FULL-TIME FACULTY SENATE
MINUTES of SEPTEMBER 30, 2005
HBC—Room 301.1 Time 1:00-3:00 p.m.
ADOPT MEETING AGENDA:
Agenda adopted.
APPROVE MINUTES for 9/2/05:
Tabled until next meeting when copies of minutes will be available.
REPORTS:
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Senate President Purcell met with ACC President Kinslow and expressed the priorities adopted by the
Senate at the September 2nd meeting.
In response to the Senate’s suggestion to allow fewer than 3 candidates to be recommended by hiring
committees, Dr. Kinslow replied that exceptions are allowed in the process when needed so there is no
need to change it.
Dr. Purcell described the problems with Early College Start that had been discussed at the last Senate
meeting, and agreed that the program seemed to be making improvements.
The recent problem with fire alarms disrupting classes was discussed. The conclusion was that safety had
to be balanced with academic needs in the future.
It was decided that media carts will be delivered and set up by media personnel for ability impaired
instructors. Any instructors requesting this service should contact Herb Colman.
REPORT FROM COMMITTEE for PHASE II REORGANIZATION
Senator Lostracco informed the Senate that the Phase II Reorganization Committee is working on
recommendations to give to President Kinslow about reorganizing academic and workforce programs.
The changes are scheduled to take place in spring. Campus forums will be held to inform faculty of the
proposed changes before their implementation. The recommendations must be revenue neutral and may
include revised job descriptions and responsibilities for deans, assistant deans, department chairs, and
assistant department chairs. A matrix will be created to show the responsibilities of each position.
Concern was expressed about the need for a non-instructional faculty representative on the committee.
REPORT REGARDING ANNEXATION ACTIVITIES
Terry Thomas updated the Senate on the petition drive in San Marcos that is expected to result in an
annexation referendum on the ballot in May. The ACC Board will hold a public hearing in San Marcos,
likely after the first of the year where they are expected to discuss plans for ACC in the San Marcos area.
Dr. Thomas also mentioned that annexation of Pflugerville is in the talking stage, and that there is interest
in Caldwell County.
CALL for NOMINATIONS (RGC/RVS):
Approved a call for nominations to fill open seats at Riverside and Rio Grande.
AUTHORIZE SPECIAL ELECTIONS (RGC/RVS):
Authorized special elections for open seats at Riverside and Rio Grande.
A request was made to distribute a list of this year’s Senators to all FT faculty. Since all Senate
candidates ran unopposed, no elections were necessary, and no ballots were sent out. As a result many
faculty members may not be aware who their Senators are.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS:
President Purcell distributed a list of committees that needed representatives from FT faculty. Senators
volunteered for membership on some committees. A call for volunteers to serve on the other committees
will be sent to all FT faculty.
STUDENT SERVICES DRESS CODE:
The yearly operational guidelines for Student Services employees (including hourly workers) contained a
dress code that did not allow jeans. It was noted that the enforcement of a new dress code was
inappropriate and unreasonable.
President Purcell noted that he had talked to Dr. Kinslow about the dress code. The guidelines were
reported to be “just a draft” and the dress code was withdrawn.
SENATE PRIORITIES:
President Purcell asked the Senate to consider ways to implement the list of priorities that were adopted at
the last Senate meeting.
Two suggestions were that the Senate should come up with a variety of strategies for implementing each
priority, and that the Senate officers should address one priority at each meeting with President Kinslow.
COMPENSATION:
Compensation Committee member, Terry Thomas, reported that the ACC Board is expected to vote on
October 3rd to hire a consulting firm to conduct a compensation study for “all staffing table employees
except hourly and adjunct faculty.” If, as expected, (1.) the consulting firm is hired by the College and
(2.) the firm is going to collect data on FT faculty compensation, the Compensation Committee had these
recommendations for the data collection process:
1. Collect data from ACC “peer” institutions.
2. Collect actual 9-month salaries for each and every FT faculty member at these institutions.
3. Make the raw data available for review by the Compensation Committee.
4. Present the data giving minimum, midpoint, and maximum pay for each level, for each institution.
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It was noted that the Compensation Committee had already collected compensation data that had been
accepted by Human Resources, so this compensation study could be seen as a waste of money.
It was also noted that the shared governance process was not observed here since the compensation study
was originally meant for prof/tech staff and did not include any FT faculty in any part of the decision
making process to date.
President Purcell agreed to talk to Dr. Kinslow before the board meeting to request input by FT faculty in
any decision about compensation data collection that would affect FT faculty.
The Senate voted to accept the Compensation Committee’s recommendations, with the amendment by Dr.
Thomas that the recommendations would be applied only if the Board voted to hire the consulting firm
and the firm was directed to investigate FT faculty compensation.
OTHER BUSINESS:
SUGGESTIONS for FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Several examples of problems with facilities were discussed that most likely could have been averted had
the Facilities Committee sought faculty input. The Senate called for more faculty representatives on the
committee to help make decisions that impact classrooms and faculty offices.
DRESS CODE AT ROUND ROCK CAMPUS
Denise Anding reported to the Senate that the new campus in Round Rock that ACC shares with Texas
State has a dress code that is applied to ACC employees. It was suggested that this problem is due to a
lack of communication and shared governance.
President Purcell agreed to ask Dr. Kinslow whether this was covered in the articulation agreement among
ACC, Texas State, and Round Rock.
REPRESENTATION on FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Senator Diaz-Miranda informed the Senate that a decision was made recently to stop including campus
managers on the Facilities Committee. It was suggested that campus managers need to be on the
committee because they know the specific needs and problems of each campus.
The Senate authorized Senator Diaz-Miranda to investigate this problem more thoroughly.
Substitutes: Denise Anding substituted for Steve Rison, Terry Thomas substituted for Andres Tijerina
Absent: Laura Ore, Dan Dydek, Robyn Richter, Marita Peppard, Constance Elko, Leslie Navarro
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