Harper College Faculty Senate

Professional … pragmatic … principled … progressive

 

Harper College Faculty Senate

Summary Minutes for February 10, 2005

 

Executive Board:  Michael Harkins, President; Paul Guymon, Vice President; Jim Edstrom, Secretary; Dan Loprieno, Treasurer; Sue Overland, Grievance Officer; Julie Fleenor, Past President

 

Actions Taken

  • The Senate accepted the report of the ad hoc committee on a climate study.

 

I.                   Call to Order at 12:21 P.M.

 

II.                            Old Business

The issue of academic reorganization was discussed.  Among the highlights of that discussion were the following:

 

·        Concern was expressed over the administration’s having blindsided the Senate and the Senate Exec—i.e., having given little or no notice beforehand as to what the administration’s plans for reorganization entailed.

·        It was suggested that Senators go back to their faculty and ask for their feedback as a way of injecting faculty input into the process.

·        There is a need for intellectual honesty in the process on the part of the administration.

·        In the future it would be advisable for the Senate to meet before allowing the administration to attend Senate meetings.  The Senate should be sensitive to the possibility that such appearances by administrators could be misused by the administration as a means for bypassing discussion.

·        The Senate should be timely in its response to the reorganization proposal; the process is already moving along.

·        Any meetings that Marge had with faculty “focus groups” in working on the reorganization process were largely pro forma.

·        There is a need for input from the chairs and coordinators on the proposal.  A meeting with this group will be set up to this end.

·        There are two different issues—the movement of departments and the hiring of administrators.

·        Programs for international students are being inappropriately moved to Student Affairs.

 

The proposed climate study was discussed.  The ad hoc committee appointed to consider the issue reported on their findings:

·        It is better to do a study focused on the faculty rather than a variety of groups on campus.

·        The study should be a combination of qualitative and quantitative factors.

·        They described the proposed survey.

·        The committee is unanimous in believing that a climate study should be done.

·        Among the issues that should be evaluated are IT/classroom issues and faculty/administration relations.

·        Contract and negotiation issues should not be part of the survey.

 

There will be a meeting of the ad hoc committee on Monday, February 14th in Room J240.  Senators were invited to attend.  Suggestions can also be sent to Paul Holdaway.  It was moved and seconded that the committee’s report be accepted.  The motion was approved.

 

VII.           Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jim Edstrom