Ventura College Academic Senate
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Campus Center Conference Room

I.	Call to Order
This meeting was called to order at 1:32 p.m. The following senate members were present:

Aubry, Michael – Career & Technical Education
Corbett, P. Scott – Social Sciences & Humanities
	       Guillen, Guadalupe – Student Services
Haines, Robbie- Math & Sciences
Hendricks, Bill - Social Sciences & Humanities
Lall, Sumita - Communication & Learning Resources
Lange, Cari – Senate Secretary
Mitchell, Nancy - Career & Technical Education
Morris, Terry – Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Munoz, Paula- Student Services
Pollack, Deborah - Senate Vice-president

The following guests were present:
Tennen, Elaine – Health Center
Zierhut, Trevor- Associated Student Representative

II.	Approval of minutes
a.	Motion to approve Feb. 18, 2010 meeting’s minutes was made by Guillen, and seconded by Aubry. Motion was approved 9-0-1, with Munoz abstaining. 
III.	Action Items
a.	VC Anti-Smoking Policy (First Reading) – Elaine Tennen
	Elaine Tennen was present to present the Academic Senate with the latest version of the VC Anti-smoking Regulations and to seek feedback on how the regulations should be implemented and enforced. (Please note that there is no official district policy regarding smoking, therefore the anti-smoking movement has been renamed a regulation). 
	Enforcing a non-smoking campus is clearly the primary concern. Tennen received a small  grant from the Ventura County Health Department to pay for signs to be posted around campus reminding individuals of the anti-smoking regulation and directing smokers to “approved” smoking areas located in parking lots. She has been working in concert with the Facilities Oversight Group to place the signage and to create parking lot smoke zones. 
	Tennen also developed small “reminder” and cessation program handout cards to be distributed to students in violation of the new anti-smoking regulations. She said that it will be up to faculty and staff to police smoking activity, however, she will be willing to intervene in the cases of habitual offenders. Repeat offenders may be referred to the dean of student conduct. However, what actual ramifications exist are still unclear. Tennen is concerned that faculty and staff, if not held to some sort of similar disciplinary actions, will be apt to become habitual offenders. 
	Some senate members expressed concern over the procedure by which the entire regulation and enforcement would be implemented; however, this aspect is not an item for senate vote approval. 

b.	AP 4104 – Contract Education (First Reading)
	Munoz suggested that a statement be added into AP 4104 – Contract Education  as such: 
Contract Education courses, training, or activities undertaken will be consistent with the stated mission, goals of the District colleges, and comply with the AFT/VCCCD agreement.
	Senators were asked to take this policy back to their departments for approval. This AP will appear as a second reading action item at the March 18th meeting.

c.	AP 4105 – Distance Education (First Reading)
	It was also suggested that this academic policy concerning distant education carry a statement regarding compliancy with the AFT/VCCCD agreement. 
	This AP will appear as a second reading action item next senate meeting. 

d.	AP 4400 – Community Service (First Reading)
	The above current academic policy regarding community service seems sound. It will appear as a second reading action item next senate meeting.
e.	BP 7205 – Employee Code of Ethics  (New Version) (First Reading)
		Discussion centered around the idea that this board policy should remain general in 		nature, and that the Academic Policy covering an Employee Code of Ethics should be more 	prescriptive. As such, the following recommendations for changes were made:
 Ventura County Community College District (“District”) employees are guided by principles that call for the respect of students, citizens, state policy makers, and the educational community at large.  This Code of Ethics demonstrates to the public that our educational community has a vested interest in advancing the reputation and goodwill of the District and higher education.
Employees of the District:
•	Are required to become familiar with this Code of Ethics and adhere to its principles.  
•	Will be familiar with and abide by the District’s policies and procedures, including those procedures relating to communications within the chain of command of the District.
•	Will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and codes.
•	Are encouraged to promptly and confidentially report any evidence of improper practice of which they Are aware per Administrative Procedure 7700-Whistleblower Protections, that there is a law that protects people who report improper practices.
•	Will avoid conduct which is in violation of the public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated.  (This statement was viewed as redundant, and therefore unnecessary.)
•	Are committed to acting with integrity and being accountable for their actions.
o	Striving for workplace excellence.
o	Acting with integrity.
o	Being accountable for their actions.
o	Treating every person with respect.

Senators were asked to take this policy back to their departments for approval. This BP will appear as a second reading action item at the March 18th meeting. 

IV.	Information/Discussion Items
a.	Proposed Changes to Statewide Minimum  Qualifications
	Due to Sezzi’s absence, there was nothing to report on this item. 

V.	President’s Report
a.	Administrative Council report
	Pollack reported that recently, President Calote agreed to meet with the faculty co-chair of a hiring committee immediately following completion of the Presidential level interview to review the pertinent details of the interview. 

b.	DCHR, DCSL, DTRW, DCAS, DAWC
i.	DTRW
1.	Status of AP/BPs on student standards of conduct, grievance procedures, etc.
	Due to Sezzi’s absence, there was nothing to report on these items. 
2.	Notice of forthcoming APs
	Pollack noted that 15 APs are currently in various states of flux; Sezzi will bring them to the senate as they reach completion. 

VI.	Vice-President’s Report
	Pollack reminded the senate that the next Faculty Professional Development workshop is Tuesday, 3/16. 

VII.	Campus Committee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
	There was not quorum at the last Curriculum Committee meeting.

b.	Core College Design Team reports
	There was nothing to report at this point in time on the status of the Core College Design Team report.

c.	Accreditation Team report
	Pollack reminded senators that the accreditation documents are available for review on the portal sight. Any suggestions for modifications may be made to Calote and copied to Sezzi. 

VIII.	Adjournment
	This meeting was adjourned at 2:22 p.m.