Ventura College Academic Senate
Minutes
Thursday, September 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:

Anderson, Lisa - Math & Sciences
Arquilevich, Gabriel – Communication & Learning Resources
Aubry, Michael – Career & Technical Education 
Corbett, P. Scott – Social Sciences & Humanities
Hagerman, Michelle – Math & Sciences
Haines, Robert – Math & Sciences
Lange, Cari – Senate Secretary
Mitchell, Nancy Rae - Career & Technical Education 
Morris, Terry – Health, Physical Education & Athletics
Munoz, Paula – Student Services
Pauley, Mark – Senate Treasurer
Pollack, Deborah - Senate Vice-president
Schoenrock, Kathryn – Communication & Learning Resources
Sezzi, Peter - Senate President

The following guests were in attendance:

Garvey, Judith – Theater Arts
Harrison, Karen – ESL
Herrera, Bea – Counseling
Parker, Jennifer – Child Development

II.	Approval of minutes
a.	May 7, 2009
Motioned by Morris, seconded by Anderson.  Approved 7-0-7, with Arquilevich, Aubry, Corbett, Hagerman, Haines, Mitchell, and Schoenrock abstaining. 
III.	Action Items
a.	Accreditation Standard Faculty Co-Chair Appointments
The Senate Executive Council forwarded the following faculty members (faculty names in bold) to serve on accreditation committees:  

		Standard 1(Mission / Planning / Program Review): Co-Chairs Kay Faulconer Boger and 			Deborah Pollack and Sandy Melton
		Standard 2A (Instruction):  Co-Chairs Ramiro Sanchez and Jennifer Parker
		Standard 2B (Student Services):  Co-Chairs Victoria Lugo and Marian Carrasco-Nungaray
		Standard 2C (Learning Resources):  Co-Chairs Kathy Scott and Peter Sezzi
		Standard 3A (Human Resources):  Co-Chairs Karen Gorback and Jeff Stauffer  and Peter Sezzi 
		Standard 3B (Physical Resources):  Co-Chairs David Keebler and Bill Budke
		Standard 3C (Technology):  Co-Chairs Heather Untalan and Mark Pauley 
		Standard 3D (Financial Resources):  Co-Chairs David Keebler and Alexander Kolesnik
		Standard 4 (Board Relations / Governance):   Co-Chairs Robin Calote and Peter Sezzi

The affirmation of appointees was motioned by Haines, seconded by Morris and unanimously approved.

b.	District & College Committee Appointments
The senate executive board forwarded the following faculty members to serve on district and college committees:  

	DCSL (2 reps): Dave Ferris (?) and Michael Bowen (Y)
	DTRW (2 reps): Jeff Fergusson (Y) and Paulette Johnson (Y – Fall 09) / Mark Pauley (Y – 	Spring 10)
	DISTRICT-WIDE SABBATICAL LEAVE (2 reps): Bob Arce and Stacy Sloan-Graham			STAFFING PRIORITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR: Becky Hull

The affirmation of appointees was motioned by Haines, seconded by Morris and unanimously approved.

c.	DCSL:  Academic Procedures  4021, 4026, 4100 (Third Reading)
	Academic procedure 4021: Guest Herrera expressed concern that the final stage of program discontinuance, Stage Two – Option B, Preparation for Discontinuance, does not involve more faculty in the decision process. However, this is mitigated by the fact that this is a multi step process, and faculty is largely involved during the earlier stages. 
	To clarify that the Academic Senate wants to have faculty heavily involved in all stages, the following revision was made to Stage Two – Option B:
	The Executive Vice President/Vice President of Instruction, dean, department chair/ discipline faculty prepare recommended discontinuation plans that primarily relies upon the advice of discipline faculty for submission to the college President. 
	Timeline and process for program discontinuance approval at the local and state level.
	Provisions for students currently in the program for completion or transfer.
	Provision for displaced faculty.
	Provision for impact on budget and facilities.

	With this revision the procedure was motioned by Arquilevich and seconded by Haines. Motion carried 11-1-0 with Munoz objecting. Aubry and Mitchell were not present for voting.

	Academic procedure 4026: Motion for approval of this procedure was made by Haines and seconded by Corbett. Motion carried 12-0-0. Aubry and Mitchell were not present for voting.

	Academic procedure 4100: Motion for approval of this procedure was made by Munoz and seconded by Pollack. Motion carried 9-1-2 with Lange objecting and Haines and Schoenrock abstaining. Aubry and Mitchell were not present for voting.

IV.	Information Items
a.	District Drafts of Procedures/Forms for “Vehicle & Transportation” and “Student Travel, Field Trip and Excursions”
	Lange reported that the procedures for this area were fundamentally the same as the previous procedures with the exception that the college and district’s policies and liability statements are more clearly stated, requiring the students to sign additional forms. Guest Harrison had concerns that this will deter ELL students from participating on excursions. These procedures will be discussed as an action item during the next senate meeting to be held on Sept. 17, 2009.

V.	Discussion Items
a.	Ventura College Mission Statement / Education Master Plan
	Sezzi noted that Ventura College President Robin Calote brought up at Administrative Council two weeks ago the idea of modifying our college mission statement that was developed last year during the Educational Master Plan process. After initial discussion at Admin Council, President Calote decided to not change our collectively agreed upon mission statement. Sezzi indicated his frustration at having completed our Educational Master Plan process in the Spring but it still not having been affirmed by the Board of Trustees. He further indicated that he is willing to wait only until October for this matter to be placed on the Board agenda.

b.	Faculty Hiring
	Sezzi welcomed all new full time hires.
	
c.	Program Review
	Senate members have been expressing concern that program review will be used to supplant the academic procedure 4021, program discontinuance, by dropping classes that have a weak program review. Corbett agreed to write a formal statement that the Senate can then discuss that would state, in effect, that the Academic Senate does not approve discontinuing a program through non-scheduling of classes as that by so-doing, this bypasses the above stated academic procedure. This item will be up for discussion and approval at the next Senate meeting.

d.	Transformational Budgeting  / “Core” College Design Teams / CRC
	Round table discussion revealed that there is much confusion about the role of CRC, “core” college design and the new committee for transformational budgeting. These committees have potential to be pivotal in determining the future of Ventura College. As such, the Academic Senate affirms that the senate, as representatives of the college’s faculty, needs to be the primary channel of informational input of these committees.
	Sezzi will request that the VP of Business Services, Dave Keebler, attend the next Senate meeting to clarify the roles and formation process of these committees. Until that time, the Academic Senate wants it to be known that the Senate has not appointed any representatives to these committees; therefore any actions taken by these committees are not condoned by the Academic Senate.  Further, the Academic Senate requires that these committee plans be placed in writing and that if CRC and, by extension, any of its subcommittees are committees of the Senate or otherwise governance committees, that all meetings are advertised according to the Brown Act.

e.	One Book, One Campus
	Sezzi announced that One Book, One Campus will now be a subcommittee of the Senate and that Pollack will lead this body. Pollack announced that a campus-wide e-mail will be sent out soon to solicit recommendations for the One Book, One Campus program in the Spring and Fall 2010 semesters.  

VI.	President’s Report
a.	Administrative Council report 
	Sezzi reported that administration council voted to approve the Mission statement crafted last academic year (see above discussion item).

b.	DCAS/DCSL/DCHR/DTRW/DACW reports (Peter Sezzi)
i.	DCHR: Minimum Qualifications and Equivalencies: BP72XX; AP72XX (First Reading)
By concensus, both of these policies will be placed as action items for the next Academic Senate meeting. Sezzi noted that BP72XX is essentially a slightly updated version of the report developed last year by our Senate’s Minimum Qualifications Task Force. The Administrative Procedure 72XX will require additional Senate input.

ii.	Student Discipline Board Policy and Administrative Procedures: BP 5500; AP5500, AP 5520, AP 5530 (First Reading)
Not discussed.

c.	Consultation Council report
	Nothing to report.

d.	Board of Trustees meeting report
	Nothing to report.

VII.	Vice-President’s Report
	Please see One Book, One Campus discussion above.

VIII.	Treasurer’s Report
	Pauley reported on CRC, see discussion above.

IX.	Campus Committee reports
a.	Curriculum Committee report
Nothing to report.

X.	Adjournment
	Meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.