ACADEMIC SENATE
Minutes
April 5, 2006
D. Bezayiff called to order at 4:08 PM.
II. Roll Call
Present: D. Bezayiff, P. Boudreaux, S. Hathaway, B. Henry, D. Hensley, C. Hodges, J. Keele, Y. Kim, R. Osborne, C. Piersol, L. Syrdahl, J. Wiens, C. Wilkins
Absent: D. Kavern, M. J. Jordan
M: C. Wilkins
S: B. Henry
C: Unanimous
M: B. Henry
S: C. Wilkins
C: Unanimous
On March 30 attended the Chancellor’s Cabinet meeting that addressed the proposed 06-07 budget allocation, the existing budget allocation model, and perceptions between the colleges and the district. Suggestions included utilizing a portion of the reserve, allow the colleges to retain their retirement monies, agree to a “no growth” scenario for the coming year, and devise better ways to share resources.
Suggestions were made regarding issues of centralizing or decentralizing some services, e.g., human resources, tech services, business services, etc. There was serious conversation regarding the perception that District staff were “disconnected” from the colleges.
An agreement was made to begin developing a new budget allocation model for the District and its Colleges. The charge to the committee is to have a new budget allocation model by the end of December 2006.
Additional discussion centered on developing realistic goals for each college, transferring faculty to generate FTES, and the issue of non-generating FTES faculty.
The Chancellor articulated her view regarding the District Institutional Researcher position, a position supported by both BC and CC.
2. CCA (Piersol)
Done with negotiations.
Continued discussion of bylaws and standing rules.
Elections are Monday and Tuesday after Spring Break.
3. Curriculum Committee (Piersol)
Basic Skills Labs went back and looked at their lab hours.
Sara French-Unser will begin tenure as curriculum committee chair.
4. PC Foundation (Keele)
Planning continues for the May 6th Spring Festival. Presently 20 restaurants and 10 wineries (the most ever!) will be represented.
5. Division Reports
Education and Career Development: All seniors were assessed for Porterville College classes at Monache High School. Other high schools are considering this.
Science/Math: Continuing to work on the Spring Festival.
Health Careers: Working on program reviews and preparing for graduation.
Fine and Applied Arts: Working on program review.
Business: Working on program review.
Social Science: Preparing for multicultural food day on May 10.
Events being planned for Asian-Pacific Heritage month.
Grateful Crane performance during Manzanar Week went very well.
A. Budget Allocation Model Development and D. 06-07
budget allocation update
The District has committed to developing a new budget allocation model for
the entire district.
The college is currently revising its class schedule due to the state chancellor’s office refusal to accept the current model. This is causing a lot of stress. Faculty are encouraged to work through this change as positively as possible.
Discussion needs to begin district-wide on the issue of the faculty label on workers who do not teach or generate FTES. This is not to say that those members are not needed or not valuable. The district uses faculty/non-faculty ratios to decide whether to hire needed teaching replacements.
E. Scholar of the Year
Susan Regier and Stewart Hathaway are preparing this event for faculty
nominations.
F. Academic Senate Election
The election of president-elect for 2006-2007 is currently underway.
G. Senate Involvement in a Division Issue
The language arts division brought up an issue involving academic freedom.
Discussion of the faculty contract clarified the appropriate solution.
H. Health Careers Update
I. Finals Week
The language arts division brought up the issue of giving finals. Giving
finals and meeting during finals week was discussed encouraged among all
divisions. Judging by student comments, some professors may not be giving
finals during finals week.
VIII. Adjournment: 5:25PM
M: B. Henry
S: S. Wilkins
Respectfully submitted,
Joel Wiens