Present:
Phil Droke, President; Glen Avantaggio, Vice President; Gloria Rose Koepping;  Rebecca Sliger; Sharon Hashimoto; Gwen Spencer; Jeff Wagnitz; John Pfeffer; Arline Garcia; Rod Fowers; John Lindsay; Han Lim; Jean Harris; Tracy Brigham; Jack Bermingham; Christopher Momfort (Team Highline); Stefan Alano (HCC Student Body President)

1.      Stefan Alano presented information to senate members concerning developing more of a political voice in Highline students so that they would become more aware of their rights at the state and national level.  He asked permission to come to classes and collect voter registration forms as a means of raising student consciousness about their rights and responsibilities as voting adults in our state and nation. 

 Chris Momfort discussed his perceptions of the new Patriot law and the effect he saw on basic rights.  He requested permission to come to classes and present information on this act and what he feared would be its impact on the types of freedom and liberty we as Americans are used to.  He saw this as a way of further empowering students through having them consider involvement in political action committees. 

2.      Dr. Bermingham discussed residency requirements for obtaining a Highline degree, either the AA, AAS, including option B or the AS degree.  He mentioned that the Instruction Cabinet was divided in their opinions on these issues and he was giving us feedback.  He mentioned that there is a conflict where accreditation  requirements are concerned, involving student outcomes.  The question was posed as to how many people would be affected by a residency requirement, given student mobility and on line courses among other variables.  Therefore, the Senate needs to discuss their concerns on these issues.  For example, if 23 credits would meet a residency requirement, would any 23 credits suffice?  How would we choose which 23 credits would meet the requirement? 

 Faculty members mentioned that it is hard to define, strictly speaking, a “Highline” experience.  Also discussed was the fact that where the AA degree was concerned and with transferring to a University such as the University of Washington, some students might take the 23 credits  early on and some might take these credits later.  Where on-line credits are concerned, a student would be able to take 23 credits without being present on campus at all.  The timing issue could have an impact on whether or not students would be admitted to the UW so must be taken into consideration. Where the AAS degree is concerned, students could have degrees from other community colleges or degree granting institutions.  Additionally, decisions on these issues might affect enrollments at our college.

Highline could consider granting credit for prior learning as part of the degree requirement for students.

 3.      Dr. Bermingham announced that Human Resources is developing an evaluation tool for administration, faculty and staff which will be discussed at t he next all faculty meeting on February 26, 2003

 4.      Discussion of student requests to visit classes for voter registration purposes and for an explanation of the Patriot Act and its impact on basic freedoms:

 Faculty discussed the fact of these issues being essentially political issues and not part of classroom discussion for every class.  There might be other ways of meeting student goals such as having multiple sites for bringing these issues to Highline students such as having a table set up for voter registration and having explanatory posters on campus.  We would need both sides of the Patriot Act, not just one side being discussed.  Voter registration can be part of the learning process but the learning format would not necessarily be in the form of visits to ongoing classes.

5.      Comments made about materials disseminated by Dr. Bermingham included an explanation about the procedure for sending Faculty Senate

Discussion materials to the policy committee with our input, which eventually would go to the President and the Board of Trustees. 

 In the case of the residency requirement, the concept may need further definition and analysis so as not to use a residency requirement as a “gate keeping” mechanism. 

6.      Faculty Senate Meeting of February 19, 2003: 

 Toni Castro will be talking with us about student cheating.  Eric Baer might possibly be present, too.  We might want a faculty forum for further discussion of this issue. 

 7.      AAS Degree:

Phil Droke will be contacting Bill at the State Board for further clarification of this issue.

 8.      Mid-Quarter Assessment – Students with Academic Problems meeting with Instructors:

 Faculty agreed to delete the mid-quarter assessment requirement as it is not currently being performed.  It was a good idea but not now needed.  Originally, it was formulated as a tool for enhancing retention.  Reinforcing student responsibility for this type of assessment would benefit the student’s overall learning processes.

Respectfully submitted,

 Judy Johnson-Wise