Post on 24-May-2018
Academic Senate of
MERCED COLLEGE
3600 M Street, Merced, California 95348-2898
(209) 384-6331
TO: Academic Senators and Staff
Area 1, Cohort A Gabriel Cuarenta-Gallegos Stop #42 Area 5, Cohort A Martina Marquez-Ramirez Stop #46
Area 1, Cohort A Caroline Dawson Stop #42 Area 5, Cohort B Alana Perlin Stop #32
Area 1, Cohort B Carl Estrella Stop #42 Counseling Isabel Cambridge Stop #10
Area 1, Cohort B Edward Modafferi Stop #42 Counseling Enriqué Renteria Stop #12
Area 2, Cohort A Travis Hicks Stop #35 Los Banos Scott Coahran Stop #53
Area 2, Cohort B Pam Huntington Stop #34 Los Banos Dee Sigismond Stop #53
Area 2, Cohort B Keri Ortiz Stop #34 At Large Steve Clark Stop #12
Area 3, Cohort A Nikki Maddux Stop #38 At Large Megan Igo Stop #42
Area 3, Cohort A James Thornburgh Stop #38 At Large Mai Meidinger Stop #42
Area 3, Cohort B Jessica Casey Stop #33 At Large Gregory Soto Stop #19
Area 4, Cohort A Kitty Cazares Stop #37 Part-Time Faculty Kathleen Brantley-Gutierrez Stop #47
Area 4, Cohort A Wanda Schindler Stop #37 Part-Time Faculty Chris Gaugler Stop #35
Area 4, Cohort B Michelle Pecchenino Stop #24 LRC Dee Near Stop #47
Area 4, Cohort C David Noblett Stop #24 Curriculum Chair Myshel Pimentel Stop #34
Area 5, Cohort A Jeffrey Buechler Stop #35
IPRSLOAC Edward Modafferi Stop #42 Recorder Gabriela Garcia Stop #60
ASMC Mariah Gill Stop #55
CC: Chris Vitelli Stop #01 Joanne Schultz Stop #04
Brian Ellison Stop #06 Doug Kain Stop #42
Michael McCandless Stop #05 John Albano Stop #35
Jim Andersen Stop #38 Vince Piro Stop #34
Bobby Anderson Stop #37 Baba Adam Stop #60
Shelly Conner Stop #08 Arlis Bortner Stop #40
Brenda Latham Stop #53 Nancy Golz Stop #47
Angela Tos Stop #12 Sylvia Ruano Stop #10
Regina Coletto Stop #59 Raul Alcala Stop #12
Pamela Branch Stop #11 Patrick Mitchell Stop #42
FROM: Julie Clark (x6331)
SUBJECT: Academic Senate Meeting
DATE: Thursday April 20, 2017
ACADEMIC SENATE MEETING THURSDAY April 27, 2017; 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Student Union Meeting Room – 137 and Los Banos – A138
AGENDA: 1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA(An item may be pulled, but not added unless in compliance with Brown Act)
3. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF April 13, 2017 pg. 4-9
6. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEESA. Curriculum Committee – Myshel PimentelB. IPRSLOAC – Edward ModafferiC. FLEX – Gabriel Cuarenta-Gallegos and Mai MeidingerD. Student Success – Carl Estrella
7. SENATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Julie Clark
8. ACTION AGENDAA. Request for Sound Amplification, Merced College Students for Social Justice's First
Free Show in the Merced College Campus Amphitheater outside AdministrationBuilding April 28, 2017 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Mariah Gill
B. Request for Sound Amplification, Merced College Culture and Cuisine Event in theMerced College Campus Grass Quad area May 10, 2017 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. –Michelle Pecchenino
9. BUSINESSA. Information: Part-time of the Year Faculty Recognition – Julie ClarkB. 1st Reading: Resolution 9-16 Academic Senate Bylaws Annual Update and
Revisions – Julie Clark pg. 10-27 C. Discussion: Proposed New Merced College Mission Statement – Julie ClarkD. Nominations: New Executive Member and Elections Chair – Megan IgoE. Discussion: BP 4030 Academic Freedom Revisions – Brian Ellison pg. 28 F. Information: IEPI Indicators – Edward Modafferi
10. PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Chris Vitelli
11. STUDENT’S REPORT – Mariah Gill
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12. ANNOUNCEMENTS and OPEN FORUMA. AnnouncementsB. Call for agenda items on the next agenda Thursday, May 11, 2017.
Items are due Wednesday, May 3, 2017 by 5:00 p.m.
13. ADJOURNMENT
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Academic Senate of Merced College MINUTES
UNAPPROVED Thursday, April 13, 2017
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., SU-137
MEMBERS:
Area 1, Cohort A Gabriel Cuarenta-Gallegos Present Area 5, Cohort A Martina Marquez-Ramirez Absent
Area 1, Cohort A Caroline Dawson Present Area 5, Cohort B Alana Perlin Present
Area 1, Cohort B Carl Estrella Present Counseling Isabel Cambridge Present
Area 1, Cohort B Edward Modafferi Present Counseling Enriqué Renteria Present
Area 2, Cohort A Travis Hicks Present Los Banos Scott Coahran Present
Area 2, Cohort B Pam Huntington Absent Los Banos Dee Sigismond Present
Area 2, Cohort B Keri Ortiz Present At Large Steve Clark Present
Area 3, Cohort A Nikki Maddux Present At Large Megan Igo Present
Area 3, Cohort A James Thornburgh Absent At Large Mai Meidinger Present
Area 3, Cohort B Jessica Casey Present At Large Gregory Soto Present
Area 4, Cohort A Kitty Cazares Present Part-Time Faculty Kathleen Brantley-Gutierrez Absent
Area 4, Cohort A Wanda Schindler Present Part-Time Faculty Chris Gaugler Present
Area 4, Cohort B Michelle Pecchenino Present LRC Dee Near Present
Area 4, Cohort C David Noblett Present Curriculum Chair Myshel Pimentel Present
Area 5, Cohort A Jeffrey Buechler Present
STAFF:
IPRSLOAC Edward Modafferi Present Recorder Gabriela Garcia Present
ASMC Mariah Gill Present
GUESTS:
Chris Vitelli, Superintendent/President Michael McCandless, Interim VP of Student Services
Angela Tos, Dean of Student Services Regina Coletto, Acting Dean of Student Equity and Success
Donya Avila, Student Health Services Nurse Nancy Tapia, Public Health Department
Bobbi Jo Hogue, Student Karrie Bullock, Reference Librarian
1. CALL TO ORDERJulie Clark called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA (An item may be pulled, but not added unless in compliancewith Brown Act)
Approve the agenda.
M: S. Coahran S: K. Cazares Y: 25 N: 0 A: 0
3. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
GUESTS:
Jim Andersen Anne DiCarlo
Cameron Cowperthwaite Raul Alcala
Miriam Weikart Brenda Munoz
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4. PUBLIC COMMENTS Senators were asked to keep comments brief and to the point since today’s agenda is
very long.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF March 23, 2017 Correction: Change Jasmine Reeves-Thomas to Mariah Gill
Approve the minutes February 23, 2017, with minor corrections.
M: D. Near S: S. Coahran Y: 25 N: 0 A: 0
6. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
A. Curriculum Committee – Myshel Pimentel There are only two curriculum committee meetings left for this semester. The committee is
relooking at the program investigation procedure to clarify a few wording issues that don’t align with their practice. The 2+2 list needs to be updated, send any edits to Myshel Pimentel.
B. IPRSLOAC – Edward Modafferi
There won’t be a meeting this month due to spring break. The program review forms will be ready the week after spring break; it is the same format as last year’s form but with a slight change in the resource allocation section. There will be a training for the CATs in assessment procedures on May 19 at 2 pm. 99% of courses have been assessed in the last five years.
C. FLEX – Gabriel Cuarenta-Gallegos and Mai Meidinger
The FLEX coordinator positions still need to be filled; Brian Ellison is going to talk to Tracie Green and Chris Vitelli to see if they can come up with a solution. The next meeting will be after spring break; they will be discussion coordinator positions and the workshops for the fall.
D. Student Success – Carl Estrella
A reminder that Smart Thinking is available to all students; the most popular use has been essay writing and most popular time is 10 pm. The tutorial referral button is still in the testing stages; it is working well except that not as many students are going to the tutorial center for help as they had hoped. Training for high school counselors has started. BSSOT is coming along and are getting ready to open on campus in August.
7. SENATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Julie Clark
Part-time faculty will be honored at the next Senate meeting. College Council has been reviewing a lot of board policies and administration procedures including the CEO hiring one which has one more reading to go.
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8. Action Agenda A. Request for Sound Amplification, Merced College Poetry Slam in the Merced College
Campus Amphitheater outside Administration Building May 4, 2017 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Karrie Bullock The event is moving along and there are a lot of students interested in
participating.
Approve Sound Amplification on May 4, 2017
M: G. Soto S: C. Gaugler Y: 25 N: 0 A: 0
B. Resolution 4-17 Course Substitution Board Policy and Administrative
Procedure – Myshel Pimentel The only thing that has changed since it was brought to Senate in January is the
addition of the whereas about Academic Senate being able to make recommendations to policies and procedures and the addition of the counselor signature.
Approve Resolution 4-17
M: C. Estrella S: S. Coahran Y: 25 N: 0 A: 0
C. Resolution 6-17 Support of the Recommendation of 15 to Finish Task Force
Fall 2016 – Mai Meidinger Mai presented local data that supports 15 to Finish. She clarified that it is not a
policy change, it is just a recommendation. Discussion occurred about the concerns that people have regarding this program. After discussion, the resolution was approved by majority vote.
Approve Resolution 6-17
M: D. Near S: K. Cazares Y: 23 N: 2 S. Coahran D. Sigismond
A: 0
D. Resolution 7-17 AP 4240 Academic Renewal Revision – Enriqué Renteria
There are no known negative effects and doesn’t cost the district any money. Students are being rewarded for good behavior.
Approve Resolution 7-17
M: D. Near S: G. Soto Y: 25 N: 0 A: 0
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9. NEW BUSINESS A. 1st Reading: Request for Sound Amplification, Merced College Students for Social
Justice's First Free Show in the Merced College Campus Amphitheater outside Administration Building April 28, 2017 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Mariah Gill This event is to promote local artists and to bring some culture to Merced College.
B. 1st Reading: Request for Sound Amplification, Merced College Culture and Cuisine
Event in the Merced College Campus Grass Quad area May 10, 2017 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Michelle Pecchenino This will be the 7th year having this event. Don’t anticipate being loud, just some
announcements and soft music.
C. Discussion: Proposed New Merced College Mission Statement – Julie Clark The new mission statement will be a topic for discussion at today’s Educational
Master Planning Committee (EMPC) meeting so she wanted to get some feedback from the Academic Senate. Senators suggested adding something about diversity, lifelong learning and suggested a minor grammar
D. Information: BP/AP 3570 Smoking on Campus - Nancy Tapia and Donya Avila
Nancy Tapia from the Public Health Department talked about the details of the smoking policy including the enforcement and penalties. The policy will be in effect starting August 14. There will be support and sensation classes available.
E. Discussion: Adding Students on the Waitlist to the Learning Management System
(LMS) – Edward Modafferi A meeting to discuss this occurred and they are now working on the logistics of this
with the Office of Instruction. Senators were asked to send any concerns to Edward Modafferi or Julie Clark.
10. PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Chris Vitelli
The budget forum was recorded for those who were not able to attend. The college miscalculated the way restoration stability funding works which resulted in 1.87 million dollar deficit spending for this current year. Drastic measures have been taken in the last four weeks to close the gap as much as possible.
11. STUDENT’S REPORT – Mariah Gill
ASMC is having their officer elections for the upcoming year April 24 – 28. A group of students will be attending the spring general assembly for the Student Senate for California Community Colleges; they have drafted a resolution advocating for sanctuary campuses. The ASMC office is almost complete and once that is done they will be opening their food pantry which will be available to all students.
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12. ANNOUNCEMENTS and OPEN FORUM A. Announcements
Elections for the elections officer position will be coming up soon. There will be a poetry program in the library on April 25,, 2017.
B. Call for agenda items on the next agenda Thursday, April 27, 2017.
Items are due Wednesday, April 19, 2017 by 5:00 p.m. 13. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
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A B C D E F
Cohort 1A Gabriel Cuarenta-Gallegos Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 1A Caroline Dawson Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 1B Carl Estrella Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 1B Edward Modafferi Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 2A Travis Hicks Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 2B Pam Huntington
Cohort 2B Keri Ortiz Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 3A Nikki Maddux Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 3A James Thornburgh
Cohort 3B Jessica Casey Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 4A Kitty Cazares Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 4A Wanda Schindler Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 4B Michelle Pecchenino Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 4C David Noblett Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 5A Jeffrey Buechler Y Y Y Y Y Y
Cohort 5A Martina Marquez-Ramirez
Cohort 5B Alana Perlin Y Y Y Y Y Y
Counseling Isabel Cambridge Y Y Y Y Y Y
Counseling Enriqué Renteria Y Y Y Y Y Y
Los Banos Scott Coahran Y Y Y Y N Y
Los Banos Dee Sigismond Y Y Y Y N Y
At Large Steve Clark Y Y Y Y Y Y
At Large Megan Igo Y Y Y Y Y Y
At Large Mai Meidinger Y Y Y Y Y Y
At Large Gregory Soto Y Y Y Y Y Y
Part-Time Faculty Kathleen Brantley-Gutierrez
Part-Time Faculty Chris Gaugler Y Y Y Y Y Y
LRC Dee Near Y Y Y Y Y Y
Curriculum Chair Myshel Pimentel Y Y Y Y Y Y
A: Approval of Agenda.
B: Approval of Minutes 2017.03.23
C: Sound Amplification 2017.05.04 Y Yea
D: Resolution 4-17 N Nay
E: Resolution 6-17 A Abstain
F: Resolution 7-17 Absent
Voting Records Academic Senate
April 13, 2017
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Academic Senate of
MERCED COLLEGE
3600 M Street Merced, CA 95348-2898
Telephone (209) 384-6095
RESOLUTION
First Reading: April 27, 2017
Second Reading/Action (Date): May 11, 2017 Pass/Fail
RESOLUTION NO. 8-17
Subject: Annual Review of Academic Senate Bylaws
Mover: Julie Clark Division/Area: Area 1: Mathematics
Seconder: Edward Modafferi Division/Area: Area 2: Biology
Whereas, the Merced College Academic Senate bylaws call for a review of the constitution and
bylaws at least once per year; and
Whereas, the clarity of Academic Senate procedures is the reason for the annual review of the
constitution and bylaws.
Therefore be it resolved, that the Merced College Academic Senate adopt the revisions to the
bylaws that are presented in the revised draft of the bylaws attached to this resolution.
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Academic Senate of
MERCED COLLEGE
Bylaws to the Constitution
Definitions
Faculty:
"Faculty" means those employees of a community college who are employed in positions that are not
designated as supervisory or management for the purpose of Section 3540 of the California Government
Code, and for which minimum qualifications for hire have been specified in the regulations of the Board of
Governors, adopted pursuant to Section 87356 (a) of the California Education Code. Faculty are inclusive
of but not limited to professors, counselors, and librarians. Persons who do not meet the above definition
are not eligible for membership to the Academic Senate.
Full-Time Faculty:
Tenured and tenure-track faculty and temporary full-time faculty who are not classified as supervisory or
as management, have an assignment equivalent to 75 percent or more, or who have entered into a
written agreement with the District for a reduced workload that may be less than 75%.
Adjunct Faculty or Part-Time Faculty:
Faculty teaching no more than 67% percent of a full-time course load within the district. A full-time course
load in the Merced Community College District is defined as teaching 15 units of courses in the fall and
spring semesters for a total of 30 units in an academic school year.
I. Meetings
A. In accord with its stated purpose, the academic senate shall meet regularly to assume its
responsibilities.
B. General Meetings
1. Any of the following may place an item on the agenda of the senate by signed
written notice to the president of the senate seven (7) calendar days, at meeting
time (i.e. 11 AM), in advance of the meeting:
1. President of the college;
2. Any senator;
3. Two members of the academic community;
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4. Two members of the administrative staff;
5. Two members of the classified staff.
2. The agenda will be distributed to members of the senate, as well as publicly
posted, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. This is in accordance with the
Brown Act. (Brown Act, Chapter 4)
3. By mandate of the Brown Act, academic senate meetings are open to the
public, but only senators, their alternates or proxies may vote on senate
business.
C. Special Meeting
1. Special meetings of the senate may be called by the president, at his or her will
or by the written request of five senators of the academic senate, in accordance
with the Brown Act. The president shall call the senate into a meeting within three
school days of the receipt of the request.
1. The president shall send written communication of the special meeting
and post the agenda no less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.
D. Attendance
1. If a senator misses two regularly scheduled meetings per semester without
reasonable causes and without having provided for an alternate to replace
him/her at those meetings, he/she may be declared delinquent by the
constituency that elected the senator and the senate seat shall be declared
vacant.
2. The same constituency that elected the delinquent senator may, after the
declaration of the vacant seat, elect the replacement for the unexpired term.
E. Alternates
1. Alternates who substitute for absent senators shall be counted in determining the
quorum for each senate meeting.
2. An alternate shall inform the secretary for the senate of the name of the senator
for whom he/she is a substitute.
3. An alternate who substitutes for an absent senator shall have voting rights of that
senator. No last minute proxies will be used.
II. Elections
A. Past-president
1. At its last regular meeting of the spring semester, the senate shall confirm the
past-president who will begin or continue his/her term following the last May
meeting for one year.
2. The duties of past-president shall include substituting as president if the current
president is absent and mentoring the current president as needed.
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B. Curriculum chair
1. The curriculum chairperson must be a full-time faculty member;
2. The term for the curriculum chairperson is two years, in alternating years from
the senate president.
3. At its last regular meeting of the fall semester, the curriculum committee shall
elect the next curriculum chairperson.
4. The senate elections committee will solicit nominations from the cohorts from the
current or a past curriculum committee member for election as chairperson in
November for the December election.
5. The senate shall confirm the curriculum chair at its January meeting.
6. Should the position of the chairperson become vacant, the senate elections
committee will nominate a candidate to be elected at the next regular meeting.
C. President / President-elect
1. Immediately after installation of the senators-elect at the May meeting, the newly
constituted senate shall confirm its new officers by ballot under the supervision of
the elections committee of the president as past-president and of the president-
elect as president.
2. The president-elect must be a full-time tenured academic member.
3. On even numbered years, there will be reconfirmation of president and president-
elect.
4. On odd numbered years, the president-elect shall be confirmed as president by a
majority of ballots cast by the senators present. The results shall be immediately
announced.
5. If the president-elect is not confirmed by a majority vote within two ballots, the
elections committee shall present a new nominee for election at the next regular
meeting.
6. The committee shall solicit nominees for president-elect beginning October 1 of
odd numbered years.
7. The nominees shall be posted in the agenda prior to the meeting at least 72
hours before the election meeting.
8. At the last meeting in December of odd numbered years, the president-elect shall
be elected by a majority of ballots cast after nominations are presented by the
committee and other nominations are accepted from the floor. The results shall
be immediately announced.
9. If a nominee is not presented or elected in December, this is to become priority at
each meeting until a president-elect is elected.
10. The installation of officers is to take place as the last item on the agenda
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following the election/confirmation.
11. Any elected senate officer may be removed from office by 2/3 majority of the
senators present.
D. Elections chair
1. At the last meeting in December each year, the elections chair shall be elected
by ballot by a majority of the senators present.
E. Senators
1. For the purpose of senate representation, each academic member is assigned to
not more than one existing cohort or area as listed below in E2. The elections
chairperson shall consult the faculty assignments list that is updated annually by
the Office of Instruction to assist cohort leads in determining the number of
senators the cohort should have based on the guidelines given in the
constitution.
2. The election to fill unexpired terms of senators and alternates representing the
separate cohorts must be held before the December senate meeting. Cohorts to
be represented by senators shall be; Area 1 cohort A, Area 1 cohort B, Area 2
cohort A, Area 2 cohort B, Area 3 cohort A, Area 3 cohort B, Area 4 cohort A,
Area 4 cohort B/C, Area 5 cohort A, Area 5 cohort B, Area 5 cohort C, and Area
7, and Adjunct Faculty. The areas of Counseling and the Learning Resources
Center which have instructional courses, but whose primary tasks are outside of
instruction, will each retain their own representation based on the formula stated
in the constitution.
3. A senator may be recalled by their cohort or area if the cohort or area decides
that the senator is not adequately representing their constituency.
4. Cohorts and areas as listed in II.E.2 shall elect their allocated senators in an
election conducted by the faculty lead(s) or their designee. Faculty leads are
responsible for determining how many representatives the cohort or area should
have consistent with the constitution of this Academic Senate. Faculty leads
shall notify the elections chair of their cohort representatives 10 instructional days
prior to the first senate meeting of the academic year.
5. Two senators-at-large shall be elected from the full-time faculty before the last
December senate meeting, by a secret paper or electronic ballot of the full-time
and adjunct faculty. Nominations of senators-at-large shall be gathered by the
senate elections officer or by nominations from the floor of the senate by the
November senate meeting. A senator or alternate representing an area may not
be a senator-at-large. The top two vote getters shall be declared the elected
senators with the next two vote getters declared as the alternate senators-at-
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large.
6. Senators-elect shall meet with the incumbent senators at the last scheduled
meeting of the spring semester, during which meeting the senators-elect shall be
installed.
III. Procedures
A. All committee appointments made by the president of the senate shall subsequently be
reviewed by the senate, and the president of the senate shall take such action in regard
to these appointments as the senate may direct. Committee appointments to vice
president hiring committees shall require the president of the senate to consult with the
senate executive committee in order to determine appointments.
B. The names of a mover of a motion and its seconder shall be recorded in the minutes.
1. The senate shall have a secretary to keep the minutes and records for all senate
meetings the secretary may or may not be a faculty member.
2. If neither the president, past-president nor president-elect is able to attend a
board of trustees meeting, the president shall appoint a substitute representative
from among the members of the senate.
3. The President-elect or Past President will serve as the parliamentarian
4. In all proceedings of the senate not covered by its constitution or bylaws, the
senate shall be governed by the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
IV. Duties of Officers
A. President
1. Articulate at state senate meetings and with local educational groups on
academic and professional matters;
2. Represent the academic senate on the Merced College Curriculum Committee,
the College Council, Educational Master Planning Committee as co-chair, Budget
Committee as co-chair, Standing Accreditation Committee, Assessment Review
Committee and the Instructional Program Review and Student Learning
Outcomes Assessment Committee;
3. Articulate with the Merced College Vice President of Instruction on academic
matters;
4. Distribute information to faculty relating to academic and professional matters;
5. Attend Merced College board of trustees meetings, reviewing policies and
voicing senate concerns to the board and College Council;
6. Prepare the agenda for and preside at the general and special senate meetings,
including the executive board;
7. Appoint, administer, and coordinate standing and special senate committees;
8. Initiate and coordinate pertinent studies relating to academic and professional
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matters;
9. Supervise the work of the secretary of the academic senate;
10. Articulate with the Merced College Faculty Association (union) on matters of
common interest between the association and the senate;
11. Serve on or assign representatives to college committees, including screening
committees for new college staff;
12. Articulate with the vice-president of administrative services on matters of mutual
concern;
13. Articulate with the college president on senate matters;
14. Supervise publications of the senate;
15. Serve as vice-chairperson of the curriculum committee stepping in the absence
of the curriculum president;
16. At least six (6) units of reassigned time will be granted to the president for both
spring and fall semesters.
B. President-elect
1. Perform all duties of the current president when he/she is unable to perform the
duties of office.
2. Shall perform all duties assigned by the president.
3. At least three (3) units of reassigned time will be granted to the president-elect
for both spring and fall semesters the year directly preceding the beginning of
their term as president.
C. Curriculum chairperson
1. The chairperson shall plan the agenda for and preside at curriculum meetings.
2. The duties will include providing technical assistance on matters of curriculum,
training of curriculum committee members on regulations, presiding over regular
technical review sessions for assistance to academic and coordinating the
planning for Title 5 regulation changes with the office of instruction and office of
student services.
3. At least six (6) units of reassigned time will be granted to the chairperson for both
spring and fall semesters.
4. The curriculum chair is both a voting member and a member of the executive
board of the academic senate.
5. Appoint, administer, and coordinate subcommittees and task forces of the
curriculum committee;
6. The term of the chairperson will be two academic years, July 1 to June 30, on
alternating years of the senate president. The chairperson can serve a maximum
of two consecutive terms.
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D. Elections chairperson
1. The elections chair shall manage all elections concerning the academic senate.
2. The elections chair shall set the dates of elections in keeping with articles set
forth in these bylaws on elections.
3. The elections chair shall reserve the right to establish an elections committee
consisting of two members of the Academic Senate in addition to the elections
chair who chairs the committee.
4. The elections chair will solicit nominations for open positions in alignment with
the timeline set out in these bylaws.
5. The elections chair shall serve a term of one year with no restriction on
consecutive terms.
6. The chair shall notify areas of terms of senators and alternates (to expire at the
end of the academic year) by September 1 and shall receive the names of new
senators and alternates by the December meeting of the senate.
7. The chair shall supervise at-large elections of senators.
1. Nominations should be solicited beginning September 1.
2. Paper or electronic ballots should be distributed to all faculty by the first
week in December, and should be tallied in time to announce the results
at the December senate meeting.
8. The chair shall supervise the confirmation of the president and the election of the
president-elect as set forth under the article of these bylaws on elections.
9. The chair shall supervise the confirmation of the curriculum chairperson as set
forth under the article of the bylaws on elections.
10. The chair shall perform other electoral functions as directed by the president.
V. Standing Committees
A. Executive Committee
1. The executive committee shall consist of the senate president, president-elect or
past president, elections chair, one of the Instructional Program Review and
Student Learning Outcomes Assessment coordinators, curriculum chair and a
senator chosen by a vote of the senate.
2. The senate president shall serve as chairperson of the executive committee.
3. The executive committee shall have the power to meet and take provisional
action between the regularly scheduled meetings of the senate.
B. Student-Of-The-Month Committee
1. This committee shall select the student-of-the-month for September, October,
November, February, March, and April.
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a. The Student of the Month Coordinator will be appointed by the Academic
Senate President and affirmed by the senate for a two year term. The
Student of the Month Coordinator can serve consecutive terms.
b. Members of the Student of the Month Committee will be appointed by the
Academic Senate President. The committee should contain at least 5
members.
c. In order to qualify, a student shall be recommended by faculty, staff, or
administrator of Merced College, who shall fill out a recommendation
form. The nominate students will be asked to write a short
autobiographical essay. The student must be a current Merced College
student.
d. Upon receipt of the proper forms, the committee review the
recommendation forms and the academic record of the student.
e. After selecting the student-of-the-month, the committee shall notify the
student and coordinate any gifts and the parking permit. The coordinator
shall prepare the presentation of the student to the board of trustees, the
presentation of a certificate with the help of the president’s office, the
taking of the student’s photo and the publicity of the selection with on the
college website, Academic Senate, Classified Senate, college school
and local newspapers.
f. Students not chosen shall be kept on the active roster for selection
during the school year. If more than 10 students are nominated each
month, the lowest ranked students shall be deleted from the list.
g. The Student of the Month Coordinator will notify the Director of Student
Success of winners and updates for inclusion on the Student Success
Committee agenda.
2. The committee shall select the student-of-the-year.
a. The candidates for this honor shall be students chosen for student-of-
the-month.
b. The committee shall use existing materials for this selection.
c. The candidates must be current students at Merced College.
d. The committee shall coordinate the presentation of any certificates or
gifts, the presentation to the board of trustees, a photo to be displayed
on campus, and any publicity for school and local newspapers.
C. Constitution and Bylaws Committee
1. The senate president shall serve as chairperson of this committee and the
executive committee will serve as members.
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2. The committee shall meet as necessary and suggest amendments to the
constitution and bylaws to the senate for adoption.
a. The committee shall suggest amendments necessitated by changes in
senate policy adopted during a senate meeting.
b. The committee shall also suggest changes to keep the constitution and
bylaws up to date and to keep the articles consistent with themselves.
3. The committee shall present revised copies of the constitution and bylaws to the
senate whenever changes are adopted by the senate.
4. The committee shall provide each new incoming senator with a copy of the
constitution and bylaws.
5. The committee shall review the constitution and bylaws at least once per
academic year.
D. Student Success Committee
1. The Student Success Committee co-chair is recommended by the Student
Success Committee to the academic senate president and affirmed by the
senate.
2. The committee consists of representatives from the areas of instructional support
and student services working directly with students.
3. This committee oversees the Basic Skills/Student Success Initiative efforts on
campus as well as providing a place for shared planning for direct student
support from the instructional and student services areas.
4. The committee supports new projects for a limited time.
5. The committee uses the following criteria to fund new projects with the intention
of successful projects being institutionalized
a. Data driven (quantitative and qualitative)
b. Timeframe based on sound research practices up to 2 years
6. Recommendations made by the Student Success Committee will be forwarded to
the Academic Senate.
7. The committee will meet monthly during the academic year
E. Equivalency Committee
1. The equivalency committee consists of three faculty and two administrators.
2. This committee collaboratively works to develop, recommend and implement
hiring procedures and policies which will ensure the quality of faculty members.
3. Because equivalency is an academic area, and a subcommittee of the academic
senate, the academic senate supports that a faculty member on the committee
maintains chairmanship.
4. Once the governing board and the academic senate jointly agree upon policy and
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procedures for establishing equivalency, the governing board must rely primarily
on the advice of its academic senate for carrying out the process.
[Ed. Code §87359 (b)]
F. Curriculum Committee
1. The curriculum committee consists of one or more full-time, tenure-track faculty
member(s) from each instructional cohort or area as defined within the most
current Board approved organizational structure. The curriculum committee will
also include faculty membership from Counseling, the Learning Resources
Center, and the SLO Instructional Program Review and Student Learning
Outcomes Assessment Committee coordinator. In addition to representatives
from these cohorts and areas the Merced College Academic Senate President
will also serve as a member of the committee. All are designated as voting
members of the curriculum committee.
2. In addition to faculty, the curriculum committee also includes representation from
the Office of Instruction; the VP of Instruction and two Area Deans, as well as the
Articulation Coordinator, Matriculation Coordinator, and Noncredit Coordinator,
and a representative from ASMC. All are designated as voting members of the
curriculum committee.
3. The curriculum committee may also include a full-time, tenure-track faculty
member from any Merced College Community District “off site center” designated
by the faculty of that center. Such members are designated as non-voting
members of the curriculum committee.
4. The curriculum committee also includes several staff members including the
institutional researcher, instructional services technician, a representative from
admissions and records, and a secretary. All are designated as non voting
members of the curriculum committee.
5. Each voting member represents a vote for all actions taken regarding the
updating of curriculum.
6. Cohorts and areas as listed in V.G.1 shall select their representative from among
their cohort or area faculty. It is the responsibility of each cohort or area to
replace their representative if the current representative is no longer able to be a
part of the committee.
7. Each representative should serve as a liaison between their respective areas and
the curriculum committee. This includes making colleagues aware of any Title 5
changes.
8. The curriculum chairperson will serve as a liaison between curriculum committee
and the academic senate.
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9. “the Governing Board shall . . .ensure. . .the right of academic senates to assume
primary responsibility for making recommendation in the areas of curriculum and
academic standards.”(Title 5: 53203)
G. Academic Exceptions Committee
1. Academic Exceptions Committee approves or denies requests made by students
through a petition process.
2. The Chairperson is appointed by the Academic Senate President.
3. The Committee consists of three faculty members representing the Guidance
Area, at least two faculty members representing instructional areas, a faculty
member to represent military veteran students, and the Dean of Student
Services. It is suggested that of the three faculty members representing the
Guidance Area, at least one be from Disabled Student Services. It is also
suggested that the instructional faculty include representatives from the math and
English cohorts. The Dean of Student Services is a non-voting member since
he/she considers student appeals regarding petition outcomes.
4. The petition process is as follows:
a. Student completes the appropriate petition based on request:
Academic Renewal
Course Repeat
General Petition
b. Student submit petition to Admissions & Records where a copy of the
student’s transcript is attached. Petitions are given to Chairperson of the
Academic Exceptions Committee.
c. The Chairperson approves or denies petitions by investigating the
student’s claim, using faculty, Title 5, Board Policy and Administrative
Procedures as resources. When needed, students are asked to supply
documentation to support their requests. If a student’s request is not one
which can be approved or denied by referencing normal resources, the
Academic Exceptions Committee is convened. The petitions are shared
with the members, and after an initial vote, there is discussion and then a
final vote is taken. A simple majority will determine the outcome.
d. Petitions are duplicate forms. Once acted upon, the white copy is
scanned into the student record using the imaging system. The yellow
copy of the form is mailed to the student.
e. If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the Academic Exceptions
Committee and/or the Chairperson, they are directed to the Dean of
Student Services who can revise the original decision to approve or deny
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the student’s request.
f.
H. Flex Peer Review Committee
1. The mission of the Flex Peer Review Committee is to fairly and accurately
determine, based on the guidelines set forth by Title 5, the Chancellor’s Office,
and the Merced College Academic Senate, whether or not activities submitted by
an individual faculty member has met the intent of the program.
2. The Flex Peer Review Committee should consist of at least two members per
cohort, voted on by the cohort, but no more than three members per cohort to
allow for sufficient discussion among like discipline colleagues at the same time
not allowing for the committee to be too heavily weighted in any specific area.
Committee members should serve a term of two consecutive years with no
restrictions on consecutive terms.
3. The Flex Peer Review Committee Coordinator(s) is/are chosen by the active
committee members and the selection is ratified through the Merced College
Academic Senate.The flex coordinator(s) should serve a term of 2 consecutive
years and can remain as coordinator(s) after a two year term completes for
additional two year term if mutually agreed upon by themselves and the
committee. The flex coordinator(s) duties include, but are not limited to the
following:
a. Scheduling and running of monthly flex peer review committee meetings
b. Keeping flex website current
c. Attending adjunct and new faculty orientations to acquaint the members
with the flexible calendar program
d. Giving flex updates at convocation and at Academic Senate meetings as
necessary
e. Working with Staff Development Committee on flex day workshops
f. Completing the end of the year flex reports to submit to Chancellor’s
office
g. Attending flex webinars presented by the Chancellor’s office
h. Updating flex forms as necessary
i. Receiving flex forms submitted by faculty which includes:
1. Delivering them to appropriate committee members for
evaluation
2. Contacting individual faculty members for clarification of
submitted activities
3. Acting as a liaison between the committee and individual faculty
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members
4. Collecting and checking off required activity documentation
5. Working with Marilyn White and Toni McCall to record
submissions
4. The specific goals and objectives of the committee are to serve as an available
resource to assist faculty in completing their individual Flex/Staff Development
Obligation. Meet regularly to review individual faculty members Flex/Staff
Development proposals. Recommend any necessary modifications in the
individual faculty members Flex/Staff Development proposal to align with
approved activities. Work with the Staff Development Committee in designing
Flex Day Workshops
5. Faculty members have a right to appeal the decision of members of the
committee to deny specific activities. In order to appeal, the individual faculty
member should specify in writing within two weeks of the decision why he/she
feels that the specific activity should be approved. The flex form and the written
appeal will be reviewed by the entire flex peer review committee. After a group
discussion, all committee members except for the coordinator will vote, with the
majority deciding. In the event of a tie, the coordinator will cast the deciding vote.
I. Distance Education Committee
1. The Distance Education Subcommittee acts under the direction of the Merced
College Academic Senate as a subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee to
support faculty and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on all
instructional matters regarding distance education at Merced College.
2. The voting members of the Distance Education Committee will be comprised of:
a. One faculty member will be elected from each cohort offering Distance
Education classes. The faculty member will have a 2 year term at the
end of which the cohort will hold another election. If the member can no
longer attend meetings before their 2 year term is done then the cohort
will elect another member to replace them. All election results shall be
reported to the Curriculum Chair. It is recommended that the faculty
chosen to serve on the committee be experienced in teaching Distance
Education Classes. One of these elected faculty members will be elected
by the subcommittee to serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson will have
a 2 year term at the end of which the subcommittee will hold another
election. Offering distance education courses is not contingent upon
cohort representation on the Distance Education Committee
b. One (1) administration representative appointed by the Curriculum
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Committee Chair in consultation with the Vice President of Instruction
and the approval of the academic senate;
c. One (1) Learning Resources Center representative appointed by the
Curriculum Committee Chair in consultation with the LRC director and
the approval of the academic senate;
d. The Educational Technology Analyst (or Equivalent) responsible for
supporting the Learning Management System (LMS) used by distance
education faculty
3. Non-voting members of the Distance Education Committee will be others invited
as resource persons, ex-officio members, and consultants at the request of the
Curriculum Committee Chair. These individuals would be non-voting members.
4. The subcommittee will upon request act to:
a. Review distance education courses submitted by the chair for adherence
to board policy on regular and effective contact, and any additional
information relevant to distance education
b. serve as an available resource to assist new faculty who wish to offer
course sections via distance education;
c. recommend training and development proposals for both new and
experienced professors as deemed necessary;
d. evaluate and propose procedures to ensure compliance with established
Course Outline of Record, in accordance with current on regulations from
the Chancellor’s Office and recommendations from the Academic Senate
of California’s Community Colleges;
e. examine potential distance education learning models and technologies,
and offer pedagogical insight to any curriculum uses of newly purchased
or proposed technologies;
f. work through established protocols to assign one subcommittee member
to serve on the Instructional Master Planning Committee and any other
technology committee or task force related to distance education to
represent the faculty interests in distance education;
g. Accept and respond to special requests from the Academic Senate or
Curriculum Committee regarding distance education issues;
5. The subcommittee will forward findings and recommendations to the Curriculum
Committee monthly for action and/or recommendations to the Academic Senate.
6. The chair of the Distance Education Subcommittee (in consultation with the
subcommittee) will review all distance education courses submitted to the
Curriculum Committee as a part of the separate approval process via review
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status in CurricUNET.
J. Instructional Program Review and Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee
1. The Instructional Program Review and Student Learning Outcomes Assessment
Committee (IPRSLOAC) is a faculty-driven committee existing for the facilitation
of improvement in all instructional programs and services at Merced College.
IPRSLOAC, in conjunction with the Instructional Master Planning Committee
(IMPC), solicits and provides support for evidence-based documentation from
instructional programs and courses to assess effectiveness and identify areas for
improvement which may lead to requests for financial resources.
2. IPRSLOAC operates as a subcommittee of the Merced College Academic
Senate
3. To accomplish its mission, IPRSLOAC works in collaboration with instructional
area faculty and staff in the completion of program reviews and student learning
outcomes assessment by:
a. establishing a systematic process for collecting, analyzing, and
interpreting data concerning instruction and instructional support;
b. providing support and training for the IPR and SLO process to faculty
and staff;
c. evaluating program reviews for completeness;
d. supporting the completion of yearly and multi-year assessment plans by
cohorts;
e. establishing completion of SLO assessment reports, and notifying
cohorts of uncompleted program reviews and SLO assessments through
the cohort representative.
f. forwarding completed IPRs to IMPC for evaluation, prioritization and
further dissemination.
4. The membership consists of:
a. Faculty Cohort Assessment Trainers (CATs) plus a faculty representative
from Counseling and the Library
b. Non-Credit representative (1)
c. Senate President
d. IPR/SLO Coordinator(s) (chair(s))
e. Advisory members invited as needed: Researcher (1), and Directors (3)
[Library, Counseling, Student Success]
5. The membership of IPRSLOAC is designed to provide support to cohorts in
completing program review and student learning outcomes assessment. The
committee is co-chaired by the SLO Coordinator(s), Program Review
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Coordinator(s) and/or Faculty Program Review Data Facilitator. Release time will
be split among the coordinators in a manner mutually agreed upon by the
coordinators and Vice President of Instruction. At least one co-chair will serve a
non-voting, advisory role to the Senate.
6. Duties of the co-chairs include but are not limited to:
a. Document instructional program reviews and course SLO assessment
reports
b. Coordinate a yearly calendar of workshops with a wide variety of topics
on outcomes assessment.
c. Facilitate production of the IPRSLOAC newsletter.
d. Provide training as needed to the CATS and deans to keep faculty
abreast of current assessment information and best practice findings
e. Work with area deans to write annual reports summarizing all program
reviews under their purview for IMPC.
f. Attend trainings to keep abreast of current assessment information as
well as to share and glean best practice ideas.
g. Work closely with the SLO resource personnel to coordinate and
facilitate all assessment documentation as needed.
h. Assist in the training of faculty in the use of appropriate software as they
pertain to program review and course SLO assessment.
7. IPRSLOAC establishes its timeline for completing Instructional Program Review
to coincide with the EMPC timeline. Educational sessions for faculty and staff
are established and offered to assist in Instructional Program Review and
Student Learning Outcomes assessment completion. Simultaneously, CATs are
available for one-on-one assistance.
8. The committee will support efforts that encourage cohorts to have assessment
plans that are updated yearly and that plans are carried out.
9. IPRSLOAC reports its actions to the Academic Senate and the Curriculum
Committee through the IPR/SLO Coordinator(s).
10. IPRSLOAC is responsible for evaluating its effectiveness and making appropriate
changes to improve the process, in the following ways:
a. Reviews and updates its systematic process for collecting, analyzing and
interpreting data concerning instruction and instructional support;
b. Offers IPR training events during the year;
c. Offers SLO training events during the year;
d. Evaluates training effectiveness;
e. Documents individual and group meetings to provide support for IPR and
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SLO completion;
f. Evaluates the number of completed IPRs and SLO assessments meeting
the established guidelines and ensures the IPRs are forwarded to IMPC
RATIFICATION RECORD
Adopted by Academic Senate September 27, 1979
Revised by Academic Senate September 17, 1981
Revised by Academic Senate April 28, 1988
Ratified by Board of Trustees August 16, 1988
Revised by Academic Senate October 6, 1994
Revised by Academic Senate May 1, 1997
Revised by Academic Senate February 5, 1998
Revised by Academic Senate February 14, 2008
Revised by Academic Senate April 24, 2008
Revised by Academic Senate May 10, 2012
Revised by Academic Senate May 9, 2013
Revised by Academic Senate May 8, 2014
Revised by Academic Senate May 14, 2015
Revised by Academic Senate May 12, 2016
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Book Board Policies
Section 4000 - Academic Affairs
Title Copy of Academic Freedom
Number 4030
Status Up For Revision
Legal ACCJC Accreditation Eligibility Requirement 20
Title 5 Section 51023
ACCJC Accreditation Standard I.C.7
Adopted August 6, 2002
Since the vitality of a society is energized and sustained by ideas, and since the nature of a college involves the examination and discussion of those ideas, a policy of academic freedom protecting such free examination and expression historically has been deemed necessary.
To this end, the Merced Community College District is committed to free discussion and open inquiry. We recognize that the freedom to think, to read, to speak, and to question is necessary for the development of an informed citizenry.
This freedom shall be integral to the philosophy of this District and is guaranteed to students, faculty, administration, and staff. This freedom is both a right and a responsibility. As a right, it assures unimpeded research, study, and inquiry. It also assures the right to free expression in both public and private settings, including the right to disagree.
As a responsibility, it obligates members of the college community to present, discuss, and interpret ideas, knowledgeably, fairly and objectively, with openness to the ideas of others, with the intention to stimulate independent thinking, and with sensitivity to the special situations of students.
To ensure these principles of intellectual freedom, the administration and the Board of Trustees will demonstrate their support by actively working to foster this freedom.
Last Modified by Kathy Grossi on March 29, 2017
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