Date: 1/24/2011
Location: CD 142
Time: 1:30
Members Present: Katy Goforth, Jimmy Walker, Matt Woodall, Keri Catalfomo, Marla Roberson, Jennifer Beattie, Marilyn Vickery, Donna Shannon, Amoena Norcross, Penny Edwards, Susan Curtis, Deborah Brock, Yvonne Vinson, John Woodson.
Members Absent: Scott Brabham, Phil Smith
Guests: N/A
Presider: Katy Goforth
Approval of Minutes:
- Approved with following name corrections:
- Marla Roberts to Marla Roberson on pg. 3
- John Brabham to Scott Brabham on pg. 3
1. Issue discussed and major points of discussion:
Katy addressed the problem of newly hired adjuncts needing books and having to stand in line at the Campus Store. She spoke to Kevin Steele about this, and the following arrangements were made to remedy the problem: Department Heads or their designees should e-mail Kevin with an ISBN, book title, the account number to which to charge the book, and the place where the book should be delivered.
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
Faculty Senate members should inform their divisions of this before the next semester.
2. Issue discussed and major points of discussion: Attendance Policy
· Penny asked for clarification of the wording “class work grade.” Members discussed and decided to change wording to “overall course grade.”
· Amoena brought up consistency concerns—some instructors will still give Ws while others give Fs in the same situations—confusing to students. Senate discussed and determined that our constituents had voted for the policy to remain worded so as to leave the decision to give the W or the F at the instructor’s discretion. However, the wording of the new policy makes that more clear to the student through the phrasing “it should not be assumed that students will automatically be withdrawn…” and “students are responsible for following any class procedures for absences and understanding that faculty may have different policies related to withdrawal…”.
- The issue of whether or not to address tardies was discussed. It was determined that information regarding tardies should be included, and that the language from the current attendance policy could be used: “Students who arrive late may, at the discretion of the instructor, be marked absent for that class. Students who continually arrive late to class are subject to being withdrawn from the class.”
- The issue of summer and fast-track terms was brought up. The proposed policy as written did not address these. It was determined that the wording from the current attendance policy should be added to the proposed policy regarding this issue: “The number of allowable absences during the summer term or other sessions of varying length will be 10% of the total number of class meetings.”
- The issue of whether or not hybrid courses should be addressed was brought up. It was determined that a clause about hybrid courses should be added and that it should mention both online and face-to-face requirements for attendance and mimic the language of the online courses clause in this statement: “Specific criteria for establishing attendance may be defined by individual instructors.”
- Penny moved the proposal be taken back to committee for revisions.
- Amoena seconded.
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
The committee, composed of Katy and Jennifer, will take the proposal and make the recommended revisions and bring the revised proposal back to the Senate at the next meeting.
3. Issue discussed and major points of discussion: Academic Fresh Start
The Senate reviewed and discussed the newest version of the Academic Fresh Start policy.
· Errors in pronoun usage and comma usage were pointed out. It was also pointed out that capitalization of Academic Fresh Start should be consistent.
· Amoena presented a question about whether grades transferred into to TC from another college would be included. John clarified that Scott explained at his division meeting that the transferred-in grades do not count.
· Jimmy asked a question about whether or not students would be required to retake prerequisite courses they had previously received a passing grade in if the grades for those courses were “wiped out” by Fresh Start. John explained that, based on Scott’s explanation at his division meeting, it would be at the Department Head’s discretion. Jimmy expressed concern that some students would need to retake prerequisite courses even if they originally passed them because it had been so long since they’d passed them. John explained that this would be an issue for the Department Head to take into consideration and decide.
· John clarified that all grades would still be visible to faculty/staff even after “wiped out” by the Fresh Start.
· Deborah brought up a question about Financial Aid. Katy pointed out that Bill Whitlock is included in the group working on Academic Fresh Start to make sure all financial aid angles are covered.
· A concern was raised about bullet point #4, which reads “Petitions must be submitted no later than Registration Day for term in which he/she is applying…”. Amoena pointed out that this is a major difference from the previous draft of the policy, which read, “Petitions must be submitted prior to the 1st day of academic advising for term in which he/she is applying for an academic fresh start.” The Senate agreed that the policy should give a deadline that is at some “middle ground” point between Late Registration Day and the 1st day of academic advising for the term. The Late Registration Deadline does not allow time for advising and processing.
· A question was raised about bullet point #1, which reads, “Students must have earned at least 24 credit hours.” The question was whether or not that included Comprehensive Studies courses or not. There was also a question about whether non-credit, non-Comprehensive studies courses, such as ENG 100 or MAT 102, would count towards the 24. The Senate agreed that this point was unclear.
· A question was raised about bullet point #1, which reads, “Students must have earned at least 24 credit hours.” The question was whether or not those 24 hours must be from TCTC or whether or not transferred-in hours would count towards the 24. The Senate agreed the wording on this is unclear.
· A question was raised regarding whether or not the policy as written emphasizes to the student that transfer institutions would still be able to use the grades “wiped out” by the Academic Fresh Start to calculate GPA. It was pointed out that the top paragraph explains that “”all courses and grades” will continue to “appear on his/her transcript.” The suggestion was made that adding “other colleges or universities” into the last bullet point could make sure this is very clear: “This policy does not supersede any state or federal policies or the policies of other colleges or universities related to determination of scholarships…”.
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
Katy will take the Senate’s recommendations to Academic Delivery Group.
4. Issue discussed and major points of discussion: Text and eTC messages
- Katy brought forward a concern from a non-Senate faculty member about the inconsistency between text and eTC messages regarding the closing/delayed opening of the college at the beginning of the term. The point was made that the messages do not specify to which campus they refer. For example, the message about employees reporting to work and parking in Lot A seemed to be directed only at the Pendleton campus. What about other campuses?
Katy pointed out that 3 different college employees are sending out those messages.- It was also pointed out that the messages did not specify whether or not students should begin online classes.
- The Senate agreed that the messages need to be consistent and clear. Also, the Senate agreed that messages should specify that they refer to all campuses—virtual and face-to-face to avoid confusion.
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
Katy will take recommendations to Rebecca Eidson and also Academic Delivery group.
5. Issue discussed and major points of discussion: Travel Money
· John brought up the questions about when an announcement regarding travel funds for this year would come out.
· Katy explained that it should come out the same week as this meeting, but it may only go to the Deans and trickle down from there.
Action to be taken as a result of discussion, person(s) responsible, and timeline:
None.
Next meeting date, time, and location:
February 14, 1:30, CD 142
March 14, 1:30, CD 142
April 18, 1:30, CD 142
Name of recorder: Jennifer Beattie
