BY-LAWS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE OF
HARTNELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
(Amended May 13, 2014)
ARTICLE 1: Duties of Officers
President
1. Preside at all meetings of the Senate.
2. Represent the faculty at official college functions in person or by appointed representative.
3. Represent the faculty at all meetings including meetings of the Board of Trustees and College Planning Council.
4. Participate as an evaluator in the faculty tenure review process and minimum qualifications equivalency process.
5. Nominate all faculty appointments to Hartnell College committees (with consultation of Steering Committee) including college governance committees, faculty selection committees, tenure review peer evaluators, and task forces.
6. Be an ex-officio member of all Senate committees.
7. Direct the overall operation of the Senate and Senate office, and authorize the expenditure of Senate funds.
8. Represent the Senate as the official voting delegate, in person or by proxy, at all meetings of the State Academic Senate.
9. Meet on a regular basis with the President and Vice President(s) of the college to discuss matters of mutual concern with the Senate.
10. Carry out all directives of the Senate and serve as the chairperson of the Steering Committee.
11. Monitor minutes of other governance committees and articulate Senate concerns/positions where appropriate.
12. Organize Senate and Steering Committee meetings: prepare agendas, review minutes of previous meetings, coordinate the distribution of information to Senators, provide supplemental information needed for clarification of agenda items, and contact resource speakers who need to attend Senate meetings for informational purposes.
13. Be conversant about information of concern to the Senate.
14. Review and report on accreditation documents, grant proposals, and other documents sent from the college to various state agencies which require the Senate President’s signature.
15. Interact with Associated Students of Hartnell College, as appropriate.
16. Aid in writing position statements of the Senate and draft letters to the Superintendent/President and other college officials.
17. Provide information to Senators and to Hartnell College faculty on all matters of academic and professional concern including hiring policies, tenure review policy, equivalencies to minimum qualifications, sabbatical leave policy and Governing Board policies.
18. During those times of the year when the Academic Senate does not hold regular
meetings, the President and Steering Committee shall be empowered to make decisions
for the Senate.
1st Vice President
1. Act in the place of the President in the absence of that officer.
2. Succeed and fulfill the office of President for the remainder of the unexpired term in the event that office becomes vacant.
3. Act as parliamentarian at all meetings of the Senate.
4. Perform such functions and duties as directed by the President or Steering Committee.
5. Sit as a member of and regularly attend meetings of the Academic Senate, Senate Steering Committee and at least one governance committee or Senate standing committee.
6. Attend Fall and Spring Institutes and/or Plenary Sessions.
7. Closely work with the President to learn the functions of that office.
8. With the President, serve as an evaluator in the faculty tenure review process.
9. Serve as a member of the Steering Committee.
2nd Vice President
1. Act in the place of the President when the 1st Vice President is not available.
2. Succeed and fulfill the office of the 1st Vice President for the remainder of the unexpired term in the event that office becomes vacant.
3. Perform such functions and duties as directed by the President or Steering Committee.
4. Sit as a member of and regularly attend meetings of the Academic Senate, Senate Steering Committee, and at least one governance committee or Senate standing committee.
5. Aid in drafting position papers or letters.
6. Attend State Senate Fall and Spring Institutes and/or Plenary Sessions.
7. Serve as a member of the Steering Committee.
8. Monitor attendance at Senate meetings.
Secretary/Treasurer
1. Assist the President with the preparation of Senate meeting minutes, the correction of the minutes and distribution as necessary.
2. Prepare a tentative budget and present it to the Senate for adoption.
3. Periodically review expenditures of the Senate.
4. Sit as a member of and regularly attend meetings of the Academic Senate, Senate Steering Committee, and at least one governance committee or Senate standing committee.
5. Assist the President with updating the Academic Senate website and maintaining records of Senate actions.
6. Attend State Senate Fall and Spring Institutes and/or Plenary Sessions.
7. Serve as a member of the Steering Committee.
Senator at Large
1. Perform such functions and duties as directed by the President or Steering Committee.
2. Assist with the orientation of new full-time and adjunct faculty.
3. Interact with Associated Students of Hartnell College and report as appropriate.
4. Sit as a member of and regularly attend meetings of the Academic Senate, Senate Steering Committee, and at least one governance committee or Senate standing or ad hoc committee.
5. Attend State Senate Fall and Spring Institutes and/or Plenary Sessions.
6. Serve as a member of the Steering Committee.
Immediate Past President
1. Serve as a member of the Senate with full privileges, rights and responsibilities.
2. Serve as a member of the Steering Committee for only the year immediately following his/her presidency.
3. Provide the Senate with a historical perspective when such information is appropriate and/or solicited.
ARTICLE 2: Duties of Senators
1. Attend all Senate meetings.
2. Represent the needs and opinions of their constituents to the Senate.
3. Perform liaison functions with governance committees.
4. Serve on at least one governance or Senate standing or ad hoc committee.
5. Regularly inform their constituents as to the business and actions of the Senate.
6. Work to build collegiality among the academy.
7. Perform other duties as assigned by the Senate President.
ARTICLE 3: Duties of Senate Steering Committee
1. Give direction to the Senate.
2. Act as advisor to the Senate President.
3. Set the agenda for Senate meetings.
4. Recommend to the Senate faculty appointments for governance, standing committees, selection committees and special task forces.
5. Define the goals of the Senate each year.
6. Form and recommend membership of ad hoc committees with approval of the Senate.
7. Monitor and report on the activities of governance, standing and ad hoc committees.
8. Run Senate elections.
9. Attend all Senate meetings and communicate with the membership.
10. Schedule and attend meetings with college administrators as required.
11. Report on State Senate Fall and Spring Institutes and/or Plenary Sessions.
12. Assist with the orientation of new full-time and adjunct faculty.
13. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Senate and Senate standing committees at the end of each year.
14. Review the Senate constitution and by-laws each year.
15. During those times of the year when the Academic Senate does not hold regular
meetings, the President and Steering Committee shall be empowered to make decisions
for the Senate.
ARTICLE 4: Selection Committee Appointments
1. Faculty appointments to all selection committees must be approved by the Senate by a simple majority vote.
2. Nominations for faculty or administrative selection committee positions shall be solicited from the discipline or division faculty in which there is a vacancy.
a. Discipline or division faculty shall vote on the nominations and forward their recommendations to the Senate President.
b. Additional nominations may be made from the floor prior to the vote of the Senate.
3. Nothing in this process can conflict with the Hartnell College Hiring Policy.
ARTICLE 5: Academic Senate Standing Committees
In accordance with Board Policy 2005, the Academic Senate's primary function, as the representative of the faculty, is to make recommendations to the administration of the College and the Board of Trustees with respect to academic and professional matters. In order to fulfill this function, the Academic Senate establishes the following standing committees:
1. Curriculum Committee
2. Full-Time Faculty Hiring Committee
3. Faculty Professional Development and Flex Committee
4. Outcomes and Assessment Committee
5. Student Success Committee
6. Distance Education Committee
THE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
The purpose of the Curriculum Committee is to maintain the quality and integrity of educational programs offered at Hartnell College: courses and programs are evaluated for their educational content and their appropriateness and value to the students served. As delegated by the Academic Senate, the Curriculum Committee approves for recommendation to the Board of Trustees all new courses and programs and revisions to existing courses and programs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing California Community Colleges.
Responsibilities
The functions and operating guidelines of the Curriculum Committee are determined by the Academic Senate and applicable sections of California Code of Regulations (Title 5) and the Education Code:
1. Recommend all credit courses for approval by the Board of Trustees.
2. Recommend all noncredit courses for approval by the Board of Trustees.
3. The Curriculum Committee does not approve Community Education courses. However, all proposed Community Education courses will be sent to the Curriculum Committee for review and to ensure that there is no conflict with credit courses.
4. Recommend all new credit and noncredit programs for approval by the Board of Trustees.
5. Recommend program changes, course revisions, or deletions for approval by the Board of Trustees.
6. Recommend requirements for skills certificates and certificates of achievement.
7. Recommend graduation requirements and general education requirements for the AA and AS degrees for approval by the Board of Trustees.
8. In collaboration with the Articulation Officer, recommend courses for submission to the UC and/or CSU system for inclusion on the transfer list of courses which satisfy general education requirements
9. Support development of new curricula and dissemination of curricular material.
10. The Curriculum Chair will regularly attend Academic Senate meetings.
11. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the committee will be conducted each spring semester and distributed to committee members, the Academic Senate and the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
MEMBERSHIP (and terms of service):
· Faculty chairperson (elected by the committee for a 2-year term)
· Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee
· 2 Deans of Academic Affairs (2-year term, selected by the VP of Academic Affairs)
· A combination of at least 9 faculty members appointed by the Academic Senate to represent each academic area (3-year terms, staggered):
o Math/Science/Engineering
o Languages and Fine Arts
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Advanced Technology & Applied Science
o Kinesiology/Athletics/HED
o Nursing/Allied Health
o Library
o Counseling and Categorical Programs
· Articulation Officer (Permanent)
· SLO Coordinator or designee
· Dean of Student Affairs, Enrollment Services (Permanent)
· (Ex Officio) Student appointed by Student Senate
Administrative Support:
The college will provide support staff to maintain course management software, record committee activities, ensure accuracy of data listed in the schedule of classes and catalog, and maintain the Curriculum Committee website.
FULL-TIME FACULTY HIRING COMMITTEE
The Full-Time Faculty Hiring Committee is a standing committee of the Academic Senate, as established through mutual agreement between the District and the Academic Senate, whose purpose is to apply established criteria to make prioritized recommendations for the hiring of full-time faculty and forward those recommendations, on behalf of the Academic Senate, to the College Planning Council.
Responsibilities:
The functions and operating guidelines of the Full-Time Hiring Committee include the following:
1. Review requests for new and replacement faculty positions through the academic program review process and academic divisions program review summaries.
2. Review and critically evaluate supportive data relative to each new or replacement faculty position. Data are classified according to an internal process developed in collaboration with the Academic Senate President (or designee), the Vice President of Academic Affairs (or designee), the Vice President of Student Affairs (or designee), the Associate Vice President of Human Resources & Equal Employment Opportunity (or designee) and the Dean of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness. Support data include such measures as: institutional need, impact of program, discipline trends in enrollment, completion, revenue/cost ratios, funding source, efficiency, percent of full-time instructors currently in the discipline area, program awards (degrees and certificates) and other available data that the committee deems appropriate.
3. Adhere to a voting process based upon the following considerations:
· Each committee member is responsible for exercising his or her independent judgment in prioritizing each position
· To participate in the voting process, each committee member (or a proxy) must be in attendance for substantially all meetings
· Voting will include all committee members
· Voting will be anonymous, using the appropriate form developed by the committee.
· Following conclusion of the voting process, the Vice President of Academic Affairs (or designee) and faculty chair shall meet to compile the scores and produce a ranked list.
4. Develop a prioritized list of recommended full-time faculty positions to be submitted to the Academic Senate and College Planning Council.
5. The Full-Time Faculty Hiring Committee Chair will regularly report on committee activities during Academic Senate meetings and will ensure that minutes are posted in a timely manner to the college website.
6. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the committee will be conducted each spring semester and distributed to committee members, the Academic Senate and the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
MEMBERSHIP (and terms of service):
· Faculty chairperson (elected by the committee for a 2-year term)
· Vice President of Academic Affairs, permanent
· Academic Senate President (or designee), permanent
· Associate Vice President of Human Resources & Equal Employment Opportunity, permanent
· 1 Dean of Academic Affairs or Institutional Planning & Effectiveness
· Eight faculty members appointed by the Academic Senate to represent each academic area (3-year terms, staggered):
o Math/Science/Engineering
o Languages and Fine Arts
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Advanced Technology & Applied Science
o PE/Athletics/HED
o Nursing/Allied Health
o Library
o Counseling and Categorical Programs
· 1 Confidential staff member involved in recruitment activities from Human Resources & Equal Employment Opportunity, permanent
· 1 Student, 1-year term, appointed by Student Senate
Administrative Support
The college will provide support staff to collect and organize requested data, record committee activities, and maintain the committee website.
FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FLEX COMMITTEE
The Faculty Professional Development and Flex Committee serves to encourage and further the professional development of faculty which, in turn, promotes the College Mission and its goals. The committee members will collaborate to establish a faculty development budget, review and allocate faculty development funds, plan flex activities, and establish criteria for approval of faculty development funds requests and flex credit.
Responsibilities:
In order to meet its responsibilities, the Faculty Development Committee will:
1. Plan for faculty development and flex activities.
2. Develop criteria for allocation of faculty development funds.
3. Review and approve requests for faculty development funds according to established criteria.
4. Review and approve requests for flex credit according to established criteria.
5. Maintain records of committee actions and flex activities.
6. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the committee will be conducted each spring semester and distributed to committee members, the Academic Senate and the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
Membership:
· Six faculty members from instructional areas
· Academic Administrator
· Associate Vice President of Human Resources & Equal Employment Opportunity (or designee)
OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE
The primary purpose of the Outcomes and Assessment Committee is to facilitate outcome and assessment processes and activities college-wide.
Responsibilities:
In order to meet its responsibilities, the Outcomes and Assessment Committee will perform the following:
1. Facilitate college-wide discussions among instructional and non-instructional areas on the development and implementation of outcomes and assessment processes.
2. Develop and recommend the outcome and assessment processes and documentation for instructional and non-instructional areas.
3. Review outcome and assessment status/progress and make recommendations to the Accreditation Council.
4. Serve as a resource regarding outcomes and assessment issues.
5. Ensure documentation of Outcomes and Assessment Committee activities.
6. Ensure that all members of the Outcomes and Assessment Committee are knowledgeable concerning the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) standards and State Academic Senate positions regarding outcomes and assessment.
7. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the committee will be conducted each spring semester and distributed to committee members, the Academic Senate and the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
MEMBERSHIP (and Terms of Service):
· Faculty Outcomes and Assessment Coordinator, permanent
· Dean, Academic Affairs (Learning Support & Resources), permanent
· Dean, Institutional Planning and Effectiveness, permanent
· Eight faculty appointed by the Academic Senate (3-year terms, staggered)
o Math/Science/Engineering
o Languages and Fine Arts
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Advanced Technology
o PE/Athletics/Health Education
o Nursing/Allied Health
o Library
o Counseling and Categorical Programs
· One representative from each of the following areas: (3-year terms, staggered)
o Student Affairs
o Administrative Services
o Information technology
STUDENT SUCCESS COMMITTEE
The goal of the Student Success Committee is to research the literature and offer advice and direction to the Academic Senate on matters related to improving the ways in which Hartnell college serves incoming students, most of whom need one or more courses in ESL and/or basic skills, in order to increase their course success, certificate or degree completion, transfer to four-year institutions and success in the workplace. To this end, this committee recommends improvements in pre-registration-matriculation, instructional pathways, instructional support, and student services.
Responsibilities:
In order to meet its responsibilities, the Student Success Committee will perform the following functions:
1. Facilitate improvement of developmental education learning methodologies and strategies among Hartnell developmental education faculty and share implementation with faculty across disciplines who serve and support students who need to improve performance in reading, writing, and math skills in order to reach their educational goals.
2. Shape and facilitate improvement of student services policies and strategies for students as they enter college including orientation, assessment and placement, counseling, and follow-up.
3. Shape and implement improved strategies in instructional pathways identified for entering students: for example, learning communities such as the Academy for College Excellence (ACE) and Fundamentals Across Careers & Transfer Skills (FACTS), linked courses, accelerated courses, laboratory courses, and regularly scheduled courses.
4. Address student instructional support needed at the college including peer tutorial services and Supplemental Instruction (SI), Directed Learning Activities (DLAs), open laboratory support in reading, writing, and mathematics, and appropriate laboratory courses.
5. Advance recommendations made in the Hartnell Basic Skills Initiative Blueprint to ensure continued improvement of pre-registration-matriculation and the organization and delivery of developmental education, degree applicable and transfer level course work, and the improvement of both instructional and student services support at the college.
6. Update the required BSI overall long-term goals, develop the annual action plan, follow up on the plan’s activities, and prepare mandatory reports.
7. Forward recommendations in the Blueprint to campus governance groups and work to ensure their adequate funding.
8. Evaluate the strategies implemented in areas of pre-registration-matriculation, instructional pathways, instructional support, student services and follow up, and document their effect on student success.
9. Support professional development activities designed to increase success of students who need to improve performance levels in reading, writing, and mathematics.
10. Ensure accountability of all BSI funds annually.
11. Document committee actions and activities.
12. Conduct an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the Committee each spring semester and distribute results to committee members, the Academic Senate and the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
MEMBERSHIP (and terms of service):
· Faculty Student Success Committee Coordinator, permanent
· Dean of Academic Affairs (Learning Support & Resources), permanent
· Dean of Student Affairs, permanent
· Dean of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness, permanent
· Tutorial Services Coordinator, permanent
· A combination of eight faculty members appointed by the Academic Senate (3-year terms, staggered):
o Math/Science/Engineering
o Languages and Fine Arts
o Social and Behavioral Sciences
o Advanced Technology
o PE/Athletics/Health Education
o Nursing/allied health
o Library
o Counseling and Categorical Programs
· One representative from each of the following areas (3-year terms, staggered):
o Student Affairs
o Administrative Services
o Information Technology
DISTANCE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Distance Education Committee functions to develop policies and procedures and promote practices that contribute to the quality and growth of distance education at Hartnell College. With the understanding that faculty should have the primary responsibility for developing policies and promoting distance education practices, the Committee supports innovative application of technology and methodology to create accessible, inspiring, and measurably effective learning opportunities for an increasingly diverse student population. The Committee promotes ongoing faculty development in order to ensure that faculty who teach distance education courses are able to provide high quality learning environments for Hartnell students.
The Committee makes recommendations to the Senate, The Academic Affairs Council, the College Planning Council and various other pertinent bodies regarding policies and plans for all aspects of distance education, and collaborates with all campus constituencies to support distance education students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
Responsibilities:
In order to meet its responsibilities, the Distance Education Committee will perform the following functions:
1. Provide a forum for dealing with evolving issues in distance and digital education and disseminates information about these issues to the campus community.
2. Develop and implement a comprehensive Distance Education Plan; monitor progress and update the plan regularly.
3. Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) standards.
4. Comply with Title V mandates for reporting of DE activities to the Academic Senate and Board of Trustees.
5. Report, review and evaluate current practices in the development and delivery of online courses and how these practices impact student success.
6. Make recommendations for improvement to the Academic Senate, The Academic Affairs Council, the College Planning Council and other pertinent bodies regarding distance education and other online delivery of instructional material.
7. Support faculty in development and delivery of online courses by facilitating faculty professional development activities and by establishing and maintaining best practices for online course delivery and recommended skills for teaching online.
8. Collaborate with the Curriculum Committee to ensure that DE addendums to the course outline of record meet Title 5 requirements for regular and effective contact and accessibility.
9. Collaborate on areas of mutual interest with other senate committees.
10. Ensure that DE Committee activities and actions are documented.
11. Complete annual and comprehensive program reviews for the purpose of planning, evaluation, and resource allocation.
12. Conduct an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the Committee each spring semester and distribute results to committee members, the Academic Senate and the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness.
MEMBERSHIP (and terms of service):
· Chair: Faculty member elected by the committee, 2 years
· Faculty Distance Education Liaison, permanent
· Distance Education Coordinator, permanent
· Instructional Administrator, permanent
· A minimum of 6 faculty, preferably from a variety of disciplines, appointed by the Academic Senate, 2 years
· Instructional Technologist, permanent
· Student appointed by the Student Senate, 2 year term
· One member from Classified Staff, 2 year term
· CSEA/L39 Representative, 2 years
· 1 Student member appointed by the Student Senate, 1 year term
ARTICLE VI: Ad Hoc Committees
The Academic Senate Steering Committee may form and recommend membership of ad hoc committees with approval of the Senate as needed to conduct Senate business. The following as hoc committees are of special significance to the Senate:
FACULTY SABBATICAL LEAVE COMMITTEE
A Faculty Sabbatical Leave Committee may be convened to review applications for sabbatical leave and make recommendations to the Academic Senate and Board of Trustees for approval or disapproval of each leave request. Article 7 of the contract between Hartnell College Faculty Association and the District sets forth the criteria and procedures by which faculty members may apply for sabbatical leave. Applications are considered in terms of their impact upon the total instructional program of the college and are recommended to the superintendent/president for approval, or disapproval, and submission to the Governing Board.
Membership:
The Sabbatical Leave Committee consists of the Vice President of Instruction, one dean, one presidential designee and four faculty members appointed by the Academic Senate. The Vice President of Academic Affairs convenes the Sabbatical Leave Committee as necessary to review the applications within the established timelines in Article 7. At the first committee meeting, the chair shall be elected by the committee.
PROGRAM EVALUATION COMMITTEE
A Program Evaluation Committee is tasked with reviewing data and making recommendations relevant to the establishment, modification, revitalization, or discontinuance of an academic program The Vice President of Academic Affairs convenes a Program Evaluation Committee as necessary to review new program proposals or to critically review a program identified by a member of the program discipline, the program’s academic Dean, the Vice President of Academic Affairs or the Academic Senate as “at-risk” due to long-standing trends noted through the annual or comprehensive review process. AP 4021 [currently pending Board of Trustees approval] establishes the criteria and procedures for establishing, revitalizing or discontinuing academic programs.
Membership:
Program Evaluation Committees will normally include the following members:
· The Vice President of Academic Affairs as co-chair
· The Academic Senate President or designee as co-chair
· 1 Dean from the program discipline area
· 1 Dean from another discipline area
· 1 faculty member who teaches in the discipline area (the academic director, or program initiator, if applicable) appointed by the Academic Senate
· 1 faculty member who teaches in a related and/or non-related discipline area appointed by the Academic Senate
· Curriculum Committee Chair or designee
· 1 student appointed by the Student Senate
ARTICLE VII
Amendment to the Bylaws
The Bylaws can be amended by a simple majority affirmative vote of the Senate, providing written notice of any proposed amendment was filed with the Senate President at least two weeks preceding the vote. Copies of the proposed changes must be given to Senators at least two weeks prior to the vote.