Fullerton College Faculty Senate

 

Approved Minutes

September 7, 2006

 

 


 

 

Present

 

 

 

Business.........................................

Nancy Woolridge

 

Counseling......................................

Flor Aguilera-Huerta, Elias Dominguez

 

Fine Arts.........................................

Michelle Coletta, Chuck Ketter

 

Humanities......................................

Cathy Collopy-O’Donnell, Danielle Fouquette, Jeff Rodine, Robert Lundergan

 

Library.............................................

 

 

Math/Computer Science...................

Greg Nguyen, Robert Diaz

 

Natural Sciences..............................

Jeff Feaster, Jacob Sapiro

 

Part-Time Faculty.............................

Jim Book

 

Physical Education..........................

Jim Kiefer, Alicia Okouchi-Guy

 

Social Sciences...............................

Diana Kyle, Chris Lamm, Arienne Turner

 

Student Services..............................

Paul McKinley

 

Technology/Engineering....................

Dennis Howey, Rosa Molina

 

At-large...........................................

Gale Cebrian, Callista Lee, Sally Moore, Mike Moore, Marcus Wilson

 

 

 

 

Associated Students........................

Jonathan Meyer

 

 

 

 

President.........................................

Joumana McGowan

 

Secretary........................................

Jane Troop

 

President-elect.................................

Ken Collins

 

At-large, Curriculum Chair.................

Doug Eisner

 

 

 

Guests:  Glenda Day, Kathy Hodge, Jay Seidel

 

 

 

Absent

 

 

 

Business/CIS...................................

Steve Dayton

 

At-large...........................................

Deborah McQueen

 

Library.............................................

Anita Varela

 

Natural Sciences..............................

Jan Chadwick

 

 

 

I.                     CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 3:00 p.m. by President McGowan.

 

II.                   APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

M/S/U (Wilson/Book) to approve the Minutes of the May 18, 2006 meeting.


 

III.                  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

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

 

IV.                PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Jim Kiefer announced that Adela Lopez is in poor health at this time.  Bob Lundergan announced that he and Danielle Fouquette will conduct a three-day, Writing-Across-the-Curriculum workshop at the UCLA Conference Center in Lake Arrowhead September 19 through September 21. Marcus Wilson requested that Senators remind their students about study abroad in Barcelona.  Greg Nguyen announced workshops on struggling with math.  He asked Senators to encourage their students to attend.  Flor Aguilera-Huerta announced “Bienvenidos”, Wednesday, September 13, at 10 a.m., featuring the Mariachi Divas.

 

President McGowan announced that on Tuesday, September 19, guest speaker Ruben Martinez will speak on “The Value of Education” in the Wilshire Auditorium. 

 

V.         EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

President’s Report

 

At this point in the Senate meeting, President Hodge took the floor.  She welcomed the Senators back and commented on the great beginning to the semester.  She brought to the attention of the Senate the planning documents booklet that was compiled to keep faculty apprised of what has been done in terms of planning.  It will serve as a springboard for planning next year.  Dr. Hodge invited any groups wanting input into the planning documents to let her know.  She closed by congratulating the leadership of the Senate for its communication.

 

The next guest was United Faculty President Dale Craig.  He introduced himself and indicated that his wishes are for a continuation of the strong mutual support between the Fullerton College Senate and United Faculty.

 

Dr. McGowan asked Dr. Hodge what steps have been taken to resolve the issues that were reported to the President by the Faculty Senate leadership on the list of complaints pertaining to ACT’s lack of service and assistance to faculty. Dr. Hodge responded that she is aware of the problems and that Dr. Portolan will be following up on the issues.

 

Dr. McGowan reported that there are 12 new Senators being seated this semester.

 

This year, four Board of Trustee members were up for reelection in November. Three of these Board members, Trustees Brown, Miller, and Dunsheath, were unopposed and are, therefore, automatically elected. Trustee Matsuda is running opposed.

 

A PAC retreat was held June 20 for the purpose of assessing the operation of PAC processes. The issues raised by the faculty at this meeting concerned the


processes used in PAC and the items covered in PAC. The major issues presented were:

* Groups expressed a desire to have more focused discussion on issues. They wanted to bring issues back to PAC after having presented them to their constitute groups and then have a debate in PAC.

 

* The President should more fully explain her decisions to the PAC representatives.

* The campus budget should be presented to PAC more fully and discussed prior to implementation.

* A list of items that have not been resolved should be tracked and not ignored. These items should be saved for future discussion. 

 

Dr. McGowan expressed appreciation for faculty efforts at the tables during the first week of school. She felt that faculty serving at the tables did a very good job.  She also indicated that the college deans, vice presidents, and other administrative staff were at the tables regularly and were very helpful. This was mentioned at the previous Board of Trustees meeting.

 

The ACT issue was presented. Since the previous oversight committee failed, it is proposed that another ACT committee be created that would focus only on faculty related issues and how ACT serves teaching-related issues. Dr. McGowan asked the Senate how this committee should be designed. The proposal is to include four faculty, two classified, and two students.  It also included restricting the committee to dealing with issues related to the classroom and teaching only. Complaints will be relayed directed to Dr. Hodge.

 

Another issue raised by some faculty concerned reserving computer labs for classroom usage. Some instructors would like to reserve a computer lab for a period of time. Formerly, they could reserve 901A and B.  Currently this cannot always be done.  This issue has been brought up at the Senate Exec. meeting.  We expect an answer in two weeks from Drs. Portolan and Hollowell. 

 

M/S/U (Wilson/Moore) that the Senate propose a subcommittee or a task-force of Faculty Senate that meet on a bi-monthly basis to review faculty concerns over computer related issues, track the resolution of such issues, and inform the VP of Facilities and the College President of those that are outstanding. Students, Dr. Niccolai, and Dr. Portolan are asked to serve as Resource members on that committee.

 

At the Classified Senate meeting, there was discussion that the Faculty Senate had been talking about a vote of no confidence on Dr. Hodge and that a member of the Senate Exec. was elected to promote this vote.  President McGowan sent the Classified Senate a memo stating that this is not something we have discussed nor are we discussing it now.

Dr. McGowan did an orientation for the new Senators.  She explained Title V in terms of those things that are “primarily relied upon” and those that require mutual agreement. These are the two ways we make recommendations on academic and professional matters.  ACT falls under mutual agreement. 

 

Dr. McGowan indicated that it is the job of each Senator to take issues back to faculty and bring back feedback. The Faculty Senate follows Roberts’ Rules of order in its meetings.  People from the public who are not Senators may only speak during the Public Comments period. If a Senator misses three consecutive meetings, a replacement must be found for that Senator.  If an alternate attends, the absence is excused.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

No report.

 

VI.                CURRICULUM COMMITTEE REPORT

Curriculum Committee Chairman Doug Eisner reported that he is doing Curricunet training for individual departments now.  Anyone wishing training should call him.  More training will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 13, in 901B.

 

He also reported that there was an issue with courses at DCCC, specifically issues related to class size. Dr. Hodge wanted to hold some courses back from DCCC until the class size issue has been more thoroughly discussed. The problem is how to evaluate class size. Since there is sometimes a mismatch between the three campuses on class size for identical classes, the criteria for assigning class size is being called into question. (Several years ago United Faculty requested the Faculty Senate bodies at Cypress and Fullerton develop a grid which could be used to assign class sizes).

            Dr. Hodge would like to know how to evaluate class sizes to determine if they are appropriate before the classes go to DCCC. A document was distributed to the Senators requesting input on class size. This will be used by the Curriculum Committee to develop a process by which class sizes are resolved. This will then be brought back to the Senate.

 

            The issue was raised that Board of Trustees members are becoming more involved in detailed curriculum issues. In order to ensure that Faculty have primacy in this area, more cross campus meetings between similar divisions should be done.

 

VII.       ELECTIONS

 

We will be electing a Treasurer at the next meeting.  Ken Collins will be sending out an announcement about the position.  The members of the Elections Committee, which counts ballots, are Gayle Cebrian, Jim Book, and Nancy Woolridge.  The Senate took nominations from the floor for several elections.

 

The following are the results of the elections:

 

Honors Committee, Anupama Mande and Karyn Nguyen

Budget Development Comm., Ken Collins and Glenda Day

Professional Growth & Development Comm., Julie Felender

Evaluation Committee for Susan Beers, Alicia Okouchi-Guy

Evaluation Committee for Peter Fong, Cathy O'Donnell

Evaluation Committee for Andrea Hanstein, Jay Seidel

Evaluati on Committee for Ken McAlpin, Paul McKinley

Evaluation Committee for Ken Meehan, Joumana McGowan

Evaluation Committee for Nilo Niccolai, Marcus Wilson

Evaluation Committee for Richard Ramirez, Elias Dominguez

Evaluation Committee for Cindy Vyskocil, Ruth Sipple

 


 

VIII.       UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Liz Kiszely’s response to the accreditation report was forwarded.

 

M/S/U (Wilson/Kiefer) to approve the accreditation report draft.

 

IX.        OLD BUSINESS

 

None.

 

X.         NEW BUSINESS

 

There are nine positions on the faculty allocations list.  Senators were asked to go back to their divisions and decide whether or not they want to replace positions from their current departments or place them in another part of the division.  The recommendations should go to the division Deans.

 

Cypress College is forming a Faculty Allocation Committee and has been negotiating with Dr. Lewis.  The Cypress College Academic Senate would like the Fullerton College Faculty Senate to support and adopt their resolution so that it can be taken to the District to become a District policy.

 

          M/S/P (Moore/Wilson) Support the Cypress College Senate in its efforts to develop a faculty allocation committee that works for them, but Fullerton College is not interested in adopting Cypress’s Resolution since Fullerton College’s Faculty Allocation Committee works well for us.  

 

            The Educational Technology Committee will meet Wednesday, September 27, at 2 p.m. in the Board Room at the District.  Blackboard, Moodle (an open source product), and Web CT will be presented.

 

M/S/U (Wilson/Book) that the Senate table the discussion of ETC and come back to it at the appropriate time and take action then.

 

XI.         LIAISON REPORTS

Associated Students

 

The A.S. President introduced himself.

United Faculty

United Faculty had no report because it has not yet met.

 

Adjunct Faculty United

No report.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

Jane Troop, Secretary