Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Campus Center Conference Room

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order at 1:35 p.m.  The following senate members were present:

Arquilevich, Gabriel—Communication & Learning Resources
Corbett, P. Scott—Social Sciences & Humanities
Guillen, Guadalupe--Counseling
Hendricks, Bill—Social Sciences & Humanities
Lall, Sumita—Communication & Learning Resources
Morris, Terry—Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Munoz, Paula—Student Services
Pauley, Mark—Senate Treasurer
Pollack, Deborah—Senate Vice-President
Sezzi, Peter—Senate President

The following guests were present:
Cowen, Will—Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Harrison, Tim—Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Martin, Rebecca—Student Representative

II.	Approval of minutes
a.	Motion to approve last meeting’s minutes was made by Arquilevich and seconded by Hendricks. Minutes were approved as amended.

III.	Action Items
a.	AP 5055—Enrollment Priorities (Second Reading)
Corbett and Morris proposed prioritizing student enrollment based on proximity to completion rather than on units completed.  The subsequent discussion supported this idea with the proviso that students must have met with a counselor in order to determine the percentage of required courses they’ve taken and still need to complete.  Guillen talked about the mechanics of this procedure for the counseling staff.
Morris circulated Priority Registration for Student-Athletes Proposal.  He pointed out that student athletes are actively recruited by VC coaches and that it is important that we deliver on our promises to them.  He also noted that athletic activities provide our college with much of our good publicity in the media and are therefore worthy of being supported.  Cowen and Harrison reviewed the proposal for the senate.  It will be brought up at DCSL and will at some point become a district-wide policy.  
Further discussion of AP 5055 resulted in the recommendation that items 1 and 2 under “Further restrictions apply” should be deleted.   This motion was made by Morris and seconded by Pauley.  
There was otherwise consensus agreement with AP 5055 which will be brought back for a third reading in January. 

b.	AP 4235—Credit by Exam (Second Reading)
Sezzi reviewed Susan Bricker’s highlighted changes in this document.  Motion to approve was made by Morris, seconded by Guillen and confirmed unanimously by the senate.

c.	AP-7367—Employee Rehiring Prohibition (First Reading)
This academic procedure was moved to a second reading.  Sezzi will find out how long employee records are kept.

d.	AP-2431—Recruitment and Hiring—Chancellor (First Reading)
Since reference checks need to be performed earlier in the process, the senate recommended moving them to precede the oral interview of Chancellor candidates.  Questions arose over the issue of Externally-Conducted Recruitment.  This procedure will be moved to a second reading.

e.	BP-4026—Philosophy and Criteria for International Education (First Reading)
This board policy was moved to a second reading.

f.	Anti-Smoking Policy at VC
Elaine Tennen is forming a committee to aid in the establishment of a smoke-free campus and soliciting the endorsement of the senate.  Her proposal was endorsed with one abstention.

g.	Distance Education Faculty Handbook
Since this is a comprehensive document that concerns teaching, Sezzi recommended that any concerns we have be emailed to union negotiators John Wagner, Bea Herrera, or Connie Jenkins.

IV.	Information Items
There were none at this time.

V.	President’s Report
a.	Administrative Council report
Sezzi noted that the Banner version of student financial aid assistance is being developed

He also updated the senate on administrative personnel issues—
Robert Taylor, Alex Miranda, and Kaye Faulconer will all be leaving the campus.  Diane Moore will be working as interim dean for three months in Social Sciences & Humanities.

b.	DSHR, DCSL, DTRW, DCAS, DAWC
i.	DCSL
1.	Multi-Term registration
Sezzi asked the senate whether we still wanted this and consensus was that we didn’t.  He also noted that not all community colleges require two readings of curriculum changes and that we may be able to reduce this to a single reading.  The senate executive committee will craft a resolution opposing multi-term registration to bring to the senate in January.
2.	Statute of limitations on grade changes
Sezzi noted that there is currently no limit at Ventura College as to when grades may be changed.  At other colleges, the limits range from three weeks to three years.  Senate consensus was that three years sounded reasonable.  Sezzi will bring this proposal to DCSL.  
3.	Tech Prep/Credit by Exam units permissible in C&TE
Sezzi stated that this is not yet an issue.
4.	Enforcement of prerequisites
Prerequisite enforcement will begin in the summer of 2010 at VC and by Fall ’10 should be in force at all three colleges.
A prerequisite challenge form will be available for students to complete and must be responded to within five days.  Sezzi will communicate with department chairs to identify responders within each discipline.
5.   New Draft of AP 4021—Program Discontinuance
Senate members expressed concern about item IV, Safeguards for Students, Faculty and Staff.  This procedure will move to a first reading and will be compared with the two page document from 9/09.
6.	AP 4100—Graduation Requirements for Degrees & Certificates
This was moved to a combined first and second reading in January.  Senate members agreed that the document should state what we actually do.

ii.	DTRW
1.	College practice for determination of Proficiency Awards
Currently there is neither accountability nor uniformity for these awards.  Proficiency Awards have to be approved by the department chair and signed by the chair and division dean.  The same form should be used for each, a template should be developed for the award, and records of the number of awards presented should be kept, probably by the dean.  Sezzi will work with the senate executive committee to develop a resolution about this to be brought to the next senate meeting.
iii.	DCHR
1.	Composition of equivalency committees
Sezzi raised the issue of who would serve on the committee for a potential faculty member applying to teach in a discipline only minimally represented at the college.  
2.	BP 7205—Employee Code of Ethics Task Force report
Corbett volunteered to serve on this multi-college task force.

VI.	Campus Committee Reports
a.	Curriculum Committee Reports
i.	Reports from Task Force on Comparable Courses
Sezzi noted that approximately 2/3 of courses are not uniform across the three campuses, making moving between colleges difficult for students.  
ii. Reading requirement for AA/AS
Currently, completion of 60 units fulfills this requirement.  There was discussion among senate members that this may continue to be sufficient.

b.	Core College Design Team report
Pauley reported that sub-teams have been established and that one more meeting of the full committee will take place this semester.  Munoz added that the committee will be making recommendations for the district budget.

VII.	Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.