Tuesday, August 26, 2008
11:15-12:35 p.m. Business Building Room 144
I. Call
to Order
II. Public Comments:
III. Action
Items:
1.
Approval of
the Minutes for May 27, 2008
http://homepage.smc.edu/randall_toni/Eng%20I/Acad_Sen_Minutes_06_07/AS_Minutes_5_27_08.doc
2. Proposed
Academic Senate By-Law Changes – Third
3. Adoption of 2008-09 Senate Goals and Objectives, Senate Executive Committee
4. Adoption
of Best Practices for Teaching Document
– First
5. Confirmation of Presidential Appointments – DPAC Subcommittees, Hiring Committees, and Task Forces
IV. Information Items:
1.
President's
Report – Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein
a.
Report on Academic Senate Dues
b.
2008-09 Senate Committee Assignments and Membership
c. DPAC Report
d. District Modernization Bond Measure AA Update – November 4, 2008
e. Senate Roster/Members/Attendance
f. Full Time Faculty Hiring Ranking Committee and Matrix
V.
Old
Business Discussion:
VI. New Business Discussion:
1. Academic Dishonesty
VII.
Announcements
VIII.
Adjournment
Next Scheduled
Meeting: September 9, 2008 __________________________________________________________________
Action Item Subject 02 – Proposed Election By law
Changes – Third
Section 4. Conduct of Senate
Elections
- The Elections and
Rules committee shall solicit nominations to the Senate
four (4) weeksprior to a general election. The Elections and Rules committee will accept nominations for a period of two (2) weeks or ten (10) business days.
- Each electoral
area will nominate persons from their area under the supervision of the
Elections and Rules committee. An electoral area may conduct its own
elections.
3. The Elections and Rules committee will
verify the eligibility of the nominees and then forward the names of the
nominees of each electoral area to the specific electoral area faculty and the
Senate at large.
4. Within a reasonable time following the
nomination period, the Elections and Rules committee shall submit ballots
with the names of nominees of each electoral area to its own faculty members
for election to the Senate.
- Email
will be utilized to distribute ballots and/or other technologies may be
utilized with the approval of the Senate.
A web-based voting system may be used. If a web-based system is used, no ballot validation
rules shall be established.
At an individual faculty member’s request, a paper ballot may be
used.
- At least one (1)
week or five (5) business days will be allocated for collection of marked
ballots.
- A
cutoff time will be set and stated clearly in the emails for all ballots
by the Elections and Rules committee. All votes received after the
posted cutoff time will not be counted.
- Ballots shall be designed so that voters can choose to abstain
on any or all offices and/or questions.
- Ballots shall be designed so that once cast, ballots cannot be
changed.
- Naming or identifying voters and/or non voters is prohibited.
5. If there
are no nominations for an election within an electoral area, the nominations
period for that area will be extended. No election in that area will occur if
there are no subsequent nominations.
6. Elections
to the Senate shall be held by secret ballot prior to the close of the third
week in April if possible and the Elections and Rules committee shall report
the results of the election to the entire college faculty.
7. Both
real vote totals and percentage-of-votes cast shall be reported via campus
e-mail and will be posted in the college mailroom.
8. Election
shall require a majority of votes cast.
9. In the
event of a tie or no majority, the Elections and Rules committee shall conduct
a run-off election.
10. Newly
elected Senators shall be seated at the close of the spring semester.
11. Elections
to fill vacancies shall be held when required except where otherwise specified.
12. In the
event of a challenge to an election result, the Executive committee shall be
the sole judge of the election results.
13. Ballot totals shall be kept on file in the Senate office for one (1)
year.
______________________________________________________
Action Item Subject 04 – Adoption of Best Practices for Teaching Document –
First
BEST PRACTICES for TEACHING PERC DRAFT: 052008
Most of these are recommended guidelines or ideals, not contractually required. These
are some of the ways that
1. MANAGE COURSE
MECHANICS
1.1 Provide a comprehensive syllabus and refer repeatedly to it; see Model Syllabus: [http://www.smc.edu/apps/pub.asp?Q=1639&B=3]
2. COURSE MATERIALS
2.1 Be conscious of pricing when selecting materials.
2.2 Follow all copyright regulations when constructing Course Packets or giving handouts.
3. COMMUNICATION/INTERACTION
3.1 Try to learn and use students’ names.
3.2 Be conscious of your speaking voice (volume, tone, speed of delivery, accent, etc.).
3.3 Present an accurate agenda at the beginning of each class.
3.4 Take your time. Balance the need to cover all the material against the need to allow time for thoughtful reflection and deliberation.
3.5 Explain each assignment carefully; set logical and firm deadlines; repeat due dates.
3.6 Emphasize continuity in assignments; explain relations between various components of the course.
3.7 Communicate high expectations; set an atmosphere of academic integrity by calling attention to the Student Code of Conduct and the Honor Code; announce your policy on cheating.
3.8 Encourage active learning and student interactivity: collaborative activity, group work on problem-based activities, etc. Discuss what is acceptable group-work and what is cheating.
3.9 Provide on-line resources to stimulate curiosity and enhance learning.
3.10 Use the resources of eCompanion.
4. GRADING / STUDENT FEEDBACK
4.1 Clearly delineate
the weight of each assignment or assessment, your grading criteria and
department-defined learning outcomes.
4.2 Use a variety of assessment tools since students exhibit their mastery in different ways.
4.3 Consistently provide plenty of timely, constructive, and quality feedback.
4.4 Consider using the Early Alert System for students who are struggling.
Step-by-step
instructions on how to conduct the student Early Alert evaluation for your
classes may be accessed at the websites below. You will need your college login
and password (i.e., your email login):
PDF
Format: http://www.smc.edu/Projects/226/Faculty_Documents/EA_Instructor_Instructions.pdf
PowerPoint Format: http://www.smc.edu/Projects/226/Faculty_Documents/EA_Instructor_Instructions.ppt
4.5 Require class
participation and incorporate it into student evaluation / grading.
(Note: Attendance per se may not be made part of the course grade.)
4.6 Use available anti-plagiarism resources (Google, turnitin.com, EVE).
4.7 Keep accurate records for one year after the course ends.
5. BE CONSCIOUS OF / RESPECT DIFFERENT LEARNING
STYLES / SPECIAL NEEDS
5.1 Use a variety of activity types, learning communities, etc.
5.2 Be sensitive to the diversity of students’ cultural contexts and backgrounds. International students my need “time and space” to participate effectively in class.
5.3 Announce willingness to accommodate those with disabilities.
5.4 Use the resources of the Center for Students with Disabilities: http://www.smc.edu/disabledstudent/
6. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
6.1 Keep current with developments in your field
7. CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT
7.1 Participate in the Academic Senate (serve on a committee) or the Faculty Association
7.2 Participate in student activities and attend campus events
7.3 Mentor students; Be an advisor to a student club
A useful resource is Chickering & Gamson: Seven Principles of Good Practice in Under-graduate Education: http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/7princip.htm
Drafted by the Professional Ethics and Responsibilities Committee (draft 052008)