COLLEGE OF MARIN
ACADEMIC SENATE
MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 3, 2008
12:45 – 2:00
Student Service Building, Conference Rooms A & B
Senators Present: Carol Adair, Yolanda Bellisimo, Michael Dougan, Ron Gaiz, Erika Harkins, Patrick Kelly, Robert Kennedy, Arthur Lutz, Sara McKinnon, Joe Mueller, Meg Pasquel, Radica Portello, Blaze Woodlief, Derek Wilson
Senators Absent: Ingrid Schreck,
Guests Barbara David, Rinetta Early, George Hritz, Hoa Long Tam
Summary
§ Appointed an election committee.
§ Approved proclamation of thanks to Barbara David.
§ Officially thanked those who provided leadership in the program review effort.
§ Approved -AP4226 – Academic Affairs, Overlapping Enrollments
§ Approved purchase of a Senate lap top computer.
§ Tabled AP4250 –Probation and AP4260 Prerequisites and Co-requisites.
§ The Curriculum Committee’s procedure for notifying faculty of non-current courses brought forward as an action item
Minutes
I. Approval and Adoption of the Agenda. Accepted.
II. Minutes of March 27, 2008. Accepted as amended.
III. Officers’ Reports:
§ Election committee. The election committee is Yolanda Bellisimo, Erika Harkens, Michael Dugan
§ Thanks for help on program review.
§ Approved proclamation of thanks to Barbara David for her “Herculean effort” in behalf of program review.
§ Approved Senate recognition and thanks to Dong Nguyen, Heather Holliday, Dora Wallace, Inna Shapiro, Kathleen Kirkpatrick, Sara McKinnon, and Derek Wilson
§ Bellisimo thanked all faculty who rose to the occasion.
Report on WASC visit. Overall, the WASC team seemed pleased with
the result of our program review, complimenting the college on an “excellent job”. The team had some helpful suggestions and one objection. We were told that our “strategic initiatives”, as now written, are more like “plans for getting tasks done”. A college’s initiatives, instead, should be written as “specific measurable goals with benchmarks to show when the goal will be achieved.”
Most important, COM proved that we know what we are doing. WASC may have preferred a more scaled-down review sent only to deans and a small group of faculty. However, COM’s program review includes the work of faculty at every level. Involving faculty has been the goal of the Senate from the beginning of this process.
The program reviews will be read thoroughly, first of all by WASC, then by area deans and finally by all the sub-committees. Each sub-committee will read its appointed reviews, rank requests and make recommendations to the IPC committee which, in turn, will send its review and recommendations to the Budget Committee. Finally the recommendations will go to the Board for consideration.
The Program Review Committee, meanwhile, will hold sessions with all involved to work on improving the process.
Timeline
à April 16th, IPC meeting to read committee reports
à April 23rd, IPC Reports to Budget
à April 25th, Budget Committee finishes recommendations to send to Board
à April 29th, Special Board Meeting.
Senator Kelly will work with Arthur Lutz to write a letter to the Board questioning the sentences inserted in AP4021.
Meg Pasquel reported:
§ Checking account, available balance - $2,726/35
§ College account, available balance - $17,577.87
§ The Senate asked the treasurer to move some money within the college account to pay for travel and purchases.
IV. Committee Reports – Curriculum Committee – Derek Wilson
a) Out-of-date courses: The CC analyzed 37 courses that have not been reviewed in over 15 years. According to program reviews, many of these courses are no longer taught and will be deleted. Others are being revised. Next week, the CC will compile a list of non-compliant courses and send it to the appropriate deans and chairs notifying them that out-of-date courses could be deactivated in fall of 2008. Very soon, the CC will be able to use Banner and Program Review to automatically capture and note when courses need attention.
b) Class size: CC is having difficulty advancing some courses because UDWC refuses to approve any class whose size has been reduced. The Senate must revisit the policy of class size caps. Safety, productivity, resources and room size must be considered.
c) Curriculum Institute – State Academic Senate: The CC requested Senate to send three Curriculum Committee members to conference.
V. Consent Agenda
a) AP4226 – Overlapping Enrollments (word change from previous approval) Approved.
VI. Action Items
a) Ron Gaiz reported that, after some research, he is sure that the Dell computer_ at $1710 - is more powerful and less expensive than others suggested. Dell is supported by IT. The Academic Senate approved the purchase of the computer and directed the treasurer to move the funds and make the appropriate purchase orders. Approved purchase.
b) AP4250 – Probation (conditions of/for student probation) Tabled. until April 17, 2008
c) AP4260 – Prerequisites and Co-requisites (for courses) Tabled. until April 17, 2008
VII. Discussion
a) Course Update and Revision Procedure. Derek Wilson presented the Curriculum Committee’s draft of the procedure. Arthur Lutz protested that while the procedure is necessary, it now has a punitive tone. Senator Lutz offered to rewrite the proposal in a way that accomplishes the goal of keeping all courses current but that takes away the sting. Senators discussed who is responsible for keeping courses current. Patrick Kelly reminded the Senate that the district can delete courses for any reason and that the Ed. code requires courses to be updated every five years. Senators agreed that non-current courses could lose transferability. It was agreed to restructure the policy so that the CC and the Academic Senate can help alert faculty to problem courses. The Senate requested that Yolanda Bellisimo rework this procedure and bring it forward as an action item for the next meeting. Motion accepted.
b) AP4021 - Revitalization and Discontinuance Procedure. Blaze Woodleif researched the discontinuance procedures followed by a variety of other community colleges. She put together a preliminary draft of a possible philosophy and procedure to give the Senate some sense of where we might start. Before the Senate begins discussion, Patrick Kelly will send the draft to the faculty for comments and suggestions.
IX. Adjournment: 2:00 PM
For questions or information concerning the Academic Senate minutes, please contact: Carol Adair: carol.adaiar@marin.edu X7367