Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges is consistent in its unflagging efforts for student success for all students and has a long-standing tradition of support for underrepresented minority students in the State of California;
Whereas, Each community college's support of the psychological health of every student in the California community colleges is important;
Whereas, California's fiscal crisis requires active lobbying and thus an active presence in Sacramento to protect and promote interests vital to California Community Colleges;
Whereas, The Academic Senate currently holds its plenary sessions in varying locations throughout the state; and
Whereas, Meeting facilities in Sacramento are now adequate to host a plenary session;
Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges consider the viability of holding Spring Plenary Sessions in Sacramento when they occur in Northern California.
Whereas, Curriculum committee chairs and members frequently encounter questions regarding curriculum regulations and procedures for which they do not have ready answers;
Whereas, A “frequently asked questions” reference or other similar document would prove a valuable tool for curriculum committees in addressing such questions or issues;
Whereas, A formally developed reference document will present more consistent and detailed responses to inquiries from curriculum chairs than replies made on an individual basis; and
Whereas, Full-time faculty are vital to the health and development of programs both credit and noncredit, providing the dedication and expertise needed for ongoing curriculum development, outreach, support for students, and collaboration with other departments and college areas and in college governance;
Whereas, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges supports quality student assessment and evaluation;
Whereas, Online grading and assessment standards and faculty responsibilities should be the same as face-to-face courses;
Whereas, West Hills College District outsourced online course grading and assessment through Forbes Edumetry without academic senate involvement; and
Whereas, The privacy of grading and assessment is the sole responsibility of the instructor of record;
Whereas, Title 5 55219 requires that colleges/districts annually provide information regarding courses offered via distance education to their local governing boards and to the System Office;
Whereas, The survey the System Office created for the collection of such information generates data of limited utility for system planning with regards to distance education efforts;
Whereas, The effective delivery of distance education and the evaluation of current efforts is an academic and professional matter; and
Whereas, There is an increasing need to educate high school drop-outs and under-prepared adults who do not have a high school diploma, to provide opportunities to gain a high school diploma or equivalent and current discussion about changes in Title 5 language suggests that the community college noncredit high school diploma programs be mandated to give the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) as a requirement for a diploma;
Whereas, The noncredit apportionment rate will be increased in 2006-2007 for courses that meet the SB 361 (2006) criteria for "career development and college preparation" and are intended to support noncredit programs and instruction, and these noncredit funding augmentations are new, ongoing general fund monies that Districts receive from the state;
Whereas, Workforce preparation is one of the missions of California community colleges;
Whereas, The Economic and Workforce Development Program (EWDP) is a pivotal organization for the development of new curriculum and programs;
Whereas, Faculty participate in EWDP minimally, as advisory board members; and
Whereas, The faculty expertise (via the Academic Senate) is an underused resource that could serve as a statewide liaison between the faculty and EWDP;
Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has long opposed mandatory student fees;
Whereas, Good health is a vital prerequisite to student success, but on-campus health services are experiencing a fiscal crisis; and
Whereas, There is a current legislative proposal to eliminate the health fee waiver for low-income students;