West Campus Faculty Senate Minutes

September 11, 2003

PRESENT:  Tom Byrnes (presiding), Gene Adams, Susie Forehand, Fran Frierson, Noelle Geiger, Nasser Hedayat, Shannon Hellard, Jean Henderson, Gloria Hines, Jim Johnson, Dan Kimble, Maryke Lee, Graeme Lindbeck, Terry Long, Stan Melnick, Boris Nguyen, Diane Orsini, Marilyn Santos, Bill Snider, Pat Woodberry for Susan Stone, Mary Sugeir, Russell Takashima

GUESTS:  Lisa Armour

CALL TO ORDER:  President Tom Byrnes called the meeting to order at 1:14 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Except for some minor typographical errors, the minutes were approved as submitted.

PROVOST’S REPORT: 

• Communication to Campus – Dr. Gastenveld is sending regular e-mails to all faculty and staff regarding the state of the campus (i.e., staff meeting minutes, landscaping update, LRC Redesign).
• LRC Redesign – She gave an overview of the redesign project for the West Campus LRC.  Karen Blondeau is the project director, and she will be meeting with staff and getting input from faculty regarding space utilization, furniture and audiovisual needs, and staffing.  We will also be looking at the type of learning leader that the LRC needs.
• Faculty Resource Center – Also in the LRC Redesign plan is the design of a Faculty Resource Center.  A faculty member will be temporarily assigned to be the liaison to faculty in regard to space, equipment, and staffing of the Center.
• Provost Communication Group – The first meeting will be September 17.  The group will include deans, provost’s staff, Bill White (OIT), Angelique Smith (TLC), Tom Byrnes and Maryke Lee (Faculty), Michal Ewing (Career Council), and Victor Collazo (Student Development).  The purpose of this group will be to get input from all campus areas for decision making and information sharing.  Dr. Gastenveld stated that one of the first things the Group will look at it is the PEC redesign.
• The renovations for Buildings 3 and 5 should start this summer and may also include the PEC redesign.
• The deans are working on their projections for faculty staffing for fiscal year 03/04.
• All full-time faculty are welcome to attend the Adjunct Reception being held Tuesday, September 16 from 5-7pm.
• Dr. Gastenveld thanked all who attended the Ice Cream Social on August 28.

ACTION ITEMS: 

Proposal to Create a Seat on the Senate for Adjunct and Four-Month Faculty:  Faculty discussed whether this position should be voting or non-voting.  Members noted that in the past there was a non-voting position for an adjunct or four-month faculty member.  The following motion was made by Stan Melnick:  The West Campus Faculty Senate will create a non-voting seat open to all non-tenure track faculty members (which will include temporary 10-month, 4-month, and adjuncts).  President Byrnes stated that a change to be by-laws can be made to include this position as a voting member.  The position will be put on the ballot in November.

Update on Faculty Compensation Committee:

The Faculty Compensation Forums will be held September 24-26.  The West Campus forum is Thursday, September 25 from 1-3pm in 1-154.  The consultants will be presenting their proposal at each meeting. (Copies of the proposal will be sent out by e-mail on Monday, September 22.)  A questionnaire will be sent out to faculty after the forum for comments.  The plan is for the proposal to be presented to the Board of Trustees in December (the task force will be able to give its reaction to the plan at that meeting), and they will vote on it at the February meeting.  The question was raised if retirement issues will be addressed at the forum, and Maryke Lee stated that she will find out and notify the Faculty Senate members.

Selection of At-Large Senator for the Faculty Association Board: 

Lisa Armour reminded members that the West Campus Faculty Senate has four representatives to the Faculty Association Board: the West Campus Faculty Senate President and Vice President and two at-large positions.  Those two positions are to be two-year staggered terms.  The at-large positions do not need to be senators.  Stan Melnick will continue in one at-large position for his second year, and another person will be appointed to the other at-large position.

Committee to Encourage Candidates for the Next Senate Elections:  Tom Byrnes and Terry Long were appointed to recruit senators will the upcoming term.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:

OIT Evaluation Discussion with Bill White:

Bill White stated that presently there is no formal evaluation of OIT by faculty.  He will create a college-wide evaluation tool and get back with President Byrnes.

Constitution Revision Update:  President Michael Shugg is working on revisions to the constitution.  He would like to have it completed and voted on by the end of the year.

Parking Update:  Tom Lopez was emailed a proposal for security to raise parking fines from $5.00 to $25.00.  The proposal has not been submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval.  The West Campus Faculty Senate fully supports the increase in parking fines.  President Byrnes will bring the issue up at College-wide Faculty Senate.

REPORTS/ISSUES BY DEPARTMENTAL AND AT-LARGE SENATORS:

• Gloria Hines reported that a new draft of the Award of Credit Procedures is available and should be distributed college-wide shortly.
• Gloria also gave a report on the enrollment statistics for the West Campus for Session 1.

ADJOURNMENT:

Meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

The next meeting will be October 9 at 1:00 p.m. in room 1-151.