COLLEGE OF MARIN

Academic Senate Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 1, 2007
12:45 -2:00 pm
Student Service Building,
Conference Rooms A & B

Senators Present: Yolanda Bellisimo, Barbara Bonander, Hank Fearnley, Theo Fung, Ron Gaiz, Deborah Graham, Erika Harkins, Patrick Kelly, Arthur Lutz, Radica Portello, David Rollison, Sheri Rollison, Ingrid Schreck, John Sutherland, Blaze Woodlief

Senators Absent:  Ingrid Schreck

Approval of Agenda & Minutes    

Motion made to approve the agenda

• Motion adopted
  

Motion made to approve the minutes

• Motion adopted
  

Officers’ Reports

The President reported the following:

• A written report was submitted.

A discussion of department chair elections and concerns about collegial consultation and the reconfiguration of departments ensued.

Senators came to a consensus and agreed that the AS should state to the Administration that the AS supports the elections held between now and the 9th should be held in the current departments as configured, pending a sidebar from UPM that would allow for special elections if departments are re-configured. The department elections held should be under faculty control.

President Bellisimo agreed to contact the uPM and the Administration about the Senate's wishes.

The Vice President reported the following:

• According to the Chancellor's Office, plus and minus grading is under the discretion of the District. After a comparison of reporting plus and minus grading and after consulting the Academic Standards Committee and ASCOM, the VP would like to discuss this option with the Senate.
  

Senator D. Rollison requested information on the procedure for DE students to take tests. A memo went out to faculty explaining the procedures.

Senator Fung requested that President Bellisimo follow up on DE student support services. President Bellisimo stated that she will urge the Administration to move forward on the DE Faculty Liaison Position to better support DE students and the DE program and that this item will be placed on a future agenda.

The Treasurer reported the following:

• A written report was submitted.
  

Standing Reports

Curriculum Committee

• A written report was submitted.
  

Academic Standards Committee

• A written report was submitted.
  

Community Education

• In Winter Community Education had 5,335 students enrolled which covers Community Education classes, Emeritus classes, online classes, open college classes and ESL non-credit classes. They also have over 52 sections.
  

Discussion Items

Administrators’ Evaluations

• The Senate discussed the Administrator evaluations and worked on revising the old forms.
  
• Carmel will start on the revisions and Senators D. Rollison and Sutherland agreed to divide the questions for the College President and for the other administrators.
  

Committee Appointments Procedure

• Senator Fung agreed to forward her suggestions about the Eligibility requirement for participation.
• The terms are for 2 years and will likely be changed to staggered terms via the GRC. Half of the appointments will be for 1 year terms and half for two year terms.
• It was suggested that the polling of committee members be sent via AS News, in mailboxes and each one of the committee calls to include a description of the committee, the requirements to serve on the committee, and the membership.
• Discussion on this item will continue in a future meeting.
  

Requests to Address the Senate on Non-Agenda Items

• No requests
  

Meeting adjourned at 2:00
Minutes submitted by Blaze Woodlief and Ingrid Schreck