Department Chairs Council meeting minutes
Thurs. November 21, 2013
Attendance: Carl Sjovold, Glennda Wagner, Melissa Fellman, Marisa Agnew, Jeff Karlsen, Amy
Strimling, Bill Doonan, Chris Seddon, Kenneth Fitzpatrick, Michael Hunter, Robin Roffey, Larry
Johnson, Rachel Spangler, Mel Duvall, Jon Zeh, Daniel Styer, Debra Crumpton, Ann Lewis,
Barbara Toupadakis, Grace Austin, Kelly Gould, Mari Carmen Garcia, Lonnie Larson, Kris
Janssen, Annette Barfield, Mary Turner, Patti Redmond, Angela Block, Elaine Ader.
Mary Turner began her address to the Department Chairs by mentioning that 15 out of 21
intended transfer degrees have been completed by departments on our campus.
Next, Mary indicated that productivity has increased from last fall – she estimated that we
reached 503 last year. This year we reached 514 (while the goal was 515). We are the only Los
Rios campus that went up this year (we increased 2.5%, while other campuses decreased their
productivity).
For 2014-2015, the district is expecting 2% growth – that adds about 29 FTE per semester
district-wide, and our allocation will be 5FTE/semester of 10 FTE total. We are also moving
toward having the centers reach “Center” status – which brings another $1 million toward
funding—when we reach 1000 student FTES and have BOG approval. A needs assessment is
being conducted at West Sacramento at this time and for this purpose. Regarding the growth,
two of the newly added FTE will be moved to summer scheduling to reinstate some previouslywithdrawn FTE – this would help both our new incoming and transfer students, as the summer
session is often very productive. That will leave 4 FTE for the spring and 4 FTE for the fall.
Deans have been asked to forward to Mary courses that we’d like to add into our schedules.
Mary reminded department chairs that we should have a list of classes to cut from and/or add
to our department schedules at all times (to be ready when needed changes arise).
Our Davis Center provides English, Math & Chemistry courses to UC Davis students by contract.
In review of our schedule, it was realized that about 3 FTE in courses can be added for our own
student scheduling due to a shift in funding/allocation of these courses.
Mary provided a full-time hiring update: we still have not received a final confirmation about
hiring allocations from the district. The Academic Senate received a list of reordered rankings
from the Deans. Next, Dr. Jeffery, Mary Turner and Michael Poindexter will meet with Academic
Senate officers in order to discuss the disparate lists that each generated. The expectation
remains that we will be granted 8-10 positions. Mary has asked the Deans to make sure job
descriptions are ready to move forward IF their position ranking appeared within the first half of
the list. The VPIs and VPSs will meet on Dec. 5, and soon after that time [mid-December] the
final list will be revealed.
A couple of positions have already been posted due to resignations of tenure-track faculty. If a
tenure-track faculty resigns within the first two years of their appointment, the positions are
immediately made ready to be refilled (if appropriate) without following the usual process.
Elaine Ader reviewed plans that are underway for Spring 2014 convocation.
Convocation will be focused on issues related to Student Success – the heart of the program
will NOT be a speaker, but rather charettes. We will divide into teams of 15-20 people, each
assigned to a pair of facilitators and located in different rooms around campus. Facilitators will
discuss “why is the student there” and “what motivates the student” – essentially, how we get
to know our students AND how they get to know us, both of which encourage retention. The
goal is to have the type of discussion that can reach everyone in the room. The Deans will be
dispatched among groups to take notes and generate an “SCC Approach to Student Success”.
We are addressing this important topic in a home-grown manner, rather than adopting an
outside program. The major logistical difference for Convocation is having the Celebration of
Excellence in the Performing Arts Center (rather than in the student center as we have in the
past). Marybeth Buechner may also be presenting some brief research findings regarding the
potential/ideal outcomes and applications of this effort toward student success. E.g. “what IF
one additional student passed every class?”
Elaine answered various questions regarding this upcoming convocation program, including:
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How the facilitators were assembled
How the group participants will be assigned
Value of this experience toward faculty professional development toward improving
teaching excellence
· Elaine spoke to the challenge of getting instructionally-focused FLEX events,
rather than the predominant hobby-based ones of the recent past
· A concern was raised about how some faculty resignations occur due to the
person feeling unprepared for some/many aspects of teaching beyond knowing
their content (e.g. classroom management)
· A further concern was shared over the lack of resources available to those who
want to improve their teaching, long before one receives a “needs improvement”
rating on an observation/evaluation
· A statement was made indicating that mentoring could help with the issues
identified above
· Information was shared regarding the year-long training that managers undergo
when new in their positions, in contrast to what is/not provided to faculty
· One attendee shared her current classroom challenge with a DSPS student and
her lack of specialized training that would assist with this. She also voiced the
anticipation of a need for special skills in interacting with students who enter
college following military service overseas
Carl suggested we revisit this subject in the near future. Following his invitation for input, we
decided to devote our final meeting of the semester (December 5) to continue the discussion on
this Teaching/Learning topic. It was suggested that Mary Turner, Elaine Ader, and Ginni May be
invited as well.
One final announcement was made by Elaine – she announced that the new web site will NOT
launch in January.