were none. Beth officially closed nominations at 11:15 a.m. The Academic Senate Constitution changes, if passed today, will also be included in the upcoming election ballot.
Report from Nursing Department
Beth reviewed a copy, distributed at the beginning of the meeting, of an article from the Union Tribune, Saturday, November 18, regarding the current Grossmont College Nursing Department Crisis. Debbie Yaddow, Nursing Faculty, gave an update on the nursing department situation. Debbie reported on the following:
The department has seven full time faculty, one is on sabbatical for a year and one has been reassigned. This leaves five full time faculty for 297 students. In a clinical setting the faculty to student ratio is 1 to 10.
Currently 32 part time faculty.
The department is having difficulty hiring full time and part time faculty to teach because of the salaries being offered.
The department has secured a grant to fund part time faculty in the form of a stipend and funds for recruiting full time faculty in a form of a stipend.
The department will not be seeking National Accreditation in March. There is not enough manpower to meet the requirements.
Students who are currently in and have started the program with the accreditation intact and who will now be graduating in June will not have graduated from a National Accreditation program. The group raised the question of the legal implications this may have on the college.
United Faculty is working with the District to negotiate. Zoe gave a brief update.
It was asked if the salaries for nursing instructors at other local community colleges are the same. Debbie shared our district salaries are not the same and do not even compare to the other colleges or with the industry.
The group asked what the Governing Boards response was to the information. It was shared the board members stated they were not aware of the current crisis situation in the nursing department. The Chancellor was not made aware of the situation until recently and he informed the board members on an individual basis. It was suggested a more intensive presentation regarding the situation be given at the next board meeting.
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS
None at today’s meeting.
IV. ACTION ITEMS
Updates to Academic Senate Constitution – Attachment #1
A hand-out titled "Pros and Cons of the Proposed Changes to Senate Constitution Fall 2006" had been distributed at the beginning of the meeting. Beth reviewed the list of the changes that had been broken down and listed into four different sections. The list had been sent out by email last week to be reviewed and shared with the departments prior to the vote at today’s meeting. For the proposed changes to pass at today’s meeting two-thirds of a vote will be needed. The changes that are approved at today’s meeting will be placed on the upcoming election ballot for faculty vote. The proposed changes were broken down as follows:
Proposed Change #1 – Add a fifth senate officer
Proposed Change #2 – Add a part time faculty member as a senate officer
Proposed Change #3 – Make the Vice President the President-Elect
Proposed Change #4 – The Senate President shall not concurrently hold the elected or appointed position of department chair or coordinator
Each of the four proposed changes will be reviewed and voted on as a separate item.
Proposed Change #1 – Add a fifth senate officer -
A motion was made to place the proposed change on the table for discussion and vote.
M/S/P Barr/Enowitz
The group discussed pros and cons related to the change. The following was discussed:
More officers to share the work load
More opinions and points of view
Larger numbers
More variety of representation
More difficulty in scheduling meetings
Reassigned time for Senate Officers
Not enough interest to fill a fifth seat
How this change would affect the Proposed Change #2.
The call for question was made and Beth asked all in favor please stand. A head count was taken. The number of ayes 47, nays 6, and 0 abstentions. The motion to place the Proposed Change #1 – Add a fifth senate officer, on the ballot for faculty vote passed.
Proposed Change #2 – Add a part time faculty member as a senate officer-
A motion was made to place the proposed change on the table for discussion and vote.
M/S/P Milroy/Barr
The group discussed pros and cons related to the change. The following was discussed:
Part time faculty are already able to run for a senate officer seat
Ideas and concerns of part time faculty could be considered directly
Cuyamaca having part time faculty in their senate
Including part time faculty in more decision making
The large number of part time faculty would have more senate representation
Creates more cohesiveness between part time faculty, full time faculty, and administration
Part time faculty not having tenure status and having a disadvantage in controversial situations
Part time schedules creating difficulty in scheduling of meetings, meeting attendance, and complete involvement
Part time faculty lack comprehensive view of the college and district
The type of part time faculty a permanent seat may attract
The possibility of the part time seat creating a sixth seat instead of the possible fifth
Most current part time issues fall under the direction of the United Faculty and not the Academic Senate
The call for question was made. Beth asked if there were any more comments or questions. Beth asked all in favor to please stand and a head count was taken. The number of ayes 43, nays 5, and abstentions 1. The motion to place the Proposed Change #2 – Add a part time faculty member as a senate officer, on the ballot for faculty vote passed.
Proposed Change #3 – Make the Vice President the President-Elect-
A motion was made to place the proposed change on the table for discussion and vote.
M/S/F Dudley/Hovde
The group consensus on the change was negative. The length of commitment time was discussed. The call for question was made. A head count was not taken because the majority of nays largely out numbered the 1 aye and 2 abstentions. The motion to place the Proposed Change #3 – Make the Vice President the President-Elect, on the ballot for faculty vote failed.
Proposed Change #4 – The Senate President shall not concurrently hold the elected or appointed position of department chair or coordinator-
A motion was made to place the proposed change on the table for discussion and vote.
M/S/F Waller/Hansen
The group consensus on the change was negative. One pro argument was the faculty deserve to have the senate president’s undivided attention. The group discussed the change limiting the opportunity of choices and good selection. A call for question was made. A head count was not taken because the majority of nays largely out numbered the 4 ayes and 3 abstentions. The motion to place the Proposed Change #4 – The Senate President shall not concurrently hold the elected or appointed position of department chair or coordinator, on the ballot for faculty vote failed.
V. INFORMATION ITEMS
Institutional Values – Attachment #2 – Chuck Passentino
Due to lack of time this item was not discussed.
VI. OTHER
Meeting adjourned at 12:32p.m.
*
The next meeting will be on December 4, in Griffin Gate.BS:tmc