Ventura College Academic Senate
August 28, 2008

I.	Call to order.
	The meeting was called to Order at 1:35 pm.
II.	Introductions.
	The following Council members were present: Star Hunter, Angelica Gonzales, 	Terry Morris, Robbie Haines, Kammy Algiers, Cari Lange, Paula Muñoz, Lisa 	Anderson, Mark Pauley, Nancy Mitchell, Bill Hendricks, Jennifer Garcia, Ann 	Bittl, Peter Yi, Ted Prell, Bob Renger, Sumita Lall, Warren Lew (Treasurer), 	Deborah Pollack (Vice-President), Peter Sezzi (President).
III.	Approval of the minutes.
	The minutes for the May 1 meeting were unavailable in time for this meeting;	they will be presented for review at the next meeting.
IV.	Action Items.
	a. Senate resolution on deceased faculty appearing in the Catalog. Sezzi 	explained that Articulation Officer Jeff Fergusson asked for clarity on this issue	during the summer. A prior Senate passed this resolution upon advice from	Fergusson when the list of deceased emeriti faculty became longer than the list of	active full time faculty in the college catalog. No printed record of this prior	resolution exists so this resolution would reaffirm our practice of removing	deceased emeriti faculty from the printed college catalog two years have their 	death. The Senate discussed and reaffirmed this past resolution on a unanimous 	voice vote with one abstention.
V.	President’s Report.
a.	Consensus or Robert’s. Sezzi introduced the idea of following a consensus-based approach to operating Senate meetings. After some discussion the Senate Council Agreed to operate on a more informal consensus basis, rather than strict Robert’s Rules of Order, except for action items. Also, if a council member requests on a particular issue, Robert’s would be invoked.  At the next meeting Sezzi will distribute a handout explaining basic parliamentary procedure.
b.	Members for accreditation team training (Sept 26 @MC). Sezzi noted that our accreditation self-study report and site visit will be next year. To help prepare for this, WASC will be holding accreditation training for Ventura, Moorpark and Oxnard Colleges at Moorpark College on Friday, September 26. There are six (6) faculty appointments available. Sezzi and Pollack will fill two of the slots so four (4) for positions remain. Senators were charged with reporting this back to their departments and divisions. Appointments will be made at the next Senate meeting. Sezzi was charged with finding answers to the following questions: Will substitute teachers be available for instructors who participate in the training?; Can hours served count toward professional development?; Would someone attending this training need to use personal necessity hours to attend?; Is release time available?; If you attend the training do you necessarily have to serve on the accreditation team next year? Sezzi will report on what he finds out at the next Senate meeting.
c.	Academic Senate Office. The Senate office is moving from its current location next to Campus Police in the Bookstore to the soon to be vacated Trailer 3, which currently houses the International Students Program and the Campus IT Director. The TR-3 will be the Senate office for at least the next three years.
d.	Administrative Council report. Sezzi reported that despite being close to three (3) hours long, the only issue of real concern was EVP Ramiro Sanchez stating that the Spring 09 schedule should contain the same amount of hourly instruction as did the Fall 08 schedule.
e.	Consultation Cabinet report. Consultation Cabinet will meet tomorrow.
f.	DCAS / DCHR / DTRW / DCSL. Sezzi noted that today being the fourth Thursday of the month, the above-listed District committees met, are meeting and will meet today. As Senate President or as Co-Chair of the Curriculum Committee, Sezzi serves as a member of all four of these committees.  DCAS is the acronym for District Council of Administrative Services. DCAS is primarily concerned with budgetary matters. As there is no statewide budget adopted yet by the Legislature, there was little reported at this meeting. DCHR is the acronym for the District Council on Human Rescources. DCHR focuses on hiring and recruitment procedures. Discussed at DCHR this morning was the topic of what criteria screening committees should use to determine equivalency and eminence. After much discussion, the Senate agreed to agendize this topic for the next Senate meeting. DTRW is acronym for the District Technical Review Workgroup. DTRW focuses on articulation and technical aspects of curriculum. Articulation Officer Jeff Fergusson serves as a member of this committee and the Senate may appoint one more faculty member to this committee. Paula Muñoz moved and Terry Morris seconded the appointment of Paulette Johnson to DTRW. DSCL is the acronym for the District Council on Student Learning. DCSL reviews items related to student learning / student services. There are two additional slots on DCSL for faculty appointments from the Senate. Star Hunter moved and Deborah Pollack seconded the appointment of Dave Ferris and Michael Bowen to DCSL.  
VI.	Vice-President’s Report.
	Pollack distributed note cards and asked Council members present to jot down the 	three to four issues they wanted the Senate to focus on this academic year. Due to 	the time, Council members were asked to turn in their cards at the next Senate 	meeting.
VII.	Treasurer’s Report
	Lew reported that the Senate has a line-item budget and that we currently have 	approximately $2,400 in our account. He noted that when our dues notices go out 	to all full-time faculty that amount will increase. Lew also commented on his 	perspective on the fiscal outlook for both academic years 2008-09 and 2009-10.
VIII.	Committee Reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report. Sezzi reported that the first meeting of the Curriculum Committee will be next Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 2 at 3:00 pm.
b.	Professional Development Committee report. Prell reported that the first meeting of the Professional Development Committee will be next Thursday, September 4 at 1:30 pm. He encouraged those who are interested to attend. Sezzi also introduced the idea of having Oxnard College Academic Senate President P. Scott Corbett address the Professional Development Committee regarding the successful process by which Oxnard College faculty request, evaluate and distribute contractually obligated professional development funds. 
IX.	Items for Information. 
	   The next Senate meeting will be Thursday, September 4 at 1:30 pm in the 	Campus Center Conference Room. 
   Sezzi informed the Senate of the Educational Master Plan (EMP) process that is currently underway. This is an accreditation requirement that the college develop a five (5) year planning document. There are four (4) faculty slots on the EMP Advisory Committee. The Senate Exec will fill three (3) of the slots. Star Hunter moved and Ann Bittl seconded that Art Sandford fill the fourth faculty position on the EMP Advisory Committee.
   Sezzi also reminded the Council members present of the 9 to 1 Senate ratio of representation. According to the Senate By-Laws, and the current organization of the Divisions, representation shall be as follows:
			Division				          FTF   AcSen Reps
			Career & Technical Education		25	    2
			Communication & Learning Resources	20	    2
			Economic Development & 			  1	    1	
				Off-Campus Programs	
			Math & Sciences				27	    3
			Physical Education				  8	    1
			Social Sciences & Humanities		25	    2
			Student Services				23	    2

While all faculty may attend and are encouraged to participate in Senate meetings, only designated voting Council members may vote. Sezzi requested that by the next Senate meeting for all Divisions to have selected their voting representatives. 
X.	Adjournment
The meeting adjoured at 2:31 pm.