ACADEMIC SENATE
Minutes
Oct 5, 2007
Professor Britton called the meeting to order at 8:06
Present: C. Britton, R. Glahn, L. Guillen, D. Hensley, J. Keele, Y. Kim, R. Osborne,
S. Regier, J. Wiens, D. Williams
Absent: M. Roman, L. Syrdahl, S. French-Unser
M: J Wiens
S: S Regier
Via consensus
Presently the District is transferring funds without input from chancellor’s cabinet. Senators expressed disappointment. Should this be acceptable in the newly accepted budget allocation model?
The Technology Help Desk now located at the District has been a nightmare for some faculty. However, other faculty expressed that they were helped by an “actual person” and their technological problem was solved quickly. Senators expressed disappointment that our technology help requests must first go to the district rather than to our own experts and noticed the continuing consolidation of control by the District.
Looking ahead to the future, the District is planning to initiate leadership/administrative training for interested employees. There is a lack of educational administrators state-wide.
An associate-chancellor position for Economic and Workforce Development is open. Chancellor Sandra Serrano would like to hire another new position - one dealing with governmental affairs. Senators expressed disappointment that during this time of financial hardship when faculty positions are not able to be replaced, the district continues to create new positions and hire non-student contact personnel.
Question from last meeting: the new (unranked) Learning Disabilities Specialists/Counselor position advertised is not GOUII funded and is state mandated.
2. CCA (Regier)
CCA is currently verifying its membership list and planning an election for
a CCA rep for the PC campus. The election will also seek to approve new
bylaws.
3. Curriculum (Glahn)
Fourteen courses have been modified and brought up to date. The committee is continuing to streamline procedures and work toward putting more procedural work online.
The committee has adopted a student learning outcome format.
Prof. Britton continues to work with others to continue to update the curriculum handbook.
4. PC Foundation
The Fall Festival Jubilee went well. No formal report yet. Sponsorship money was down because the board did not go out as much as last year to get sponsorships.
Our athletic teams really helped a lot during the set up and tear down of the event.
The foundation has now hired Carol Bodine as a full-time secretary. She was hired with foundation funds. Virginia Gurrola will be phasing out as executive director which will allow other community events to be directed by the foundation board members.
5. Division Reports
Science/Math: Still getting equipment set up for lab teaching. Teachers are doing the best they can. The large pile of old chairs and desks are still by the entry ways into PT-2A and PT-2B.
The Senate discussed the possibility of having classified staff as members of the Academic Senate. Concern was expressed about past discussions concerning faculty and classified relations. Another point of view was that the Senate is an open meeting and discusses academic and curriculum issues, so a classified member shouldn’t matter. No decision was made.
General Discussion: There was the concern that Senior Day tried to do too much. Should we be bringing a career fair, plus armed services, plus other colleges, plus a job fair all on the same day? Other Senators did not see this as a mixed message, but as a day when many high school seniors saw PC as a happening place that offers many options.
1. 2009-2009 Academic Calendar
Suggestion to start on Wednesday. Flex day Monday and Tuesday. Many students miss the first day of Saturday classes because they do not know that the Saturday after flex days is the first day of class. Senators will take this idea back to their divisions.
2. New Senate Representatives/Senate Member Elections
Because of the joining of three divisions (Business, Applied Technology, Education & Career Development) into the Technical and Career Education division, a new schedule for electing division representatives will be developed.
3. Replacement of Senate Secretary
No new takers…
4. Election of Division Chairs.
Should be held in the previous fall.
1. Plaque commemorating Dr. Orlin Shires
The foundation would like to donate a plaque commemorating the service of Dr. Orlin Shires. The Senate will look for someone who knew Dr. Orlin Shires to help develop an inscription on the plaque.
VIII. Adjournment: 9:40
M: S. Regier
Respectfully submitted
J. Wiens