Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, 1 March 2012        MCW-312

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order 1:34 p.m. The following senate members were present:
Algiers, Kammy—Math and Sciences
Arquilevich, Gabe—English and Learning Resources
Beynon, Sharon—English and Learning Resources
Chen, Albert—Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
Forde, Richard—Career & Technical Education
Gardner, Ty—Math and Sciences
Guillen, Guadalupe—Student Services
Haines, Robbie—Senate Secretary
Hendricks, Bill—Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities
Lange, Cari—Senate Vice President
Mitchell, Nancy—Career & 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
Sezzi, Peter—Senate President
The following guests were present:
Chavez, Daniel—ASVC
Lara-Cruz, Christopher—ASVC
Sanchez, Ramiro—EVP, Student Learning
Tovar, Antonio—Vice President, ASVC

II.	Public Comments
Chavez noted that ASVC has endorsed Prop 1542, asked about rules regarding ASVC’s solicitation of signatures.

III.	Acknowledgement of Guests
No guests were acknowledged.

IV.	Approval of Minutes—16 February 2012
Forde moved to approve minutes from the 16 February 2012 meeting, Arquilevich seconded. Motion approved 14–0–2 with Hendricks and Morris abstaining.

V.	Study Sessions
a.	General Education SLOs
The revised proposed list of General Eduction SLOs was discussed. It was noted that this document replaces Core Competencies, and it also replaces program-level SLOs for programs/divisions that do not award degrees or certificates. Item 5 in particular was discussed in terms of original wording vs. English Department’s re-wording. There was general agreement that the original wording encompasses everything and more covered by the English Department’s re-wording, and that items left out by English’s re-wording may be useful to other programs. Consensus was reached to make this discussion a first and second reading of the document, and that it can be changed later if needed. Haines moved to approve with original wording in Item 5, Morris seconded. Motion approved 8–1–2.

b.	VC Institutional Effectiveness Metrics
Wording to Item 1 was augmented to reflect students who do not attend VC for degrees, certificates, or transfer. Muñoz suggested that many students don’t transfer not because of failure but rather because there’s no space for them in universities. The document’s language was changed to reflect this. It was noted that Counseling completes IGETC/GE certification forms for all students who intend to transfer, and that those forms can be used as a way of including students who do not transfer but are nevertheless successful at VC  as a measure of our institution’s effectiveness. Item 10 about GE SLOs was reworded to reflect our adoption thereof. Muñoz commented on item 7, opining that we should be serving students even if they’re unfunded, since our goal is supposed to be serving students not turning them away. Item 7 was modified. Item 9 was discussed, as was the risk that FT:PT ratio can be increased by cutting PT as well as by hiring more FT. The wording of Item 9 was left unmodified. Success rates (as defined as “A,B,C,P,CR / A,B,C,D,F,P,NP,CR,NC,D,W) were discussed, and its lack on this form. Senators opined that success rates should be on this form, but they recognized that there is a big risk that doing so could promote grade inflation. Potential grade inflation was discussed, as were VC success rates relative to statewide success rates. Gardner committed to having SLOOC create a formal statement that SLOs will never be used against instructors, and he suggested that the Contract be modified in the next round to prevent this. He noted that we already have mechanisms in place for evaluating faculty. Success in online vs. face-to-face classes was discussed, as were success rates in remedial classes vs. classes with prerequisites. Measures other than grades were discussed, as was the idea that student success or failure belongs to the students, not to the faculty. Senators noted that these are institutional effectiveness measures, not faculty effectiveness measures. Student success wording was agreed upon and added, and our goal will be for VC to be at or better than state-wide averages. Sezzi noted that we can revise this document later as needed. General agreement was reached to have a formal action item reading of a revised and updated version of this document at a future meeting. 

c.	VCCCD Accreditation Status (Cont’d)
Sezzi: Consultation Council meets tomorrow and will be just for addressing District accreditation recommendations. There were no attachments to this group’s agenda, so there was nothing to share with Senate. Revised version of Participatory Governance Manual from Board minutes were included in Agenda for upcoming Consultation Counsel Meeting, but it contained some errors already, like removing students from DCSL. A flow chart depicting how governance works in our District was discussed, and several errors in it were revealed. Sezzi noted that he and the other Senate Presidents recommended at the last Board meeting four things: 1) regular study sessions on the topic; 2) a timeline for completion of recommended actions; 3) a discussion of how faculty can help and whether or not Consultation Council is the best body for that; and 4) the Board should appoint an interim, internal accreditation liaison officer to oversee the District accreditation process. Sezzi will share documents from Consultation Council meeting if any. 

d.	VCCCD Board of Trustees Goals (Cont’d)
Our responses to Board goals was passed out. Discussion followed on who should carry out or oversee each goal. Sezzi will develop a report to enumerate the progress we’ve made on these goals and who we think should be involved in implementing them. 

VI.	Action Items
a.	General Education SLOs (First Reading)
Reported above in Study Session (a).

b.	Report on VCCCD Board of Trustees Goals (First Reading)
Sezzi informed senators that this report is forthcoming.

c.	AP 4100—Graduation Requirements for Certificates and Degrees (First Reading)
Changes in this AP initiated by MC were discussed, primarily the requirement that students earn a “C“ or better in all classes required in their major for a proficiency award or certificate. It was noted that any new requirements must be added to the Course Catalog. Arquilevich motioned to move this to a second reading, Hendricks seconded. Motion approved unanimously. 

VII.	President’s Report
a.	Administrative Council report
Sezzi was unable to attend that last Admin Council as Consultation Council was scheduled at the same time. On the last Admin Council agenda was the topic of “Re-certification” training for Distance Education. Much of Distance Ed at VC appears to be in flux, Sezzi doesn’t know what’s going on. Pauley reported that previous training was probably insufficient, that new mandatory training is in the works, and that the new training should be available this summer. Senators discussed possibility of faculty being locked out of online teaching because a mandate for training is being developed before the training is available. Distance Ed success rates are lower at VC than in-person classes, but that’s true to the same extent statewide. Senators asked why, then, are we assuming that Distance Ed problems are the fault of the instructors? Preparing students for online instruction might be a good idea. It was noted that we need guidelines for evaluating online courses and instructors who teach them. Sezzi remarked that he will invite Dean Gwendolyn Lewis-Huddleston (the Dean who oversees DE at VC) will be invited to the next Senate meeting to discuss this. 

b.	Board of Trustees Meeting Report
At the last Board meeting, Sezzi and the other two Senate Presidents delivered a PowerPoint Report presentation on faculty role in the accreditation processes.  The presentation called for four (4) things outlined above (V.c.) In Sezzi’s estimation, the Board is taking the Commission’s special concern and seven (7) recommendations very seriously. Their last Board meeting had Board members assessing what their role is and is not, what the role of the Chancellor is and is not, etc.

c.	Consultation Council Report
Sezzi reported that the Consultation Council discussed what their role of this committee is, noting that they’re not doing many things they’re supposed to be doing. They agreed to “continue” to do those things (even though they’re not doing them). Sezzi expressed concern about Accreditation Recommendation 1, since Consultation Council hasn’t even looked at strategic planning in 3.5 years. BGOITF might be good venue for strategic planning because of its high faculty : non-faculty ratio (6 faculty, 3 managers). 

d.	DCHR, DCAS Reports
DCHR: Sezzi reported that our Contract requires faculty members to teach only in the area for which they were hired. He noted that we haven’t always followed this rule, and that some people’s assignments may change in the near future for this reason. Senators asked about moving a course from one discipline to another, wondering if longevity is lost if you have to move for this reason. Sezzi informed senators that a faculty member must be formally hired in a discipline, via an announced position with interviews, to be eligible to teach a course; being a faculty member who meets MQs in more than one area does not mean that a faculty member will be allowed to teach in all areas in which he/she meets MQs. Per Vice-Chancellor of Human Resources Patricia Parham, a faculty member must both meet MQs and be hired in a discipline. Discussion of what one was hired for vs. what one’s minimum qualifications are ensued. District HR has run a report matching faculty MQs against the dicisplines they were hired in and what discipline each course has as noted in CurricuNet. Sezzi asked at DCHR what the error rate and what disciplines were most affected in this report. The report was not available at this last DCHR. Sezzi will share the report with us when it’s available. Sezzi also noted that Parham said that when a faculty member is on leave, he or she is just that—on leave and it is the considered opinion of management that faculty on leave should not serve on committees, etc. 
DCAS: Sezzi reported that our recommendation to plan for a $8M deficit in next fiscal year’s budget was the figure adopted at DCAS. 

e.	BGOITF report
Sezzi noted that VC’s  EVP Ramiro Sanchez is now the Chancellor’s designee to chair this task force. At our last meeting, each college shared in a very brief manner what it has done to advance the Board’s goals. BGOITF meets again next week.

f.	Department Chair’s & Coordinators Council Meeting Report
Changes to financial aid were discussed at this meeting. 

VIII.	Senate Subcommittee and Campus Committee Reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
Staggered deadlines for COR updates were discussed.

b.	Student Learning Outcomes Oversight Committee Report
No new information was presented.

c.	Other Committees
No other reports were made.

IX.	Information Items
Muñoz asked if there was interest in an all District Faculty conference sponsored by AFT, each Senate, and FACCC, noting that it could be an opportunity for all faculty from across the District to come together to discuss a variety of topics. She informed senators that it could be from 10:00–1:00 on a Friday, and its topics are to be determined but could potentially include leadership. General interest in this was expressed.

Mathematics Department changed its competency criteria, and the new criteria were shared by Sezzi. He noted that the Curriculum Committee is currently reviewing these for Title V compliance.

Sezzi reported that the minimum scholarship amount has been changed by the Foundation to $1,000. Awarding this amount now would zero out our temporary account. Discussion ensued about whether we should spend this amount now or award it later. In response to a senator’s question, Sezzi pointed out that we do not have enough money to create a second in-perpetuity scholarship. General agreement was reached that we might as well spend the entire amount now rather than next year. 

X.	Adjournment
This meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.