West Campus Faculty Senate Minutes

January 8, 2004

PRESENT:  Maryke Lee (presiding), Jennifer Britton, Jim Johnson, Gloria Hines, Gene Adams, Dan Kimble, Terri Johnsen, Stan Melnick, Nasser Hedayat, Shannon Hellard, Randy Grosch, Brian Macon, Graeme Lindbeck, Marilyn Santos, Susan Stone, Russell Takashima, Mary Sugier, Jeff Wiltzius, George Dow, Susan Matthews, Terry Long

GUESTS: 

CALL TO ORDER:  President Maryke Lee called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  It was noted that the minutes should reflect the correct spelling of “Johnsen”.  Minutes approved as amended.

President Lee introduced the following newly appointed senators:  Jennifer Britton, Pamela Sandy, Terri Johnsen, Randy Grosch, Brian Macon, Lana Powell and Jeff Wiltzius

Tom Byrnes led the meeting that was dedicated solely to the topic of student harassment of faculty.  He introduced the following guests:  Stanley Stone, Vice President for Human Resources and Diversity; Tom Lopez, Director of Collegewide Security Services; Bill Mullowney, Vice President for Policy and General Counsel; Victor Collazo, Director of Student Development, West Campus; Kathy Hauser, Assistant to the Provost, West Campus; and Ty Johnson, Dean, Student Services, West Campus and Paula Gastenveld, Provost, West Campus.

Dr. Gastenveld started the meeting and asked that the discussion focus on relating to the college’s learning-centered goals.  She noted that a white paper will be developed that faculty can refer to in these types of situations.

Following are issues of concern and also suggestions for improvement:

• The types of students that bring forth concerns are grouped into 4 categories:  legitimate, non-threatening, accusatory, and vengeful.
• An “administrative firewall” was suggested so that students can be cut off if their first major concern isn’t found to be legitimate. 
• There should be record keeping for history on habitual complainers.
• Faculty should know that administration supports them in the classroom and that if they have difficulties with students they should go directly to their dean.
• The Provost’s office on each campus has a database of student complaints and they are able to monitor habitual complainers.
• New/adjunct faculty have more difficulty with harassment concerns because they don’t know who to call.
• Faculty orientation should cover student conduct policy and should include examples.
• Faculty should look at an issue when it first occurs and not wait until it has happened several times.
• Dr. Stone and Human Resources will develop a handout on procedures in dealing with harassment and will distribute to all faculty and staff collegewide.
• The nondiscrimination and equal opportunity policy was distributed and discussed.
• Students aren’t sophisticated in how to deal with getting their point across to a faculty member and that we should all teach students how to deal with difficult situations.
• Faculty should go directly to their dean if saying to a student “that behavior is unwelcome.”
• Student conduct policies are being reviewed at this time.
• Students put liable information about faculty on the Internet.
• Faculty were reminded not to close their office door when meeting with students.
• Cultural differences should be defined because certain gestures can be seen as aggressive when they are really not.
• County law enforcement officers are on campus 9am-3pm and 6-10pm when classes are in session.
• Files are kept on all student complaints that are received in the Provost’s office in writing.  The provost’s office has a database that lists students name and nature of complaint.
• Confidentiality laws prohibit the college from putting information regarding student conduct on the college database.
• Can a student be “cut off” if they make numerous complaints, that are unfounded, against numerous faculty members.  The college is required to address all student concerns no matter what the history of complaints is from the student.
• Sex offenders are denied enrollment and employment at the college.
• There should be a written policy on ‘How to address harassment”.
• What are the implications of being accused falsely?
• Student complaints do not go into the faculty member’s personnel file.
• Administration keeps all accusations confidential.
• Student conduct should be addressed on each syllabus and refer to the policy manual.
• Faculty should set the tone at the first class.
• Adjunct and tenure track faculty are afraid to bring complaints because they think it makes them look bad.  Deans need to make it clear that faculty should feel free to bring forth issues and deans will support them.
• It’s not who’s right or who’s wrong but how can we deal with this situation and how can we solve it.
• A behavior expectation sheet should be distributed to students at their orientation.
• HR should do a workshop for faculty.
• Always keep a paper trail on disciplinary actions.
• Be clear, consistent, fair, and timely.
• Students should sign a contract that they have read and understand the syllabus.
• Use your atlas e-mail account for access with students instead of giving out phone numbers.

Tom Byrnes expressed his appreciation for all who attended and reminded everyone that a white paper will be developed and distributed.

ADJOURNMENT:

Maryke Lee adjourned the meeting at 2:40 p.m.

The next meeting will be February 12 at 1:15 p.m. in Room 1-151.