REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE

College of the Redwoods
7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA – Board Room – SS 202
Friday, September 4, 2015
MINUTES
Members Present: Mark Renner, Connie Wolfsen, Stuart Altschuler, Tim baker, Kristy Carlsen,
Mike Dennis, Kady Dunleavy, Phil Freneau, Deanna Herrera-Thomas, Jon Pedicino, Quang-Minh
Pham, Mike Richards, Wendy Riggs, Sandra Rowan, Lisa Sayles, Sally Urban and Mark Winter
Members Absent: Ed Macan
Visiting Presenter: Erin Wall
1.
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4.
Call to Order: Copresident Renner called the meeting to order at 1:02 pm.
Introductions and Public Comments: Copresident Renner called for comments from the public.
Sheila Hall came to the mic and updated the Senate regarding the SSSP (“triple SP” or Student
Success and Support Program) dates and deadlines (due in the Chancellor’s Office at the end of
October) and Counselor’s Day on Friday November 6, an annual event in conjunction with
Humboldt County Office of Education and other agencies where High School counselors meet on
campus. The Middle School visits are scheduled for Fridays on February 5, March 4 and March
25. Also, Luke Biesecker (new Principal of Academy of the Records) introduced himself to the
Senate.
Approve May 15, 2015 Academic Senate Minutes: Ona motion by Kady Dunleavy, seconded by
Sandra Rowan, the minutes were approved as written.
Action Items
4.1
Approve Academic Standards and Policies Committee (ASPC) Revisions to BP/AP
4231 Grade Changes: Copresident Wolfsen presented the work that was done over
the summer. On a motion by Kady Dunleavy, seconded by Stuart Altschuler, the
policy revisions were approved by roll call vote: Altschuler – y; Baker – y; Carlsen – y;
Dennis – y; Dunleavy – y; Freneau – y; Herrera-Thomas – y; Pedicino – y; Richards –
y; Riggs – y; Rowan – y; Sayles – y; Urban – y.
4.2
Approve Academic Senate Committee Nominations: Copresident Renner presented
the nominations for Senate Chairs and Bylaw-specific seat approvals. On a motion
by Mike Dennis, seconded by Jon Pedicino, the nominations were approved by roll
call vote: Altschuler – y; Baker – y; Carlsen – y; Dennis – y; Dunleavy – y; Freneau – y;
Herrera-Thomas – y; Pedicino – y; Richards – y; Riggs – y; Rowan – y; Sayles – y;
Urban – y.
4.3
Approve 2015-16 Faculty Development Funding Resolution: Copresident Renner
presented the resolution. On a motion by Deanna Herrera-Thomas, seconded by
Mike Richards, there was some discussion regarding the amount of funding, which is
still less than past history ($30,000 in 2011-12 and $25,000 in 12-13 with an ever-so-
slight gain the past years to $26,600 for this year). The cost of travel (which has
definitely risen) is prohibitive to funding requests being approved as FDC has had to
cap reimbursements to $2000 each ($500 for Associate Faculty) to be able to
disburse to more faculty. Some very useful seminars can cost up to $4000 just to
register, so there is not enough money to give effective opportunities to CR faculty
(or any other constituents) for participation. The funding resolution was approved
by roll call vote: Altschuler – y; Baker – y; Carlsen – y; Dennis – y; Dunleavy – y;
Freneau – y; Herrera-Thomas – y; Pedicino – y; Richards – y; Riggs – y; Rowan – y;
Sayles – y; Urban – y.
5.
Discussion
5.1
Annual Basic Skills Expenditure Plan Information: Chair of the Basic Skills Committee
Erin Wall presented the expense documents for this year’s report to the
Chancellor’s Office. Erin asked for feedback to be sent to her, and explained that
one of the Copresidents will be asked to sign the document before it is sent to the
Chancellor’s office by October 1. The document will be brought back for approval of
signatory authority at the next Senate meeting.
5.2
First read of AP 7217 Faculty Prioritization with Revisions by ASPC: Connie Wolfsen
presented the revised document and opened discussion. “Failed search” guidelines
were still conceived as inadequate, and language changes were suggested, debated
and the final decision will come from the Senate Executive Committee. Suggested
language changes include:
• Omitting the second line in the third bullet (Will now read “Requests shall
be campus and site specific.”)
• Omitting the second sentence in the 16th bullet, and/or possibly adding “by
mutual agreement” of the Senate and the Pres./Super.
• Change the first sentence in line 16 to read “until filled” instead of “for one
additional academic year”.
• Change the second sentence to read not only “by mutual agreement” for
eliminating the position, but change the sentence to say that they could
EXTEND the time for filling the position.
• Change the “non-Eureka” member from being specifically a faculty member
to being “At least one member of the committee should be a non-Eureka
member”.
The Senate Executive Committee will review/revise the document on September 11
and present it for approval at the next Senate meeting September 25.
5.3
Continuation of Retreat – Ground Rules for a Healthy Workplace: Connie Wolfsen
presented a summary of the inventory taken at Retreat and provided a summary of
what Senators suggest we do well, could improve upon, and what actions Senators
can take to improve the health of our workplace. Discussion ensued and ideas were
forthcoming on what to include if a Resolution were to be written up:
• Trust, transparency, data driven
5.4
6.
Reports
6.1
• Mutual respect
• Fairness
• Skilled communication
• Reliability
• Respect for the organization
• Meaningful mark on the college
• Equal opportunities for advancement
• Awareness of how Gender/sex bias affects the workplace (diversity)
• Articulations/definitions of terms (especially acronyms)
• The Year of the Associate Faculty
• Zero tolerance policies
• Collaboration
• Leadership
Also including the things we’ve done that have worked, or what we’ve tried and
how to improve the current process. Make it be “actionable” even though it’s
“internal”. It would help to have a Student Development Senator (non-teaching
faculty). The Convocation workshop on healthy workplaces could be incorporated
into this faculty-driven resolution/statement/list.
Senator Rowan said that the “Year of the Associate Faculty” is on their next agenda
and she also thanked Mark Winter for the addition of the Associate Faculty spotlight
in his weekly messages.
This discussion will reappear throughout the year, as an ongoing process.
Ideas for Faculty Meeting Planning and Implementation: Faculty meetings have not
been well participated, infrequent, with differing levels of usefulness. The
Copresidents and Senate Executive Committee wished to open up the conversation
to the full Senate for ideas on what to do in future. Meetings need to be of value to
most of the faculty. A collegial and friendly off-campus meeting might be well
attended. Keep up information dispersal BETWEEN meetings in order to be more
informed AT the meeting, in order for faculty to be in the picture. Timing is the
biggest problem – a good time for the most people to attend is really hard to find.
Themes are a good idea, and follow-up report on activities would be helpful. Joint
meetings with CRFO representation are the better idea, to attempt to cover the
“gray areas” within concerns of faculty. Using the Faculty Meetings to further
professional development has been very successful in the past.
Multicultural and Diversity Committee (MDC): Deanna Herrera-Thomas reported on
activities that MDC have been working on, including their work with the Work Force
Equity Hiring Plan, Student Equity Plan (SEP), the Student Success and Support
Program (SSSP), and they’ve developed a list of protected courses that promote
diversity among faculty and students. They have also made inroads into the creation
of gender-neutral restrooms and quiet areas for nursing mothers. The committee is
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involved in developing a Relationship Assault Manual, working with the library,
updating the multicultural calendar and organizing diversity-related events for the
entire campus community. She asked that everyone check the calendar and try to
include some of the upcoming diversity-related events in classroom
discussions/activities. A Senator asked about the criteria for protected courses.
6.2
College Update: Mark Winter reported on plans to explore ways to accelerate
progress for athletes, collaboration between student success and instructors and
asked that faculty tell him how counselors can assist faculty in the efforts toward
student retention. There was a training session given by district attorneys on
Student Discipline Hearings and other concerns. He reported on changes coming
from the State regarding sexual assault (SB 186) which will cause violations to be
added to CR’s list of (currently 32) violations in The Student Discipline Code of
Ethics. He reported that there is a major administrative reorganization coming. He
also stated that the 2015-16 budget is available on the Board of Trustees website in
the September Board Packet. He also encouraged Senators to inform their
constituents of the need for membership on the Education Master Plan committee
and subcommittees, as well as the Multiple Measures Project.
6.3
Associated Students of College of the Redwoods (ASCR) Update: Quang-Minh Pham
reported that over the summer they worked on strategic plans to reform their
structure, but more importantly, there are still open seats on their Senate, but that
they hope to fill them soon.
Future Agenda Items: Senators are encouraged to request to place an item on a future agenda:
Copresident Renner explained the idea that, as the Board of Trustees (BOT) practices the same
sort of request on every agenda, the Senate could adopt the same practice. With general
approval among Senators, we will continue the practice in future.
Invitation for Standing Committee Reports: Upon an explanation by Copresident Renner of this
additional agenda item, the Associate Faculty Committee would like to report at an upcoming
meeting, after their first meeting on September 17.
Announcements and Open Forum
9.1
Academic Senate Committee Membership Status/Needs
9.2
District Committee Membership Status/Needs
9.3
Upcoming CR Events – Please check the Calendar for CR meetings, trainings, etc. to
keep abreast of CR happenings (http://inside.redwoods.edu/calendar.asp)
Adjournment: On a motion by Kady Dunleavy, seconded by Deanna Herrera-Thomas, the
meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm.
The minutes are respectfully submitted by Debbie Williams.
Public Notice—Nondiscrimination
College of the Redwoods does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, color or disability in any of its
programs or activities. College of the Redwoods is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Upon
request this publication will be made available in alternate formats. Please contact Debbie Williams, Academic Senate Support, 7351 Tompkins
Hill Road, Eureka, CA 95501, (707) 476-4259: Office Hours, M-Th - 8 am to 3 pm; F - 10 am to 5 pm (hours vary due to meeting schedules).