Evergreen Valley College s3

E v e r g r e e n V a l l e y C o l l e g e Language Arts Division

NOTES OCTOBER 17, 2005 DIVISION MEETING

Kuni Hay, Interim Vice President of Instruction, attended the meeting. She shared her experience, her vision for fulfilling her responsibilities and her commitment to supporting faculty, students and the interests of the district.

ECCTYC Conference – Sravani Banerjee provided short summaries of several workshops she attended at the conference and offered faculty the opportunity to request copies of the handouts she received.

TYCA – Sterling shared information about a data bank recently created for two-year colleges. He also shared Without Wheels, a newly published edition of his poetry.

Representatives of the disciplines, programs and college standing committees gave reports. In an abbreviated format, the content of these reports is provided below.

1. English – SLO’s have been approved for Asian Literature, World Literature and Introduction to Shakespeare; a template is being developed for 62A on the course outline form; and the webpage is being revised and enhanced. 2. ESL – In an attempt to address decreasing enrollment, the faculty is considering scheduling courses in a more flexible format, offering the 340 level in fall 06, and revising and updating the lab program. 3. Reading – Efforts are being expended in developing new final exam prompts and in ensuring that the department is ready to serve all 102 students who will be required to take a .5 lab unit beginning spring 06. 4. Spanish – In September, Sara Jacome’s gave birth to a son, the newly approved credit by exam process was implemented successfully this fall, and Carmen and 20A students are creating a Dia de Los Muertos altar to be on display in the Mishra Community Room on 11/2. 5. AFFIRM – The program is going through significant changes with the resignation of Pat Perkins as chair and the maternity leave of Rochelle McDuffie. 6. ASPIRE – There are now 500 students in the program; a five-year anniversary celebration is planned for 10/20 that will include Kuni Hay, Japanese dancers and a comedian; and the poinsettia fundraiser will be held again this year. 7. Enlace – A Title V Cooperative grant was recently awarded to the program. It will provide approximately 3.5 million dollars to assist with the success and the transfer of Latino students to SJSU. 8. Honors - 110 students are enrolled in the program and 40 students are hoping to be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, a scholarship fundraiser and silent auction will take place on 11/21(donations are needed), and scholarship applications will be available in December. 9. Learning Communities – Faculty who are interested in attending a Collaborative Learning workshop scheduled for 10/28 at Mission College ( registration fee covered by the TLC), should contact Phuong Emily Banh. 10. Teaching and Learning Center/Staff Development - Several future activities are scheduled: Classroom Assessment Technique workshop on 10/2, study skills workshop on 10/25, online instruction workshop on 11/16 and future pizza and/or coffee sessions with the president. 11. Budget Committee – Because of the current, over budget estimate to construct the Performing Arts Complex, a sub committee has been created to discuss and recommend a revised approach; the Instructional Equipment funding should be arriving soon from the State. 12. Retention/Matriculation – If a college early alert system is not implemented, state funding could be lost. Suggestions about a user friendly check-off document as well as a non-threatening letter to students should be sent to Joe Shakarchi. 13. Curriculum – Course outlines for Vietnamese 1A and 1B were recently approved and course outline forms can be accessed online. Leticia Clark offered to provide due dates for the submission of new and revised course outlines and to serve as a resource when developing outlines. 14. College Technology – The committee is functioning well and is looking at the future of online and hybrid courses, forming a sub committee to do so, and wireless possibilities. 15. Facilities/Safety – The committee is participating in the discussion and decision making on the proposed Arts Complex.

Growth Initiative Funds. Proposals for the use of this one time funding were solicited. The ESL faculty espressed their need for funding to upgrade their lab program so that it is more innovative and includes state of the art technology. The Reading Department also conveyed a need to upgrade their lab program in light of requiring the lab component at two levels beginning spring 06. No other suggestions came forward but support for the two aforementioned requests was expressed. Faculty were asked to send any new proposals to Rita and to consider ideas for mini grants.

Other – Shelly Blackman agreed to work with ESL faculty to determine appropriate books on tape for their students. Sam Rohde presented a proposal to include the topic of civic responsibility into course curriculum.