Minutes of Monday, November 21, 2016

Bristol Community College

Faculty & Professional Staff Senate Meeting

Minutes of Monday, November 21, 2016

Room H209 3:15pm

Senators in attendance: Worthington, C. Almeida, J. Corven, D. Behuniak, R. Rebelo, H. Tinberg, J. Boulay, D. Avedikian, R D. Quenga, J. Jodoin, K. Fassbender, K. Plante, D. St. George, M. Hyde, L. Neubert, M. Geary, J. Pelletier, K. Hiller, J. Jodoin-Krauzyk, S. Ferreira, J. Emond, L. Delano-Botelho, G. Hamel, M. K. Roberts, D. Avedikian, J. Constantine, J. J. Bjornson

Absences: J. Dekkers-Mitchell, A. Marden, K. Woldegiorgis

Excused Absences: J. Barry,

Five guests attended this meeting.

Special guests included Dean Suzanne Buglione and Vice President Kathy Torpey-Garganta.

Meeting called to order:  3:17 pm

Minutes:  Minutes from October 24 were reviewed and approved with no abstentions.

Division Reports

·         Division 4: Health information management and psychology courses worked on a collaborative Service-Learning project and will host a holiday wellness fair and bone marrow drive on December 5^th

·         Division 5: Should the classroom moves and new space fall under the AI process?

·         Lash: Dr. Sacco Onebook presentation was well attended and was streamed on Facebook Live; the Multistate Collaborative artifact collection begins soon; the Writing Center delivered 48 classroom presentations, reaching 700+ students

Update on Strategic Goals

A. Academic Support and Retention

·         VP Kathy Garganta on the Enrollment and Retention Council:

o    Audit findings on withdrawals, enrollment verifications:

§  The college received findings from auditors when the last date of attendance is not accurate; the college has 60 days to submit to the national clearinghouse in order to be compliant—this translates to 21-30 days internally. A lack of compliance can lead to monetary implications for the college. The college has had 4-5 years of findings.

§  Enrollment is requesting a change to the withdrawal policy where after 10^th week, faculty cannot withdraw (mimicking the student policy).

§  Questions were raised on how to reach adjunct faculty. The following considerations were offered:

·         Could this use the AI form and receive support from MACER and the Senate?

·         If the date entered exceeds the number of day window, could an error message pop up?

·         Could there be reminders on campus monitors?

·         Senators were asked to send questions or comments to Vice President Garganta.

o    Enrollment Retention Council

§  Co-chaired by 3 vice presidents (Kathy Torpey-Garganta, Steve Ozug, and Greg Sethares) and started with 4 subcommittees:

1.    Academic strategies

2.    Expand outreach to at risk-students

3.    Building a culture of data

4.    Expanding student engagement

5.    Hunger team was later added to the ER Council

§  The Council meets monthly and is open to everyone.

§  Next meeting: December 1 in J111

·         Dean Suzanne Buglione on Joint Task Force on Academic Support and Retention and the Spring Summit on Support and Retention:

o    Retention Summit (from Senate Task Force on Academic Support and Retention recommendations) will be the theme for the March Professional Day.

o    It will serve as an opportunity to bring all members of college community to focus on retention; not everyone can attend the Enrollment/Retention Council meetings.

o    The Lash Division had a preliminary conversation about a possible structure for the Summit.

o    The Senate offered the following suggestions:

§  look at programs, majors, departments that are successful with retention

§  explore when retention is not best option for student

§  how to promote creativity and innovation in the classroom

§  identify pitfalls of intrusive advising (long-term expectations)

§  un-conference models: lecture, poster board, voting, planning

§  culmination of day should be an action plan

§  consider incorporation of adjunct faculty (adjunct faculty needs); could Adjunct PD Day replicate Retention Summit

§  explore campus equity

§  explore student self-efficacy and motivation

§  explore systemic problem of too few full-time faculty

B. Curricular Alignment and Integration

·         An additional volunteer for joint task force is needed, and across campuses. Senators should consider joining this committee to advocate for FT and PT faculty.

·         Some faculty feel there is pressure to create online courses without faculty consultation; there is pressure to design online courses within general education without faculty approval or discussion. This allows students from all campuses to access courses and programs online, but some courses may not have faculty input which becomes an academic freedom issue. Some students may benefit more from face-to-face courses.

C. Whole Student Initiative

·         The goal is to form a joint task force—perhaps this could be a subgroup in Enrollment Retention Council. The goals include:

o    Work to acquire, and aggregate current, data on the economic challenges facing our students that affect academic performance.

·         The charge will include the following:

o    design and distribute a survey of students on their economic needs as those needs affect academic work

o    conduct focus groups on students’ economic well-being

o    consolidate current data on student needs

o    distribute data acquired to ALL instructional staff, full and part-time

o    offer data-driven recommendations that will enhance students’ opportunity to succeed academically

·         Senators are encouraged to contact Jenn to join.

Other Campus Business

A.    Interviews of Presidential Finalists:

·         While the Senate’s role may not be clear, Senators were encouraged to participate in the meetings with the finalists.

·         Senators were asked to share potential questions with Howard or Jenn to create a repository of questions that could be used.

B.    Susan Ledoux v. Bristol

·         The Senate’s role in this matter was discussed. While the results of this court case impacts the culture conditions on campus and integrity of the academic mission of the college, the union will play the lead role on this matter. The Senate yields to the union on matters of working conditions and a line between the union and Senate concerns are clearly delineated. However, there are concerns over whether there will be an appeal made by the college, where the $2.45 million dollars will come from, how this will impact college in terms of services offered.

Meeting Adjourned:  4:22 pm

Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Boulay, BCC Faculty & Professional Staff Secretary

Minutes of October 24, 2016

Bristol Community College

Faculty & Professional Staff Senate Meeting

Minutes of Monday, October 24, 2016

Room J211 3:15pm

Senators in attendance:  R. Worthington, C. Almeida, J. Corven, D. Behuniak, D. Quenga, G. Hamel, R. Rebelo, H. Tinberg, J. Boulay, J. Jodoin, K. Fassbender, D. Avedikian, K. Plante, D. St. George, M. Hyde, L. Neubert, M. Geary, J. Barry, J. Pelletier, K. Hiller, J. Constantine, J. Emond, J. Jodoin-Krauzyk

Absences: J. Dekkers-Mitchell, A. Marden, K. Woldegiorgis

Excused Absences: S. Ferreira, J. Bjornson, M. K. Roberts

Two guests attended this meeting.

Meeting called to order:  3:17 pm

Minutes:  Minutes from October 11 were reviewed and approved with a modification to note Jenn facilitated the meeting and Deb took minutes.

Division Reports

·         Division 1: The English Department has had conversations with the Testing Center about having the student placement test typed rather than handwritten. Questions were raised as to whether the student writing could be saved in the event the re-tested.

·         Division 2: Gen Ed discussion; OER resources for students; certificate of achievement in Native American Studies (to CWCC) online for teachers in FR; look at process of who is consulted

·         Division 3:

·         Division 4: Anna Strachoff, who passed away in March, has a scholarship fund in progress. There is currently $4k available, but need $15k is needed for a Foundation endowment. Patty Schryver is arranging a wine giveaway with a minimum $20 donation; contact Patricia.Schryver@bristolcc.edu for more information.

·         Division 5: Adrienne Foster is collecting information on Gen Ed from Division 5. The division is looking at the price of textbooks and the required bundle code. There are 2 science labs remaining in the E building after the opening of the J building.

Update on Strategic Goal

A. Collaboration

·         Senate input on All-Academic Meeting Agendas: VP Sethares has offered the opportunity to the Senate; Howard and Jenn solicited topics from Senate for their meeting with him.

·         Representative to Academic Vice-President’s Council: VP Sethares should discuss process soon; previously Executive Committee members of the Senate were invited to attend, but this change would have a consistent Senate representative at the table.

o    Questions were raised about the process for sharing information, what the draft position will look like, how reassigned time would work for professional staff, and what role he or she might play in the larger picture.

B. Academic Support and Retention

·         The Joint Task Force on Academic Support and Retention will officially begin their work.

o    In the August 2016, President Sbrega convened a group to respond to Senate’s Task Force on Academic Support and Retention report and recommendations; however, it was not conveyed it was beginning of task force.

o    Representation of various stakeholders

o    Charge? Plan spring summit of retention

·         Spring Summit on Support and Retention:

o    The Spring Professional Day in March will focus on this theme and it will be an opportunity to see what data is collected from various sectors, what this data tells us, and how things are followed through. Planners and participants will need to think outside the box (not solely presentations), and include active workshops and brainstorming.

o    Senators are asked to send ideas to Howard for consideration when the group convenes. The following suggestions were discussed.

§  Should focus on practical solutions (e.g., classroom level, campus level); how students can feel more at home, more connected, more invested.

§  Start by asking program coordinators, directors, advisors about concerns heard from students upon entering program. Have participants come up with possible solutions then implement during following academic year. Share results and progress at All Academic meetings.

§  Target students who are entering college, floundering students, etc.

§  What are best practices? Why are we not engaging in them? What programs are working? Why are they working?

§  Could we foster a community similar to programs like Nursing for larger programs such as General Studies?

§  How could MapWorks be used toward this end? How could the student voice be incorporated?

§  When students matriculate, are we transparent with them about expectation?

§  How can various areas begin to collaborate?

§  Could the Alumni Association participate in this effort? Could alumni serve as role models for students and have frank discussions with them?

§  How do faulty metrics impact success (e.g., 150% time used to measure community college success)?

C. Whole Student Initiative

·         Charge of the Joint Task Force on Student Need will be to acquire and aggregate current data on the economic challenges facing our students that affect academic performance. Specifically, how do economic pressures impact work and school balance?

o    Next Steps: Solicit volunteers; promote to VP Sethares and President Sbrega

o    Consider attrition rates of those in programs and those who are not.

o    Consider what stakeholders should be represented. While many groups are looking at these problems, there currently is not a faculty voice. The last Senate meeting highlighted some other committees that are exploring student need.

D. Curricular Alignment and Integration

·         Because AVP Ucci’s proposal is related to the Senate’s goal of curricular alignment across campuses, a recommendation was made to combine alignment task force with Joint Task Force on Curriculum Development Process; the charge for this new task force will need to be revisited.

·         Currently, there is not consistency across divisions in curriculum process; established transparent processes are needed.

·         There is also disconnect between CWCC and BHE; changes from BHE can create a program different than what was approved by CWCC.

Other

Meeting Adjourned:  4:19 pm

Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Boulay, BCC Faculty & Professional Staff Secretary

Minutes of October 11, 2016

Bristol Community College

Faculty & Professional Staff Senate Meeting

Minutes of Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Room B102 3:15 pm

Senators in attendance: J. Pelletier, D. St. George, R. Worthington, J. Boulay, L. Neubert, L. Delano-Botelho, J. Corven, B. French, J. Constantine, J. Jodoin-Krauzyk, J. Bjornson, M. Geary, G. Hamel, D. Quenga, K.  Plante, C. Almeida, M. Hyde, D. Avedikian, S. Ferreira, K. Fassbender, J. Emond, J. Barry

Absences: R. Rebelo, M. Roberts, K. Woldegiorgis, J. Dekkers-Mitchel, A. Marden, M. Roberts

Excused Absences: H. Tinberg, K. Hiller, D. Behuniak

Special Guest: Anthony Ucci

One guest attended this meeting.

Meeting called to order:  3:15 pm

Minutes:  Minutes from September were reviewed and approved without abstention.
Note: Jenn Boulay facilitated the meeting and Debra St. George took minutes.

Welcome and Introductions

Secretary Boulay announced that all 29 Senate slots have been filled. She also welcomed Debra St. George as Vice President.  

Division Reports

·         Division 1: Representatives from the Writing Center have been offering workshops to provide students with a general overview of what the Writing Center is, where it can be found and why students should  seek their assistance. It is presented either as a 15 minute talk or a 50 minute simulated tutoring session that is conducted in the classroom. Thus far 40 presentations have taken place over 4 campuses.

The BCC Holocaust Center and LusoCentro have partnered to present The Consul of Bordeaux - a new film about Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Portuguese consul in Bordeaux who saved over 30,000 lives from Nazi persecution. Additional collaborative endeavors are scheduled will be presented over the fall semester.

·         Division 2: Newly acquired space in E Building will be converted to house the Psychology Club, a Pathway for Psychology Program and a criminalist lab.

·         Division 5: Most laboratories have moved to J Building. Two Chemistry labs remain in E205.

Whole Student Initiative

Subcommittees addressing barriers for students at BCC in addition to academics were discussed:

·         The Retention council which includes the Hunger Committee is looking into expanding the Food Pantry to campuses other than Fall River. Transportation among campuses is another topic to be explored. Parking in New Bedford was also identified as a hardship for students. Suggestions were made to offer reduced fee or free parking for students as parking is free in specific garages for faculty.

·         The Expanding Student Engagement is co-chaired by Kathy Burns and Cheryl Sclar; no report available

·         The “No Name Committee” is looking into academic support and student retention but quantitative data is not yet available.

It is difficult to identify the at risk student unless they self identify. Map-Works can be as a means of gathering data on students in need if utilized more extensively. Faculty and Staff were encouraged to promote students’ taking the Map-Works survey by October 31, 2016.

NEASC Working Groups

Four subgroups are working to complete a draft report due in November. The groups include:

·         Advising

·         Dual Enrollment

·         Shared Governance

·         Outcomes assessment

Feedback from Shared Governance indicated that illustrating communication and transparency were goals. Monthly reports will be posted to the all share drive as monthly report feedback varies among divisions.  

Invited Speaker

 Associate Vic President for Academic Affairs Anthony Ucci presented two Academic Initiatives:

·         Coordinated Guided Pathway to Success

Many BCC students encounter problems with progression through their course of study due to a lack of college readiness. For example, 45% of students need developmental Math before they can move on and graduate. This scenario leads to students becoming discouraged and leaving school. AVP Ucci recommended that the College schedule classes, realign resources more successfully and build teams to work together to better meet student needs. Extended discussion ensued, but more work is needed.

·         Curriculum Development

AVP Ucci asked for volunteers to participate in a task force to review the curriculum development process. There is a need for correlation between the Board of higher Education and the College Wide Curriculum Committee.

Title III

Constituents provided feedback on why so few proposals were submitted from faculty and professional staff. Comments included:

·         The need for a longer window of time

·         Clarification on difference between a Title III proposal and Strategic Plan proposals

·         Recovery from work to rule required

·         A team initiative rather than individual input was needed to address the scope of Title III

Meeting Adjourned:  4:20 pm

Respectfully submitted, Debra St. George, BCC Faculty & Professional Staff Vice President

Minutes of September 19, 2016

Bristol Community College

Faculty & Professional Staff Senate Meeting

Minutes of Monday, September 19, 2016

Room H129 3:15 pm

Senators in attendance:  Robyn Worthington, Carlos Almeida, Livia Neubert, Jim Pelletier, Sil Ferreira, Geraldine Hamel, Dan Avedikian, Deb St. George, Mike Geary, Jacci Barry, Jenn Boulay, Howard Tinberg, Debra Quenga, Marie Roberts, Mary Hyde, Jon Bjornson, Jim Corven Dana Behuniak, Ric Rebelo, Kelly Fassbender, Julie Jodoin-Krauzyk, Lisa Delano-Botelho, James Emond, Debra Quenga,

Absences:, Jennifer Dekkers-Mitchell, Kelemu Woldegiorgis, Jim Constantine

Excused Absences: Kelli Hiller, Amy Marden

Nine guests attended this meeting.

Special guests included Joyce Brennan and Holly Pappas.

Meeting called to order:  3:12 pm

Welcome and Introductions:

President Tinberg welcomed new and returning Senators.

Minutes:  Minutes from September 1 meeting were approved with abstentions due to absences.

Division Reports

·         Division 1: ESL students could benefit from additional supports— ESL is not currently offered in Taunton or Attleboro; letters from Enrollment can be confusing and are not translated to other languages. A discussion followed regarding access to bilingual forms during admissions and whether the Portuguese and Spanish Interpreting Programs can help.

·         Division 4: Faculty members obtained doctoral degrees

·         Lash: The K building is closed after hours and students don’t have access to the computer lab as a result. A discussion followed regarding equitable distribution of resources across campuses.

·         Advising: Some college policies create red tape that can impair student success (e.g., purge for nonpayment or missing financial aid paperwork).

Vote on Senate Strategic Goals 2016-17

·         A motion was made and passed unanimously to approve the proposed strategic goals for AY 2016-17. They include curricular alignment and integration, culture of collaboration, and a whole student initiative (ongoing goals from last year: governance, student support and retention).

Invited Speaker: Joyce Brennan, Vice President, College Communications

·         Vice President Brennan introduced herself to the Senate, provided her personal background, and offered some updates and goals for College Communications.

·         Background: Started at BCC on August 1, 2016, she knows the local community and has worked in a similar capacity at Southcoast Health (team structure that supports external entities)

·         Update: She has begun working on a strategic plan with her department and has begun auditing their social media strategy (e.g., what are they promoting and who are they targeting).

·         Goals:

o    Finding and sharing faculty stories

o    Soliciting feedback from Senate

o    Tapping into new audiences (adult learners, veterans)

o    Plans to come back to share communication plan, once assembled

·         Website: Contract was on her desk upon hire, but she just left a website revamp at Southcoast Health and felt further exploration was needed before paying for a revision. Overall, she finds the website needs work, is confusing and is not student-friendly. RFP will be put out and the company that did the groundwork could be rehired. She plans to come back to the Senate with a concept for the website first. She hopes to become a strategic partner with the Senate on this work.

Follow up: Task Force Report on Student Retention/Academic Support and Meeting with Administration

·         The Senate conducted an electronic vote on whether the Senate should join the proposed task force and it was approved.

·         President Tinberg will follow up with the administration to discuss a timeline and charge for the group. He will propose a plan for a college-wide conversation such as a retention summit for the spring.

Update on General Education Review

·         Holly presented draft competencies to the Senate. They are critical reading and analysis, scientific reading and discovery, quantitative and symbolic reasoning, global and historical awareness, multicultural and social perspectives, ethical dimensions, and information and technical literacy. Additional work is needed for written and oral communication, and humanities.

·         Some competencies were previously approved, but not implemented.

·         Bloom’s Taxonomy was used for draft competencies in an effort to make them more assessable.

·         She proposed a possible assessment day for assessing the proposed competencies.

·         Next, members of the group will attend the monthly division and program chairs meetings to solicit feedback from faculty.

·         Draft competencies will be shared with the Senate in a Google Doc and Senators are encouraged to join the taskforce.

·         President Tinberg commended the group for using the AI process as it was intended.

Update on NEASC Working Groups

·         Update was provided at professional staff meeting prior to the Senate meeting.

o    Governance: They are looking at models of shared governance and are composing draft language for NEASC. They are referencing the Central Committee’s findings on the committee structure at the college. New AI proposals have been submitted to President Tinberg and Secretary Boulay, which will be shared with Senators at the next meeting. A discussion followed regarding who is initiating, who is signing off on initiatives, and what are the implications for doing so. Constituent access to college monthly reports was also discussed. There should be a central repository so all college members have access to this information.

Other

·         ODS is identifying testing space. They proctored almost 800 exams in Fall River last year; however, the existing ODS space is not conducive. They are looking for low-cost proposal for a classroom near ODS. The question was raised as to whether the Senate can assist with this and if the Academic Initiative (AIE form should be used.

·         A question was raised as to whether the college would reduce costs by having certifications done internally.

Meeting Adjourned:  4:19 pm

Respectfully submitted, Jennifer Boulay, BCC Faculty & Professional Staff Secretary