Ventura College Academic Senate
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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
	Gardner, Ty - Math & Sciences
	Haines, Robbie - Math & Sciences
	Hendricks, Bill - Social Sciences & Humanities
	Lange, Cari – Senate Secretary
	Mitchell, Nancy – Career and Technical Education
	Morris, Terry – Health, Physical Education & Athletics
	Munoz, Paula – Student Services
	Pauley, Mark- Senate Treasurer/ Curriculum Co-chair
	Pollack, Deborah - Senate Vice-president
	Pourmoghim, Salomeh - Communication & Learning Resources
	Reynolds, Andrea - Social Sciences & Humanities
	Schoenrock, Kathryn - Communication & Learning Resources
	Sezzi, Peter – Senate President

	The following guests were present:
	Dwyer, Riley – Moorpark College Academic Senate President
	Ruiz, Joe - Associated Student Body Representative  

II.	Introductions & Acknowledgement of Guests

III.	Approval of minutes
a.	Motion to approve last meeting’s minutes from April 29, 2010, with notations made to include noted date and list, was made by Morris, and seconded by Pollack. Motion was approved 7-0-6 with Sezzi casting the tie breaking vote.

IV.	Goal Setting for 2010-2011
	As is customary during the first meeting of each academic year, Senators were asked to submit ideas for Academic Senate goals for the upcoming year. Cards were distributed and collected at the end of the meeting. Senators were also encouraged to speak to individuals in their respective divisions for additional ideas.

V.	Study Session
a.	Team Teaching
	Sezzi suggested that the Senate can  become an informal venue for the discussion of the development of a process by which team teaching strategies are explored, implemented, and publicized.  The idea will be discussed further at a later meeting.

VI.	Action Items
a.	District & College Committee Appointments
	Sezzi distributed the list of Ventura College Academic Senate Committee Appointments for the 2010-2011 academic year. A motion to approve the listed names was made by Pauley and seconded by Haines. Motion was unanimously approved.
	Sezzi encouraged Senators to solicit their colleagues to fill the following vacant positions: Staffing Priorities- 1 General Education and 2 At Large positions.

VII.	President’s Report
a.	Board of Trustees Meetings  report
	Sezzi reported that despite the alleged controversy regarding the refinement and approval of the Board of Trustees Objectives (primarily regarding the “coring” of each college’s curriculum) over the summer, their objectives appear to be rather fluid in nature, open for interpretation, and not of much concern to the Board members as a group. Sezzi will forward the list of the Board’s objectives to the Senate Counsel. 
	It was agreed that Sezzi should invite Board member Blum and the three candidates for the open seat to our next Senate meeting in order to discuss issues and philosophies  with us directly.

b.	Administrative Council report
	Nothing to report on at this time other than Admin Council has switched to a biweekly meeting schedule and only met three or four times in the summer. 

c.	DCHR, DCSL, DTRW, DCAS, DAWC
i.	DCAS
	Sezzi reported that VCCCD will propose a budget this October, regardless of whether a state budget has been adopted or not. If the state adopts a budget later than that and does not allocate as much as VCCCD estimated, then the district has agreed to go into deficit spending to cover the potential shortfall. 

ii.	DCHR
1.	Academic Employee Audit
	Sezzi reported that he has been pleased with the professional manner in which this mandatory state process has been carried out. He agreed to forward a copy of the procedure to all Senate members. He was also pleased to announce the relatively low numbers of employees that were affected by this audit process.
	Concern was brought up as to how a student would receive unit credit if a faculty member were reported by this audit as not possessing minimum qualifications, and was further found by a panel of their discipline colleagues to not meet MQs. Sezzi reported at this point in time, that is unclear. VC will allow the student to retain those unit credits, but transferability of those unit hours will be up to the University. 

iii.	DTRW
	DTRW has been reviewing SB 1440, which is intended to regularize the path for students from community colleges to CSUs.  If this senate bill is passed, the timeline for its implementation of this program is Fall 2011. The Senate agreed that this timeline seems unreasonable. 

iv.	DCSL
	DCSL will most likely be revising the APs on Academic Probation and Enrollment Priorities. Both will come before the Senate for approval at some point this semester. 

VIII.	Information/Discussion Items
a.	Accreditation Visit (Oct 11-14)
	There will be two open forum meetings with the team, dates and times TBA. Other meetings are determined by the Accreditation Team.

b.	Senate Dues Drive in September
	Dues drive will be held later this month. 

c.	SB 1440
	Please see the DTRW notes above.

IX.	Campus Committee reports
a.	Professional Development Committee report
	Sezzi reminded the senate that the deadline for submitting a request for funds for travel this Fall is Sept. 9, 2010. He was pleased to report that we were able to roll over half of last year’s unused travel money (almost $2500) into this year’s pool.

b.	Campus Resource Council report
	Pauley reported that CRC will be reviewing Program Review requests this semester. It is highly suggested that each department submit a Program Review to request needed equipment, facilities, staff, etc.

c.	One Book, One Campus report
	Pollack announced that information supporting The Botany of Desire, including teaching suggestions, is available on the VC webpage.  Plans for campus activities include an art show of works by faculty and students, an interdisciplinary panel discussion, film screenings, plant-based poetry readings, and an edible activity in the cafeteria.  The calendar of events will be posted on the website in the next couple of weeks. 
X.	Adjournment
	This meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.