October 12, 2026

RAPP Meeting Minutes

10–11:20 a.m. 

 MLA 255 Hybrid Mtg. 

October 12, 2026

Summary
Faculty Tri-Chair Veronica Acevedo Avila led the meeting by having members and guests introduce themselves and by welcoming student representatives. RAPP reviewed the minutes from the October 5, 2026, meeting, and a motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded. RAPP also reviewed the Charge and Norms page, followed by a presentation on Instructional Equipment funds by Tri-Chair and Vice President of Instruction Ram Subramaniam. Classified Tri-Chair Lisa Ly reviewed the current list of programs and received feedback from the larger group.

Instructional Equipment

Tri-Chair Subramaniam shared a new instructional equipment allocation of $801,563.00 intended to support equipment needs through the 2031-32 academic year. Currently, the college has an existing balance of $534,237.00 that should be expended by the end of the 2027-28 academic year. RAPP discussed the need to draft both a request form and an evaluation rubric to facilitate the allocation process. Suggested criteria may include alignment with the college mission, college-wide benefits, sustainability, shared use, and instructional needs. RAPP committee member Debbie Lee emphasized the importance of considering college-wide infrastructure and instructional needs alongside individual department and division requests. RAPP tri-chairs discussed maintaining an emergency reserve for unexpected instructional repairs or replacements. 

RAPP members requested clarification on allowable expenditures and the recommended five-year period. Academic Senate President Erik Woodbury noted that a previous equipment request form exists and explained that, in prior years, RAPP had reviewed past instructional equipment funds.

Instructional Equipment Next Steps :

·       Share the Chancellor's Office guidance on allowable instructional equipment expenditures.

·       Locate and review previous equipment request forms and unfunded requests.

·       Develop or revise the request form and evaluation rubric.

·       Develop a proposal for an emergency equipment reserve.

·       Bring the information back to RAPP for further discussion.

Updated Program Review List
Tri-Chair Lisa Ly presented the most recent version of the College’s program list. RAPP members were reminded that there are four categories: Instruction, Student Services, Academic Support Services, and Equity and Engagement. RAPP reviewed proposed edits including the following: adding English Performance Success, Football Academic Success Team, B.A. in Automotive Technology, Bursar’s Office, Dual Enrollment, Foster Youth/Next Up, and the Women’s Resource and Advocacy Center. Suggestions were also made to clarify VIDA-related programs and Creative Arts programs.

Members discussed the need for clear criteria to determine what constitutes a program or service for purposes of program review. RAPP Tri-Chairs were asked to return to their constituents and share the Excel spreadsheet Tri-Chair Ly had provided. RAPP members were asked to return any feedback regarding programs by Monday, Oct. 26. Ly reminded the audience that the inventory of programs will be used to develop a staggered program review schedule of approximately 18–20 programs per year while also considering that new programs or services may be added on a continual basis.

Next Steps for Program Review List

·       RAPP representatives will circulate the updated inventory to their constituencies.

·       Members will submit additions, deletions, and corrections to the tri-chairs.

·       Questions about whether a program or service should complete a separate program review should first be discussed with the appropriate dean or supervisor.

·       Feedback is due October 26, 2026.

Program Review Feedback Loop and Process
 Tri-Chair Subramaniam presented a revised Program Review feedback loop diagram that included the relationships among RAPP, the Faculty Prioritization Committee (FPC), the Program Innovation and Vitality Optimization Team (PIVOT), the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), College Council, and finally the Office of the President.  He explained that programs may submit Program Reviews, faculty position requests, and budget augmentation requests to RAPP. RAPP will be responsible for providing feedback on Program Reviews and for communicating that feedback to the originating programs.

Faculty Prioritization Committee (FPC)
Subramaniam explained that faculty position requests will be submitted and forwarded to FPC, and RAPP will provide FPC with requests, college-wide priorities, relevant program review information, and the number of positions available for hiring. The FPC is expected to evaluate and rank requests and return its recommendations to RAPP, which will then forward them to College Council and the President for final decisions.

Members discussed the respective responsibilities of RAPP and the FPC, and clarified that the FPC is responsible for evaluating and ranking requests using the information, priorities, and criteria provided by RAPP. RAPP also noted that FPC representatives would be appointed through their respective processes, that the subcommittee’s membership may vary annually, and that FPC work would mainly occur during fall quarter.

Budget Advisory Committee (BAC)
RAPP discussed the relationship between RAPP and BAC, particularly their responsibilities for budget allocations and augmentations. Budget allocations are handled through the budget process and generally do not come to RAPP. Lottery funding allocations are based on existing allocations and available funding and these requests come to RAPP in consultation with BAC. Instructional equipment funding, per an agreement made in January 2026, goes to BAC. RAPP members recommended including instructional equipment funding in the feedback loop diagram.

Budget allocations generally become clearer during late summer or early fall, although projections are used to support operations beginning in July. Augmentation requests may be submitted throughout the year.

Program Review Process
RAPP was reminded that the proposed program review process was shared at the previous meeting. Both the process and the Program Review inventory are currently in circulation for constituency feedback. There are four separate Program Review templates being developed: Instruction, Student Services, Academic Support Services, and Equity and Engagement. The Tri-Chairs explained that feedback regarding the four templates is being collected through the respective divisions and constituency groups.

Next Steps for Program Review Discussion

• Further discussion of the proposed Program Review process was deferred to the upcoming meeting on Monday, Oct. 19th.
• The feedback loop diagram needs further revision.
• RAPP representatives will share the proposed process and the Program Review inventory spreadsheet with their constituents to ensure accuracy and will submit feedback by Oct. 26th.
• RAPP Tri-Chairs will provide an update regarding faculty hiring positions once additional information becomes available.

Good of the Order
RAPP was reminded of the District Town Hall, Community Supported: Designing the Future, scheduled for noon later that day, Oct. 12.

(Notes taken by AI; proofread and edited by tri-chairs)

Attendees: Ram Subramaniam, Lisa Ly, Veronica Acevedo Avila, Farhad Sabit, Michele LeBleu Burns, Manisha Karia, Mari Acob-Nash, Thomas Bailey, Debbie Lee, Adriana Garcia, Jamie Pelusi, Michelle Hernandez, Alisa Omeragic, Christina Wright, Mallory Newell, Glynn Wallis, Patricia Del Rio, Cecilia Hui, Ka Chun Wong, James Yoshida, Joy Kim, Erik Woodbury, Deepa Yuvaraj, Gabriela Nocito

Absent: Tim Shively, Kathy Nguyen

RAPP Voting Members: Ram Subramaniam, Lisa Ly, Veronica Acevedo Avila, Farhad Sabit, Michele LeBleu Burns, Manisha Karia, Mari Acob-Nash, Thomas Bailey, Patricia Del Rio, Debbie Lee, Adriana Garcia, Jamie Pelusi, Michelle Hernandez, Tim Shively, Cecilia Hui, Christina Wright, Glynn Wallis, Ka Chun Wong, James Yoshida, Kathy Nguyen, Joy Kim, Deepa Yuvaraj
 
RAPP Advisor: Alisa Omeragic