Faculty Senate
Highline Community College
October 6, 2004
Present:
Gloria Rose Koepping
Lijun Shen
Dee Skinner
Katie Gulliford
Alicja Baker
Ellen Hoffman (for Bryan Strumpf)
Shen Yan
Ruth Windhover
Glen Avantaggio, Vice Chair
Rod Fowers
Ruth Frickle
Igor Glozman
John Lindsay
President Phil Droke opened the meeting.
1. Topic: Scholastic Review Committee
Faculty discussed the purpose of the committee, including an expanded plan that included the monitoring of students on probation for 3 consecutive quarters. Alicja Baker and Phil Droke reviewed the history of the committee’s make up. Glen Avantaggio commented on the membership and the need for someone who teaches courses the students have problems with to be a representative. Also suggested was having the committee chair tell us about their current system and any problem areas.
Gloria Rose Koepping shared her comments about the committee deciding what students should take the following quarter. Counseling could assist in this area.
General consensus was that faculty needs more data and information about the function and format of the committee and will seek out, through the Senate’s leaders and members, this information through the committee chair, Lisa Bernhagen
2. Topic: Introductions
Katie Gulliford suggested that Faculty Senate take time for introductions as there are new members.
3. Topic: Purpose of Faculty Senate
Glen Avantaggio pointed out the purpose of the Faculty Senate is to fill a consultant role, if the President wishes, about degree requirements, grading methods, etc. We do not deal with salary issues, terms and conditions of work.
4. Topic: Probationer
Igor Glozman asked about possibly using another term rather than the word, probationer, wondering if this was a Faculty Senate Issue. Senate members discussed this issue comprehensively.
5. Topic: Legislative concerns about AD transfers to 4 year universities.
Ruth Frickle brought up the subject of a common course numbering system being needed to facilitate transfers from 2 to 4 year academic institutions and that the Senate would probably be involved in this process.. Phil Droke emphasized that the concept of “seamless” education would be less costly, always a legislative concern.
6. Topic: Alliance with Central Washington University
Rod Fowers raised the issue of CWU not taking psychology courses from HCC as transfer credits. Change to a common numbering system and course content would need to be decided and who would make these decisions? Ruth Frickle mentioned that the legislature is most concerned with how to operate on a business model and is less concerned with content.
7. Topic: Distance Learning Courses
Katie Gulliford brought up the topic of Distance Learning courses and asked if they should be part of the Faculty Senate’s concern. Further discussion ensued on this issue. Ruth Frickle and Rod Fowers added to the discussion supported the idea of Distance Learning being under the purview of the Faculty Senate.
8. Topic: Conducting elections and soliciting people for committee memberships
Ruth Frickle asked about elections and committee memberships. The Senate by-laws mandate us doing this spring quarter. There has been a problem of some faculty staying on committees for lengthy time periods, not giving other faculty a chance at membership.
9. Topic: Lingering Students
Last year the senate was asked to have in mind people to be involved in the lingering student problem. This is a state mandate as Ruth Frickle reminded us. Glen Avantanggio also mentioned that a report was sent out with details about this student category. Students need a plan for being at Highline. Most have a major and transfer plans. At heart is the fact that the state can’t afford to pay for perpetual students. The report demonstrated that students in this category are not a large problem for the college.
10. Topic: Criminal Background Checks
Faculty discussed the need for these checks and the consensus was that each department would decide this issue, depending on special populations such as children and other vulnerable populations.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Johnson-Wise,
Secretary