Mesa Community College Faculty Senate

Approved Minutes

3 November 2005

Member	Telephone	Representing / Office	Present	Absent
Phil Carrillo	654-7710	At-Large	X
Harold Cranswick	461-7245	Zone 5	X
Lyn Dutson	461-7165	President	X
Allen Galliart	461-7007	Active Retirees Rep		X
Donna Gaudet	461-7929	At-Large	X
James Giles	654-7718	Zone 8	X
Mehrzad Khorsandi	461-7257	At-Large		X
Bruce Peterson	654-7722	Zone 1	X
Greg Pratt	461-7755	At-Large	X
Sonia Esposito	654-7816	At-Large	X
John Seims	654-7768	President Elect	X
Mona Scott	461-7155	At-Large		X
Ann Stine	461-7546	Zone 6	X
Margie Lyscas	461-7825	Zone 4	X
Debbie Bitter	461-7262	Zone 7	X
Mary Aldridge	461-7361	Zone 3, Secretary	X
Sally Kroelinger	461-7134	At-Large	X
Phillip Waclawski	461-7468	Zone 2, Treasurer	X

Guests: Dr. Larry Christiansen, President, MCC

President Christiansen urged Senate to remind faculty to participate in activities sponsored by MCC.  There is a lack of faculty presence at many of the activities, such as homecoming, that involve MCC students and the community.  He noted that more faculty from MCC’s Red Mountain campus attended this year’s homecoming than did faculty from the Southern and Dobson campus.  He further noted that students and alumni appreciate faculty involvement in these activities.  President Christiansen also pointed to the success of the Latino Town Hall, which was held on the Southern and Dobson campus.

In response to Senate’s question, “How can we better improve the communication between the administration and the staffing committee before the recommendations are due?”, President Christiansen discussed areas that need improvement and explication.    He feels that administration and staffing have not done all they could to communicate effectively and in a timely manner with one another.  He believes that steps have been and are being made to improve communication and to improve the entire staffing and hiring process.  Presently, announcements of positions are made in the Fall semester after the projections for the college budget have been received on or around 1 August (60% of college budget is county tax).  Enrollment numbers were received on 13 September; thus, the announcement came out as quickly as possible.  However, problems arose with HR; once President Christiansen became aware of the problems, they were addressed. 

Further changes have been made in order to address issues related to HR, pay, and hiring.  Positions are no longer “batched” for posting; they may be posted as they become ready.  Problems with pay are being addressed as a new “expert” will re-engineer the business processes at MCC and District.

President Christiansen also discussed issues related to declining student enrollment at the college and all Maricopa colleges and to budget constraints.  He acknowledged ASU’s efforts to retain and recruit students, but he stressed that we cannot use the same strategies.  We cannot use a payment plan for our students as we cannot have unpaid students in our classrooms.  He also vowed to revisit the date of “purging” students; he feels that a purge in December is too early.    In addition, he noted that there have been no new Fund 2 monies since 1999 except enrollment growth money.  Declining enrollment coupled with errors in Fund 2 spending have depleted this account.  This affects our activities programs at the college.

I.          General

A.        Call to order: 3:00p.m.        

            B.         Approval of Agenda: approved unanimously

            C.        Approval of Minutes: approved unanimously

II.         Treasurer’s Report – Phil Waclawski

            A.        Budget Report: all fees associated with the DFA have been paid.

            B.         Membership Update: Senate was encouraged to urge faculty who have not joined to do so before the 15 November deadline.

III.       Old Business

A.        Distinguished Faculty Award Procedures Approval*

B.         Recommendation for new CMS system: Linda Collins, guest, and Donna Gaudet

            Our current subscription to WebCT expires in June 2006; we must   decide what steps to take now in order to insure a smooth       transition to a new or updated system and the availibilty of support          services.  The version of WebCT that is now used by MCC will no        longer be supported.

            Linda and Donna indicated that the CTL needs an eight month transition period to move to the new package of WebCT. 

            The recommended change is to get the college through the next 2 or 3 years; a long term solution to CMS will be evaluated during this   time. 

            Vendors have been unable to clarify many points related to the merger between Blackboard and WebCT.  ASU uses Blackboard, but there is no advantage for us to do so at this time.

            Currently, DLC has decided to adopt the upgrade to WebCT based on the survey information they received and on their own research   into both options.

                        Motion: (Jim Giles)  Faculty Senate endorses the proposal that DEC has brought to us.  Motion passed unanimously.

            Senate further urges that all recommendations associated with the   DLC’s study be adopted as soon as possible.  In order to be       prepared for classes in Fall 2006, there must be a decision about the CMS system by the end of November 2005.

IV.       New Business

            A.        Questions for President’s visit to Senate: Senate was provided with questions for President Christiansen’s visit.  These questions were                                                                     based on email discussion and Senate discussions of previous meetings.

            B.         Faculty Leadership Involvement*

            C.        Christmas Brunch Committee: Senate is responsible for the organization of the Christmas Brunch in December 2005.  Committee members are:                                       Debbie Bitter, Sonia Espisito, John Seims, and Margie Lyscas.

            D.        Hiring situation in Foreign Language Department (Mona Scott)*

V.        Information  

VI.       Committee Reports*

            A.        Survey

            B.         Distinguished Faculty Award

            C.        College Technology Group

            D.        Governing Board Presentation Team

            E.         Assistant Chair

VII.      President’s Report*

A. “Academic Vision: Learning Environments in the Classroom”—February Board Meeting: volunteer needed for committee

B. Distance Learning Committee: look at Rio model for Distance Testing

C. Plus/Minus grading: volunteer for FEC committee

D. Probationary Language: applies to all probationary faculty regardless of         hiring date

E. IRB proposal

VIII.    President Elect’s Report*

IX.       Department Chair Association Liaison Report: Karen Hardin*

X.        Zone and At-Large Senate Report*

XI.       Adjournment: 5:00p.m.

*--tabled until next meeting.