Next Week: A New Briefing
Beginning with the first April edition, the President’s Monday Briefing will be electronically distributed mid-week by email only and will be renamed the President’s Weekly Briefing. The publication will continue to include college news and event information. An archive of past publications is available at http://www.marin.edu/president/MondayBriefing/2011/index.htm.

College of Marin Reaches Contract Agreement with UPM
College of Marin and the United Professors of Marin (UPM) have reached an agreement for a new three-year contract and the work of all involved in the process is very much appreciated. The collective bargaining agreement was ratified by UPM union members on March 22, 2011 and approved by the college’s Board of Trustees on Saturday, March 26. The previous Collective Bargaining Agreement with UPM expired June 30, 2007.

The new contract provides a salary schedule increase of 1 percent for this year that will begin the calendar month following ratification with no retroactivity and an additional half percent (.5 percent) salary schedule increase effective next year starting July 21, 2011. The new salary schedule also will be modified to include an additional step. In addition, current health care benefits have been restructured and will be maintained with an increase in the co-payment amount.

The new agreement will be in effect from July 2, 2010 through June 30, 2013 with possible re-openers in 2012. The previous Collective Bargaining Agreement with UPM expired June 30, 2007.

Our talented and committed professors are a highly valued college resource and the District is pleased to reach this agreement.

Enrollment Fees Will Increase from $26 to $36 per Unit Starting Fall 2011
On Thursday, March 24, California Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 70, the education trailer bill, which includes a student fee increase from $26 to $36 per credit unit effective fall semester 2011. COM students are encouraged to plan ahead. Federal and State financial assistance is available for students who qualify. Students may contact the Financial Aid Office at (415) 485-9409 for more information.

Data Dialogue
To address WASC Recommendation #4 regarding strengthening the role of research through broad institutional dialogue and critical analysis, the Research Advisory Group and the Cabinet will provide feedback to The Office of Planning Research and Institutional Effectiveness (PRIE) regarding the selection of important data that is relevant to the college community.

PRIE will then disseminate these brief reports, or data nuggets, to promote dialogue and assist college planning efforts (each month, beginning in April). Possible topics may include enrollment trends, student persistence rates, degrees and certificates earned, and student and employee demographics, among others.

The monthly data nuggets will be posted to a new link on the PRIE website, announced in the President’s Briefing, discussed in the President’s Forums and College Council, and sent to governance committee chairs to be used in committee discussions as appropriate.

The first data nugget will be drawn from College of Marin data included in the ARCC 2011 Report Findings, a statewide community college report that tracks seven critical indicators related to student progress, achievement and student success.

Governance Review Council Recommendations Approved
College Council approved two recommendations from the Governance Review Council (GRC) at its March 10 meeting that are intended to improve the governance system and meet WASC recommendations. First, based on feedback from the Facilities Planning Committee (FPC) and the Planning and Resource Allocation Committee (PRAC), the GRC recommended that the FPC charge be revised to add new responsibilities for facilities planning. Along with clarifying some of FPC’s responsibilities, the revised charge states that the FPC will:

• Ensure the creation of a Five Year Facilities Master Plan that includes facilities usage needs based on the Educational Master Plan.
  
• Monitor the creation of a long term scheduled maintenance and preventative maintenance program.
  

The revised Participatory Governance System Plan and FPC committee description are posted on the Participatory Governance Web Page.

Secondly, in order to address feedback from the Spring 2011 PGS Surveys and the WASC recommendations regarding improving communication, the GRC recommended and College Council approved that all PGS Committees add a standing agenda item titled, Committee Reports. During this time, committee members will be asked to report back information, recommendations and/or actions from other committees they serve on.

Finally, at the request of College Council, the GRC recently reviewed current requirements to establish quorum in PGS committee meetings. The PGS Plan requires 51 percent of members to be present and one member from each constituency that has filled seats. Vacant seats do not count in the establishment of quorum. Although the GRC is not recommending a change at this time, the committee requests that governance committee members notify their committee chair and send a substitute if they cannot attend a PGS committee meeting so that committees can take action.

Professional Development Committee Update
The Professional Development Committee (PDC) launched this year’s Professional Development Needs Assessment via college email Wednesday, March 23. Results of the survey will be used by the PDC to plan next year’s Flex and professional development activities along with training needs identified in the COM Strategic Plan, WASC recommendations and other college initiatives. The survey also includes an opportunity for those who might wish to present a workshop to submit their name and topic. Faculty, staff, and managers are asked to complete the online survey by Thursday, April 7.

The PDC also wants to remind faculty and staff that limited funds are available to support conference attendance and individual professional development needs. Faculty funding is managed by the UPM/District Professional Affairs Committee (PAC). Classified Staff funding is managed by the Office of Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness. Check the Staff Development Web Page for information regarding the process to apply for funds.

Institutional Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

College of Marin will hold the TOEFL on Friday, April 8, 2011, from 9 a.m. to noon. Students should arrive by 8:45 a.m. Students can sign-up beforehand on the sheet in Ohlone 142 or e-mail sara.oser@marin.edu. You may also leave a message at (415) 883-2211, ext. 8579.
 
There is a space limit of 15 people so students are encouraged to sign-up early. The cost to take the test is $30 and this fee may be paid in the Kentfield or Indian Valley Campus Admissions and Records Office, Building 27, after March 25.
 
Please keep the receipt and bring it to the test along with photo identification. Hand-scored results will be available by e-mail on April 19, 2010. Official score sheets will be available for pick up at the Intensive English Program (IEP) four to six weeks later. A free practice test is available for checkout at IEP.
 
The tests will be given at the Indian Valley Campus Intensive English Program (IEP), Ohlone Building 19, Room 158. Parking is available in lot 6; however, a daily or semester parking permit is required. Off campus parking is free.

Final Call: College of Marin Measure C Bond Citizens’ Oversight Committee Solicits New Members

Five committee members are being sought to serve on the College of Marin Measure C Bond Citizens’ Oversight Committee for the Measure C bond program. The committee is seeking applications for members representing the community at large, a bona-fide taxpayer’s association, a senior citizens’ organization, and a member active in a business organization representing the business community located in the district. New members will be appointed by the College of Marin Board of Trustees at its April meeting. Applications are due March 31, 2011. Oversight committee members cannot be employees, officials, vendors, consultants, or contractors of the College of Marin. Application and application information can be found online at http://www.marin.edu/MeasureC/coc/index.htm or by calling the Office of the Superintendent/President at (415) 485-9502.
 
The College of Marin Board of Trustees passed a resolution on Dec. 14, 2004, establishing the independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee. The committee is responsible for ensuring the College of Marin’s financial accountability for projects funded by a $249.5 million bond earmarked for facilities modernization and passed by Marin County Voters in the November 2004 election with more than 63 percent voter approval. Measure C was a Proposition 39 bond that required the formation of a Citizen’s Oversight Committee.

Volunteer Long Term Care Insurance Information Meetings

College of Marin will be offering two additional meeting dates for employees (and their families) to learn about the district’s new voluntary Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance. Please join our LTC Specialists to provide an overview of planning, eldercare management, and care-giving issues, as well as this new benefit program.

Meetings will be held at both campuses:
 
Kentfield Campus
Tuesday, March 29
Deedy Lounge
12:30 p.m., (lunch will be provided) or 3 p.m.(cookies and beverages served)

Indian Valley Campus
Wednesday, March 30
Administrative Services Building, Conference Room 101
12:30 p.m. (lunch will be provided) or 3 p.m. (cookies and beverages served)
RSVP to Julie Breakstone in the Human Resources Office at (415)-485-9340 by March 25.

For more information on this program, please contact our LTC Specialists:
Karen Perry: kperry@jhancock.com at (650) 224-9204 or
Teresa Campama: teresachb@aol.com at (714) 955-3300

Upcoming Events

Santa Barbara City College Dean to Speak on Moodle Migration

Dr. Douglas E. Hersh, Dean, Educational Programs, Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) will present at COM on April 1 from 10 a.m. to noon in Learning Resources Center, Room 53. At SBCC, he serves The Online College, Learning Technologies, The School of Media Arts, Student Technology Support, and The Faculty Resource Center; and he is credited with bringing the human touch to Distance ED in order to narrow the gap between retention rates in face-to-face programs and those in online programs. Hersh convinced Santa Barbara in 2008 to abandon Blackboard, the LMS industry leader, in favor of Moodle’s open-source platform, which he used to build the straightforwardly named “Human Presence Learning Environment."

Upcoming Job Fairs
The Spring Job Fairs are quickly approaching. The Annual Healthcare Fair is scheduled for Monday, April 4, in the Student Services Building, first floor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Healthcare providers will be in attendance to bring job opportunities to College of Marin students, alumni, and community members.

The Annual Spring Job Fair will be held Wednesday, May 11, also in the Student Services Building, first floor. Please spread the word to any interested students, alumni, and community members. The timing of the fair is perfect for anyone interested in summer employment.

All job placement and housing services are free and open to students, alumni, and the public. The Web address for our free online job search is https://marin-csm.symplicity.com. Additional services as well as a detailed list of job fair participants are posted on the website http://www.marin.edu/StudentServices/JobPlacement/index.htm.

Local Landscapes at the Fine Art Gallery
The College of Marin Fine Art Gallery is currently exhibiting works featuring our local landscapes through April 8, 2011. A tea and book reading by one of the artists, Susan Hall, will be held at the gallery Tuesday, April 5, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call (415) 485-9494 for more information.

Performing Arts

Guest Piano Duo from London

Valeria Szervansky and Ronald Cavaye
Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.
Lefort Recital Hall (PA 72)
Suggested donation: $10

Advanced Voice Recital
Belle of the Ball—Art Songs by Women Composers
Linda Noble Brown, Instructor
Wednesday, April 6, at 11:10 a.m.
Lefort Recital Hall (PA 72)
Free admission, parking $3

Piano Repertoire and Interpretation Class Concerts
Paul Smith, instructor
Wed. and Thurs., April 27 and 28, noon
Performing Arts Theatre
Donation suggested, parking $3

The class will perform solo compositions by Franz Liszt, Percy Grainger, Anton Arensky, J.S. Bach and others in two concerts. Different repertoire each day.

Chamber Ensemble Concerts
Jessica Ivry, director
Fri. and Sat., April 29 and 30, 7:30 pm
Lefort Recital Hall (PA 72)
Donation suggested: $7, parking free

Music for small ensembles performed by COM chamber music students, including works by Beethoven, Milhaud, Mozart, Weber, Foote, and Gershwin.

Baseball vs. Laney College
Tuesday, March 29, 2 p.m. in Oakland

Baseball vs. Mendocino College
Thursday, March 31, 2 p.m. in Kentfield

Baseball vs. Yuba College
Saturday, April 2, 1 p.m. in Kentfield

Softball vs. Yuba College—Double Header
Tuesday, March 29, 1 and 3 p.m. in Marysville

Softball vs. Mendocino College—Double Header
Thursday, March 31, 1 and 3 p.m. in Kentfield

Important Information Regarding the 2011 Student Art Show
This year’s student show, Last Call, has some important dates approaching quickly. Students may drop off their artwork at the Fine Art Gallery April 18, 19, and 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (the week after spring break). The show will be up April 25 to May 13, 2011. A reception for the artists will be held Tuesday, April 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the gallery. All artwork must be picked up no later than Wednesday, May 18, 2011, by 4 p.m.

Have a great week!

David Wain Coon, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President

President's Monday Briefing Web Page
Technical Contact: Nicole Cruz, Assistant to Director of Communications and Community Relations, (415) 485-9648 x7648
Content Responsible: Cathy Summa-Wolfe, Director of Communications and Community Relations, (415) 485-9528