Mesa Community College Faculty Senate

Approved Minutes

Senate Meeting Highlights

Highlights and action items on this page, detailed minutes below.

At its meeting on 9/18/2003, the Senate discussed a list of seven strategic issues:

∑ Communication between Senate & Administration

∑ Relationship with DCA

∑ One College ≠ Multi-Campus Model

∑ Improve Communications with Faculty

∑ Development of IT Plan for College

∑ Senate Input to NCA

∑ Staffing & Hiring Process

∑ Date: 9/18/2003

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: Maricopa Room, Kirk Student Center

I. Call to Order

President Charles Lewis called the Senate to order at 3:05 p.m., the following members being present:

Attendance:

Members:	Phillip Carrillo [AL]	Charles Lewis [President]	John Seims [Z4]
	Harold Cranswick [Z5]	David Nachman [Z8, Sec]	Ann Stine [AL]
	Lyn Dutson [Z1]	Greg Pratt [AL]	Naomi Story absent
	Niccole V. Cerveny [AL]	Erin Rawson [AL]	Barry Vaughan [Z3]
	Charles Horn absent	Janice Reilly [Pres-elect]	Phil Waclawski [Z2, Trs]
	Mehrzad Kohrsandi [AL]	Mona Scott absent	Maureen Zimmerman [Z6]
Guest:	Wynn Call

II. Agenda Approval

The agenda was approved as presented by unanimous vote.

III. Minutes Approval

The minutes of the Senate meeting held 9/4/2003, were approved without correction, with two abstentions.

IV. Treasurerπs report

Phillip Waclawski, Treasurer, distributed and read a report on the state of our treasury. The report was accepted by the Senate.

V. Strategic Issues Discussion

As agreed at our 9/4 meeting, the 9/18 meeting focused on a discussion of strategic issues. Senate President Lewisπ summary of our discussion follows.

Strategic Issues Critical Thinking Session

Communication between Senate & Administration

Considered operational rather than strategic

Retreat with Administration to brainstorm ways to improve communication pathways

Standing Senate leadership meeting with College President

(at least twice per semester)

Standing Senate leadership meeting with Dean of Instruction

(at least once per semester)

Leadership meeting with Deans of Administration/Students?

Leadership meeting with Associate Deans

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• Senate President will request leadership meetings with the College President and Dean of Instruction. President & President-Elect of the Senate will attend and report out to the Senate.
• Leadership meetings with the Deans of Administration/Students will be requested as required.
• Leadership meetings with the Associate Deans will not be pursued.

Relationship with DCA

Pursue at least one joint meeting per year between the Senate & DCA in order to identify issues of mutual concern, establish and present a unified faculty viewpoint (to strengthen our voice).

Maintain liaison with the DCA through the Senate President-Elect

Develop a process for establishing issues common to both groups

Standing Senate leadership meeting with DCA leadership (at least twice per semester)

Request, through Senate President-Elect, that Senate membership be copied on DCA minutes

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• Senate President will propose to the DCA Chair that a standing leadership meeting (twice per semester) be established
• Senate & DCA leadership will develop a process for establishing issues common to both groups
• Once per academic year the Senate & DCA will hold a joint retreat (funded by the Senate) to pursue issues common to both groups. We should evaluate the results of our Spring 2003 retreat.
• Senate President-Elect will continue to be the Senate liaison to the DCA
• Senate President-Elect will, at the next DCA meeting, request that Senate membership be copied on DCA minutes

One College ≠ Multi-Campus Model

What is the role of RM (Rollover or Comprehensive)

What is the growth plan (all campuses)

Current process does not follow historic model

RM faculty input to process?

How is space at RM being planned for? (Classroom/Office/Parking)

Does faculty support the One College/Multi-Campus Model?

Impact of proposed Downtown Center on College resources

Faculty to Student Ratio (RM & SD)

Management of RM campus

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• These issues will be pursued via the faculty leadership meetings with the Dean of Instruction and College President

Improve Communications with Faculty

Include all campuses in scheduling of Senate meetings

Educate faculty as to Senate purpose/activities/actions

Arrange for Senate representation at every Department meeting

Partner with DCA to educate faculty

Improve Senate Home Page

Formalize communication process for Zone Reps

Work with District PR firm to improve communications with faculty

Utilize the new faculty experience to reach faculty

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• Schedule at least one Senate meeting at RM per academic year
• Initiate a subcommittee to develop a process for Senate representation at every Department meeting. Obtain buy-in from DCA
• Formalize Zone Rep communication responsibility to their constituency through the Best Practices Manual
• Contact person responsible for the New Faculty Experience to ensure Senate is scheduled as part of the program (preferably early Fall)
• Report back to Senate on recommendations of the PR firm concerning communications with faculty
• Through Best Practices Manual, detail the responsibilities for a webmaster of the Senate Home Page

Development of IT Plan for College

Establish Dean of IT position

How to approach IT situation with Administration

Faculty recommendation to Administration

Reaffirm original Senate IT recommendation to Administration

Senate sub-committee to re-study the issue?

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• Bring the original Senate IT resolution back onto the agenda for action
• Should the original resolution need to be modified, form a subcommittee to develop and propose the necessary changes

Senate Input to NCA

What should Senateπs role be?

Senate Documents for the process

Can communication occur?

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• Senate President will contact Gayla Preisser to determine what Senate documents are required for the process ≠ report back to the Senate ≠ and upon approval supply the necessary documents to the NCA Study Team

Staffing & Hiring Process

Senate input to the strategic ≥faculty employment≤ process

Difficulty in attaining 90/10 faculty ratio (day program)

Change the staffing process

New position hires vs staffing recommendations

Multi-campus issues

Executive Committee Recommendations:

• This item will be placed on the next Senate agenda as New Business as a possibility for discussion with the DCA at a joint Senate/DCA retreat

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