REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Minutes of the College Council
7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA, Board Room
Monday, May 2, 2011
MEMBERS
PRESENT
Mark Winter, Dave Holper, John Johnston, Alles Rebel, Alise Hubner, Ron
McQueen, Jose Ramirez, Martha Racine (phone), Becky Blatnick (phone), Lee
Lindsey, Utpal Goswami, Roxanne Metz
MEMBERS
ABSENT
Jolene Gates, Keith Snow-Flamer, Ahn Fielding
CALL TO ORDER
Utpal Goswami called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
At the request of the Academic Senate representatives the Council added
“Budget Exigency” to the meetings agenda.
MINUTES
The minutes of 04/18/2011 were approved as presented.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
BP/AP 3250
INSTITUTIONAL
PLANNING
The Council reviewed the draft Board Policy and Administrative Procedure
3250 “Institutional Planning.” Utpal Goswami, noting that the constituent
review period had concluded, invited Council members to submit constituent
feedback. Utpal noted that the draft policy and procedure clarify “who signs off
on what and when,” for example strategic plan, education master plan…etc.
The Council discussed the district education master plan framework and
master plan adoption process. Utpal noted that all master plans would sync.
ACTION A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to adopt BP and AP
3250 “Institutional Planning.”
VISION AND
VALUES
The Council reviewed the draft vision and values statements. Based on the
Board of Trustees suggestions of 04/04/2011, the Council made slight
revisions to the values regarding diversity and environmental awareness
(additions are underlined).
A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to adopt the vision
and values statements as noted below.
Vision
College of the Redwoods is a learning community where lives are transformed.
Values:
Student Success and Access: We put students first, ensuring that student
learning, advancement, and access are pivotal to all we do.
____________________________
Minutes-College Council
Page 2 of 4
May 2, 2011
Educational Excellence and Innovation: We value ongoing and systematic
planning and evaluating methods that move us toward excellence.
____________________________
Honoring Diversity: We value all members of our community and strive to
create a diverse, nurturing, honest, and open environment.
___________________________
Participatory Governance: We value ethical behavior and strive to create a
culture where all students, staff, faculty and administrators engage in inclusive,
ongoing and self-reflective decision making.
___________________________
Environmental Awareness: We value the environment and the need to
minimize our impacts upon it, utilizing sustainable practices and acting as
global citizens.
___________________________
Community Development: We value the economic and intellectual
development of the various communities we serve.
___________________________
Supportive Culture: We strive to create a supportive, problem-solving culture,
and we recognize the proven usefulness of an interest-based approach (IBA)
for achieving trust, cooperation and effective problem solving.
NEW BUSINESS
SUMMER AND FALL
2011 COLLEGE
COUNCIL
CALENDAR
The Council reviewed the summer and fall ‘11 meeting schedule. The Council
will meet on the following days:
Summer 2011 Meeting Schedule
Date
Monday, June 6
Monday, July 11
Monday, Aug 1
Time
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
Location
Boardroom
Boardroom
Boardroom
Fall 2011 Meeting Schedule
Date
Monday, Sept 12
Monday, Sept 26
Monday, Oct 10
Monday, Oct 24
Monday, Nov 7
Monday, Nov 21
Monday, Dec 5
Time
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 4:30
Location
Boardroom
Boardroom
Boardroom
Boardroom
Boardroom
Boardroom
Boardroom
Minutes-College Council
Page 3 of 4
May 2, 2011
AP 2411 INTERIM
POLICIES
The Council reviewed a draft procedure that outlined a process for the
implementation, review and adoption of interim administrative procedures.
Utpal Goswami explained that the intent of the language is to make more
transparent the process of emergency adoption of interim administrative
procedure (AP).
ACTION Following discussion, the Council made revisions to the draft. A motion was
made, seconded, and passed unanimously to approve the draft administrative
procedure as noted below.
Interim Policies
Administrative policies are adopted after approval by College Council following
constituent input (AP 2410). The President/Superintendant may modify or adopt
a policy (s) on an interim basis for compelling legal, fiscal or operational
reasons without College Council approval. Interim policies will be identified in
administrative policies as such (e.g. Interim Policy on Utility Trenching).
The President/Superintendent will notify the membership of College Council
when an interim policy is adopted. Within six months The College Council will
then have six months to ratify, revise or reject the interim policy. The interim
policy will become the permanent policy at the end of six months if the College
Council fails to act on it in the stipulated period of time.
BP/AP 40XX
DEFINITION OF A
CREDIT HOUR
Utpal noted that by July 1st the College is required to adopt a policy outlining
the definition of a credit hour. Utpal also noted that the visiting accreditation
team would likely verify compliance with the requirement.
The Council reviewed a draft interim administrative procedure authored by
Utpal. Utpal noted the language was sourced directly from the federal
recommendation.
The Council discussed the discrepancies amongst state and federal guidelines.
Utpal noted that the intent of the federal regulation was to clarify what qualifies
as equivalent to a credit hour. The draft under consideration describes the
minimum definition of a credit hour.
The Council concluded discussion by recognizing the interim policy and noting
the start of the 6 month interim policy review process. Members of the Council
recommended the interim policy be taken up for review by either the ASPC or
an ad-hoc of the Academic Senate.
BUDGET
EXIGENCY
Dave Holper noted that the draft AP4023 ‘Program Revitalization or
Discontinuation’ did not outline a process for accommodating emergency
discontinuance of academic programs when program discontinuance was
required to address budgetary deficiencies. Dave presented to the Council a
document outlining an emergency program discontinuance process.
Minutes-College Council
Page 4 of 4
May 2, 2011
Specific feedback on the proposed process included:
1. “Significantly adverse budget environment” could be defined as existing when
reserves drop below the state mandated 5%
2. “The committee will consider cost estimates of cuts from the Budget Planning
Committee to determine the size of the program(s) to be discontinued.” The
committee should make recommendations and not make the final
determination regarding the size of cuts.
3. If the Program Discontinuance Exigency Committee decisions are made by
majority vote, and the committee is made up of eight members, a
majority vote may not be possible in some cases.
4. “Using all of the relevant inputs, the committee will locate program(s) and
prioritize them.” The committee will have to create a process to prioritize
programs.
5. The President should give the committee a charge and a timeline
6. The process description should include process assessment
The Council discussed thoroughly the make-up of the Program Discontinuance
Exigency Committee.
Dave Holper reported that Academic Senate representatives would work with
Lee Lindsey to incorporate Lee’s suggestions. Following revision, the draft will
be reviewed by the Academic Senate Executive Committee prior to resubmission to College Council.
ADJOURN
DE
The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.