Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, 24 January 2013    MCW-312

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order at 1:37 p.m. The following senate members were present:
Chen, Albert—Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Enfield, Amanda—English and Learning Resources
Guillen, Guadalupe—Student Services
Haines, Robbie—Senate Secretary
Horigan, Andrea—Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities
Kim, Henny—English and Learning Resources
Kolesnik, Alex – Math & Sciences
Lange, Cari—Senate Vice President
Mitchell, Nancy—Career and Technical Education
Muñoz, Paula—Student Services 
Parker, Jennifer—Career and Technical Education
Rose, Malia—Mathematics and Sciences
Sezzi, Peter—Senate President
The following guests were present:
Tan, Norbert—Executive Director, VC Foundation

II.	Public Comments
No public comments were made. 

III.	Acknowledgement of Guest: Norbert Tan, Executive Director, VC Foundation
Tan provided an update of Foundation activities and solicited suggestions from senators. He informed senators that the Foundation is creating its first strategic plan and he described the four main missions of the Foundation. He noted that the Educational Enhancement Grants (formerly known as Staff Innovation Grants) may be changing slightly, so that they are more closely linked to the Program Review process—items ranked as a high priority but unfunded through Program Review will be considered for funding through the Foundation. Tan therefore urged faculty to put everything they need into Program Review to increase the likelihood of those items being funded. The Foundation is considering funding discontinued courses through funding from donors and through the establishment of endowments to ensure the future viability of those courses. Tan opined that the selection of courses funded this way should be made by faculty, then the Foundation would “shop” those courses to potential donors. He made a point of emphasizing that Foundation’s role is strictly to support faculty and education, not to influence decisions on curriculum or catalog offerings. After Tan’s departure, problems using this adopt-a-class paradigm were discussed and alternatives were identified, like having the Foundation fund books, services, students, etc., instead of actual courses. The tiering of courses was discussed in light of Prop 30-induced changes to our budget. 

IV.	Approval of Minutes, 6 December 2012
Lange motioned to approve those minutes, Horigan seconded. The motion carried 9–0–1 with Morris abstaining. 

V.	Study Sessions
a.	VCCCD Educational Master Plan—Defining Research Questions 
Sezzi described the VCCCD Educational Master Plan and the need to update it, noting that it covers the whole district. VC has already met most of the objectives in our current Ventura College Educational Master Plan. Discussion ensued which was centered on the following overall themes: Who will students be in future, and what will their needs and community needs be? What will the faculty of the future be like, especially with respect to diversity and our decreased ability to maintain diversity in hiring practices? What will the role of technology be in future instruction, and what will that technology look like? How will faculty of the future be trained, train our replacements, and what continuing education opportunities will exist? What will the future focus of education be, what job situations will exist for our students, and how nimbly will faculty be able to tailor our offerings to students’ rapidly changing needs?

b.	Faculty Positions on the Ventura College Presidential Search Committee
The need to fill four open positions on this committee was discussed. It was agreed that Sezzi will solicit proposals from faculty interested in filling those positions, asking in particular for a description of candidates’ college involvement and service. Proposals will be presented to the Academic Senate, whose members will vote on them. Parker motioned to adopt this strategy, Muñoz seconded. Discussion ensued, during which a due date for the proposals was set and it was decided that the proposals would be given to senators in advance so that meeting time would not be used reading them. The motion carried unanimously. 

c.	VCCCD Participatory Governance Manual
Sezzi solicited requests for changes to this document. Participation of students in governance was discussed. 

d.	Program Review Rubrics for Instructional Programs
This item will be moved to a future senate meeting.

VI.	Action Items
a.	Report on Program Review Rubrics for Instructional Programs
This report was distributed by Sezzi, and its purpose and direction was discussed. Horigan motioned to adopt the report, Lange seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 

b.	VC Mission Statement (Second Reading)
Haines motioned to accept the revised VC Mission Statement, Morris seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 

c.	Distance Education Handbook (Second Reading)
Sezzi informed senators that he is working on document; it will be presented at a future meeting.

d.	AP 3900—Speech: Time, Place and Manner (First and Second Readings)
Sezzi explained document. Haines motioned to approve this document as a first and second reading, Guillen seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 

e.	AP 4100—Graduation Requirements for Degrees and Certificates (First Reading)
Sezzi explained this document, and it was discussed. Inconsistencies between different versions of this document were identified. Sezzi will clean them up for second reading. The document will be tabled pending Sezzi’s repairs. 

VII.	President’s Report
a.	Governing Board meetings reports
Sezzi reported out about the recent Technical Assistance Visit that occurred at the January regular Board meeting. It was very successful. Statewide Academic Senate President Michelle Pilatti and CCLC President Scott Lay did an excellent job on the presentation and the Board members took lots of notes and seemed genuinely interested. A second Board meeting this month will occur later today when the Board engages in conversation with its Community Advisory Board. 

b.	Consultation Council report
Sezzi reported that VC is farther below projected FTES, as are the other MC and OC but they not below their FTES targets as much as we are. Sezzi also noted that we appear to be below our District enrollment cap but with a bit of luck, we will meet cap this year. The reasons for lower enrollment need to be determined. 

c.	Administrative Council reports
No report was made.

d.	DCAP, DCAA, DCAS, DCHR reports
DCAP: This group will meet next week. DCAA: This group will meet next week, their agenda is still being made. DCAS: Low enrollment will be discussed at this group’s next meeting. DCHR: This group met this morning. Full-time faculty hires at VC no longer allow letters of recommendation, and the reasons for this were discussed by Sezzi. MC has strongly suggested, however, that such letters be required for full-time positions, as long as they are recent and written for the position in question. Sezzi solicited senators’ opinions on the matter, and a discussion ensued. Opinions were divergent and as we were nearing the end of today’s meeting, the topic will be scheduled as a study session for a future meeting. 

VIII.	Senate Subcommittee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
No report was made.

b.	Other Senate Committees reports
No report was made.

IX.	Campus Committee reports
No report was made

X.	Adjournment
This meeting adjourned at 3:28 p.m.