Nov. 19, 2009    
Staffing Priorities Committee 
PRIORITY LIST  - Rationale 

Background:  8 presentations were made to the SPC on Nov. 13th.  As colleagues, it is difficult to hear peers’ program needs, while all the time knowing that only a few may possibly get a faculty position.  The list below is presented in PRIORITY ORDER and was supported and voted on by the SPC.  We encourage the Academic Senate Council to support our recommendations.

#1	ART – 3D/Sculpture/Ceramics
•	Currently has no fulltime faculty in this area
•	Safety issues of primary concern, especially with the supervision and management of 2 studios
•	Has been following the college attitude of “doing more with less” but has finally reached a point where it can’t be done anymore
•	Has 14.5 FTEF in this area
•	Very difficult to find local qualified adjunct faculty
•	Has expensive equipment in place for classes but no faculty who know how to use it
•	Was a top position last year and went unfilled after the President level interviews
•	Department has had 3 recent retirements with no replacements

#2	MUSIC
•	Despite limited faculty and cancelled classes, the department continues to offer a comprehensive program BUT quality will diminish at this pace
•	The program services more than the needs of our students - - it is a part of the greater community (local, county, state, and national)
•	Annually performs to more than 20,000 community members
•	Has 1,400 student headcount with only 2 fulltime faculty and 23 adjunct faculty
•	VC’s Music Program is most influential within music and cultural circles in the community
•	Has been one of the top prioritized positions from SPC over the last few years

#3	LEARNING DISABILITIES SPECIALIST
•	This is an instructional position
•	Class offerings are down due to the impact of the recent reorganization of EAC
•	Serves as a resource to the entire campus, not just the EAC and its students, and is a liaison with Nursing, Math, English, ESL, and Basic Skills for core curriculum
•	Currently 1 LD Specialist and this is the 5th consecutive year presenting/requesting a 2nd LD Specialist (note: Moorpark has 3 and Oxnard has 2)
•	Program has received state and national recognition
•	Students in the program have a higher graduation rate than the campus at-large
•	“universal design of learning” is going to be promoted with this position

#4	DANCE
•	Has had no fulltime faculty in the program for over 30 years (possibly more)
•	Current part-time faculty all have fulltime jobs; only 1 dance class offered during traditional “daytime” hours
•	Other institutions of similar size have full departments with several fulltime faculty
•	Local University of California offers a full Dance Program; VC has strong articulation for transfer opportunities to this and other universities throughout the state and U.S.
•	Has close to 80% retention rate
•	Part-time faculty continue to present stellar dance concerts each semester
•	Program is well-received and supported within the community’s cultural arts arena
•	Last year had a hiring process “pulled” by the President

#5	CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)
•	This part of the Nursing Program has never had fulltime faculty
•	May possible be losing 2 current part-time CNA faculty
•	Course offerings depend on availability of part-time faculty; have offered classes for 75 to 120 students (60 students per lecture and 1:15 ratio in lab per state mandate)
•	CNA certification is a requirement for admission application process for VC’s ADN (Nursing-RN) Program
•	Course offerings in high demand!
Note: On Nov. 3rd (the first day to submit completed CNA applications) custodial staff noted that students were in line at 2:15 a.m. By 7:05 a.m. department staff had applications and a list with 106 names on it for 90 slots for Spring’10
•	Qualified CNA part-time faculty more difficult to find than Nursing faculty due to state requirements above minimum quals
•	95% of CNA students pass the State CNA Certification Test after first attempt

in Alpha-order:	
#6	Counseling
	English
	Math

STAFFING  PRIORITIES  COMMITTEE  MEMBERS  2009:
Becky Hull 	      	Past Academic Senate President  (Chair)
Peter Sezzi 	      	Academic Senate President                            
Deborah Pollack     	Academic Senate Vice-President
Mark Pauley            	Academic Senate Treasurer
Cari Lange               	Academic Senate Secretary 
Steve Turner           	General Education                                      
Sumita Lall                 	General Education                                        
Ted Prell                      Voc/Tech                                                    
David Farris                 Student Services                                         
Patty Wendt                 At Large                                                     
Kammy Algiers            At Large