ESL Dept Meeting Minutes

Friday, Sept 23, 2011, 11:00 – 1:00

ESL 105

Present: Janet, Judy, John, Sharon, Emily, Tracey, Sharon, Melody, Keith, Debra, Victoria, Matthew, Andrea K., Brianna, Eunhye, Lois

11:00-12:00 -Ellen Cutlerdemonstrated some features of “Write Gold” and offered to present a more detailed workshop for faculty when the site license arrives. She also offered to assist individual faculty members with website accessibility.

12:00-1:00 - Announcements and Updates from the Chair:

  • W12 and Sp12 teaching schedules have been distributed; “First Semester Experience” program is continuing, so some Sp12 sections of 21A and 11A are low-capped, but no support courses will be.
  • The Dept will request a newFT position (to begin F12); hiring for the rollover position is therefore delayed until Sp12 (hire F12) in order for the selection cmmt to interview for two possible positions rather than just one.
  • The internal ESL website is now available; remember that if you’re off campus, you must precede your username with SMC\when logging on.
  • Automated waitlists are planned for piloting in W12 and full implementation in Sp12 (see previous email sent by the chair for specifics).
  • This November, the ESL Dept will hold an election for the position of Dept Chair; any interested FT faculty member may nominate him/herself. Toni Randall will run for a second four-year term.

Faculty Reports:

Keith announced the Student Success Cmmt workshops.

Tracey updated us on contract negotiations. So far there’s been no movement and a Job Action Task Force will be initiated. Matthew, Shawna, Tracey are the ESL Dept’s FA representatives.

Matthew announced that the Conversation Exchange Program is holding its first get-together of interested student participants today. Matthew and Bethany are co-faculty leads for the program.

Janet informed us that weekly (Friday) conversation groups will commence within the next few weeks. We have hired two new tutors, Sarah Ashleigh and Ronda Fox.

In answer to a question concerning whether or not we now have sufficient data to revisit the assessment test cutoff scores, Toni will look at data for F10 and Sp11 student success rates in 11A and 21A. In addition, Toni will ask for data indicating DE ESL success rates compared to those of the rest of the college DE programs.

Assessment Preparation Apps: Student Success Cmmt and the Assessment Center are working with the Eng, Math, and ESL departments to create apps that prospective students could upload for free and that would prepare them for what to expect on the assessment test(s). Janet and Andrea K. will write sample questions that reflect those on ACCUPLACER. There is a question as to whether or not the requested 40 per area (=120 total) is necessary or desirable. Andrea and Janet will consult with Esau Tovar, Assessment Ctr, about this. If faculty have any suggestions as to other types of apps that could be developed, which could be shared across sections of a course, they should let Robert Gonzalez know as SMC is interested in supporting such projects. The second portion of the above-mentioned app will be a video sequence in which faculty and students would discuss aspects of our program (work to begin in Sp12).

The credit ESL program certificate workgroup (Tracey, Toni, Janet, Melody, Sharon) agreed that we should conduct a student survey to determine student interest. Some possible questions: 1. Would attainment of an ESL certificate that was recorded on your transcript by of value to you in your academic and/or professional career? 2. Would you be willing to take (list the 18 units of courses that would be required) in order to obtain an ESL certificate? 3. Are such certificates (describe it) required/valued in your home country? Toni will run the questions past Hannah Alford (OIR) to make sure the survey produces the information we seek. If anyone else would like to join our workgroup, please let Toni know.

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Next meeting: October 28, Friday, at which time the SMC Police will provide disaster training for our department. Each participant will receive an emergency kit. Please make every effort to attend! (11:15-12:00).

NOTE: As per our contract, full-time faculty are expected to attend all dept meetings, and part-time faculty are expected to attend at least ONE regular dept meeting per semester (IF schedules here or elsewhere permit); part-time faculty receive flextime credit.