COLLEGE OF MARIN
ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, November 29, 2007
12:45 – 2:00 pm
Student Service Building
Conference Rooms A & B
Senators Present: Carol Adair, Yolanda Bellisimo, Michael Dougan, Ron Gaiz, Erika Harkins, Patrick
Kelly, Arthur Lutz, Sara McKinnon, Joe Mueller, Meg Pasquel, Radica Portello, Blaze Woodlief, Derek
Wilson
Senators Absent:
Ingrid Schreck, Robert Kennedy,
Guests: Jim Geraghty, Rinetta Early
Approval
 Motion made to approve the agenda. Approved
 Motion made to approve the minute as amended. Approved
Officers’ Reports
The President’s Report: A written report was submitted.
V.P Report: A representative from the US Life Saving Heritage Association contacted Patrick Kelly
about the heritage status of the Bolinas Lab and asked for a copy of their report which was, apparently,
the last historic Coast Guard Station on the West coast. He showed extreme interest in preserving the
site and invited Joe Mueller and Patrick to join association.
Committees Reports
Curriculum – Derek Wilson reported that the CC approved 23 courses this week. Also, the committee
finished designing an electronic course form which will be on line in two weeks. Thereafter,
departments can submit new courses or update portions of courses electronically. By the end of the
semester, the CC will include an “SLO” page, so that departments can upload department and course
SLO’s on one sheet. The Senate gave its consent to these forms. The CC is revising course forms
to so that each classroom, lab or instructional facility will be listed in a master room schedule with a
class size maximum designated based upon predetermined criteria. The CC’s resolution is attached.
The Senate will discuss this adaptation at a later date.
Academic Standards – Rinetta Early reported that AS is working to expand the number of AP courses
accepted by COM. Also the committee is designing a clear AP flow chart.
Community Education – no report
Governance Committees o IPC Yolanda Bellisimo reported that the IPC is meeting every week. The committee is
designing templates for program review, and has produced a list of 23 programs for spring
review. IPC approved units. UDWC has allocated units the programs. Each designated
program will determine how to use its delegated units.
o Budget Committee Yolanda reported that the Budget Committee is creating a Time Line for
program review, through the appropriate committees and to the Budget Committee so that
the Budget Committee will have all the information it needs to make July budget decisions.
‘08 budget will include all programs that are in by 08 January. 09/10 Budget will be
completely planned by program review. For WASC approval, we need clear timeline and
process for budget decisions. Programs reviewed by FEB will be in ’08 budget. Programs
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done by April will be considered in the ‘09 budget. Senate requested that Yolanda and
Patrick impress upon the Administration and Board that programs that go through
program review in Spring 08 should be included in ‘08 budget and that all budget
decisions are driven by data from these reviews.
Technology Committee. Sara McKinnon reported that the Instructional Equipment Committee
is the appropriate committee for prioritizing particular department allocations of technology.
The Tech committee is also unsure of its exact goals. Yolanda will send the goals from the
Educational Master Plan to the Tech chair, Victoria Coad. The committee members
requested a training session.
Consent Agenda
1. The Academic Senate approved units for Program Review Oversight: Yolanda 9 units/
Blaze 5 units for interpretation of units. Yolanda and Blaze will use the release time to
shepherd the college academic programs though the required review. The money for these
units comes from the district through the Senate.
2. The Academic Senate approved a series of committee appointments:
a. Student Access and Success Committee (previously the Student Services Planning
Committee): Joetta Scott and Chris Schultz
b. IPC: Winn Cottle
c. Budget: Derek Wilson
d. Instructional Equipment: Arthur Lutz
Action Items
1. Yolanda will take “Criteria for Ranking Full Time Hiring Priorities” to UPM Executive
Board to request that it be included in the contract. She will also bring the results of the
faculty resolution and samples of other contract language that the UPM might consider.
MOTION APPROVED
2. The Academic Senate will establish a Program Review Committee to oversee the process
of program review. It will work with the IPC guidelines and serve as the faculty’s
resource. The committee will be a faculty committee with members from each of the
appropriate resource committees MOTION APPROVED
3. +/- grading. Title 5, section 55023 sets the standard for grading in the Community College
System. “The grading system shall be published in the District catalog and made available to
students. The grading system shall include the plus and minus designations in combination with
letter grades except that C minus shall not be used. The grading system shall include the FW
grade for unofficial withdrawal.” A motion was made to align our grading policy with Title 5
including + and – grades.
4. The Academic Senate approved sending UPM Executive Council the letter in response to
its request for support. MOTION APPROVED (The letter is attached.)
5. The Academic Senate discussed the need a Senate Resolution pertaining to the 75% full time
hiring
6. The Senate discussed the apparent decision of the Administration to cancel under-enrolled
courses two weeks before classes. It seems that the course minimum enrollment for spring
2008 will be 13. The Senate will ask Anita Martinez to talk with us since most classes get most
of their enrollment in the first week of classes
Adjournment: 2:00 PM
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Addendum 1
CLASS SIZE MAXIMUM CRITERIA, COURSE FORM AND POLICY REVISION
November 29, 2007
As a result of courses not being approved by UDWC for class size reductions for new or revised courses, the
Curriculum Committee discussed the implications of high volume class sizes for courses as they relate to current
and proposed interim facilities, SLOs, documented professional standards or requirements, health and safety
standards or concerns.
On November 15th 2007 Curriculum Committee members drafted a proposed revision to the current Curriculum
Committee Policy for Class Size Maximum, in addition to embedded criteria for the Course Outline Form. The
draft version was amended and approved on November 29, 2007 with a motion to present the Policy Revision to
the Academic Senate For approval and adoption, which reads:
Whereas,
A. The importance of student learning is paramount to the outcome of every course at College of Marin as
identified within the course of record;
and
B. The maximum number of students that may be addressed by a single instructor of record per section as
defined by the Discipline’s Program Review, or documented professional standards, or an outside organization
that determines criteria for credentials or certification;
and
C. The health and safety standards as determined by Cal OSHA, and local Fire Codes, and all Safety Committees
within the district; and whereas, the lowest number of each of the above criteria shall determine the
maximum number for the course of record; and whereas, the location and size of the designated facility size and
location will determine a reduction of the class maximum from the course of record as a result of either of the
following:
1. Inappropriate facility or classroom for the type of course being taught or
2. Insufficient space based upon any of the criteria listed above (A, B, or C); and
Resolved,
Each classroom, lab, instructional facility will be listed in a master room schedule with a class size
maximum designated based upon predetermined criteria listed above (A, B, or C) to determine the class
maximum of the scheduled class in the scheduled classroom, lab, or instructional facility.
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Addendum 2
11/29/07
TO: The UPM Executive Council
FROM: The Academic Senate
REGARDING: Current Hiring Needs
At our November 8 Academic Senate meeting we were asked by UPM Chief Negotiator Paul Christensen to
consider supporting the UPM Executive Council in their statement to the Board of Trustees that the college has a
hiring crisis and that the hiring of full-time faculty should commence immediately.
The Academic Senate supports immediate hiring of full-time faculty in order to bring the district back into
compliance with the requirement that at least 75% of teaching units be taught by full-time faculty. Further, we
support hiring for those departments without full-time faculty and/or with rapidly growing student populations.
We also support notifying the Board of Trustees of the serious need for full-time faculty with the understanding
that the Academic Senate supports setting hiring criteria by using program review and the hiring procedure put
forward by the Academic Senate.
A copy of the hiring procedure put forward by the Academic Senate is attached.
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