Fullerton College Faculty Senate

Approved Minutes

September 27, 2007


Present
	Business...........................................	Marcus Wilson
	Counseling........................................	Flor Huerta
	Fine Arts...........................................	Michelle Coletta
	Humanities........................................	Robert Lundergan
	Library...............................................	Mike Fitzsimmons
	Math/Computer Science.....................	Robert Diaz, Scott Malloy, Greg Nguyen
	Natural Sciences................................	Jan Chadwick, Jeff Feaster, Rick Lozinsky
	Part-Time Faculty...............................	Jim Book
	Physical Education............................	Scott Giles, Pam Lewin
	Social Sciences.................................	Chris Lamm, Ricardo Salas
	Student Services................................	Sylvia Pimentel
	Technology/Engineering......................	Rosa Molina, Doris Wright

	At-large.............................................	Peg Berger, Paul McKinley

	Associated Students..........................	Ethan Morse

	President...........................................	Kenneth Collins
	Interim Vice President........................	Miguel Powers
	Secretary..........................................
	Treasurer...........................................	Karen Markley
	At-large, Curriculum Chair...................	Jennifer Combs

Guests Darlene Jensen

Absent
	At-large.............................................	Gayle Cebrian, Paul McKinley, Debbie McQueen, Mike Moore
	Business...........................................	Marcus Wilson, Nancy Woolridge
	Counseling........................................	Heather Halverson
	Fine Arts...........................................	Chuck Ketter, Steven Pliska
	Humanities........................................	Rosa Arceo, Ruth Egigian, Jeff Rodine
	Senate Exec......................................	Jane Troop
	Social Sciences.................................	Leonore Monreal

I. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. by President Collins.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

M/S/P (Wilson/Book) to approve the Minutes of the September 6, 2007 meeting.

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

M/S/U (Wilson/Book) to approve the agenda for this meeting with one change.

IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Study Abroad Coordinator—Marcus Wilson reported that the Study Abroad Committee had advertised for a replacement Study Abroad Coordinator after the misunderstanding about proposed changes to the position over the summer lead to a resignation. The position will continue with the duties as written in the previous job description except for an increased role for management to work with the Faculty Coordinator in negotiating contracts. This change will reduce legal liability for the college. The new Coordinator should be selected in the first week of October.

Electric Carts on Campus—Ricardo Salas raised safety concerns about electric carts on campus and suggested that these carts should be clearly numbered for accountability. The ensuing conversation revealed that Fullerton College carts are numbered and that the staff is required to take biannual training on their use. It was suggested that off-campus vendors, including construction companies, also number their carts and take the safety training, for the safety of the campus community.

V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

President’s Report

My Gateway Portal and Fall Semester Grades—President Collins reported on the My Gateway, a portal to online services for faculty, students, and staff. Faculty will log onto the My Gateway portal to enter fall semester grades. From My Gateway, faculty will follow web links to WebStar and enter grades there. My Gateway training sessions are available at Fullerton College, Cypress College, and the Anaheim campus. Faculty members are encouraged to visit the Staff Development webpage or http://luminus.nocccd.edu for details and a schedule of training sessions.

College Center Update—President Collins reported that the opening of the new College Center has been delayed. The primary reasons for the delay are a change from the DSA (state architect) requiring additional sprinkler heads that spray upwards on the first floor and the need to complete the concrete around the building to allow safe and clean access to the building. The new opening date will be announced later. In the interim, Harmony Foods has agreed to extend its food service contract until November 19.

Key Return Policy—President Collins indicated that Dr. Hodge wishes to create a committee to develop a key return policy. The faculty is invited to contact Dr. Collins with suggestions about either the composition of the committee or specific issues to consider while preparing the policy.

New Instructional Material Allocation Model—Because Instructional Materials money comes mainly from lottery funding, the allocation has often been uncertain in the past. This uncertainty makes budget decisions difficult. The Budget Development Committee proposed a new allocation model to prevent this uncertainty.

Instructional Materials Money—This year Fullerton College will allocate $250,000 to instructional materials. On July 1 next year, the college will allocate $250,000 plus any carryover money from this year. Therefore, the new allocation model, after this year, will be $250,000 plus any carryover money from the previous year, all of which will be made available on July 1 to facilitate budget decisions.

October 4 Senate Meeting Cancelled due to Campus Leadership Retreat—President Collins announced that since the Senate Executive Committee will be attending the campus leadership retreat from October 4 through October 6, the Senate meeting scheduled for October 4 will be cancelled. Therefore, the next Senate meeting will be held October 18.

Further, the Staff Development Committee has asked that the faculty representatives to the President’s Advisory Council and the "Teacher of the Year" nominees from the past two years be invited to the retreat in addition to the Senate Executive Committee

Treasurer’s Report

Since the position is vacant, there was no report.

VI. CURRICULUM COMMITTEE REPORT

Jennifer Combs, Curriculum Chair, reported that due to the diligence of the Curriculum Committee approximately one hundred proposals were in progress and on track to meet the December deadline for the Course Catalog. However, the District Board of Trustees’ decision to table all Fullerton College curriculum in June because some were not signed by the campus President threatens to prevent the courses from making the Course Catalog deadline. Since the initial proposals, Dr. Hodge has not signed an additional thirty proposals despite their approval by the Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee is requesting that she sign them or offer a written explanation. It is important to remember that, if the Board does not approve these proposals by December, they will not make the Course Catalog. Therefore, faculty have recently made a public effort to encourage to the Board to “rely primarily” on the faculty for these curriculum decisions.

VII. ELECTIONS

The following are the results of the elections held in the Senate:

Position.................................................................................................... Successful Candidate

Distance Education Advisory Committee ................................................................. Ricardo Salas

Education Program Advisory Committee..................................................................... Elise Donley

Education Program Advisory Committee.................................................................. Patricia Green

Faculty Senate Treasurer....................................................................................... Karen Markley

General Education Advisory Subcommittee ............................................................ Susan Vincent

General Education Advisory Subcommittee................................................................ Greg Nguyen

Hiring Committee for Academic Skills Center Director........................... Angela Henderson (Reading)

Hiring Committee for Academic Skills Center Director .............................................. Paul McKinley

Honors Program Advisory Committee ................................................................... Claudia Stanger

Honors Program Advisory Committee....................................................................... Ricardo Salas

Honors Program Advisory Committee......................................................................... Scott Malloy

Matriculation Committee............................................................................................. Flor Aguilar

Matriculation Committee......................................................................................... Kathi Johnson

Matriculation Committee................................................................................................. John Orr

Staff Development Committee.................................................................................... Doris Wright

Transfer Advisory Committee.............................................................................................. Jo Wu

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

DEAC Report—President Collins announced that he would forward the DEAC report prepared by Callista Lee.

Academic Freedom—The Senate President indicated that this policy has been under consideration for three years. The only section under disagreement is 4.0. The President proposed to the Senate

that it be moved that this policy be placed before Chancellor’s Cabinet so that the final sections in contention can be resolved in open session. It is requested of the Senate members that they read the final sections of the Academic Freedom document and that any concerns be e-mailed to the Senate President.

IX. NEW BUSINESS

Allocation Model for Growth beyond Extended Day—President Collins gave a brief history of the recent proposals from BDC/PAC. Because the Senate has not accepted the recent proposals, the ongoing money has been allocated on a one-time basis. Dr. Hodge has agreed to work collegially to develop a new model. Therefore, the PAC would like to develop a new model for the allocation of ongoing growth money. The merits and limitations of previous proposals were discussed. The faculty representatives to BDC and PAC were instructed to continue working on new models.

Basic Skills Initiative—Last year a Basic Skills Taskforce allocated $253,000 one-time state funds to 17 projects. This year, proposed state legislation awaiting the Governor’s signature would allocate $33 million for a Basic Skills Initiative. These funds would be distributed to community college districts throughout the state. Initially, to qualify for these funds, a district would have been required to have a basic skills proposal on how the money would be used. However, due to time constraints, the current proposal would allocate the money first, and then a basic skills proposal would be submitted to the state by the March deadline.

Therefore, the campus is forming a Basic Skills Committee. Faculty members are invited to e-mail Dr. Collins with suggestions about the composition of this committee, specific activities, and the committee’s purpose. Furthermore, faculty members are encouraged to e-mail Dr. Collins with feedback on last year’s basic skills allocations and the subsequent projects.

Curriculum Impasse—It was reported that Fullerton Senate President Ken Collins, Fullerton Curriculum Chair Jennifer Combs, Fullerton Curriculum Committee Member Cindy Zarske, and Cypress College Past Senate President Steve Gold all spoke at the most recent Board of Trustees meeting about the current curriculum impasse. At this time, the Board is not acting upon Fullerton College curriculum without a signature from the campus President. The faculty speakers argued that the law, District policy, and the contract all support the faculty position that the curriculum should be approved by the Board based on approval by the campus and the district curriculum (DCCC) bodies.

It was reported that after the faculty spoke at the Board meeting, the Chancellor read a prepared statement. The prepared statement indicated a desire to change the contract regarding the current curriculum process. Copies of the original statement and the subsequent revisions will be provided to Senators. During the ensuing discussion about the current impasse, it was noted that Fullerton College and the District have had a similar experience in the past. When a past college president chose not to sign a Philosophy course, it was approved by the representatives from the three campuses and sent to the Board.

At the Board meeting it was noted that the college president had not signed the proposal, and then the proposal was approved by the Board. The ongoing discussion focused on the Board’s obligation to “rely primarily” on faculty for curriculum and the classification of class size as a curriculum and negotiation issue. It was noted that the Union and the Board have delegated curriculum to the Senates in the contract. A discussion of options to move past the current impasse ensued. Faculty members are encouraged to attend upcoming Board meetings and to encourage the President of the Board to make an official statement explaining why the Board is not taking action.

M/S/U (Markely/Lewin) that the Senate place the tabled curriculum back on the Board of Trustees agenda with a timeline identifying the real consequences of not following that timeline.

M/S/U (Moore/Book) that representatives of the Faculty Senate will meet with the District Chancellor only if accompanied by another faculty member.

X. LIAISON REPORTS

Associated Students— AS President Ethan Morse announced the Homecoming College Hour, which is from noon to 1 p.m. on November 1. He encouraged faculty to release students for this all-campus event. Further, he reported that the AS elections had filled all available Senate seats. In addition, Associated Students is preparing a letter requesting faculty to place textbooks on reserve in the campus library.

United Faculty—The United Faculty President presented the UF liaison report. Faculty members, especially those on shared governance committees, were reminded about the importance of understanding the budget process and actively participating in the allocation of ongoing campus and District money.

He also reported that the Union continues to negotiate salary and three articles of the contract. As reported last month, there remain three articles that cannot be agreed to by either side: load bank, librarian workload, and counselor workload. Finally, the faculty is reminded that the union has legal resources to help faculty when they meet with administrators.

Adjunct Faculty United—No report.

The meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Miguel Powers, Acting Secretary

Index