Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, 3 May 2012     MCW-312

I.	This meeting was called to order at 1:33 p.m. The following senators were present:
Aquilevich, Gabe—English and Learning Resources
Chen, Albert—Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Forde, Richard—Career and Technical Education
Gardner, Ty—Mathematics and Sciences
Haines, Robbie—Senate Secretary
Hendricks, Bill—Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Lange, Cari—Senate Vice President
Mitchell, Nancy—Career and Technical Education
Morris, Terry—PE/Athletics, Communication Studies, Foreign Languages, and ESL
Muñoz, Paula—Student Services
Parker, Jennifer—Career and Technical Education
Pauley, Mark—Senate Treasurer, Curriculum Co-chair
Sezzi, Peter—Senate President
The following guests were present:
Sanchez, Ramiro—EVP, Student Learning

II.	Public Comments
No public comments were made. 

III.	Acknowledgement of Guests
No guests were acknowledged.

IV.	Approval of minutes, 19 April 2012
A minor correction was suggested by Muñoz. Pauley motioned to approve minutes with the suggested correction, Muñoz seconded. Motion carried 5–0–4, with Haines, Hendricks, Mitchell, and Muñoz abstaining.

V.	Study Sessions
a.	VCCCD Mission & Board Goals for 2012–2013
Sezzi opined that there will probably be no Board Objectives next year, because faculty didn’t like them and because the accreditors informed the Board that it’s not their place to make them. According to the accreditation team, the Board should only make goals, then they should trust the participatory governance processes to implement those goals. Sezzi solicited input on this year’s Board Goals. Senators wondered how we can be expected to meet Board Goal 2 when classes and programs are being cut. It was also noted that the goal of improving registration sounds like improving our registration system, which is odd and confusing. It was suggested that the first sentence about increasing efficiency of capacity/enrollment be struck. Reservations were expressed about the word “benchmark” regarding organizational effectiveness; that sentence was re-worded. It was suggested that language about the link between planning and budgeting be added.

b.	Ventura College Program Discontinuance Rubric
Senators compared and discussed the Program Discontinuance Rubric that we passed previously and the current version suggested by President Robin Calote. The changes made by Calote were deemed to be minor and to preserve the spirit of the document we passed. Sanchez was asked about the potential discontinuance of the Biotechnology program and how to address details of Biotech courses being cross-listed with Biology courses. He responded by stating that the number of degrees/certificates awarded is not the sole criterion by which a program is considered for discontinuance; further, the fact that MC’s Biotechnology program is closer to Amgen was also considered. If Biotechnology at VC is discontinued, the needs of the currently registered students will be considered. Sezzi opined that the new discontinuance rubric gives programs a lot of power to defend their program. Senators noted that productivity numbers are district-wide, and some of them exceed our physical ability to serve that many students in certain situations—that issue should be fixed. Sanchez responded that the intent was not to leave those numbers in there, but rather to re-evaluate them as needed. Sezzi suggested inserting a note that these numbers should be re-addressed on an annual basis. Senators asked if the numbers will change if more drastic cuts are necessitated by a financially unfavorable election outcome in November. 

VI.	Action Items
a.	Ventura College Faculty Satisfaction Survey report
This document was reviewed and briefly discussed. Forde motion to approve it, Hendricks seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 

b.	Ventura College Academic Senate Self-Evaluation report
This document was reviewed and briefly discussed. Sezzi will send out a list of our accomplishments; it was suggested that Sezzi’s lack of signature on the Accreditation Report be added as an accomplishment.  Hendricks motioned to approve, Morris seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion also included a list of suggestions that Sezzi will do for next year’s Academic Senate: List the “10+1” to all agendas (as OC and MC do); all senate documents will be posted on senate website, with a link to sent to all faculty as notification, in addition to Sezzi e-mailing the minutes and agendas to all faculty; Sezzi will continue to send all documents to all senators.

c.	Reaffirmation of Ventura College Program Discontinuance Rubric (Revised)
This document was discussed under the study session (Item V.b.). Hendricks motioned to approve the new Rubric, Aquilevich seconded. Motion carried unanimously. 

d.	VCCCD Participatory Governance Manual (Second Reading)
After a brief discussion Pauley motioned to approve this document, Morris seconded. Motion carried 7–1–3.

VII.	President’s Report
a.	Faculty Recognition Awards 
Sezzi announced this year’s winners: For Service to Students – Ted Prell; For Service to Faculty – Cari Lange; For Service to College (tie) - Mark Pauley and Casey Mansfield.

b.	Statewide Academic Senate Spring Plenary report
Sezzi noted that there was nothing controversial at the meeting except resolution 9.0.3. (student success task force and prerequisites). This was adopted with one minor change: each college should look at their own recommendations and determine for themselves if they need a change. 

c.	DCHR report
Sezzi informed senators of a new equivalency procedure, in which Human Resources is attempting to confirm that every offer of employment made corresponds to the appropriate minimum qualifications and the MQ that was listed when the job announcement was made. Human Resources has not formally contacted anyone yet. 

d.	BGOITF report
This group had not met, there was nothing to report. 

e.	Administrative Council report
Sezzi reported on a presentation of our new upcoming phone system. It will be VOIP, and voicemail messages will go to email. There will be training before it is implemented, and implementation will be gradual.

VIII.	Senate Subcommittee and Campus Committee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
Pauley reported that a lot of TMC degrees are being processed, and nine (9) will probably be approved by end of year and will probably appear in our next catalog. There are more to come. He reminded senators that COR update deadlines have changed. Sezzi reminded senators of an opportunity to earn money reviewing other colleges’ CORs over the summer. 

b.	Student Learning Outcomes Oversight Committee report—Updates on Fall 2012 SLO/SUO processes & Fall 2012 ACCJC SLO report
This group hasn’t met since last senate meeting. Faculty should be working on mapping to ISLOs now. Training on TracDat will be coming soon. Programs without degrees or certificates won’t have PSLOs; they will instead map directly to ISLOs, as well as completing their CSLOs. 

c.	Professional Development Committee report
Sezzi reported that the “opt out” form for travel funding has been distributed. 

d.	College Planning Council report—2013–2014 Planning Parameters
Notification of which programs are on the list for discontinuance has been distributed. 

e.	Other Committees
Nothing was reported. 

IX.	Information Items
Sezzi informed senators that the Chancellor search was progressing. 

X.	Adjournment
This meeting adjourned at 2:52 p.m.