May 22, 2023

Attendance

Minutes

I. Call to Order and Report Outs

Welcome

Cheryl Jaeger Balm reminded representatives to update their report out.  This will be the last report out for this school year. There will be two more meetings. People may continue to and share report during Public Comment and Good of the Order.

The last meeting will end earlier for the end of the year reception for the new tenured faculty and retirees.

Approval of Agenda and Minutes from May 15, 2023

Mary Pape moved, Shagun Kaur seconded to approve both minutes and agenda. No objection.  Agenda and minutes approved by unanimous consent.

Public Comment 

Cecelia Hui reminded everyone about the FA Barbeque Social on Thursday, June 1st, 4-7 pm, at Shoup Park in Los Altos.

Shagun Kaur implored those who use low cost/no cost materials to complete the survey that updates the information on their instructional materials for their summer classes.  https://www.deanza.edu/academic-services/oer/.  They should fill out their fall survey as well.

Report outs

See the linked PDF above.  Someone suggested having a presentation of the LibKey Nomad during the District Opening Day. Also, a library orientation is highly recommended to all classes.

II. Needs and Confirmations 

College Committee - needs:  Resource Allocation and Program Planning (RAPP) -  five (5) faculty reps needed for 2023-2024.  

RAPP has 24 members with 5 faculty reps. The current faculty members are serving 6 month positions, from January until June.

There were discussions about the term length, the composition of the positions, and if the  terms should be staggered. The previous Planning and Budgeting Teams (PBT) reps served 2-year terms.  The Senate Vice President (or designess), as one of the tri-chairs, is automatically a member of the committee. 

Most are in favor of asking the current people to return for one more year. They will be able to reflect upon and continue the work that has been done. Not everyone will want to return. There will be a call out for new members to fill the open 2 year positions.

Historically, a  new member will need 4 to 5 months to onboard. With a 2-year term its members could better invest their time to establish procedure and work out bugs. Fortunately, all 5 current students are planning to return to serve on RAPP next year.

There was a question about the meeting time, if they will keep the current 10 am schedule or move to the afternoon.

Shagun Kaur motioned to keep the current composition and have 2 year positions; Mark Landefeld seconded.  Mary Pape proposed to amend and separate the motion into 2 motions..

Motion 1:The terms will be 2 years. No objection. Motion passed.

Motion 2: Keep the same composition, organizational structure. No objection. Motion passed.

Update from the Academic Senate Nominating and Elections Committee (NEC)

There are 2 candidates for executive secretary. Election will start in 4 days, on Friday.

A big thank you to the Election Committee.

III. Continuing Business

Academic Senate scholarship in 2023-2024

Ideas to help us make quorum in 2023-2024 

Cheryl Jaeger Balm gave a huge thank you to everyone who showed up and filled out their forms this week. There were 20 people in the room.

In previous discussions, there was little support for requiring all voting members to be present in the room. It would be prohibitive for part timers to participate if voting members are not allowed to attend online. However, online attendance from outside the district does not count toward quorum. It has been exhaustive for officers to keep track of voting members' location and be in compliance with Brown Act. 

The Academic Senate has to be a functional body that conducts its business. It has a problem when a quarter of the membership attends online and may not count toward quorum.

There is no intention to disallow people to participate in discussion. These meetings are still accessible. However, if many voting members are attending outside of the district or failed to submit their form, there is the risk of not being able to meet at all.

Cheryl Jaeger Balm proposed that next year’s voting membership be limited to people attending in person or online from within the district. Alicia Mullens seconded.  Yes 19, No 5. Motion passed.

There was a rank choice vote on the Monday meeting times (10:30 to 12:30, 12:30 to 2:30, 1:30 to 3:30, 2:30 to 3:30) as well as meeting on another day (Yes or No).

What happens when a representative misses many meetings? The Constitution and the bylaws do mention it. The intent, but not clearly stated, is that those members may be removed.  There is a need to review and revise the bylaws on these points.

Resolution Toward Racial Healing at De Anza College

Felisa Vilaubi and Tim Harper shared their reflections and responses to the discussion on the terminology and ideas expressed in the 4th whereas from the last meeting.  There were much discussions and several suggestions for the language, terminology and concepts.  The Academic Senate will continue to work in discussion and  dialogue.  Cheryl Jaeger Balm asked for more feedback and will bring it back for more discussion. 

Cheryl Jaeger Balm proposed that the Academic Senate ask the Chancellor to hire a neutral and qualified outside mediator to work with the leaders of the college and its affinity groups and to rebuild trust and respect on our campus. Erik Woodbury seconded. After dicussion by the body, Cheryl withdrew her motion.

The Academic Senate will continue to work with the affinity groups on the language in this resolution.

Resolution of Solidarity with the Jewish Community

This item was tabled until the next meeting since time has run out .

IV. New Business

Annual Governance Survey
Cheryl Jaeger Balm asked representatives to please complete this survey before the next meeting.

IV. Other Items

Good of the Order

Congratulations to Salvador Guerrero for his new full-time teaching job in Pasadena!

Adjournment

Erik Woodbury motioned, Ravjeet Singh seconded, to adjourn, no objection.