Faculty Senate Meeting  Minutes
 February 20, 2002

 Present:

 Phil Droke, President

 Michael Cicero

Han Lim

Maggie Brown

Glen Avantaggio

Jean Harris

Helen Burn

Bob Bonner

Rebecca Sliger

Jeff Wagnitz

Judy Johnson-Wise

 Agenda:  1.  Grade changes;  time limits

                  2.  Grade changes – second quarter

 1.      Minutes will be e mailed to all faculty senate members for corrections.

 2.      Members discussed the issue of grade change and time limitations.  The business division has a one year limit on grade changes.   However, need for a grade change might go unnoticed.  For example,  Divisions who use several adjunct faculty might have more problems with grade errors not being noticed until much later on.  An exception could always be addressed where a grade change is needed.  Taking this issue back to the Divisions for discussion with subsequent decisions as to 1, 2 or 3 year limits for grade changes would ensure input from all parts of the faculty. The distinction between grade changes and incomplete grades was noted as were clerical errors. 

 Dr. Gwen Spencer shared statutes of limitations where grade changes were concerned by submitting two papers on the subject, taken from two and four year colleges and universities around Washington State.  She noted that Highline Community College was very different on this issue.     

 Faculty members discussed the several reasons why students would want a grade changed, ie, clerical error, alleged discrimination, belief that grading criteria were not spelled out in syllabus. 

 MOTION;  It was moved and seconded that the statute of limitations for grade changes be one year.  Proviso;  mistakes where grade changes are concerned could be corrected over a longer time period.

 Report on Olympia  meeting – Faculty Association of Community and Technical Colleges.

      Phil Droke reported that there is misalignment of testing between high schools and community colleges.  The State Board/Public Schools want our expectations to match  theirs. 

      The WASL test is not used as a placement test for the Running Start program.  This is a 10^th grade completion test.  Also there is the matter of tuition payment that is related to these testing issues.

 3.      Second Quarter credit change policy and Probation

 There is a relationship between financial aide and the number of courses a student can carry, drop and still receive financial aid.  Presently, financial aid is dealing with the present policy as stated in the catalog.  While we are ironing out policy further, it is best not to be too harsh with enforcement.  It may be that some students register, for example, for 15 credits worth of classes, then find out that they are on academic probation.  They should then see their advisor who can help them with their probation dilemma as it relates to their grades and financial aid. 

 This issue was tabled until the next faculty senate meeting on March 13, 2002 

Respectfully submitted,

 Judy Johnson-Wise