ACADEMIC SENATE MINUTES
March 16, 2004
Attendance (X indicates present, exc = excused, pre-arranged, absence)
Beley, Kate
Berney, Dan
Breckheimer, Debra
Cannon, Elaine
Cowell, Chas
Dever, Susan
Gaines, Ken
Georges, William
Grogan, Donna
Hofmann, Ed
Hong, Lyman
Isaacs, Brent
Jacobi, Frank
Marcoux, Pete
Marston, Doug
McMillin, Russell
Meyer, Trudy
Morgan, Kathy
Nothern, Stephen
Numrich, Kris
O’Brien, Kevin
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Perinetti, Dale
Phillips, Antoinette
Raufman, Lisa
Robles, Vince
Sinopoli, Louis
Stanbury, Corey
Stephens, Kathy
Stewart, Julie
Storms, Harrison
Stupy, Mike
Taylor, Ralph
Thompson, Jacquie
Thompson, Sonya
Tyler, Rick
Uyemura, Evelyn
Vakil, David
Van Lue, Nick
Widman, Lance
Wynne, Michael
Young, Janet
X
X
X
exc
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ex Officio Attendees: none
Guests: Ann Collette, Alice Grigsby, Ken Key
Unless noted otherwise, all page numbers refer to the packet used during the meeting, not the
current packet you are reading now.
The meeting was called to order at 12:34pm.
Minutes
Were approved after one correction was made. On page 5, under “Zero unit lab classes,” the
phrase “associated with the Center for the Arts” was replaced by “associated with the Divisions
of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Health Sciences and Athletics, and hosted by the Center for the
Arts.”
President’s report – Julie Stewart (henceforth JS)
Julie reminded us that the next packet would contain materials for both of the next two meetings,
and there would not be a packet for the April 20 meeting. Yesterday at College Council, it was
announced that we would hire four to twelve new full-time faculty. JS thanked the people who
responded to her computer question -- their remarks can be found on pp. E3-E4. It is also
possible that some divisions may be reorganized, as seen on page E6. The Human Development
courses may be moved from Humanities to Behavioral and Social Science. If you have any
questions or comments, please let JS know.
Educational Policies Report – Chas Cowell
New members have joined the committee. The committee will be dealing with policies about
academic standards, academic probation, course repetition, auditing a class, and academic
renewal. Academic renewal was described as a means for students who have struggled in the past
but succeeded recently to remove past grades from their GPA. Currently, students can only use
grades from ECC in our GPA calculation. One question facing the committee is whether or not
to allow grades from other schools to count as recent success.
JS noted that the Ed Policies committee will take the lead on any proposed changes to Math and
English (e.g. AA/AS degree requirements getting discussed at the state level).
Faculty Development – Lisa Raufman
There have been no meetings yet, but there is an annual technology conference in Ontario,
California March 22-24 – see the faculty listserv for more details. Susan Dever added that
Howard Story has a few free passes for the displays in the exhibit hall.
Finance and Special Projects – Lance Widman
Before Lance gave his report, JS praised him for his input about the unlawful discrimination
policy.
On pages A9-A11 are minutes from recent PBC meetings. Upcoming events include a revise to
the governor’s budget, due out in April. (May was usually when this came out.) We can also
expect 3-5 ballot initiatives in November’s election. Where we stand with the 75/25 obligation is
unclear at the moment. Currently, we have about a 9% reserve, although there are trends we need
to address. David Vakil added that if the budget stays as is and no changes are made, our
currently large reserve will be gone in 2 years, so something will have to change. Susan Dever
added that there are departments on campus that are severely understaffed, nearly to the point of
reaching crisis situations. This understaffing is causing a backlog of work and is even beginning
to affect jobs at higher levels.
JS added that, as seen on page A8, we have lost 290 FTES from our base enrollment due to the
concurrent enrollment issue. This reduces our cap allowance and our state apportionment (i.e. the
funding) and could effect salary as well. A VP at Glendale Community College notes that
Glendale is barely on a state-watch list, and wears this as a badge of honor, as they are serving
students to the max. While we are clearly fiscally sound now, it is less clear about our student
services.
Chas Cowell asked if people have talked about the UC/CSU enrollment decreases and how those
students that will be coming to the community college system will affect us. Lance replied that
there aren’t that many UC/CSU students compared to the overall community college system, so
it won’t be a large effect. David Vakil added that we are already several percent over-enrolled,
and aren’t getting paid for many students currently in attendance here.
Legislative Action – Donna Grogan
Constitution changes proposed at today’s meeting appear on pages B1-B2.
Curriculum Committee – Janet Young
As discussed at the last Senate meeting, the zero unit L-classes have been inactivated. This will
be sent to the Board of Trustees on April 19. The Curriculum Committee approved 17 courses
for title V updates. Lisa Raufman asked about the summer course schedule listings of the Lcourses and how students would know not to enroll in these. Ann Collette replied that students
can’t enroll in these classes, even when they were offered. Students would get automatically
enrolled in an L-class when they enrolled in the parent class. Lisa then asked how students would
be made aware of this. The question should be directed to Bill Mulrooney.
Calendar Committee – Debra Breckheimer & Kris Numrich
The proposal listed on page C19 about having a potential Fall Break won’t be voted on today.
Before discussion about this began, Ann Collette pointed out that there will be a March 26
meeting of the Calendar Committee, and that option 2 on page C19 wasn’t allowed. Dawn
Guzman asked how someone could voice concern about issues related to the calendar committee,
such as the winter session, if she can’t attend the meetings. Suggestions including emailing Julie
Stewart, the committee members, or the head of the committee, VP Pat Caldwell.
Questions/comments about the proposed Fall Break included:
 Corey Stanbury noting that if we shifted classes so they overlapped Christmas, we would
probably lose students.
 Lance Widman pointing out that if we started a week earlier, there would be little time for
teachers who teach an 8-week summer class to recover before the Fall term started.
 Chas Cowell pointing out that consolidating fall holidays would make this more attractive,
particularly for Monday classes which lose out right now.
 Evelyn Uyemura suggesting that if the intent was to make Spring and Fall more alike, that
we should consider dropping Spring Break instead of adding a Fall Break.
 Rick Tyler pointing out that individual holidays are less intrusive on education than a full
week-long break is. It is much easier to keep students in school mode with shorter
interruptions.
 Doug Marston adding that starting Fall term a week early might cost us some students,
especially in programs that already start early.
 Dan Berney asked if this is something or schools do, or are we the only people looking at it.
Kris replied the issue came up in a discussion on the faculty listserv, so she brought it here.
 Trudy Meyer noted that weakest students in an 8-week class are less likely to enroll after a
weeklong break.
 David Vakil asked how many holidays are in Fall compared to Spring? He didn’t feel
informed about repercussions of a weeklong break. Lisa Raufman added that having a current
calendar in front of us would help with this discussion.
At this point, Kevin O’Brien and Susan Dever moved/seconded that the motion to recommend to
the Calendar Committee that they consider investigating a Fall Break be treated as an emergency
motion. This motion was approved. Then this emergency motion was called for a vote and the
motion, moved/seconded by Numrich/Marcoux failed: 4 in favor, many more opposed.
Academic Technology Committee – Pete Marcoux
Pete Marcoux noted that he misspoke at the last meeting. Currently ITS’s spam blocker does
scan the body of email messages when trying to filter out spam. The ATC has requested that the
body NOT be scanned for spam content. If you are not receiving emails you expect or if you are
getting spam, send a message (including the spam) to spammanager@elcamino.edu .
The committee is currently investigating software needs – contact your representative if you
have concerns. There will also be a faculty survey taken on web course management systems.
The Distance Education Advisory Committee already voted roughly 2:1 in favor of the
Blackboard system. On March 25, from 12:30-2:30 in the Alondra room, a representative from
WebCT will be present, and the next day a rep from Blackboard will be in Library 202 from 13pm to address concerns and answer questions.
The ATC is also beginning to address issues of “smart classrooms” in light of the many and
varied new construction projects starting soon. Contact Howard Story for more information.
Faculty laptops will not be funded from the bond money. Funds for this will have to come from
the school’s General Fund. A prioritizing committee will be formed for distribution. It is clear
that some faculty need upgrades/repairs more desperately than others, and this committee will
take care of issues like that.
Susan Dever added that money for both hardware and software will be necessary. Pete asked
how soon money could be awarded. Lance Widman and David Vakil said it should be brought to
PBC very soon if for Fall 2004.
Unfinished Business
The Constitution updates proposed on pages B1-B2 were called to a vote by nature of coming
from a standing committee. There was no discussion and the changes passed unanimously.
Similarly, the revised Independent Study policy on Page B4 was called to a vote and passed
unanimously with no discussion.
New Business
Unlawful Discrimination Policy (Priority Registration)
The Procedure regarding unlawful discrimination on pages C1-C18 was discussed. Lance had
several suggestions which didn’t make it into the packet, and Leo Middleton will make some
changes.
Evelyn Uyemura noted that the first paragraph on page C2, which is repeated in the 2nd
paragraph on page C3 is not clearly written and hard to understand. JS noted that the language
might be mandated by the state.
Chas Cowell asked how “full and equal access” affects priority admission and registration.
Having priority might be contradictory to “full and equal access.” Trudy Meyer noted that winter
classes were mostly closed before open enrollment began, so the classes filled up during these
early enrollment periods, open to international, EOPS, and athlete students. Donna mentioned
that this kind of thing could be detrimental to some programs. Ken Key asked if, by changing
this policy, we would be opening a door for “non-native students.” Lisa Raufman asked what the
deadline was for getting access – when is getting access “too late” to be counted? Brent Isaacs
said that if new students do get eventual prioritization, they will have access.
Final exam week
At the last meeting, we discussed the implementation of a finals’ week, but this was premature as
the decision to have one is not a done deal. It is probably too late to have one in Fall 04, as the
Senate hasn’t voted on a range of options. Kris Numrich noted that a proposed example will be
discussed at the next calendar committee, but JS said that VP Caldwell told her (JS) that it was
too late to implement.
Ann Collette said that the printer gets the fall schedule soon, and we would miss our printing
deadline if we waited to print a finals’ week schedule. Kris said that the current schedule, sent to
the printer, was put together without a finals week. David Vakil said that fundamentally
academic issues, such as the inclusion of a finals’ week, should not be dictated by a printer’s
schedule, particularly when we give them a schedule months in advance. Less notice should be
sufficient. Evelyn Uyemura added that many changes are made to the schedule after it is printed,
including room, staff, and course-time changes. Students are made aware of changes after they
have been printed. Trudy Meyer added that even if we don’t print this in the Fall schedule (or
even have it in the Fall), the issue should still be discussed.
Bill Georges asked how 8-week classes would be affected by a finals’ week. JS replied that we
have been asked to consider different options. We were also asked about having a winter session,
having 16 weeks of instruction followed by a finals’ week (16+1), and having 15 weeks of
instruction followed by a finals’ week (15+1).
Susan Dever noted that tweaking the schedule does play havoc with support staff, such as the
tutors, counselors, library, etc. She asked that we stick to the current format.
Donna Grogan said that several courses don’t have a final exam in their course outline, so
teachers do other things during finals’ week. Rick Tyler asked if having a finals’ week requires
giving a final – no, it does it. Trudy Meyer noted that during the 18-week semester, finals’ week
was sticky for the short-term classes (e.g. 9-week classes), but they made it work.
Kris Numrich said that the number of minutes in the first 15 weeks of the example finals’ week
semester is the same as what we had in the 18-week semester. [Editor’s note: our current
calendar has more class minutes than the 18-week semester.] Kevin O’Brien asked if 15 weeks
now is equivalent to 17 weeks during the 18-week semester, and Kris replied it was. She added
that compared to another school, we have 1 week more of class time. Mike Stupy then asked
why don’t we consider the 16+1 option.
Pete Marcoux noted that he was told by Tom Lew that some of the weird scheduling issues in the
current schedule are dictated by our needs to have breaks in the classes and the schedule.
JS concluded the discussion by asking for people with a preference to get a written motion to her,
for inclusion in the next packet.
Announcements
None.
Meeting was adjourned at 2pm.