Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, 18 April 2013     MCW-312

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order at 1:37 p.m. The following senate members were present:
Coffey, Colleen—Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Enfield, Amanda—English and Learning Resources
Forde, Richard—Career and Technical Education
Guillen, Guadalupe—Student Services
Haines, Robbie—Senate Secretary
Hendricks, Bill—Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Kolesnik, Alex—Mathematics and Sciences
Lange, Cari—Senate Vice President
Muñoz, Paula—Student Services 
Parker, Jennifer—Career and Technical Education
Pauley, Mark—Senate Treasurer
Rose, Malia—Mathematics and Sciences
Sandford, Art—PE/Athletics, Communication Studies, Foreign Languages, and ESL
The following guest was present:
Evan Hawkins—FACCC

II.	Public Comments
No public comments were made. 

III.	Acknowledgement of Guests—Evan Hawkins, FACCC
Hawkins introduced FACCC and described what it is. FACCC is the only legislative voice for community college faculty in the state; it is faculty-driven and -managed. He noted that there has been a 21% reduction in courses offered at community colleges, and that 500,000 students are currently being turned away because of budget cuts. He discussed upcoming legislation regarding the potential use of MOOCS to meet student demand, and regarding a 2-tier education system in which students could take additional summer or winter courses but at unsubsidized rate. (The FACCC is adamantly opposed to that.) He noted that the FACCC is working toward fully funding all community colleges, taking them back to their “original promise.” He recommended that all faculty use the “point and click” feature of the FACCC website, which is a fast and direct way for faculty to contact legislators.

IV.	Approval of minutes—4 April 2013
Pauley motioned to approve those minutes, Rose seconded. The motion was approved 10–0–2, with Parker and Muñoz abstaining. 

V.	Study Sessions—Ventura College Student Success Scorecard (a.k.a. ARCCC 2.0)
Lange described the changes to ARCCC reporting established in this document. VC will now only be compared to our past performance from now on, rather than to cohort schools. Lange solicited comments on what this report says about our District. Low completion rates for ESL was discussed by senators. The reason for these low completion rates was not known, but may be due to cuts in courses overall, cuts in courses taught bilingually and in Spanish, and cuts in the funding of support services (e.g. for tutoring). Consensus was reached that data on persistence rates in bilingual programs should be gathered to see if we can replicate former successes. It was opined that Title V grant money should be tied to efforts to improve this success rate. The high success rate of the CTE program was discussed. 

VI.	Action Items
a.	Program Review/Discontinuance Rubrics for Instructional Programs
Lange pointed out changes to this document, some substantial, some insubstantial. She solicited comments and/or questions. Some programs naturally have success rates that are higher or lower than average, and the potential unfairness of comparisons between those programs was discussed. Comparisons to statewide averages were discussed as an alternative. Wording was changed on the document to reflect this idea. Guillen motioned to approve the document with the change, Sandford seconded. The motion carried 11–1–0 with Muñoz opposed. 

b.	Distance Education Handbook (Second Reading)
This item was not yet ready for review.

c.	BP/AP 5052—Open Enrollment (Second Reading)
Sandford motioned to approve this document and those from sections VI.d.–g. (below), Kolesnik seconded. In discussion, it was opined that faculty that work with students should be part of developing any Student Equity plan (BP/AP 5300, section VI.d., below). Wording on that document was altered to reflect this change. Additional discussion about VI.e.–g ensued, and it was noted that the ASVC is currently considering these matters. The motion carried 11–0–1 with these changes with Coffey abstaining.

d.	BP/AP 5300—Student Equity (Second Reading)
See section VI.c., above.

e.	BP/AP 5500—Standards of Conduct (Second Reading)
See section VI.c., above.

f.	BP/AP 5520—Discipline Procedure (Second Reading)
See section VI.c., above.

g.	BP/AP 5530—Student Rights and Grievances (Second Reading)
See section VI.c., above.

h.	VC/VCCCD Accreditation Midterm reports (First Reading)
Lange noted that this document will change, recommended we move it to second reading. Kolesnik motioned to do so, Forde seconded. The motion carried 11–0–1 with Hendricks abstaining. 

i.	MOU Defining “Mutually Agree” Between the MC, OC, and VC Academic Senates (First Reading)
Lange noted that this is not an official policy that the Board could approve and/or enforce, just a collegial agreement that this is how we will proceed in such cases. Pauley motioned to move this document to second reading, Sanford seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

j.	VCCCD College Completion Challenge Resolution (First Reading)
Lange explained the origin of this document, and senators questioned its utility, given that we already have a Mission Statement as well as definitions for student and program successes. Muñoz motioned to table this document, Forde seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 

k.	BP/AP 4022—Course Approval (First Reading)
Sandford motioned to approve this document, Pauley seconded. Discussion ensured regarding Chancellor’s and faculty’s roles in this process. The motion carried unanimously.

VII.	President’s Report
a.	Consultation Council report
Lange reported via Peter Sezzi (who was attending the State Academic Senate Plenary Meeting) that the Completion Challenge Resolution was discussed, as were the few, minor changes to the Participatory Governance Handbook.

b.	Board of Trustees meetings reports
Lange described Chancellor’s attempt to procure additional District funding from Board. The resolution on participatory governance was approved by Board. 

c.	Administrative Council report
A list of which Divisions had and had not met the 15 April deadline for SLO rotational plans was generated on 16 April (i.e. the very next day), and this list was distributed to all Deans. Lange noted that Ty and Debbie worked very hard to get our SLO system to where it is now, and that their efforts are greatly appreciated. Lange reported that Federal Work Study funds were reduced by 50%, rather than the expected 5%. Alma Rodriguez, Victoria Lugo, and Susan Bricker will work on a mechanism of more fairly distributing the remaining student worker funds. The advantages of a lottery for this funding was discussed, as was evaluating historical usage as a way of determining proportional allotment of those funds. Establishing a rationale for particular departments’ requests was also discussed. 

d.	District Educational Master Plan Focus Group report
A draft will be presented for first reading at the next Senate meeting. 

e.	DCAS, ITAC reports
DCAS: Lange informed senators of changes to BPs and APs which had been discussed, noting that they don’t apply to Senate significantly. ITAC: Sandford reported that Course Studio is changing, and that a question now being asked is if VC should re-train users or move them onto Desire to Learn. Desire to Learn training was discussed—it’s available to everybody, and it’s recommended for everybody so that flexibility of course assignment can be maintained if online courses open up. 

VIII.	Senate Subcommittee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
There was nothing to report. 

b.	Other Senate Committees reports
Sandford informed senators of ballots for Faculty Recognition Awards. Lange reminded senators of links to Senate surveys. 

IX.	Campus Committee reports
a.	Campus Committees reports
There was nothing to report. 

X.	Adjournment
This meeting adjourned at 3:04 p.m.