Notes - May 7th, 2007
The De Anza Academic Senate
Approved Notes for the meeting of
May 7th, 2007
Senators and Officers present: Bambhania, Capitolo, Chenoweth, Cole, Coleman, Cordero,
Dolen, Gallegos, Glapion, Goodwin, Guevara, Hearn, Jensen-Sullivan, Joplin, Kessler,
Lathers, Lee-Klawender, Lizardi-Folley, Miller, Osborne, Paicius, Raffaelli Schaffer,
Walton, Winters, and Zill
Senators and Officers absent: Cadge-Moore, Kramer, and Setziol,
DASB:
Classified Senate: Olivia Patlan
Administrative Liaison:
Guests: Andrew LaManque
Curriculum Co Chair: Anu Khanna
[NOTE: Item numbers are reflective of agenda numbers in the order they
are actually taken up at the meeting.]
The meeting was called to order at 2:30 a quorum being present.
I. Approval of Agenda and Notes: The agenda was approved as distributed with the following
changes: the title of item VII was changed to “Deadline to drop WITHOUT a W” and
Item V was divided into Va, Emergency Procedures and
Vb, Academic Freedom Statement.
The notes of April 30th were approved as distributed.
II. Needs and Confirmations: No “Needs and Confirmations” were on the docket.
III. ePortfolios : The topic of ePortfolios was raised at Tech Task Force, which
then directed it to the Academic Senate. In an ePortfolio, students can collect,
select, build and publish their best work via the Internet. Using an ePortfolio would
not only give students the opportunity to represent themselves more holistically,
but would also provide a means for the college to measure the effectiveness of curriculum
by recognizing trends in student interests. Many of the concerns raised include the
need for training both for faculty and for students, the role of portfolios in Student
Learning Outcomes, and the means through which portfolio usage could be expanded (some
suggestions include the Student Success Center and/or the Library). It was clarified
that any movement in this area should be faculty driven. The senate agreed that it
would be beneficial to join an already-existing consortium of 4-year and 2-year colleges
to discuss ePortfolios. Volunteers will be solicited and the Senate officers will
determine whether we may send more than one representative to the consortium.
IV. Training for Teaching Online: Chenoweth presented a review of Title 5 changes
in the language on Distance Education.
Key language change is: The same standards apply to “any portion of a course conducted
through “…distance education.
Proposed changes to Title 5 Curriculum Regulations
An issue from the curriculum committee was raised again about criteria for evaluation
and approval for Distance Learning curricula. Senate needs to review course approval
procedures, both distance learning and face to face.
The changes are not yet approved at the state level but are likely to be approved
this July. Thus, they should be incorporated into training plans for Faculty now.
Senate needs to ensure that online teachers are trained.
While there is software training, questions remain about sessions or classes on the
pedagogical implications of teaching various percentages of courses on line.
Discussion ensued about methodology for implementing this training. Some say Senate
should offer classes and wondered if there was enough Faculty interest to support
the classes. Many felt that these classes should not be “Required” and preferred
inducements like training stipends. Chenoweth pointed out a website for best practices:
http://www.curriculum.cc.ca.us/
Va. Emergency Preparedness: Hearn clarified that the focus of this discussion was
not about the Emergency Preparedness Plan itself, but on the means by which faculty
are informed of the plan. After some discussion, the general sense of the senate
was that as many modes of delivery as possible (such as online availability, hard
copies, opening day activities, DVD training, etc.) would be beneficial. Furthermore,
once faculty receive this information, divisions should have discussions about emergency
preparedness to review any specific needs of that division. Also, it was suggested
that additional workshops be provided for part-time faculty who might not be able
to attend division meetings during the day.
The idea of requiring all employees to use the District email address resurfaced in
light of safety measures that might be taken.
Vb. Academic Freedom Statement: It was MSCU (Joplin/Cordero) to approve a proposed
Academic Freedom document with the inclusion of "content" proposed at the April 30th
meeting. It was agreed that the Senate will pursue more refinement of the statement
in the Board Policy, as well.
Further recommendations for this particular document will be prepared in anticipation
of the next round of contract negotiations.
VI. Alternative Media for Course Materials: Hearn raised the issue that faculty might
not realize that some of their practices pose obstacles for students to receive their
materials in an alternate form in a timely manner. Among such practices include not
having course materials available soon enough for conversion to alternate forms, password
protecting online materials such as pdfs, and the like. Hearn asked that the senators
help raise awareness in their divisions of these concerns; also, the senate officers
will work with Disability Support Services to determine the most common obstacles
and ways in which faculty can help remove obstacles for students with alternate media
needs.
VII. Deadline to drop WITHOUT a W: Title 5 Requires 4 weeks or 30% of a term, whichever
is shorter within which students can drop without a “w” on the record. For a quarter
(12 weeks) that is 3.6 weeks, which should be our compliance target.
Foothill’s policy is now set at 4 weeks and De Anza's is at 3 weeks. It was the
sense of the Senate that both 3 and 3.6 are acceptable.
VIII. Process for Hiring Committees: The senate began discussion where it left off
last meeting with the understanding that we would try to find points of agreement.
It was clarified that the bulleted points the Senate’s draft came directly from Board
Policy or the Hiring Process Manual.
The senate agreed that the list of names that are proposed from the department be
sent to the Diversity Office for two reasons: to assign an EO representative and
to advise if there is enough diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity, pedagogical
perspectives, and so forth. Another point of agreement was that the Dean should submit
a completed form (to be determined later) to the Academic Senate one week prior to
the date confirmation is requested. The Senate officers would then confer with at
least one of the Division Senators to sign that the process was followed. In the
event process was not followed, the Senate officers will look into the matter.
IX. Good of the Order: Senators with agenda items should submit them Tuesday before
the meeting.
- Joint Leadership Meeting will be included in the next Senate meeting. Guests
of the Senate will include John Swensen.
- There was a motion at the Board of Trustees meeting regarding the flap about the
ecomonics hiring committee. The Board was told that People in the department were
not notified. However, many in the department replied and some joined the committee.
These claimants wanted the administration to take charge. Senators are advised that
this motion failed and we should insure that we continue to be responsible for hiring
procedures. This stale issue should now be righteously ended.
- Deanza Volleyball camp for ages 9 and up. See: http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/athletics/volleyballw/2007%20De%20Anza%20Summer%20Clinics.pdf
- NPR has a series on Community Colleges that may interest the Faculty.
- Environmental and Sustainability Subcommittee has changed their meeting times.
The meetings are now held on Tuesday from 3 till 4 PM in Room 214 of the Kirsch Center.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:32