September 28, 2026

RAPP Meeting Minutes  
Hybrid Mtg. 10 a.m.-11:20 a.m.  
Monday Sept. 28, 2026  
 
Summary 
The meeting began with the introduction of new and continuing RAPP members. We then reviewed the committee's charges and norms, with special emphasis on the norms. Avila encouraged committee members to attend in person and asked those who opted to attend on Zoom to leave their cameras on. Meeting minutes from the final spring meeting of 2025-26 were reviewed and approved. The meeting also focused on this year's top priorities: program review, the Faculty Prioritization Committee (FPC), and the Program Innovation and Vitality Optimization Team (PIVOT), as presented by Vice President and Tri-Chair Subramaniam and Classified Tri-Chair Lisa Ly. Director of College Fiscal Services Alisa Omeragic presented two allocation proposals. 

Allocation Proposals 
Omeragic presented two allocation proposals, beginning with the 2026-27 Instructional Allocation proposal, followed by the 2026-27 Lottery Allocation proposal. She explained the current fund balance, the projected ending balance, the allocations by division, and the total amount of allocations. Omeragic also briefly explained where the funding for both proposals comes from and the specifics of how it is used. For example, the lottery funds come from California statewide lottery funds and are to be used solely for instructional needs in the classroom, such as instructor copy needs. She explained that instructional equipment funds are allocated based on need. Institutional Research Director Mallory Newell reminded the audience that the processes for both funds are posted on the RAPP webpage. Dean Debbie Lee, APASA representative, noticed that Intercultural and International Studies (IIS) was not on the Instructional Equipment Funds list and asked for IIS to be added. Dean Gabriela Nocito asked if, under the Lottery Funds, her division's name could be edited to read "Online Learning and Library." Dean Michelle Hernandez, Equity Action Council representative, asked if the Lottery Funds list could also be edited to change from "Student Success Center" to "Equity & Engagement." The committee approved both allocation proposals. 

RAPP Priorities for 2026-27 
Tri-Chair Ly summarized the priorities for RAPP.  
Fall 2026: RAPP will develop the processes for program review, FPC, and PIVOT. Three specialized teams will be formed. 
Winter 2027: RAPP will review and approve program review templates drafted by workgroups and finalize program review, FPC, and PIVOT processes and associated forms 
Spring 2027: RAPP will inform programs that will be scheduled for program review in fall 2027 and begin preliminary training on the new template, evaluation guide, and processes. 

Program Review 
Tri-Chair Ly provided background information, status updates, and current timelines for program review. Ly explained that the previous program review form and process are being redesigned with RAPP oversight. Program review will have four templates (1) Instruction, (2) Student Services, (3) Academic Services, and (4) Equity and Engagement. Over the summer, a team of faculty members, each representing their instructional division and appointed by the Academic Senate, met and developed a draft program review template and accompanying evaluation guide. Student Services and Academic Service program review templates have been drafted as well, and all three templates have been shared with their respective units for feedback. The drafting of the Equity and Engagement program review template will begin in fall 2026. All program review templates will be reviewed and approved by RAPP in winter 2027. A program review process will be developed by RAPP. 

Faculty Prioritization Committee (FPC) and Program Innovation and Vitality Team (PIVOT) 
Tri-Chair Subramaniam reviewed the new subcommittees, FPC and PIVOT, and explained their intent and purpose. FPC will review faculty hiring prioritization requests. Once the number of faculty positions available for hiring is released to RAPP in the early fall quarter, FPC will spend the remainder of the quarter to review, rank from a shared criteria (program review, enrollment, mandates, sustainability, expansion) and make recommendations to RAPP. RAPP will eventually make a recommendation to the College Council. A FPC process will be developed by RAPP. 
 
PIVOT is a collaborative, evidence- informed review of academic, student services, and support programs. Its review could lead to growing, strengthening, reshaping, or discontinuing a program.  Subramaniam stated in his presentation, "The focus is forward-looking: keeping programs strong, relevant, and aligned with student needs." He stated that discontinuance should be considered a last resort. A PIVOT process will be developed by RAPP. 
 
Upon the suggestion of constituents during the summer, Subramaniam asked the committee whether the current name, Program Vitality and Innovation Committee, could be formally changed to Program Innovation and Optimization Team (PIVOT). The committee voted unanimously to change the name to PIVOT. 
 
 
Attendees: Ram Subramaniam, Lisa Ly, Veronica Acevedo Avila, Farhad Sabit, Michele LeBleu Burns, Manish Karia, Mari Acob-Nash, Agustin Espino Diaz, Patricia Del Rio, Debbie Lee, Adriana Garcia, Jamie Pelusi, Michelle Hernandez, Cecilia Hui, Ka Chun Wong, Alisa Omeragic, Erik Woodbury, Christina Wright, Gabriela Nocito, Mallory Newell, So Kam Lee 
 
Absent: Garrett King, Glynn Wallis. 
 
Guests: Erik Woodbury, Christina Wright, Gabriela Nocito, Mallory Newell, So Kam Lee. 
 
RAPP Voting Members: Ram Subramaniam, Lisa Ly, Veronica Acevedo Avila, Farhad Sabit, Michele LeBleu Burns, Manish Karia, Mari Acob-Nash, Garrett King, Agustin Espino Diaz, Patricia Del Rio, Debbie Lee, Adriana Garcia, Jamie Pelusi, Michelle Hernandez, Tim Shively, Cecilia Hui, Christina Wright, Glynn Wallis, Ka Chun Wong.  
 
RAPP Advisor: Alisa Omeragic