Fullerton College Faculty Senate

Approved Minutes

October 5, 2006

 

 


 

 

Present

 

 

 

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

Nancy Woolridge

 

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

Elias Dominguez, Flor Aguilera-Huerta

 

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

Michelle Coletta, Chuck Ketter

 

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

Danielle Fouquette, Robert Lundergan

 

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

Anita Varela

 

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

Robert Diaz

 

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

Jan Chadwick, Jeff Feaster, Jacob Sapiro

 

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

Jim Book

 

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

Alicia Okouchi-Guy

 

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

Diana Kyle, Chris Lamm, Arienne Turner

 

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

Paul McKinley

 

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

Rosa Molina

 

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

Gayle Cebrian, Deborah McQueen,

 

 

 

 

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

Jonathan Meyer

 

 

 

 

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

Joumana McGowan

 

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

Jane Troop

 

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

Ken Collins

 

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

Doug Eisner

 

Treasurer.........................................

Callista Lee

 

 

 

Guests:  Adela Lopez, Adam O’Connor, Jay Seidel

 

 

 

Absent

 

 

 

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

Mike Moore, Sally Moore, Marcus Wilson

 

Business

Steve Dayton

 

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

Cathy Collopy-O’Donnell, Jeff Rodine

 

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

Greg Nguyen

 

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

Jim Kiefer

 

Technology/Engineering

Dennis Howey

 

I.                     CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 3:02 p.m. by President McGowan.

 

II.                   APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

M/S/U (McQueen/Sapiro) to approve the Minutes of the September 21, 2006 meeting.

 

III.                  APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

M/S/U (Eisner/Cebrian) to approve the agenda for this meeting with an addition under new business for Student Services e-mail.


 

IV.                PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

It was announced that Cyrano de Bergerac opens on October 12. Chuck Ketter will be directing the three performances. 

Adela Lopez announced the HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) national internship program.  The Dia de los Muertos celebration to be held Thursday, November 2, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Quad.

Students who had belonged to the canceled MESA program have moved to other institutions. It was also requested that Dynamic Fund money be used to renew this institution’s membership in HACU. Students are not eligible for scholarships now because Fullerton College is not a member of HACU; however, they are eligible for internships. 

The fall plant sale will take place this weekend.

V.         EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

President’s Report

 

At the last District Planning Committee, eight goals were given to the college presidents, and the local individuals responsible for ensuring these goals requested being put on this list. This request was done so that the campus strategic plan aligns with the district strategic plans.

 

This request is easy for Fullerton because the current campus strategic plans were not being completed until the District strategic planning was completed. Now that the District strategic plans have been completed, the campus can finish its local plan. This is proving difficult for Cypress since it has already completed a more fully worked out strategic plan. They are forced to realign their local plan with the District’s goals.

 

It is requested that Senators take the District’s goals back to their division and ask if they should become the college goals.

 

It was announced that each classroom should have a folder near the door with emergency procedures. If these folders are not in place, the faculty was urged to call the director of Security, Emilio Perez, to ensure that these folders are present.  The Senators were also asked to share this information with their divisions.

 

In terms of the issues related to changing the college catalog and schedule of classes, there was mutual agreement with Dr. Hodge that the Class Schedule Committee will be separate from the Catalog Committee.  The Catalog Committee will be a three-year standing committee that is composed of three faculty (including the articulation officer), two managers, two classified, and two students. Elections for Faculty on this committee will be held at next Senate meeting.

 

A Class Schedule Task Force will be created and will be composed of Carol Matson, three faculty members (hopefully including at least one academic instructor, one vocational instructor, and one counselor), and one student. This task force will focus on making the schedule user friendly. The results will go to the divisions for feedback.  Brad Rippe will be consulted regarding search terms for the online schedule. Senators are requested to ask their division members to check the online schedule and ensure that it is accurate and represents their classes.

 

Relative to the compressed academic calendar, an informational seminar will be held Tuesday, November 7, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Representatives from Antelope Valley College, Mt. San Antonio College, Golden West, and Orange Coast College, and Riverside will be in attendance to share their experiences and ideas concerning compressed calendars. Faculty from both Fullerton and Cypress will be attending this meeting. It is requested that Senators bring this information back to their divisions and solicit questions to be asked of the representatives. Faculty members were urged to send ideas and questions concerning the compressed calendar to Dr. McGowan.

 

Treasurer’s Report

 

The Senate has $3,852.

 

VI.       CURRICULUM COMMITTEE REPORT

The Curriculum Committee approved changes to the catalog for graduation requirements regarding multiple AA and AS degrees. The specific proposals will be presented in detail at the next Senate meeting.  Students will have to get at least a “C” in each course included in the 18 units in the major.  It is requested that this new requirement be taken back to division faculty for input since it may result in fewer students receiving degrees. Another upcoming proposal is to allow students to earn more than one degree and also have a double major (which will be displayed on their transcripts).

 

VII.       ELECTIONS

 

It was announced that the Counseling Division has selected two of their faculty to serve on an interim International Students Manager Hiring Committee.

Following are the results of the elections held in the Senate today: 

 

Anita Varela............................................. Library Dean Hiring Committee

Janna Anderson........................................ Library Dean Hiring Committee

Mike Fitzsimmons.................................... Library Dean Hiring Committee

Jane Ishibashi........................................... Library Dean Hiring Committee

Linda Kelly-Mandich........................ Dean of Counseling Hiring Committee

Steve Credidio................................. Dean of Counseling Hiring Committee

Jennifer Combs............................... Dean of Counseling Hiring Committee

Bernadette Archer........................... Dean of Counseling Hiring Committee

Callista Lee.................................... Ad hoc Distance Learning Committee

Anita Varela.................................... Ad hoc Distance Learning Committee

Nancy Woolridge............................. Ad hoc Distance Learning Committee

Jan Chadwick................................. Ad hoc Distance Learning Committee

Joumana McGowan................... Campus Budget Development Committee

Richard Smead................................. Instructional Technology Committee

Kathi Johnson................................... Instructional Technology Committee

Jan Chadwick.................................... Instructional Technology Committee

Erica Bennett.................................... Instructional Technology Committee

Jay Seidel......................................... Instructional Technology Committee

 

VIII.       UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Discussion of the Educational Technology Committee (renamed as the Distance Learning Committee) was postponed until the Senate’s next meeting.

 


IX.        OLD BUSINESS

 

            The three Senate presidents have reworded the Academic Freedom Policy draft.

 

M/S/U (Eisner/Kyle) to approve the draft of the Academic Freedom Policy with the Faculty Senate’s changes.

 

The language of the draft for Board Policy 4030, Academic Freedom follows:

 

1.0   It is the policy of the North Orange County Community College District to support the principles of academic freedom, built upon the free expression and exchange of ideas that is inherent in the search for scholarly truth and on which a free and democratic  society depends.  The District endorses the general principles of academic freedom outlined in the American Association of University Professors and the Association of American Colleges Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure (1940).

2.0   The Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors have long recognized that membership in the academic profession carries with it special responsibilities.  The protections provided under this section are correlative with certain duties.  Academic freedom must be balanced with the obligation of the District to protect the right of students to learn in an environment characterized by open inquiry and a rigorous attention to the search for truth. 

3.0   It is recognized that an essential function of education is a probing of opinions and an exploration of ideas that may cause some students discomfort.  To this end, the district affirms the use of a variety of teaching methodologies to fulfill its obligation to raise difficult and meaningful questions in the educational development of students in curricular and co-curricular settings. Faculty members are entitled to freely discuss issues germane to their subject matter as measured by professional standards set by the community of scholars.  This freedom involves the right to introduce controversial topics, as long as the manner of presentation involves objective reasoning and rational discussion. There shall be no curtailment of faculty of presentation of factual or theoretical material relating to all points of view.

4.0   Academic freedom shall extend to all faculty members, whether regular, probationary, part-time, or substitute.

5.0   Faculty are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution.  When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline.  However, when doing so, they should apply the best standards of their profession and make every effort to indicate they are not speaking for the institution.

6.0   The District will neither penalize nor discipline faculty members because of their exercise of academic freedom described in this policy.  If, in the course of carrying out his or her professional responsibilities, a member is accused of violating any district policy by virtue of exercising academic freedom, faculty shall be entitled to full due process rights under federal and state law, as well as District collective bargaining agreements (refer to AP and BP 3430).  When investigating unlawful discrimination complaints containing issues of academic freedom, the North Orange County Community College District will consult with a faculty member appointed by the Academic Senate with respect to contemporary practices and standards for course content and delivery.

 

Joumana McGowan met with Steve Gold of the Cypress College Academic Senate to discuss ensuring consistent class hours for both Fall and Spring semesters on the Academic Calendar. Both Senates will delegate the responsibility to UF to negotiate the consistent hours issue with the District.

 

M/S/P (Eisner/Kyle) to approve the consistent hours resolution, with changes by Mike Moore, to request the faculty union to negotiate the academic calendar to make teaching hours consistent between semesters.

 

The resolution follows:

 

Whereas community college faculty have the primary responsibility and authority for curriculum,

 

Whereas this responsibility and authority has been recognized and assigned under A.B. 1725,

 

Whereas one of the Accreditation Standards stipulates the delivery of curriculum in a manner that affords students taking the same course the opportunity to achieve a common outcome,

 

Whereas the current scheduling of classes results in some sections of the same course having a number  of hours that is more or less than other sections of the course,

 

Whereas the discrepancy in the number of course hours among sections of the same course has a direct and negative impact on the integrity of curriculum delivery and the consistency of the opportunity afforded to students to achieve course objectives and to successfully progress through sequences of courses, especially those with prerequisites,

 

Therefore be it resolved, that the Fullerton College Faculty Senate, in a joint effort with the Cypress College Academic Senate, requests that United Faculty, which has authority and responsibility under the Educational Employment Relations Act to represent faculty interests regarding the academic calendar, enter into discussions, and negotiations if needed, with the District regarding adjustments in the scheduling of classes to eliminate the discrepancy in the scheduling of course hours of classes of the same course.

 

X.         NEW BUSINESS

 

Adam O’Connor presented information concerning the 2006-2007 budget. Fullerton College maintained FTES last year while Cypress College declined last year. The Budget Committee will discuss any recommendations made on the budget.

 

XI.         LIAISON REPORTS

Associated Students

 

Jonathan Meyer brought up the issue of student record privacy.  He asked the Faculty Senate’s support for more student control on how their information is distributed by the school.

 


M/S/U (Book/McQueen) to support the Associated Students on its position on BP/AP 5040. 

United Faculty

No report.

 

Adjunct Faculty United

No report.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

 

Jane Troop, Secretary