The De Anza Academic Senate
Approved Notes for the meeting of
June 15th, 2009
Senators and Officers present: Argyriou, Beckum, Botsford, Brennan, Cichanski, Coleman, Cordero, Dolen, Glapion, Goodwin, D. Guevara, J. Guevara, Hanna, Hughes, LaManque, Lee-Klawender, Lathers, Maynard, Miller, Mitchell, Setziol, Sherby, Swanner, White,and Winters
Senators and Officers absent: Cadge-Moore, Guevara, Logvinenko, Mitchell, and Mjelde
DASB: Classified Senate:
Administrative Liaison: Rich Schroeder
Guests: Karl Schaffer , Mike Appio, Stephanie Sherman, and Michele LeBleu-Burns
SLO coordinators:
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 2:33, a quorum being present.
I. Approval of Agenda and Notes: The agenda was approved as distributed.
The notes of June 1st and June 8th were approved as distributed.
II. Needs and Confirmations: White, Mayra Cruz, , Cynthia Kaufman, and Vernon
Gallegos, (alternate) were confirmed for service on the Diversity/ICCE faculty Search and Selection Committee. Alex Kramer was confirmed as District Academic Senate President pending confirmation by the Foothill Academic Senate. A question was raised about the proposed make up of a committee to propose an update to the college's Educational Masterplan.
III. GE Steering Committee Update: Khanna presented the tentative recommendations of this hard working committee. She focused on two recommendations. The first was a change in the area of Physical Education with a new title of Physical and Mental Wellness. Regarding the subcategory of Non Physical Education classes", it is the intent of the committee to change the wording of the latter component and to define criteria leading to an identification of qualifying courses. The second change was a new area called "Information Literacy". As introduced by Khanna, Information Literacy will not be a separate course and will include an academic integrity criterion. A concern was expressed about having a new requirement because of potential confusion on the part of students. Another concern was, even though the idea was for the requirement to be met through courses already qualifying in another area, students might end up taking a course they might not otherwise have to take.
IV. Academic Integrity Committee Update: Owing to feedback from the Senators at the June 8th meeting, Michele LeBleu-Burns announced a change in the proposed title of material intended for use by faculty, staff, and students to "Academic Code of Conduct" (it had been "Honor Code"). In this meeting there was greater emphasis on reporting and the forms used for reporting. Awareness on the part of faculty was said to be critical. Even though a faculty member may think an offense to have been minor and having been "handled" by themselves, the student may be acting dishonorably in other classes at more or less the same time.
Reporting forms will be on line and information on the possible consequences of bad behavior will be in the college catalog.
V. Block Scheduling: Khanna projected a multi page document on the screen and referred to it appropriately. At first she showed the various probable permutations of three, four, and five class hours per week classes. She then explained the current understanding of requirements for breaks internal to the scheduled class time and passing time between classes. An important component solving several problems is an attempt to legislate standard starting and ending times for classes, something the Senate has supported for some time. She then presented a well received proposal for a new final exam schedule which would eliminate current conflicts. In order to do this, a five day exam period is proposed. The proposal would require asking the Faculty Association and the representatives of the Board to negotiate what constitutes a major change in the academic calendar.
VI. Professional Relations: Setziol briefly presented and the group approved a document titled "What is being asked of the Executive Committee by the Professional Relations Committee" which is a list of five concepts for further pursuit.
VII. District Opening Day: Argyriou presented the tentative plan for opening day. Basically it consists of having a half day instead of a full day doing the traditional District Opening Day type activities and having the rest of the day being campus department and division meetings. The plans are still being developed.
VIII. College Opening Day: Picking up from the change to the District Opening Day, the College Opening Day would have the usual morning greetings and then focus on accreditation related activities. These too are still being developed.
IX. Good of the Order and Announcements: - Winters opined that it was about time for the Night of Magic event to benefit student support services.
- Argyriou presented the thanks of the Senate to Winters, who is retiring, in the form of an orchid with an accompanying greeting card expressing best wishes to Marion in her future endeavors.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:15.