Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Campus Center Conference Room

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order at 1:41 p.m. The following senate members were present:

Algiers, Kammy 
Anderson, Lisa
Lange, Cari (Secretary)
Lew, Warren (Treasurer)
Mitchell, Nancy

Morris, Terry
Munoz, Paula
Pauley, Mark
Pollack, Deborah (VP)
Sezzi, Peter (President)

II.	Approval of minutes
a.	April 16, 2009
Motioned by Lew, seconded by Morris.  Approved 8-0-2 with changes, with Sezzi and Pollack abstaining. 
III.	Action Items
a.	DCSL:  Academic Procedures  4021, 4104, 4105, 4110, 4220, 4222, 4225, 4226, 4227, 4231, 4250, 4255, 4260, 4400 (Second Reading)

Academic Procedure 4021: During a previous meeting, the Academic Senate had tabled this item for further discussion. In the interim, DCSL approved this procedure. 
Lew motioned to suspend the rules in order table Academic Procedures 4227, 4231, 4250, 4255, and 4260 for further review in the coming fall semester; and to approve Academic Procedures 4021, 4104, 4105, 4110, 4220, 4222, 4225, 4226, and 4400. Morris seconded. This motion was approved 9-0-1, with Mitchell abstaining.
IV.	Information Items
a.	Senate accomplishments: 2008-09
Sezzi distributed a handout detailing the Senate projects completed during the academic year.
b.	Senate Goals: 2009-10
Senate members were reminded of the goals we had set for the current academic year and asked to evaluate and come up with new project goals for the 2009-10 academic year.  Senate members were encouraged to speak with faculty from their departments to receive feedback as to what topics should be addressed by the Academic Senate.

V.	Discussion Items
a.	Senate Release Time
Due to the success of the Faculty Professional Committee (currently a sub committee of professional Development), the Academic Senate feels that faculty should continue to oversee this committee as a separate group. As the scope of nature for this committee is rather large, the Academic Senate feels it is appropriate to award .2 hours of leave time to the faculty member overseeing this committee. We will offer the current head of this committee, Gigi Fiumerodo, the opportunity to continue in this role with the leave time.

The Academic Senate also feels that it is appropriate to offer .2 hours compensation to the adjunct faculty senate representative. Currently, this position is vacant. 

VI.	President’s Report
a.	Administrative Council report 
Nothing to report as the Administrative Council did not convene. 
Peter updated the council on the status of several Administrative procedures that he voted on as our Academic Senate president. 

b.	DCAS/DCSL/DCHR/DTRW/DACW reports (Peter Sezzi and Deborah Pollack)
i.	DTRW: Mathematics and English Competency Graduation Requirements
Mathematics had their department equivalencies approved at the last board meeting. The English departments have proposed three alternate proposals, which the board is reviewing.

c.	Consultation Council report
Sezzi passed out a handout comparing the minimum required units for a general education degree at various community colleges, including Ventura College. Next semester we will be addressing the issue of whether or not VC needs to revise it’s required versus elective unit requirements, as per the campus’ president’s suggestion. 

d.	Board of Trustees meeting report
Ventura College will be dropping the $3 on line registration fee and adding a fee for duplicate diplomas. 

e.	Other
The registrars are currently reviewing the application and registration process for home school and high school concurrent students. The Academic Senate will discuss this further in the fall.

VII.	Vice-President’s Report
a.	Great Teacher’s Seminar
The district is providing funding for Ventura College to send five individuals to this year’s GTS in Santa Barbara. Pollack will be sending out application forms which will be due to the senate by May 20. The Senate Executive will select five members from the applications received by that date. All were asked to encourage our colleges to apply for this unique opportunity. 
VIII.	Treasurer’s Report
a.	Senate Student Scholarships
The scholarship luncheon was a great success. The Academic Senate awarded two $500 scholarships. 
b.	Faculty Recognition Appreciation

IX.	Committee reports
Nothing to report

X.	Adjournment
a.	This meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m.