REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Minutes of the College Council
7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA, Board Room
Monday, September 12, 2011
MEMBERS
PRESENT
Mark Winter, Mike Richards, Peter Blakemore (for John Johnston), Ron
McQueen, Marcia Williams (phone), Mark Renner, Utpal Goswami, Lee
Lindsey, Keith Snow-Flamer, Roxanne Metz, Ahn Fielding
MEMBERS
ABSENT
Alles Rebel (ASCR), Alise Hubner (ASCR), Jose Ramirez, KT Rep
CALL TO ORDER
Utpal Goswami called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
MINUTES
The minutes of 08/01/2011 were approved as presented.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
UPDATE ON
ACCREDITATION
VISIT
Utpal Goswami reported that the chair (Dr. Bill Scroggins) and assistant chair
(Dr. Terri Long) of the comprehensive accreditation self-study visiting team
conducted a pre-visit to the CR Eureka Campus on Friday September 2, 2011.
Utpal reported that Dr. Scroggins and Dr. Long shared a few preliminary
findings regarding CR’s self-study:
1. The self-study is honest, thorough, and well written
2. The team has been primed that ‘…we (CR) have a history with the
commission…’ and that the team would be conducting a ‘thorough visit.’
3. As the team read the document they saw disconnect between how we
described the last two years and previous periods. Many initiatives had
been introduced in the past and enhanced later on; not everything is
new. If what we call an initiative is actually an enhancement to an
existing process, we are more likely to meet the accreditation standard
at some level.
4. Some planning agenda items described in the study must be addressed
by the time the commission arrives, such as adoption of the governance
document, clarity and proof that we are following planning processes,
and general education assessment.
AP 5400
ASSOCIATED
STUDENTS
Support staff noted that the constituent review period for the draft AP 5400,
authored by ASCR representatives and ASCR advisor Kintay Johnson, ended
on 09/12/2011.
Based on constituent feedback the Council suggested the following revisions to
the draft:
1. Instead of listing the geographic locations that make up the district, AP
5400 should note “The District consists of the campus, education
centers, and instructional sites as described by BP 1100.”
2. Sentence five should read “The Associated Students Organization shall
follow all policies established in the Associated Students Organization
Constitution and Bylaws.”
Minutes-College Council
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September 12, 2011
ACTION A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to approve as revised
AP 5400 ‘Associated Students.’
BP/AP 3260
PARTICIPATORY
GOVERNANCE
Utpal reported that the participatory governance language under consideration
had undergone extensive review and revision and that the current document
presented the participatory governance language in policy and procedure
format.
The Council concluded that the feedback and revision process regarding the
participatory governance document ought to be facilitated through an open
forum so that dialogue can conclude and agreed upon revisions can be
executed prior to the October 10, 2011 Council meeting.
A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to distribute BP and
AP 3260 for a constituent review period ending on 10/10/2011.
AP 4231 GRADE
CHANGES
Utpal Goswami reminded the Council that College Council had approved and
forwarded BP and AP 4231 ‘Grade Changes’ to the Board of Trustees on June
6, 2011. Utpal went on to summarize feedback submitted by individual trustees
at the July 12, 2011 Board of Trustees meeting regarding AP 4231:
 Step one establishes a two-week limit (after the start of the subsequent
term) within which a student must file their course grade challenge. Two
weeks is too restrictive.
 Step three describes the make-up of a course grade challenge
committee. Step three does not allow the student to challenge the
make-up of the committee.
 The wording regarding the voting process is unclear (step three,
paragraph three).
Utpal noted that at the Board’s request, the Board would now receive draft
policies and procedures when distributed for constituent review. Utpal noted
that the Board hoped to be able to ask questions regarding qualitative content
prior to any first review at the Board meetings.
The Council discussed the time limit to challenge a grade and concluded that
‘two weeks after the start of the subsequent term’ would allow a minimum of six
weeks and up to three months plus two weeks for students to challenge
grades, and that the time limit proposed was actually much more lenient than
what the current CR regulation allows. No member of the Council suggested
changing the language regarding the time-limit.
The Council discussed whether students ought to be able to challenge the
course grade challenge committee structure. The following arguments were
offered:
 Other committees formed to address student issues have no process for
challenges to committee make-up
 The voting members of the committee are two faculty and two students.
The students are selected by ASCR to serve on the committee.
 The student levying the grade challenge may offer opinion to the VPI
Minutes-College Council
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September 12, 2011
regarding the make-up of the committee
No member of the Council suggested changing the language regarding the
course grade challenge committee structure.
A suggestion was made to amend the first sentence of step three, paragraph
three, as follows:
At the close of the review of the written record or hearing, as the case
may be, approval of the course grade challenge shall be determined
by a vote of three out of four of the voting members.
ACTION A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to forward the
revised AP 4231 to the Board of Trustees for information.
AP 5012
INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS
Cheryl Tucker reported that at Council’s first review of AP 5012 questions were
raised regarding the language on fee exemptions. Cheryl reported the details
regarding fee exemptions were most appropriately addressed in AP 5020 ‘NonResident Tuition’ and that the language was removed from AP 5012.
A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to distribute AP 5012
for a constituent review period ending on 10/10/2011.
NEW BUSINESS
BP 1100
REDWOODS
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
DISTRICT
Support staff reviewed the Board Related Policy Committee’s 11 step policy
and procedure revision process and noted that BP 1100 (which establishes
naming rights to the District and notes the District’s geographic teaching
locations) was at step eight; “CR President gives the draft to College Council
and all constituents for comment…”
Support staff asked Council members to review draft BP 1100 and submit
feedback via the “submit feedback electronically” button located near the
bottom of the BP 1100 update packet.
BP/AP 2714
DISTRIBUTION OF
TICKETS OR
PASSES
Support staff reported that draft BP/AP 2714 had been distributed to all as per
step three of the BRPC’s 11 step policy and procedure revision process, and
that the BRPC encouraged constituents to submit feedback via the “submit
feedback electronically” button located near the bottom of the BP/AP 2714
update packet.
Utpal noted that since Title 2 of the Fair Political Practices Commission
Regulations required that “Any distribution of tickets or passes…must be made
pursuant to a written policy duly adopted by legislative or governing body of the
agency…” the BRPC had brought forward the draft policy and procedure
addressing the topic.
AP 3435
DISCRIMINATION
AND HARASSMENT
INVESTIGATIONS
Support staff noted that AP 3435 described the discrimination or harassment
complaint process and that AP 3435 complimented BP and AP 3430
‘Prohibition of Harassment.’
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September 12, 2011
Ahn Fielding noted that CR’s draft AP 3435 closely followed the CCLC
suggested language for AP 3435.
A motion was made and seconded to distribute AP 3435 for a 60 day
constituent review period.
The Council discussed the relationship amongst academic freedom and other
laws and regulations. Mike Richards noted that he would investigate whether
the CA State Academic Senate had authored a position paper on the issue.
The Council concluded that the 60 day review period would allow adequate
time to address disagreements regarding the language of BP/AP 3430 and AP
3435.
ACTION The motion passed unanimously to distribute AP 3435 for a 60 day review
period.
BP/AP 3600
AUXILIARY
ORGANIZATIONS
Lee Lindsey reported that BP and AP 3600 were modeled after the CCLC
league templates and that if adopted the language would replace existing BP
204.
Lee commented that CR’s auxiliary organizations meet the requirements
outlined in the CCLC templates.
ACTION A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to distribute BP/AP
3600 for a 30 day constituent review period.
BP/AP 7310
NEPOTISM
Keith Snow-Flamer reported that draft BP and AP 7310 were authored
referencing the CCLC templates and Palomar College. Keith reported that
7310 would replace existing CR Policy 332/424 ‘Employment of Relatives.’
ACTION A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to distribute BP/AP
7310 for a 60 day constituent review.
BP/AP 5210
COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES
Cheryl Tucker reported that Michelle Hancock, Joe Hash, and Health Center
personnel had authored BP and AP 5210 utilizing league templates and that
the PPRS had reviewed the work.
ACTION A motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to distribute BP/AP
5210 for a 30 day constituent review.
BP/AP 5205
STUDENT
ACCIDENT
INSURANCE
Discussion postponed till 09/26/2011 Council meeting.
Minutes-College Council
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September 12, 2011
BP/AP 5040
STUDENT
RECORDS,
DIRECTORY
INFORMATION,
AND PRIVACY
Discussion postponed till 09/26/2011 Council meeting.
AP 5031
INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS FEES
Discussion postponed till 09/26/2011 Council meeting.
ADJOURN
DE
Utpal Goswami adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m.