West Los Angeles College Chapter
AFT Local 1521
Minutes of March 18, 2010
Attendance: Adrienne Foster, Alice Taylor, Betty Jacobs, Judy Chow, Mark Rocha, May
DuBois, Rod Patterson, Sy Levine, Fran Leonard, Fran Israel, Rebecca Tillberg, Bob
Sprague, Helen Young, Mary Jo Apigo, Nancy Sander, Ken Taira, Ahok Patl, Student
Interns: Leslie Koffi, Daniel Marical, Cassandra Green, Stefan Stich.
Minutes of February 18, 2010 were approved.
Faculty Obligation Number: Olga reported that the District Budget Committee met 3/16.
In last month’s meeting, the DBC voted down the faculty hiring plan proposed by the
union. This time the committee approved 72 faculty hires by Fall and 88 by 2011.
President Mark Rocha was supportive. He stated that this is a good modulated plan.
West is to hire 6.1 faculty by Fall. He stated that he met with the Senate president and
with the FPIP committee and awaits their report, which he plans to accept.
Dr. Rocha reported that enrollment funding is flat, and will be based on 7100 FTES.
That is down from about 8100 in the previous year. However, he does not expect any
major disruptions to students’ academic plans because of the reduction. He also stated
that shared governance works here, at West. He praised the Basic Skills Committee for
its work and mentioned the Reading Apprenticeship Program (not currently on our
campus) praised in a state report by the Research and Planning Group (2007). Olga
asked whether we will need to cut sections. Mark replied that it may mean that we cut
sections. He noted though that we have increased our efficiency as average class size is
up. Academic Affairs is looking at which sections may need to be to cut.
Student Interns: Each spoke for a few minutes to introduce him- or herself. Among their
goals are starting a club as part of the AFT, visiting classrooms to stimulate participation
in student issues, working with local leaders, and presenting a culminating event in
support of student interests.
Candidate Forum: Olga announced that this month will be the election of Guild officers
for the district-wide positions of Guild President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary
as well as the election of local chapter presidents and E-Board members. She invited
faculty to participate in this important forum. Joanne Waddell, the unopposed candidate
for Guild's president (who will be replacing Carl Friedlander), will be in attendance as
well as most candidates for the above mentioned positions. AFT Guild Candidates Forum
District-wide & Chapter Elections. Thursday, April 29 1-3pm. Winlock.
L.A. Times investigation of bond spending back to 2000 has found no major irregularities,
but some controversial expenditures, such as amounts on consulting firms and travel.
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Adjunct Reps: Olga reported that participation has been minimal. The Stand 4
Committee (Governance) will look at which Divisions actually hold meetings and which
of these actually invite adjunct faculty.
Grants Management Committee is still working on a document to inform faculty about
grants. Criteria are being developed for the application process.
Summer Gala Awards Gala will be held Saturday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. and will honor
retiring Congresswoman, Diane Watson. Tickets are $150.00/person for faculty and
staff, after Aril 1st (before = $100.00). Proceeds to WLAC Foundation. Cocktail Attire
(olive or maraschino).
Enrollment Report: Rebecca Tillberg, Dean of Planning and Research reported. She
distributed several documents and spoke in relation to each of these. (Document titles are
in italics and highlights from the dean’s presentation and comments/questions from the
floor are in parentheses, following.)
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Degrees and Certificates- Division Summary (As of 2008-09 the college has
awarded 752 Degrees and Certificates)
Transfer Students by Discipline (To CSU in 2008 a total of 124 transfers. High:
Business = 30; Low = 0 – 1 in several disciplines. To UC in 2008, a total of 39
transfers. High = 7 in Culture Studies and in History; low = 1 – 0 in several
disciplines.)
Headcount Comparisons (Spring 2010 a total headcount, credit + non-credit =
12,913, an increase of 16%. Students with 12 or more units rose to 3,093, a 44%
increase over the previous year. 35% of our students are new, vs. only 9%
continuing and 16% returning.
Summary Enrollment, Section and Paid Class Count Comparison (Enrollment
rose 24% in 2010 vs. 2009, but the section count rose only 2%.)
Enrollment & Section Count Relative Day (30) Comparison: Spring ’08 – ’09 –
’10 (Largest enrollment increases = Behavioral & Soc Sci (34%);
Counseling/Personal Development (44%); Humanities and Fine Arts (29%);
Mathematics (28%). Largest decrease + Library & Learning Resources (noncredit) (- 52%)).
Comparison by Mode of Delivery (Classroom-based paid sections = 514, a -1%
decrease. Online paid sections = 209, a 10% increase; Hybrid paid sections = 25,
a 127% increase; and Weekend College (mostly Hybrid) 29 sections, a 16%
increase.) (Bonnie Blustein asked: What’s the tipping point when online grows
too big in relation to on campus courses? VP Bob Sprague said that divisions are
setting guidelines and that Academic Affairs is paying attention to the issue.
Alice Taylor stated that the question ought to be what number of classes is needed
to maintain our on campus presence, rather than a percentage.)
Comparison by Time of Day (Average class size, as of March 10th 2010 = 38.)
Comparison by Accounting Method
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Comparison: Division and Mode of Delivery (Notable online
increases/decreases in enrollment: Behavioral & Soc Sci = 66%; Business = 30%;
vs Language Arts = 13% and Mathematics = - 100%.
ARRC Data: WLAC Profile (student progress and achievement rate = 42.3%,
lowest in our peer group; successful course completion for Voc. Ed. = 79%,
among the highest in our peer group; improvement rate for basic skills courses =
43.5% vs. 52.7% state average; and improvement rate for ESL = 34.6% vs. 47.5%
state average.)
The body expressed its appreciation to Rebecca Tillberg for her presentation.
Cuts to Course Offerings: Olga inquired as to the criteria for cutting courses sections this
fall, to bring the budget into balance. Rebecca replied that program maps have been and
are being developed to assist in identifying ways to maintain program integrity. The
administration is also seeking to restore a traditional balance between fall and spring
sizes, as this year, the spring semester grew beyond the fall. Bob Sprague added that cuts
are likely if there are many sections of the same course. Question from the floor: Does
this process include the Senate? Answer: Documentation will be given to Rod Patterson.
Thirty to 60 sections will be cut.
College Mission Statement: Olga explained that the draft that the Accreditation Steering
Committee submitted to the College Council was sent back for more revision and that the
Council would vote on another draft based upon further input on April 8th. She presented
a three part side-by-side comparison of three draft versions, one from the Accreditation
Steering Committee, one by the ASO President, and one by the AFT Guild. Betty Jacobs
read a succinct mission statement from El Camino College, and Bruce Anders asked her
to read the more specific, longer mission statement of San Francisco City College. Bruce
urged that the draft not eliminate the specific functions the college performs. Bonnie
Blustein stated that she was at the ASO meeting and that the mission should have
specificity. Sy Levine posed the question: What do you want to get out of the mission
statement? By consensus in a voice vote, the questions posed and the AFT amended
draft* will be presented to the Accreditation Steering Committee which will discuss the
feedback of all constituencies and decide on a draft to be presented at the College
Council meeting on April 8th.
*AFT Guild Feedback on Proposals for Change of Current Mission Statement (3/18/’10):
West Los Angeles College is an urban college campus that serves the western Los Angeles area and
extends to borders beyond. West is dedicated to student success through quality instruction, supportive
services, diverse student activities, innovative teaching methods and alternative methods of delivery aimed
to achieve the highest quality of instruction.
West Los Angeles College fosters a learning community that is dedicated to inform, share and collaborate
on issues that affect student success. A West education is founded upon a commitment to assist each
student in developing an educational success strategy. The college implements its mission through quality
transfer, career, occupational, general education courses and programs, basic skills and continuing
education for lifelong learners.
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AFT- NEA Higher Education Conference: Alice Taylor will represent us at this
convention.
AFT College Guild Good and Welfare Committee will give priority to organizations
which give scholarships and intern Cuts to Course Offerings: Olga inquired as to the
criteria for cutting courses sections this fall, internship opportunities to your students. A
501c3 account has been established.
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