November 20, 2002
Minutes: Faculty Senate
Highline Community College

Present:

Chair: Phil Droke
Glen Avantaggio, Jean Harris, Rod Fowers, Gloria Rose Koepping, , Sharon Hashimoto, Gwen Spencer, Michael Cicero, Tracy Brigham, Rebecca Sliger

Agenda Items

1.  AA Option: What do we want to do with this academic option? Where is the data so stating this option was rewritten to be "Option AA." Gwen Spencer might have this data so that we can contact her for this information.

There was an option A with a program focus. Music students, acting students wanted this program focus with attendant methodology. Also, much work on rewriting was done where catalog information was concerned. There was a "Method A" focus and also an AA. Option B which was changed to AA with a program focus.

Gwen Spencer said that in the past 3-4 years, only four people used the AA-B option. One faculty member mentioned that it might be best to leave this program and method "on the books" incase there is a student with an exceptional case needing this type of program.

Also discussed was the possibility of getting option B out of the catalogue, as the catalogue is being worked on from December through March, 2003.

One questions raised was do we need to present option B to the Board of Trustees? Faculty members mentioned that we could get justification from the State on this issues as we build support for our ideas concerning this program options. We will check with Gwen Spencer on this possibility.

2.  Feedback on AAS-T degree:

Jean Harris suggested that where Social Services are concerned, this degree would be fine as long as it doesn’t replace what is already in the present program.

Rebecca Sliger said this degree option would be acceptable but also suggested a possible name change as Math will see significant increases in basic math courses.

Mike Cicero of the Business Department said there was confusion where this degree is concerned and members were not sure there was a benefit that would overcome this confusion. Also, where transfer was concerned, would the students ever use this degree?

Recognizing that the college is under pressure to accept the AAS-T degree, faculty members supported the idea of going "slowly" in terms of accepting the AAS-T program. Should we consider using a different name?

One aim might be to institute a new program where there is more transferability of some credits towards a BS degree. However there are plans to set up the AAS-T programs state-wide, at the same time.

(Bellevue Community College is going towards an all BS degree focus with an emphasis on technology, ie, Microsoft.)

Phil Droke suggested that we look at general parameters first, if and when the time comes when we have the AAS-T program option in place. Then, we will be better prepared. Also suggested was having a State person scheduled to talk with us on these issues.

Michael Allen suggested that we could get on board with this program development by the start of the next quarter, this would work well.

MOTION: The Faculty Senate tabled the motion concerning this new program until we can find out more relevant, specific data on the program. We need to know where the push for the new degree program is coming from and, for example, what are the two or three most important reasons for why we should be involved in this program change.

We will get e mail from Michael Allen on this issue and the Senate will generate a list of questions to be answered concerning this degree.

3. College Math Requirements: Gwen Spencer passed out papers detailing the college math requirements. When students have academic problems, in 75% of the cases the issue is math. For example, in the Nursing Program, students must fulfill their math requirements before they can take other basic sciences.

Gwen will give us the e mail of Loretta Spellman who is a primary supporter of the AAS-T degree.

4.  Residency Requirements: Jeff Wagnitz will be at the next Faculty Senate meeting so we may ask him questions about the residency requirements.

5.  Mike Cicero brought up the issue of technology preparation and the fact that some high school students were able to get college credits for certain skill levels from high schools. Therefore, should tech/prep courses be allowed as part of the core curriculum college courses?

Respectfully submitted,
Judy Johnson-Wise,
Faculty Senate Secretary