Ventura College Academic Senate
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Campus Center Conference Room

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order at 1:36 p.m. The following senate members were present:
	
Gardner, Ty- Math & Sciences
Haines, Robbie - Math & Sciences	
Hendricks, Bill – Social Science & Humanities
Kolesnik, Alex - Math & Sciences	
Lange, Cari – Senate Secretary
Mitchell, Nancy – Career and Technical Education	
Muñoz, Paula – Student Services
Penuela, Alan – Career and Technical Education
Pollack, Deborah - Communication & Learning Resources
Schoenrock, Kathryn - Communication & Learning Resources
Sezzi, Peter – Senate President

The following guests were present:
		Ringen, Randy - Communication & Learning Resources

II.	Public Comments
There were no public comments at this time.

III.	Approval of minutes
Motion to approve the minutes from the previous Academic Senate meeting was made by Haines and seconded by Pollack. Motioned passed 8-0-1 with Muñoz abstaining and Mitchell not present for the vote. 

IV.	Announcements
a.	VCF/Osher/Senate Endowed Scholarship Update
Sezzi announced that we currently have received $800 in donations, but reminded us that we are still short of our $2,000 goal. He encouraged us to donate, even small amounts, and to ask our colleagues to do the same. 

V.	President’s Report
a.	Administrative Council report
Sezzi reported out that the district is likely facing a 7% budget cut for FY 2011-12. For VC, in a best case scenario of only a 4.3% budget cut, this translates to 36 hourly sections needing to be cut from the Fall schedule; a 7% budget cut would translate into about 80 sections cut in Fall and around 100 cut in Spring 2012. However, we will still be adding two full time faculty growth positions which will add back a few sections (approximately 6-10 sections added back per semester). As reported by Sezzi, EVP Ramiro Sanchez’s principle factors for cutting classes from the fall schedule are as follows: 
	Non-credit courses
	Non-discipline specific work experience
	Extra-large classes
Fitness center (reduction to the number of students allowed to be in the center at any one given time will allow us to reduce staffing hours).
Low efficiency GE classes 

Concern was expressed that the faculty, Senate, and deans were largely being left out of the process of developing a strategy for cuts. It is our opinion, as point 5 of the Senate’s 10+1—“Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success”—faculty should have the principle say in the development of the class schedule. The process by which these cuts were made—at the 7% budget cut, even though our District’s budgets assumptions are anticipating a 4.3% budget cut; lack of faculty involvement in the section cuts—highlights a significant gap in communication structure, which is an issue (Recommendation #7) the accreditation report specifically said we need to address and significantly improve upon.  

It was noted that while VC is not going to experience any direct classified staff lay-offs, our other two sister schools are, which will create local “bumping” of some classified staff. Again, we strongly feel that there needs to be transparency in the process of determining which positions are being eliminated. 

At this time it was motioned by Gardner and seconded by Schoenrock to move agenda action item VII d, Resolution on the Process Used to Cut the Fall 2011 Class Schedule (First Reading), up in the agenda in order to continue this discussion. Motion unanimously carried. 

Sezzi presented the Senate with a Resolution on the Enrollment Management to affirm our position on the process by which the Fall 2011 section cuts were made. 

After discussion and learning the critical timing of this document, Schoenrock motioned that we have both a first and second reading of this resolution. Motioned was seconded by Haines and unanimously carried. 

Time was spent by the senators revising the document which was then approved as read by acclimation. Sezzi agreed to read the resolution at the April 12th Board of Trustees meeting. 
	
b.	DCAS, DCHR, DTRW, DCSL reports
It was reported out that DCHR, DTRW, and DCSL worked on making minor revisions to their committee charges. These changes were agreed to by consent.

c.	Consultation Council report
Clocking  in at 4 hours long, Sezzi noted that this past Consultation Council meeting was the longest it has ever been. Sezzi was only able to attend the first 2 hours of the meeting. Typically at Consultation Council, the only thing that happens is agenda review of the upcoming Board of Trustees meeting agenda.  At this past Consultation Council however, much discussion focused on the future of the District and a report out of college and District responses to specific accreditation recommendations.

d.	Accreditation Recommendations Updates
As per the state and WASC requirements, Ventura College must address six of the eight recommendations sited for improvement by October 2011. Progress has been made on all six of these recommendations, and the updates on their status are emailed out weekly by college President Calote. Sezzi and Dean Kathy Scott are co-editing the final report that will be submitted to WASC in Oct. A first draft of the report will be available to Senate before the end of this Spring semester. The Academic Senate will have a second draft of this report to review at the first meeting of the Fall 2011 semester. 

VI.	Campus Committee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
i.	SB 1440 Degree
b.	Student Learning Outcomes Oversight Group report
c.	Learning Communities Task Force report
Due to time constraints, no reports were given on items VI. a-c.

d.	Program Assessment Rubric Development Task Force report
Sezzi briefly mentioned that this task force has met twice and will meet again before the next Senate meeting. The task force is comprised of Sezzi, Mitchell, Pauley and Jennifer Parker.

VII.	Action Items
a.	Ventura College Integrated Planning, Program Review & Resource Allocation Model/Document (Second Reading)

It was motioned by Haines that the Academic Senate officially agree with the concept presented in the Ventura College Integrated Planning, Program Review & Resource Allocation Model. Sezzi will work on compiling a handbook of the process for the Senate to review by the end of this semester. Hendricks seconded the motion which then carried 8-0-2 with Muñoz and Schoenrock abstaining. 

b.	Ventura College Procedure for Evaluation and Awarding of Proficiency Awards (First Reading)

After review and discussion it was motioned by Haines that we have both a first and second reading of this procedure. Motioned was seconded by Pollack and unanimously carried. The procedure as outlined was then approved by acclimation. Sezzi agreed to read the resolution at the April 12th Board of Trustees meeting. 

c.	Individual Action on Spring 2011 Statewide Academic Senate Plenary Resolutions, Including Action on Proposed Changes to Statewide Minimum Qualifications

It was agreed by acclimation to allow Sezzi to vote on our behalf as he sees fit. The English department requested that Sezzi vote in favor of the resolution regarding fast-track basic skills classes.  Sezzi has contacted all the department chairs of large departments and all full-time faculty in smaller departments of disciplines that have proposed changes to statewide minimum qualifications. As affirmed by the Senate, Sezzi will vote on proposed MQs changes as the contacted faculty instructed him to so do.

d.	Resolution on the Process Used to Cut the Fall 2011 Class Schedule (First Reading)

Please see discussion under section V a. 

e.	AP 7205 – Employee Code of Ethics (First Reading)

It was agreed that we will defer this item to the next agenda to allow us adequate time to share this document with our colleagues and gather their suggestions for modification or approval. 

VIII.	Adjournment
The regular Academic Senate session adjourned  at 2:37 pm  and other constituencies joined the body to begin functioning as the new College Planning Council (CPC), the participatory governance group charged with establishing the program review/integrated planning parameters for the 2011-2012 academic year.