Academic Senate President's

End of Year Report

2005-2006

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, President / Lesley Kawaguchi, Past President
Judith Douglas, Treasurer / Alan Buckley, Recording Secretary
David Finkel, Parliamentarian

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Marilyn Adler / Garen Baghdasarian / Teri Bernstein
Susanne Borghei* / Patricia Burson / Guido Del Piccolo*
Judith Douglas* / Dennis Frisch / Ethan Gallogly*
Peter Geltner / Martin Goldstein / Nancy Hanson
Nancy Grass Hemmert / Amber Katherine / Peter Morse
Eric Oifer / Christine Schultz* / Lantz Simpson
Linda Sinclair / Eleanor Singleton / Heather Smith
James Stram / Esau Tovar* / Ventris Woods
David Zehr

*Indicates that this person served as a Senator as well

PART & FULL TIME SENATORS

Kym McBride / Cassandrea Patillo / Audrey Sandoval / Jaqueline Scott
Jo Kidd / Pauli Peter / April Mizuki / Chunghi Yu
John Henderson / Michael Strathearn / Nelly Farnoody-Zahiri / Marc Trujillo
Robert Taylor / Greg Brookins / Fran Chandler / Nate Brown
Deb Kraut / Josh Kanin / Helen LeDonne / Maria Alvarado
Tina Feiger / Kathy Flynn / Vicki Rothman / Diane Gross
Odemaris Valdivia / Craig Hammond / Cary Childress / Ken Buckner
Jan Austin / Suellen Gauld / Laura Manson / Susan Sterr
Tim Cramer / Gilda Feldman / Jim Pacchioli / Andrew Nestler
Toni Randall / Georgia Farber / Janie Jones / Karina Cerovic
Brenda Atrim / Mary Colavito / Lucy Kluckhorn Jones / Juan Quevedo
Terry Green / John Kennedy / Makiko Fujiwara-Skroba / Christine Hart
Sue Ann Pinner / Bob Ware / Michelle Scholefield

Words From Our Senate President

June 12, 2006

Dear Colleagues:

What a great year we have had! During the 2005-06 academic year the Santa Monica College Academic Senate has worked hard to ensure the integrity of our academic institution.

Together, faculty and administration, we have been able to identify important professional and academic objectives and then work toward meeting them. Our faculty is fortunate to have had so many fine and capable leaders in the Academic Senate working on our behalf. You will find in this year end report summaries of each committee’s objectives, accomplishments, and plans for next year. I hope you will join me in congratulating the people who have served on these committees as chairs and members alike.

In addition to the many committee reports, you will find reproduced in the report all of the adopted Senate Resolutions, 2005-06.

Lastly, we mark the end of this academic year by noting Dr. Chui Tsang’s early success as college president. Our partnership with Dr. Tsang and the Board of Trustees is strong and we look forward to our continued success together as we face all that is before us.

All the best,

Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, President

Santa Monica College Academic Senate

Academic Senate Resolutions 2005-2006

/ SMC Academic Senate
ASR01-05

It is recommended that ASR01-05 presented by the Student Learning Outcomes Task Force and approved by the Academic Senate’s Executive Committee be adopted:

Whereas, the Student Learning Outcomes Task Force (SLOTF) seeks to support and advance the campus-wide project on Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs); and

Whereas, one of the current year’s main goals is to involve each academic department in writing SLOs for at least two courses by May 2006; and

Whereas, as a first step in toward this goal, the SLOTF co-chairs have been working with the leaders of the Curriculum, Program Review, and Department Chairs and Coordinators committees to prepare materials that define SLOs and suggest a process for departments to develop outcomes and assessments for their own courses; and

Whereas, by November, these materials will be ready to share with department representatives who will undertake to facilitate their department’s involvement;

Be it therefore resolved that the Academic Senate calls on every department to elect or select (as they choose) members from their own disciplines to represent them on the Task Force beginning with the November meeting and continuing through June 2006. (Departments that have already written SLOs for all of their courses will be able to re-visit and refine them through their participation).

Approved 38 to 5 on October 4, 2005

/ SMC Academic Senate
ASR02-05

Whereas the Santa Monica College Academic Senate is the primary voice for faculty on all matters professional and academic, and

Whereas the Academic Senate has long demonstrated its commitment to student success, most recently by assuming primary responsibility for developing and implementing Student Learning Outcomes at Santa Monica College, and

Whereas the Academic Senate has long demonstrated its commitment to a more collegial governance of the College, as illustrated by the instrumental role of its leadership in Accreditation, the establishment of Board Policy 2250, and the creation of the District Planning and Advisory Council, and

Whereas Academic Senate leadership has long demonstrated its commitment to an effective relationship between the College and the Santa Monica community, working, for instance, with local leaders to win vehicular access to the Santa Monica College Bundy satellite campus, and

Whereas the Academic Senate is dismayed to learn that, despite these many contributions to our students, the College, and our community, the District’s Administration now demands in its negotiations with the Faculty Association that Academic Senate Release Time (Article 6.17 and Appendix A) be eliminated from the faculty contract and that the Senate’s primary role in recommending faculty for Sabbaticals (Article 17.13.1) be compromised.

Be it therefore Resolved, that the Academic Senate considers the District’s negotiating positions on Academic Senate reassigned time and sabbaticals to be confrontational and counterproductive to collegiality and mutual respect, and

Be it further Resolved, that the Academic Senate President inform the Santa Monica College Administration and Board of Trustees of the Senate’s disappointment with the District’s demands and its strong opposition to them.

Unanimously Approved October 4, 2005

/ SMC Academic Senate
ASR03-05

WHEREAS: Part-time faculty with an 80% assignment have more opportunity to participate effectively in the improvement and development of curriculum within their subject area;

WHEREAS: Part-time faculty with an 80% assignment can more effectively participate in educational program development and evaluation;

WHEREAS: Part-time faculty with an 80% assignment can more effectively enhance student preparation and success because they can be on campus and available for more hours per week;

WHEREAS: Part-time faculty with an 80% assignment can more effectively become educated about the policies and procedures at a particular campus and therefore be more constructive and effective in participation in college governance structures, including processes for institutional planning;

WHEREAS: Full-time faculty, department chairs and administrators can more easily mentor and process paperwork for a fewer number of part-time faculty, resulting in cost savings that can be utilized to support student success more effectively;

WHEREAS: Regional and national goals supporting a reduction of consumption of fossil fuels are more likely to be met if the number of locations to which a part time faculty must travel to meet his or her financial needs is reduced, and a change in the law supporting an increase in the percentage of a full load allowed at any one location would help accomplish this;

BE IT RESOLVED by the Academic Senate of Santa Monica College that the current Education Code 87482.5 provision which effectively prohibits Part-time faculty from working more than 60% load at any one campus, commonly know as “The 60% Law,” be changed to 80%, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Academic Senate president present this resolution to the Area C meeting of the Statewide Academic Senate at its March 2006 meeting.

Approvedon a voice vote, 42-1, October 18, 2005

SMC Academic Senate

ASR04-05

Whereas the Santa Monica College Transfer Program has been developed over the past 20 years, and

Whereas the Santa Monica College Transfer Program is a multifaceted combination of outreach, publicity, transfer services, counseling, and instruction; and

Whereas Santa Monica College has transferred more students to UC and CSU combined than any other community college in five of the last six years; and

Whereas Santa Monica College has transferred more Chicano/a and Latino/a students to UC than any other community college in five of the last six years; and

Whereas the Santa Monica College Outreach Program statement of purpose begins with, “The function of the Outreach Program is to increase and improve recruitment processes to represent Santa Monica College as the leading transfer college to prospective students, their parents, high schools, and the community.”; and

Whereas the Santa Monica College counseling faculty are dedicated to the transfer prospects of all our students who desire to transfer;

Therefore be it resolved that the Academic Senate of Santa Monica College commend the Transfer Counseling faculty and staff for all their endeavors in support of student success and for their dedication and commitment to students at
Santa Monica College.

Unanimously Approved, November 22, 2005

SMC Academic Senate

ASR05-05

Whereas in an effort to be transparent and open about its process for awarding sabbaticals; and

Whereas the Sabbaticals and Fellowships Committee seeks to apply a formal and quantitative set of standards and weights to the qualitative judgments that will be applied in judging applications; and

Whereas these standards and weights should be made available to all faculty; and

Whereas the Sabbaticals and Fellowships Committee seeks to promote academically rigorous activities designed to promote professional development; and

Whereas the Sabbaticals and Fellowships Committee is committed to student success through supporting faculty efforts to remain current and develop their professional skills;

Be it resolved that the Academic Senate adopts the following criteria and matrix for use in the evaluation of sabbaticals applications.

Evaluation Criteria and Potential PointsPoints Received*

1.Quality of Project Design / ______
a.proposal is clear, organized and specific (10 points)
b.proposed activities and procedures support project’s
objectives (15 points)
c.methods of documentation are appropriate to the proposed project (15 points)
d.applicant establishes a realistic timeline for accomplishing activities and objectives (10 points)
2.Benefits of Sabbatical / ______
a.proposed project contributes to professional development/increased competence of sabbatical
recipient (20 points)
b.proposed project contributes to student success
(20 points)
c.proposed project contributes to colleagues, department, and/or college at-large (10 points)
TOTAL POINTS

*points are awarded based on how well the potential project satisfies each criterion

Supplemental categories:

college service (3 points)

potential first-time recipient (2 points)

Unanimously Approved November 29, 2005

SMC Academic Senate

ASR06-05

Whereas the faculty at Santa Monica College are committed to student success through the improvement of teaching practices; and

Whereas the current instrument made available by the administration is of questionable value to the faculty; and

Whereas faculty need a valuable and effective tool for continued improvement of teaching; and

Whereas faculty will need time to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a new tool; and

Be it therefore resolved, that the Senate adopt the following tool on a voluntary pilot basis, for faculty use in classroom evaluation; and

Be it further resolved the Academic Senate call for 100 volunteers to administer the form in at least one class during the spring semester 2006; and

Be it finally resolved, that the Ad Hoc Committee on Student Evaluations agree to carry on with this pilot program through 2006.

Unanimously Approved November 15, 2005

SMC Academic Senate

ASR01-06

Whereas the sitting Academic Senate President and the immediate past Academic Senate President have compelling Senate responsibilities that cannot be fulfilled while on sabbatical; and

Whereas the Sabbaticals and Fellowships Committee seeks to avoid any conflict of interest;

Be it resolved that neither the sitting Academic Senate President nor the immediate past Academic Senate President shall be eligible for sabbatical during his/her term.

Unanimously Approved February 21, 2006

SMC Academic Senate

ASR03-06

Whereas Santa Monica College conducted an environmental audit (to consider environmental protection and sustainable development at SMC), released in December of 1993, that assessed the impact of seven aspects of campus activity and provided recommendations based on those assessments, and

Whereas the College began implementing many of the recommendations, including a recycling program that now diverts 85% of the waste generated by the college, and

Whereas the implementation of the recommendations from the 1993 environmental audit was disrupted by the tragedy of the Northridge earthquake, and

Whereas the City of Santa Monica has been implementing a City Sustainability Plan for the last ten years, and Santa Monica College as an institution of higher education located in this environmentally progressive city is a vital part of this plan, and

Whereas in 2005, the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees unanimously supported and endorsed the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan and the importance of Santa Monica College within that plan, and

Whereas both the U.C. and C.S.U. systems have either conducted environmental audits or have established plans to achieve a higher level of sustainability on campus, and

Whereas the students of Santa Monica College will benefit from learning about ways to participate in the process of sustainability on campus and be prepared to be active and participatory in similar activities in their lives beyond SMC, and

Whereas Santa Monica College will benefit economically by reassessing it’s environmental impact, and drafting a plan to achieve a greater level of sustainability on campus and in the community, and

Whereas the Academic Senate's Environmental Affairs Committee, The SMC Center for Environmental and Urban Studies, the SMC student based Eco-Action Club, and the City of Santa Monica Sustainable Task Force all endorse this resolution and support the advancement of environmentally friendly and sustainable practices on campus, then

Be it resolved that the Santa Monica College Academic Senate endorse its Joint Committee for Environmental Affairs' call for the formation of an advisory council (made up of faculty, administrators, students, and community members) that will aid in the review and update of the prior environmental audit, and

Be it further resolved that this updated audit will include a plan to steer Santa Monica College towards sustainability and leadership in the realm of environmental implementation, as well as education and community outreach.

Unanimously Approved February 21, 2006

SMC Academic Senate

ASR04-06

Whereas the reallocation of $120,000 (approximately one third of the original allocation) from the instructional technology funding of the Instructional Block Grant for 2005-06 to schedule facilities maintenance has severely impacted the college’s ability to support the technology needs of instructional programs,

Be it resolved that the Academic Senate Joint Information Services Committee (ISC) asks that the Senate Representative on the DPAC Technology Planning Sub-committee express ISC’s concerns to DPAC and request restoration of the funding from other sources.

Unanimously Approved 4/18/06

Santa Monica College
Academic Senate

ASR05-06

Compton College

Whereas, the Academic Senate leaders of Santa Monica College were approached by the Academic Senate leaders of Compton College to discuss their current circumstances, including the impending loss of Compton College’s accreditation and the closing of Compton College, displacing their students, faculty, and staff;

Whereas, the Academic Senate of Santa Monica College approved of a faculty delegation to meet with a similar delegation from Compton College, including the Special Trustee and the Associate Special Trustee, to discuss questions and concerns regarding the possibility of extending Santa Monica College’s accreditation to Compton College for its 10-week summer session;

Whereas, the Academic Senate of Santa Monica College recognizes the importance of Compton College for its students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community, and the tremendous loss that would occur with the closing of its doors, and;

Whereas, the Santa Monica College faculty delegation is unanimous in supporting extending Santa Monica College’s accreditation to Compton College for its 10-week summer session, while recognizing the need to maintain the academic reputation Santa Monica College enjoys, the possible pitfalls that could occur in such a partnership, and the need to retain the faculty voice in this venture;

Be it therefore resolved, that the Academic Senate of Santa Monica College authorize a delegation to participate in the joint development of a memorandum of understanding regarding the partnership with Compton College for summer 2006.

Approved Unanimously May 30, 2006

End Of Year Committee Reports

Curriculum - Joint Committee
David Zehr, Chair

Accomplishments of the Curriculum Committee for 2005-06

  • Approved thirty-one (31) new courses
  • Approved thirty (30) courses to be offered as Distance Education
  • Approved three (3) Non-Credit Courses
  • Approved four (4) new Certificates of Completion
  • Reviewed and approved the curriculum for Fashion, as part of the Program Review process, and collaborated with other departments going through Program Review
  • Reviewed the curriculum for Compton Community College for the two summer intersessions of 2006, and affirmed the final recommendations by the appropriate Santa Monica College chairs
  • Held policy discussions of a variety of topics with a bearing on curriculum, such as plus/minus grading, the graduation proficiency exams in English and Math, and Student Learning Outcomes
  • Initiated a review and updating of the submission process for Distance Education courses

Department Chairs
Christine Schultz, Chair

Chief Objectives and Accomplishments for 2005 – 2006

1.Discussion of plus/minus grading