Ventura College Academic Senate
September 18, 2008

I.	Call to order.
	      The meeting was called to order at 1:32 PM.
	      The following Council members were present:  Terry Morris, Kammy Algiers,
	      Ann Bittl, Cari Lange, Jennifer Garcia, Paula Munoz, Mark Pauley, Lisa Anderson,
            Nancy Mitchell, Warren Lew (Treasurer), Deborah Pollack (Vice-President),
            Peter Sezzi (President).
II.	Approval of the minutes.
The Senate Council approved the minutes of the September 4th meeting.
III.	Guests.
The new District Chief of Police, Richard DeLaO, addressed the Senate Council.  He gave a detailed and systematic accounting of what happened September 5th, his evaluation of how prepared we were as a campus as well as a three campus district and, importantly, what was learned. Questions were posed by Council Members and answered. He concluded by emphasizing that our district is far more prepared than the greater share of California’s community college districts, let alone nationally.  If we all work together, we will be more than ready next time, and there will be a next time, given the reality of the world we live in.

When Chief DeLaO departed at 2:13 PM, Sezzi asked to suspend the agenda and move to item VIII (b), Office of Bilingual Services.  There was immediate consensus to proceed.

ESL instructors Karen Harrison and Pam Schroeder presented the Council with a complex situation regarding the Office of Bilingual Services. The Office of Bilingual Services is responsible to the Dean of Student Services, Victoria Lugo who reports to Executive Vice-President Ramiro Sanchez. At first glance the issue looks simple: Integrate (or possibly just move) the Office of Bilingual Services, currently housed in the MAC building, into mainstream counseling in the new Student Services Center.  However, as argued by Harrison and Schroeder, the problem is much more fundamental and problematic from their point of view, with ramifications affecting faculty, staff, and a special group of students, mostly Hispanic as well as a part of VC’s Title V grant.  It is their position that the current separate service has worked well for almost two decades.  It does not need to be fixed or changed. After much discussion and exchange of differing opinions, the Council came to the consensus that our next meeting, scheduled for October 2, will have a fact-finding study session to discuss this topic. Executive Vice-President Ramiro Sanchez will be invited, as may other responsible parties. 
IV.	President’s Report
a.	Board of Trustees report
Sezzi detailed the major actions at the last Board of Trustees meeting. Sezzi detailed his exasperation at Board action that would have detailed the sale of our last series of Measure S bonds. Sezzi further expressed his sincere thanks to Trustees Blum and Miller for ensuring that full disclosure regarding the delaying of the bond sale became known and that, in the end, the Board did vote in favor of proceeding with the bond sale, which will allow Measure S construction projects to proceed without delay.
b.	Administrative Council report
Sezzi distributed a handout entitled “Emergency Preparedness Projects Status – 09-08-08” (Blue Sheet handout), summarizing what was detailed by Chief DeLaO earlier.  It was passed out at Admin. Council on Sept 17.
c.	Consultation Cabinet report
No report.  Will meet tomorrow, Sept 19.
d.	DCAS/DCSL/DCHR/DTRW
Only DCAS (concerned with fiscal and budget related issues) met.  Currently, the District has a proposed budget.  It will be either modified or put forth for adoption when there is a finalized State Budget.
e.	Ventura College Educational Master Plan Advisory Committee
The process is proceeding along and a general meeting for all members of the VC community was held last week but was poorly attended.  The consultants will be meeting with the Senate’s officers (Exec.) on this coming Wednesday the 24th from 1-2:30 PM in the Campus Conference Center Room.  Sezzi welcomes all Senate members who are interested to attend and participate in the dialogue.
f.	Campus Resource Council report
Both Sezzi and Lew (representing Social Science & Humanities along with the Academic Senate) attended the Sept 17 meeting.  Lew reported that we currently have about $15M in reserves.  This is good news because this sum is tiding us over through the current State budget crisis as well as being a source for additional funding for the critical 2009–10 budget allocation process.  Discussion followed with concerns by Council Member Ann Bittl over the amount of lost interest due to the use of the reserves.  Concerns were also expressed about the allocation model and its impact on VC’s unequal share along with next year’s faculty hiring.  However, Lew noted that there will be an effort to tweak the allocation model, according to V.P. Kimberling, to rectifying the inequities. 
g.	Academic Senate Secretary vacancy
The office of Academic Senate Secretary is vacant.  The Council was asked to spread the news to anyone interested  in serving to contact any of the standing Senate officers.
h.	Other
Sezzi reminded the Council that per the Academic Senate Constitution, we must prepare by October 15 to elect officers to serve 2-year terms for the academic years 2009-11.  Those interested need to follow the proper procedures, which Sezzi will e-mail inviting and advising those interested what to do.
V.	Vice-President’s Report
a.	Idea gathering report-out
Pollack reported that she has distilled into a single list what Council Members provided on the yellow cards she passed out at the first Senate meeting.  The main concern of the assembly is professional development.  The Senate’s officers plan to incorporate this issue and other concerns into the Council’s agenda, as the academic year progresses.  

VI.	Treasurer’s Report
Lew reported that he had met with former Academic Senate Treasurer Lauri Moore and received all her computer files relating to his office, especially Moore’s memo “Every Thing I Know about being Academic Senate Treasurer,” most of which is about the Senate’s end of the year “Awards Dinner”, which may be discussed at a future Senate meeting. The records look good.  We are currently on 	track and, by Spring Semester when dues are collected, the Senate’s funds should be at 	similar levels as in the past.
VII.	Committee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
Next, Sezzi asked that Council Members to remind their Divisions, Departments, and those so involved that the deadline for “course revisions” or “updates” is October 1st.  So far, out of the 290 plus courses needing to be revised or updated, only 25 have sent in the paperwork.  Sezzi also clarified that any 	change to a course outline that would result in a modification of the printed schedule would be considered a “revision” and not “update”.  Finally, the Statewide Academic Senate is administering the Course Identification Numbering System Project (C-ID).  The Council was asked forward information about C-ID to their colleagues to solicit the names of any possibly interested parties to serve on this assembly.
b.	Professional Development Committee report
No new information.
c.	DCHR Equivalence / Eminence Task Force
 In progress.
d.	Sabbatical Leave Committee member appointments
The membership as follows was affirmed by concensus the Senate: Farzeen Nasri, Gigi Fiumerodo, Bob Moskowitz, Iva Jeffreys, Lydia Matthews-Morales, Bob Arce, Stacy Sloan-Graham, Deborah Pollack, Linda Rovai, Casey Mansfield.
VIII.	Items for information
a.	Accreditation Training 
Bea Herrera has agreed to serve as the fifth faculty member to attend the Accreditation Training at Moorpark College on Friday, September 26.
b.	Office of Bilingual Services
Moved by consensus to “Guests”.
c.	Other
Comments and analysis were made by Lew and Sezzi on the 525 measure of a campus’ efficiency.  VC is exceptionally efficient at 478/525 and is close to becoming a full 100% 525 campus this semester.  However, using the 525 report as a productivity factor, the current allocation model actually rewards a campus for being less efficient. Nonetheless, both Sezzi and Lew noted that the DCAS is working to rectify this discrepancy in the allocation model.  

	Coming to a close, Sezzi passed out photocopied versions of the latest Senate 	Constitution and By-Laws to those who requested the texts or interested in hard copies.
IX.	Adjournment
		The meeting was adjourned at 3:29 PM.