11/20/2003 Senate Minutes

Because of the lack of quorum, Charles asked Harold to present and summarize the 11/19/03 draft of the MCC Faculty Senate Proposal: Distinguished Faculty Award. The ad hoc committee (Harold Cranswick, Ann Stine, Phil Carrillo, and Naomi Story) researched and reviewed various teaching and faculty awards from numerous colleges and universities.

They identified categories suitable for MCC and drafted the document as a starting point for the Senate to discuss. After the discussion, we hope to decide on a faculty award soon. The committee thought that the award should be a faculty award rather than a teaching award because service to the college, department, and the discipline are essential parts of being a good faculty member. The document not only included information about the award, but also described processes and criteria.

Concerns about Distance Learning were voiced: faculty loading and adjunct faculty certification.

I. President Charles Lewis called the meeting to order at 3:29 pm.

Members absent:         Lyn Dutson

                                    David Nachman

                                    Erin Rawson

                                    Niccole Villa Cerveny

Members present:        the rest of us

II. President Charles Lewis asked for approval of the agenda. Two items were added to New Business: Faculty Award Proposal and Education.

III. A motion to approve the agenda with the additions was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.

IV. The approval of minutes from the last meeting was tabled because no minutes were sent to the Senate members.

V. Phil reported that we had 236 1/2 members at last count. There was a question of an extension of the deadline based on a memo from Willie Minor.

VI. No committees reported.

VII. Old Business:

  1. Charles stated that any senator could propose modifications to the Best Practices Manual.
  2. Charles said the ballot boxes were purchased and would be placed at MCC Downtown, Red Mountain, and in the Center for Teaching and Learning, to receive faculty ballots. Voting will end at 5 pm on Tuesday. The officers plan to count the ballots at 3:00 pm and the results would be posted by 5 pm on Wednesday. A question was asked about the old version of the constitution being available for faculty to compare/contrast the two. The old one is on the Senate website for faculty to review.
  3. Charles stated that the joint DCA/Senate Retreat will be held on December 12 from 3-5 pm in the Center for Teaching and Learning. The intent was to keep the retreat strategic issues-oriented. The issue of growth would be discussed strategically, i.e. how do we envision our growth in 5 years. The goal of the retreat is to codify the retreat in the fall and present results to the administration in the spring so that we can be a better partner with the College administrators.
  4. Senators considered an abbreviated discussion of the ITAC issue held at the Department Chair Association Retreat in August 2003. The proposal to hire a Dean of Information Technology in the initial ITAC recommendations was not included in the summary. It was suggested that we remind and reiterate to the chairs that our joint resolution from last spring should be brought forth including the Dean of Information Technology proposal. A question was asked about the impact of the recent MAT Reclassification Study on the proposed Deanıs position. Because no reclassification of positions has yet occurred we should just state that this position should be at the same level as our current Deans of Instruction, Administrative Services, and Student Services. It was moved and seconded that this message be sent to the DCA. Motion was passed unanimously.

VIII. New Business:

A.    Charles asked if we should reschedule our 12/4 meeting to take advantage of the Chancellorıs visit on 12/11. We said ³no² to this because we have not had the time to meet as a Senate this fall since the constitution revision so long. We agreed that Charles should check and see if the Chancellor could schedule a dialogue with the MCC faculty. Janice shared a one-page document that Chancellor Glasper gave to FEC members. The paper solicited faculty dialogue with the Chancellor on teaching and other faculty concerns.

B.    It was suggested that we hold a senate meeting at the Red Mountain campus on April 15, 2004.

C.    Distance Education: Based on a memo from Greg Pratt, Charles brought up the issue of Distance Education and residential facultyıs right to teach online. The issue was complicated by the Dean of Instructionıs restricting the number of online classes a full-time faculty member can teach, which may violate the RFP. It was not clear whether this was coming from department chairs or from the Dean of Instruction. It was suggested that this question be brought up at FEC to find out whether the problem occurs at any of the other colleges. Another issue was related to loading and the role of the Distance Learning Committee, which is a Faculty Senate committee. Charles contacted Ed Lipinski, chair of the committee who stated that the loading question originated within the Distance Learning Committee and was not at an action stage on the chairıs agenda.

It was suggested that we ask Ed to the next Senate meeting to clarify this issue. Charles also mentioned that he emailed the DI about the issue. She supported Edıs comments when Charles gave her Edıs responses.

Discussion arose other distance education issues, including adjunct faculty certification to teach online. Information was sketchy. It was reiterated that Ed needs to come to the next senate meeting to address concerns directly.

D.   Distinguished Faculty Award: We were reminded to review and recommend revisions to the proposed document. It will be brought back as old business at the next Senate meeting.

IX. Information & Announcements

Charles stated the Christmas program on the last Friday before vacation would a Blue Elvis.

Janice said that at the last FEC meeting Chancellor Rufus Glasper came to listen and create an ongoing dialogue with faculty. She also said she was encouraged with the new Chancellorıs statements at the Faculty Recruitment Commission meeting, at which he asked the group to push the envelope and not do business the same way.

Janice also shared that at the Commission meeting the Pedrini report, which was sanctioned by Fred Gaskin was veiled under the guise of confidentiality and not being shared. Naomi affirmed that the report was suspect because it involved only 40 individuals being interviewed and who were not randomly selected. To make recommendations on such a secret report did not make sense. Janice said that Willie Minor was going to ask for the full report. Janice also said that Meet and Confer issues involved language concerns. She said that the FEC was working on better communication among faculty. Janice mentioned that MOU process was stagnated. They are questioning whether MOU process might diminish the Meet and Confer process when the District tosses benefits increase in relation to the salary formula.

Ann said there was no report as Chair liaison because they have meet.

No reports from senators, except for Greg Pratt who reminded us about Kaleidoscope applications deadline being extended. He encouraged senators to solicit applications from faculty. Perceptions that people who always asked for reassigned time were being labeled and Red Mountain people hesitated applying for such opportunities.

X: Meeting was adjourned at 4:50 PM