Meeting of
Approved Minutes
(Please note: General
interest issues or meeting and notifications are listed below in bold to allow them to be located more
easily.)
I.
General
A. Call
to Order: A quorum being present,
President Carmela Arnoldt called the meeting to order at 2:30 P.M. in the
Council Chambers, Senators present included President Carmela Arnoldt, Vice
President Jim Reed, Treasurer Jim Daugherty, Secretary Laura Avila, and
Senators Doug Brenner, Fernando Garcia, Robert Hubbard, David Jenkins, Connie
LaBuhn, Johnnie Clemens May, Carlos V. Nuñez, Alicia Ottenberg, Robert Reavis, Frank Rivera, David M.
Rodriguez, and Joy Wingersky.
B. Introduction of Guests- Including, but not limited to, Rosemary Acosta, Joseph E. Bednorz, Brian Bird, Doug Desanti, Gay Garesche, Nancy Oreshack, Frank Gonzalez, and Lyle Walcott.
President Arnoldt asked Senate to observe a moment of silence in memory and appreciation of our colleague Patrick M. Haas.
C. The proposed meeting agenda was adopted as amended.
D. The
minutes from the December 1st meeting, distributed via email, were unanimously
approved.
E. Treasurer
Daugherty reported a balance of $9361.42
for all accounts. He reported an expenditure during the month in the amount of $1000.00
made to the
F. President’s Report-
President Arnoldt has asked Senate if anyone had any suggestions on how to archive historical Senate records electronically. Senator Garcia and Senator Jenkins volunteered to scan all documents and create an electronic file.
Senate was also informed of the compressed process for the presidential search. The deadline for applications is February 17th. The committee will then begin the screening process.
G. FEC Report-
Vice-President Reed informed Senate of the hiring process discussion taking place at FEC. Process may need to be changed in order to address the length of time that is taken to hire faculty.
FEC also discussed the many problems faculty have encountered using Blackboard as their web delivery format. Many faculty expressed their frustration with the issues concerning login times and other student complaints.
Senator Reed also informed Senate that PVCC faculty member Reyes Medrano is this year's Legislative Committee Chair. Two Gov. Board seats and several Legislative bills, including potential baccalaureate degrees, are important to faculty this year. Mr. Medrano will be responsible for keeping track of the bills.
Senate was also informed of the
savings with our new health insurance. Comparing cost to this same period of time
last year with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield (
H. Governing Board Report-
President Arnoldt informed Senate
of the importance of the Governing
Board’s Strategic Conversation on the academic vision of MCCCD taking place
at SCC on February 14th from
II.
Old Business
A. President
Arnoldt informed Senate of the potential to have faculty request committee assignments online this
spring.
B. Senator Daugherty informed Senate that the Administrators’ Feedback Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday January 31st.
C. Senator Daugherty stated correspondence online has taken place to change the current FEP. A meeting will be held on Feb. 6th at Rio Salado.
D. Senator
Hubbard introduced Gay Garesche, full time residential faculty, to speak about
the dual enrollment motion presented
to Senate at the last meeting. Ms.Garesche informed Senate that dual enrollment
students in most cases do not have to take any type of assessment test to
exhibit they are ready for a college level course. Ms. Garesche stated that dual enrollment
students should be required to take the same assessment as college students. Vice President Reed then invited Dean Kimmens
to join the conversation involving dual enrollment to answer questions for
Senate concerning assessment and other issues.
Ms. Garesche reminded Senate of the ad hoc committee’s regulation
concerning the number of dual enrollment students in a class. The regulation states at least half of the
class should be enrolled for college credit if it is a dual enrollment course. Discussion then ensued concerning some of the
statements listed in the dual enrollment motion. Senator Nuñez applauded Gay Garesche for her concerns to ensure the quality
of the dual enrollment courses. However,
he indicated most statements listed in the motion placed unreasonable obstacles
to offer dual enrollment. Further
discussion ensued and Senate voted to table the motion until the February
meeting.
III.
New Business
A. President Arnoldt informed senate that a Baccalaureate bill may be proposed again at this year’s legislative session. Senate reflected on the necessity to share information outside of the Maricopa memo system regarding political activities; faculty are encouraged to send non-MCCCD email address to PVCC faculty member Reyes Medrano, this year's Legislative Committee Chair. President Arnoldt urged Senate to get involved.
Another bill is being proposed where courses that are not part of an “official” program of study will not receive FTSE and state reimbursement funds. Such courses could include special interest, some occupational courses, and activity courses.
B. President Arnoldt mentioned that Dr. Steve Williams informed Department Chairs at their Department meeting that some classrooms are available for potential late start courses for this semester.
C. Senate
established an Elections Committee; Senators Hubbard and Wingersky, as well as
two non Senators will serve; five Senate seats and a President and Vice
president will be elected this spring.
IV. Information
A. Senator Daugherty informed Senate that the Technology Task Force has formed several subcommittees. These subcommittees have been working on surveys to conduct in the upcoming weeks with individuals chosen for interviews as well as online surveys.
B. Vice-President Reed stated Senate needs to consider an official policy concerning nominations for elections. There have been cases where nominations are placed on a ballot and voting takes place, but the candidate then decides not to run.
President Arnoldt asked Senate to consider the possibility of Department Chair term limits. A short discussion ensued before the meeting was adjourned.
V.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at