Modesto Junior College s1

Modesto Junior College College Council Meeting Minutes November 8, 2010

Present: Mike Adams, Julie Berg, George Boodrookas, Jillian Daly, Rosanne Faughn, Wendy Griffiths-Bender, Gaither Loewenstein, Bob Nadell, Joan Van Kuren, Karen Walters Dunlap, Barbara Wells, Gary Whitfield, Sam Pierstorff (Faculty Consultant to the Board)

Absent: Adrienne Peek, Adam Webber (ASMJC)

Guests: Rose LaMont, Brian Sanders

Business

1. Review of Minutes

Action Item

The minutes of October 25, 2010 were accepted as written. Rosanne Faughn added a correction to the previously approved minutes of October 11, 2010 to include the Classified Staff Advisory Council, striking classified senate under the budget remarks.

2. Review of Agenda

There were no adjustments to the agenda.

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

3. Modesto Bee Opinions Article

Gaither Loewenstein distributed copies of the Opinions article Permanent Changes in ‘new’ economy, allowing members time to read. The article quotes a statement made by Stanislaus County Chief Executive Officer Rick Robinson at a board meeting: “Perhaps we should all consider an additional permanent 10 percent salary reduction as an alternative to layoffs.” The article mentions Mayor Jim Ridenour referring to a permanent adjustment to government revenue in his state of the city speech. The article states that city and county leaders have been heard mentioning a much more likely future than returning to normal, but rather, a “new normal.” The article asks should local, state and federal governments be merely pressing the “pause” button on spending, or is it time to hit “reset” and rethink how government agencies function?

Gaither stated that the thinking in this article is one of the reasons why he is talking about looking at the base, not just at new money. He cautioned that there is a notion that we are going to be able to restore everything back to the way it was and there may not be a lot of new money for a long, long time, if ever. Gaither pointed out that we really need to look at the money we have.

1 Jillian Daly added that the STRS rep board agrees that we are in a permanent downside. She asked where the college is in our full time faculty obligation? Gaither responded that he is told that we are okay and other colleges are not okay. Note: FON (Faculty Obligation Number) suspended for 10/11.

Gaither added that the economy is a permanent shift and we are going to treat it as such. He requested that members take the article back to their constituent groups and discuss.

4. Civility/Ethnics Discussion

Jillian Daly reminded members that one outcome of the PBC retreat was to choose four goals for the college to focus on for the year and civility was included in one of those goals. She referenced the Modesto City Schools article in the Bee (11/8/10 - B1) regarding their year-long civility campaign. Jillian asked what the plans were for our strategic goals and who should be in charge of civility and creating ideas.

Gaither Loewenstein informed members that he attended the kick-off event for the civility campaign and brought back bookmarks with the following twelve principles:

Modesto City Schools – 12 Principles of Civility

 Listen  Respect other people’s time  Don’t shift responsibility and blame  Accept and give praise  Respect others’ opinions  Acknowledge others  Speak kindly  Apologize sincerely  Refrain from idle complaints  Think the best  Accept and give constructive criticism  Don’t speak ill

Hidahl Elementary School (The “A” is this month’s focus at Hidahl Elementary)

H: Have respect for self and others I: Integrity D: Determination A: Always do your best H: Honest and responsible citizens L: Lifelong learners

Jillian suggested break-out sessions on Institute Day, seminars on Friday with Title V or asking authors of the book on civility to come and speak. She reported experiencing a big influx of phone calls when there are stress factors out there which could be addressed somehow. Gary Whitfield responded that the problem with those activities is it is hard to get the people to attend who really need it.

2 The publication, Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct was mentioned as a reference. Sam Pierstorff added that it is all just sort of lip service and for him, it is always perception and how do we really affect change. Gaither suggested attending some of Stanislaus County’s civility initiative activities. Rose LaMont suggested taking it to the division level to get IAC on board and there are a lot of creative people on campus who could come up with activities to do. Sam Pierstorff suggested an award for civility. Mike Adams suggested catching people at being good. Barbara Wells said that each department on campus could do an activity that works for them to promote civility on campus. Maybe make it a contest so it is individualized for units and something the group participates in.

Bob Nadell informed the group that he has a student services award that is passed around from person to person every two weeks, catching someone doing something good. An email goes out to everyone in Student Services saying what the person did.

Karen Walters Dunlap added that information can be sent out for how we are going to access our goals and have a reporting out and start tracking that information. Gaither suggested asking each group that does a program review to come up with a strategic activity for goal four and there will be a prize.

Sam Pierstorff stated that he likes the button or sticker idea for people as they are long lasting. Gaither suggested that Sherri Potts can help with the designing of buttons and Linda Hoile could receive nominations.

INSTRUCTION

5. Registration Procedure for Priority Registration Document - Revisit

Brian Sanders reminded members that the proposed change is when the student gets to 80 units, they start tapering off again in priority, and they do not drop off priority when they reach 100 units. Columbia College is fully supportive of this change and has ratified it. Karen Walters Dunlap pointed out that after College Council discussed this document last, Brian made some changes.

Brian clarified that this keeps the student having some priority until they reach 100 units. He added that the committee that looked at all the little details is bringing this recommendation forward as the current setup is hurting students in nursing, for instance, who accumulate a huge number of units. Wendy Griffiths-Bender responded that she is not comfortable with 80 units and thinks it should be 90 or 100 because classes are very hard to get right now. Jillian Daly asked why not do this and take a look at it in two years to determine if the 80 units should be beefed up a little. Brian Sanders responded: You would know because of students coming in to the office. A lot of data was looked at, some significant research done, and having looked at the data, 80 units was the place to go. This does open the door for other modifications down the road.

Action Item

There was thumbs up approval to recommend the registration procedure for priority registration changes to the President.

6. Civility/Ethics Discussion – Discussion Resumed 3 Gaither Loewenstein read Strategic Plan Goal 4 that pertains to civility:

GOAL 4: Leadership responsible for governance at MJC will create a climate that empowers all MJC employees to be engaged in the campus community and that encourages respect, trust and integrity through open communication and professional development.

Karen Walters Dunlap suggested rolling out a civility activity at Institute Day.

Sam Pierstorff will come up with two designs/slogans and send them to College Council in a week to vote on at the next College Council meeting.

Gaither Loewenstein will do a 2347 talk and reference initiatives for Goal 4 and the buttons at Institute Day.

7. Accreditation/Institutional Effectiveness (AIE) Committee Update

No report.

8. Enrollment

Karen Walters Dunlap reported that the college is 30% overall with science and math at 70% seats filled for Spring 2011 registration. Gaither added that course retention and successful completion is on the up rise and the numbers are encouraging.

9. Report from Institutional Effectiveness congruency with Mission Statement and SLOs

This item was tabled to the next meeting.

STUDENT SERVICES

10. No report

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

11. Planning & Budget Committee

Mike Adams reported that he thought the hiring prioritization hearing went very well and quite a few passionate people spoke for positions but did not fill up the whole time. Four or five more people’s testimony could have been heard. Planning & Budget members were there.

Gaither added: The hearing was interesting and he felt people took the hearing seriously. This is the first time the college has held a hearing and he thinks it will get more interest in the future. Members of PBC are digesting what they heard, looking at program review and discussing and taking action at the next meeting on November 19th. Gaither was encouraged by the process and overwhelmed by the need.

12. Measure E/Facilities/Capital Construction

4 Gary Whitfield reported that the High Tech Center went through value engineering and came in at a lower cost but is not totally agreed on yet. Needs that are still out there were discussed at the Facilities/Capital Construction meeting. Needs had to do with overage of the library and some other projects they wanted to shift the budget around in. The group is trying to find space on campus for those areas that have been leasing space. There was consensus at the meeting to take projected budget savings and infuse into other areas of need such as the Library, Student Center, art building, and the parking lot on Campus Way.

CONSTITUENT REPORTS

Academic Senate

Mike Adams reported having a Co-Exec meeting with Columbia sharing information and it was a pretty good meeting. There was a team building civility orientation exercise that worked pretty well and helped break through some of the issues at the November 4th Senate meeting. Later this week is the state plenary session. At the Senate retreat, there were a few fun things like the Instruction Office donated some books (Understanding by Design). Barbara Wells added that they are planning to have discussions and get the project going with very hands on activities to respond to.

Jillian Daly reported that YFA is very busy these days. Negotiations have begun and there have been several meetings. Table Talk will resume going out weekly regarding negotiations. She attended the CCCI conference for California independent unions to get together twice a year. There was good discussion about STRS and the budget. Those attending mainly share what they are doing in negotiations and it is good to hear the stories of everyone regarding bargaining. Jillian added that negotiations is a slow process but at some point of the process, things really speed up. She anticipated that the process would probably take a year. YFA and the Rep Council had a meeting and reviewed five of the self study standards for a very positive meeting. Their review is now done and the document moves back to the writers. The YFA retreat is normally a shared retreat of all the college leadership. This year it will take place in January and will be for faculty only. Jillian will have more information regarding the retreat as plans unfold.

Rosanne Faughn reported that CSEA is still in the middle of officer nominations for 2011. All officers are up for election. Jeff Swank has been appointed by the Association President to the State Education Committee for CSEA. Rosanne met with Judith Lanning and Ken Hart who came to the Exec meeting regarding Standard 4A. It was decided as an Exec Board to go ahead and look to all CSEA members for input to the working draft. She put it out to all classified about the district wide strategic goals. The budget base was discussed at the last meeting and discussions will continue. All those attending the meeting thought looking at the base is a good idea.

George Boodrookas reported a good discussion about program mapping. Adrienne Peek and Karen Walters Dunlap did a good overview of the process and how it might look. IAC talked

5 about taking it forward next week and doing a live simulation. There was one inquiry about how PBC would take information from the hearing. Student Services

Bob Nadell reported that Student Services is in the process of completing working drafts for accreditation. The selection process for Dean of Admissions & Records is almost complete with finalist interviews next week. He added that he is not as lucky with the other special programs position. He felt that the prioritization process might be able to be improved upon while it is fresh in the Student Services Council members’ minds. He is also working on some issues with ASMJC.

No report.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jillian Daly informed members that AIE is creating a cross walk to see that SLOs meet with the mission. Karen Walters Dunlap will check with Adrienne Peek regarding same.

Gaither Loewenstein reported that he attended the MJC choir concert, a youth music concert , the Pirates football game (the Pirates won), and athlete, Alejandro Garcia won the Norcal championship title in cross country.

FUTURE AGENDA

1. Report from Institutional Effectiveness congruency with mission statement and SLOs 2. Civility designs/slogans – Sam Pierstorff

ADJOURNMENT