INSTRUCTION COMMISSION
May 20-21, 2015
Columbia Basin College
Present. Michelle Andreas, Derek Brandes, Matt Campbell, Laurie Clary, Tim Cook, Bob Francis, Mary
Garguile, Deb Gilchrist, Al Griswold, Joyce Hammer, Karen Joiner, Kristen Jones, Wai-Fong Lee, Peter
Lortz, Joyce Loveday, John Martens, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Minkler, Gail Miuli, Bob Mohrbacher, Tom
Nielsen, Jodi Novotny, Mary Ellen O’Keeffe, Frank Powers, Marleen Ramsey, Rebecca Rhodes, Carli
Schiffner, Brinton Sprague, Alison Stevens, Rosemary Sutton, Nancy Szofran, Virginia Tomlinson, Tod
Treat, Jeff Wagnitz, Tomas Ybarra. Guests: Marie Bruin [SBCTC], Kerrie Cavaness [ATC], Sue Kennedy
[LLC], Jon Kerr [SBCTC], Jerry Lewis [eLC], Melissa McBurney [LLC], Angel Reyna [WEC], Darlene Snider
[CBS], Andrew Tudor [LLC].
Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 10:30am. Members introduced themselves and
Virginia Tomlinson welcomed the group to Columbia Basin College.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Best Practices in Serving Undocumented Students. Abraham Rodriguez, Ambar Martinez, and Carlos
Chavez from Everet; Felisciana Peralta from Clark; David Ruiz, Jair Juarez, Diana Contreras, and
Sabastian Torres from Columbia Basin College; and Zaida Rivera of the NW Immigrant Rights Project,
participated in a panel presentation providing an overview of federal legislation regarding
undocumented students [DREAMers], state financial aid, what educators can do to improve the
experiences of DREAMers, and things educators can do to make a difference.
Math Acceleration. Bill Moore provided an update on math acceleration and the Student Success Task
Force.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Transfer. Issues and projects of the Joint Transfer Council include Common Course Numbering
approval for professional/technical courses, a new MRP for computer science, and AP consistency for
advanced placement scores. The Articulation and Transfer Council is working on a policy for reverse
articulation statewide.
College Transitions. The committee discussed the impact of WIOA on basic and workforce education
and requested dedicated time for this topic at the summer meeting. A handout was distributed that
provided updates and clarification of the WIOA implementation.
Workforce Development. Issues and projects for the Workforce Education Council include Best
Practices for military training courses, the need for common course numbering of machining courses,
and ICRC’s concern of the AAS-T. WEC will do an audit in the upcoming year regarding actual
transferability.
Michelle Andreas moved and Tod Treat seconded the motion that the machining courses brought
forward for common course approval be able to move forward to assign common titles, common
descriptions, and common numbers without the use of the ampersand [&]. Motion carried.
Professional Development. No report.
Instructional Technology. An update was provided on the library management system project,
recognition of the eLearning Council’s 2015 award recipients for online tools in Washington prisons,
and that 800 faculty have taken the Open Ed online class. The Technology Committee recommended
the Commission consider a project for next year to look at data systems [i.e., Civitas and others] to
support system work, similar to the collaboration on the Library Management System, as well as
professional development opportunities around data literacy and data analytics.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35pm.
The meeting was reconvened at 8:25am on May 21.
Approval of Minutes. Laurie Clary moved to approve the minutes from the February 12-13, 2015,
meeting and Peter Lortz seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report. The Treasurer provided a balance update.
Executive Committee Report. Volunteers were solicited to join the Evidence-Based Practices Work
Group: Tim Cook, Tom Nielsen, Frank Powers, and Virginia Tomlinson volunteered. Tod Treat
volunteered to join the Center of Excellence review for Yakima Valley. Carli Schiffner and Jodi Novotny
will arrange a WIOA activity for the summer meeting. The Executive Committee reviewed the current
committee structure and the charge of the committees and determined the Library Leadership Council
as appropriate to report to the Instructional Technology Committee. Other issues of concern to the
Executive Committee include the 2015-16 work plan, the new allocation formula, and the formation of
a group to consider a uniform application process for international students.
Meeting Dates.
Summer 2015 - July 8-9 Green River, Kent Station campus
Fall 2015 - October 22-23 Everett
Winter 2016 - February 18-19 SBCTC Olympia
Spring 2016 - May 19-20 Yakima Valley
Election of Officers. Laurie Clary moved and John Martens seconded the motion to accept Bob
Mohrbacher as 2015-16 Chair, Tom Nielsen as Vice-Chair, Marleen Ramsey as Secretary/Treasurer, Tod
Treat to finish Marleen Ramsey’s term as 2014-16 Member-at-Large, and Derek Brandes as 2015-17
Member-at-Large. Motion carried.
STATE BOARD REPORT
Guided Pathways. Joyce Hammer reported that SBCTC is interested in applying as a consortium with
SBCTC for a development grant with First in the World, with a guided pathways focus. It is not clear if
we will actually submit or see other funding for a GP initiative. By a show of hands, the majority of
members are interested in being part of a grant consortium around this work.
Evidence-Based Practices. Jeff presented on the Evidence-Based Practices workgroup (commissioned
by WACTC) and provided a summary of the work and asked for members, particularly someone from a
technical college.
WACTC Report. Rich Cummings updated members on allocation funding, competency based education
project facts and myths, and Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities’ fees.
Allocation Model. Nick Lutes of SBCTC shared a slide presentation on FY2016 earmarks and provisos,
budget update and implementation, and answered audience questions.
Accountability. A discussion took place regarding accountability through attendance logs for high
school students sharing classrooms with regular students. OSPI has been asked to review
accountability standards.
STATE BOARD REPORT continued
Equity Gap Proposal. The system moved forward with pursuing grant funding from College Spark but
haven’t heard back yet regarding funding approval. Jan will keep those involved colleges posted by late
June or early July.
Best Practices Exchange. The Best Practices Exchange conference will be October 27 at Clover Park’s
McGavick Center. Joyce encouraged colleges to submit proposals.
BAS Degrees. The Statement of Need criteria was reviewed and members were updated on the BAS
Committee’s activities.
Legislative Update. An update was provided on bills relating to modifying the definition of resident
student for veterans to put in alignment with federal standards, creating procedures to address sexual
violence on campuses, dual credit involving College in the High School and Running Start, active
military waiver, state needs grant, and the parent education bill.
Competency Based Education. Virginia Tomlinson distributed handouts on the cost savings of CBE, an
update on the pilot, and the new CBE flyer.
Jeff Wagnitz was recognized for his leadership of the Commission for 2014-15.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:17am.
Next Meeting: July 8-9, Green River Kent Station