Harper College Faculty Senate

Professional … pragmatic … principled … progressive

Summary Minutes for February 21, 2008

(Approved March 6, 2008)

Executive Board:  Michael Harkins, President; Tom Dowd, Vice President; Jim Edstrom, Secretary; Linda Campbell, Treasurer; Dave Richmond, Grievance Officer; Julie Fleenor, Past President

Actions Taken

· No actions taken.

I.          Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vice President Tom Dowd at 12:28 PM.  In the absence of a quorum and in consideration of several guests who were waiting to speak to the Senate, the Senate moved immediately to “Informational.”

II.        Informational

· Sarah Stark from the Instructional Technology Committee shared the results of an ITC survey from last spring.  That survey demonstrated “that many faculty either already utilize or plan to implement the following existing instructional technologies:

DVDs or CD-ROMs

PowerPoint

Blackboard

Removable jump drives

Wireless Internet

Document camera

DoIT Lab

Micrograde.”

Faculty in the survey also expressed interest in learning more about tools such as Camtasia, response clickers, simulation technologies, Elluminate Live, and streaming media.  The ITC is working to incorporate these results into the institutional technology plan in collaboration with the Technology Planning Committee.

· Teresa Chung from the Curriculum Committee spoke concerning new electronic procedures intended to expedite the committee’s work.  The new system, which is called “Curricunet,” is being adopted statewide.

III.       Officers’ Reports

· Dave Richmond noted that Michael Harkins was covering a class during today’s meeting and that Linda Campbell was attending a conference.  He noted that Linda has reported that Payroll is investigating the possibility of deductions for Senate amenities.

IV.       New Business

· Chad Taylor spoke on a recent rash of thefts from offices in the Math Department.  He noted that the College does not cover the loss of personal property in its insurance.  Tom Dowd indicated that the Exec will bring up the issue at its next luncheon with the President’s Council, and we will report back to the Senate at our next meeting.

· Kathi Nevels reported on concerns with a proposal from a “Degree Audit Task Force” drafted May 7, 2007 as follows:  “In order to maximize the quality and continuity of the learning experience for our students and maintain the integrity of our academic programs, effective fall 2008, all students enrolled at the College will have 10 years to complete a degree or certificate within the catalog under which students first enroll.  New students will be required to use a catalog edition in effect at the time of entry or thereafter.”  Kathi distributed a statement from the Student Development faculty expressing concerns about this proposal.  Although they are supportive of setting some kind of timeframe for future students, the Student Development faculty have concerns about applying such a policy retroactively.  They advocate that “we should bring over to DARS Transferable Degrees from 1987 to date and at least the last 2 years of the Career Degrees and certificates.  In addition, any Stop-Outor Time Frame Policy we choose to adopt should not apply to students prior to the implementation of the policy.”

VI.       Adjournment

Lacking a quorum, the meeting was adjourned at 1:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Edstrom