Members Present: J. Spencer, R. Griffith, D. Nolan, S. Chance, G. Haycock, J. Thomas, S. Howland,
G. Turner, V. Harper, S. Stava, L. Amaral, J. Wilcoxson, A. Beltran, L. Brandis, A. Kosten, J. Basham,
J. Brown, C. Enns J. Muller, C. Knox, K. Eddy, D. DeSilva, C. Mangels
1. Call to Order
Wayne Preston presentedDan Shellywith a Senate resolution of appreciation.
David DeSilva moved to approve the resolution; Steve Howland seconded the motion. M/S/A.
Theresa Guildana presented Don Mast with a Senate resolution of appreciation.
Lisa Brandis moved to approve the resolution; Chris Mangels seconded the motion. M/S/A.
Dan Shelly introduced Larry Owens as the COS nominee for the Tulare County Educator of the Year.
Keith Eddy, Jesse Wilcoxson, Jane Thomas, Allyson Sullivan, and Linda Del Rio received Tenure
Certificates and pins.
2.Public Comment
a.Regarding Items NOT on the Agenda
Mary Carmichael, Jenny Bailey and Ed Sense read a celebratory poem.
b.Regarding Items ON the Agenda
3.Approval of Minutes (see attachment)
Guests:
John Kelly………………………………………………………….University Charter High School
In 2002, two early colleges existed; now there are over 200 early college programs throughout the US. The University Charter High School (UCHS) is focused on college readiness, community service, and leadership.The program, which targets underprivileged students, will allow students to enroll in college and high school classes concurrently. The program, whose student enrollment will be capped at 400, boasts five career pathways for students to choose from.
Gina Haycock asked John what materials the library will be responsible for providing for UCHS students. John replied that UCHShas received a $600,000 federally funded grant, which included $250,000 for initial start up costs. This grant will allow for UCHS to supply for the various needs of the high school students on the COS campus including library materials. Linda Amaral asked which COS facilities UCHS will be using. Principally they will be located in the Administration building in two rooms.
There was further discussion about the logistics of having high school students on a college campus. John assured Senators that UCHS students will be highly monitored.
Dr. Scroggins & Rod Frese………………………..Planned and Potential Budget Adjustments
The Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts that the state deficit will be $8 billion escalating to $13 billion if the ballot propositions do not pass. Community colleges will be cut by approximately $400 million; our portion is $3.2 million for the 2010-11 budget. This year’s budget has already been authorized; after votes have been counted, the government will issue a revised budget based on the results of the propositions.
Cabinet met on Monday to strategize ways to cut costs on a two year basis; their brainstorming resulted in the Planned and Potential Budget Adjustment. The document has been presented to the Board and Management Council. Dr. Scroggins touched on the following highlights:
During the Management meeting, administrators volunteered to go back to the classroom. Administration is looking for 10 classes to be covered by managers. Several administrators volunteered. The focus is on Learning Development which has 14 unstaffed classes. Cynthia Johnson asked how administrators would be paid. Dr. Scroggins replied that Education Code and the Management agreement maintains that administrators who teach courses will earn adjunct salary or trade part of their management assignment. The estimated savings for reducing the FON by 2 is $160,000.
In order to help reduce course offering by 3% (160 FTE students) for 2009-10, Summer Session 4 is cancelled. Course offerings will be reduced by 3% for 2009-10, equivalent to 300 FTES. Dr. Scroggins explained that at 10,000 students, COS is a middle-sized college and that state funding goes up in million dollar increments. If we fall slightly below 10,000 students we will still get the funding promised a school our size. Our state funding this year was more or less a wash: we operate in a $1.1 million base, and the state has taken our $750,000 growth money. We need to cut course offerings and doing so during the regular semester would affect faculty load. Cutting Summer Session 4 is the most logical cut because it is the least filled and students have more opportunity to register for other classes. Cutting Summer Session 4 will also allow for a hiatus between summer school and fall to process grades, attend to financial aid, facilities projects and possibly even shut down the Hfax system. The decision to cut Summer Session 4 was not a productivity cut; Spring fill rate was 98%. We simply do not have the money.
Sabbatical leaves and Institutional Improvement Plans are cancelled. Implementation of the Honors Program is delayed one year.
Newly authorized part-time hiring is cancelled. This eliminates part-time positions in Welding, Fine Arts, and four in Custodial. Custodial standards will be adjusted to correspond to the availability of existing staff. Eric and Ralph will be issuing custodial revisions. COS is making the decision to reduce custodial standards in order to continue serving students. Be aware that changes will be happening. For example, the library was preparing to hire an adjunct faculty member. With the hard freeze now on hiring, the library will not be authorized to proceed with the hiring process. Obviously this will mean necessary changes in terms of library hours. While service levels will decline, administration is doing its best to keep cuts from affecting classrooms and services.
All travel is suspended except for that funded by grants and the resources provided to full-time faculty in the COSTA master agreement. Grant and categorical money is still available. ELI money is also available.
The District will reduce reserves by $1,500,000 for the 2009-10 budget and by $1,000,000 for the 2010-11 year. This move will take us from a 6% reserve to 5% for the 2009-10. The state minimum standard is 5%. COS may be put on a “watch list,” but with the state budget problems we will be in good company. Reserves are also susceptible to the state budget shortfall in that state does have the option to take school reserves.
Dr. Scroggins assured Senate that COS will be doing some creative things in order to save jobs. He offered apologies to adjunct instructors who will be affected by the cuts. COS is adopting a middle-of-the-road two year plan so as not be caught off guard.
Carol Enns asked if we are going to be opening the new buildings. Dr. Scroggins replied affirmatively. The construction and furniture for the new buildings were funded by a bond. In fact, construction costs were so low that we were able to afford the installation of solar panels. We will also be paving the parking lot at Woodland and Noble with bond money. The state cannot take this money, nor can we spend it on anything else.
Chris Knox asked Dr. Scroggins whether or not he has considered cancelling Saturday classes. Dr. Scroggins replied that chairs and deans will be asked for a list of classes that can be cut without hurting the program. Cuts will not be based on enrollment, which would be a far easier decision; rather, administration will be thoughtfully considering which classes are truly necessary to individual programs.
Andrew Kosten mentioned that these cuts will be devastating for adjuncts. Dr. Scroggins acknowledged his concern and replied that our COSTA agreement states that base load and over load take precedent over adjunct assignments.
Dave DeSilva asked Dr. Scroggins to clarify item 7. Dr. Scroggins assured him that hiring for Richard Harris’ position will continue.
Rod Frese opened his portion of the discussion by explaining that the State cut our construction payments down so far that we have been funding the building projects out of our own pockets. The State does not fund projects upfront. COS should have been receiving $3-4 million each month. We have received less and less; in June we received just $1 million. The state has promised to pay the $6.5 million they owe COS in July. Considering the risk of potential law suits, COS felt it safer to continue construction despite the cuts.
COS has entered into two lines of credit: a mid-year borrow of $10 million to be paid off in May and a flexible lease with Valley Business bank for $7.5 million for a flat rate of $27,000 to be paid off in July.
Rod assured Senate that COS is in good shape. COS will spend down our reserves while preserving jobs.
4.Reports from Standing Committees
a.Curriculum Committee- see below
b.Honors Committee
Cynthia reported that the Honors program received some phenomenal applications. With the Honors program being postponed, the committee has made several steps to insure that their hard work does not lose momentum. While classes designated Honors will be returned regular class status, the honors students will be kept together as an unofficial Honors cohort. An Honors club is also being established.
c.Facilities Committee – see President Report
d.Committee A- no report
- Committee B –see attached report
- Committee C –no report
- COSTA Liaison Committee-no report
h. FEC-no report
i. Budget Committee-no report
j. Adjunct Faculty report – no report
k. Equivalency Committee – no report
l. ASB—Student Rep. Report –
Vanessa will be replacing Ashlee Seyaz as our student body representative.
m. DECOS Committee –
Deborah reported that by Monday the new Bb shells for summer classes should be created. She encouraged Senators to come to a training session.
n. ELI Committee-no report
o. SLO Committee-no report
p. President’s Report – see attached report
DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
ACTION ITEMS
5. Intellectual Property Rights AP………………………………………………….….Jeff Basham
Changes to this document have been sent out to Senators. Steve Howland commented that the AP was very well written. Jeff clarified that this would be a first and second read.
Greg Turner moved to approve the AP; Steve Howland seconded the motion. M/S/A.
6. Curriculum Course Approval……………………………………………….….Michele Hester-Reyes
Michele clarified that due to a flaw in CurricUNET, Engineering 3 came back after having been previously approved. Gina Haycock moved to approve all curriculum; Steve Howland seconded the motion. M/S/A.
NEW BUSINESS
Deborah Nolan, Chris Knox, and Jan Woodall were nominated to serve on the Institutional Planning Committee.
Janice Brown moved to approve the nominees; Josh Muller seconded the motion. M/S/A.
Moved to adjourn at 6:05 pm.