ACADEMIC SENATE UPDATES

The Academic Senate and your senators are here to represent you, your needs, and your questions about MiraCosta College governance and vital initiatives related to professional matters, teaching, and learning. We encourage you to visit, listen in, and participate in senate meetings. Do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions, concerns, or feedback; we look forward to hearing from you!

If you are doing some special work with students on campus, in your classroom, or in the community that you would like us to share during senator reports, please contact a senator.

Dear colleagues,

The October 18th Academic Senate meeting addressed some policy updates and strategic initiatives. The meeting began with the approval of important administrative procedures. The Senate approved modifications to AP4026 concerning International Education, which underwent comprehensive review in Spring 2023. These changes primarily reflected organizational restructuring, including updates to office names and coordinator position titles. The Senate approved a new administrative procedure on Student Travel Guidelines (AP4300), developed throughout 2023 by a diverse working group representing all campus constituencies, including classified professionals, faculty, administrators, and students.

The faculty hiring discussion emerged as a central focus of the meeting. The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) presented its recommended rankings for full-time faculty positions, detailing a thorough evaluation process of 25 position requests from 17 departments. The early September submission deadline was strategically set to enable broader candidate recruitment through HR. Currently, funding exists for ten positions, though this number could be adjusted based on future budget considerations. A significant point of discussion emerged around the evaluation process for replacement versus growth positions, with AAC confirming that both types are assessed using identical criteria. The committee emphasized that retirement or faculty departure does not guarantee automatic replacement, as all positions must demonstrate ongoing departmental needs.

The meeting also introduced an innovative community-building initiative through a proposed Faculty Field Day event. The organizing team requested $600 from the Senate for a December 6th demonstration event. This initial event is envisioned as a trial run for a larger, more comprehensive program estimated at $5,000. The initiative aims to foster stronger connections between faculty and students through recreational activities, with particular attention to engaging both on-campus and online students.

A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the five-year Dual Enrollment Plan, presented with video content and slides. The plan represents two years of collaborative planning with K-12 district stakeholders, utilizing the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) framework. The presentation outlined current program strengths and opportunities, targeting specific student populations for enhanced access to college courses. Implementation challenges were openly discussed, including scheduling conflicts between high school bell schedules and college timetables, faculty qualification requirements, and the need for dedicated funding streams. The program currently operates with a mix of high school and college instructors teaching in-person and online courses, though participants emphasized the need for more robust financial and staffing support to ensure program sustainability.

Throughout the meeting, there was a consistent focus on strategic growth and program sustainability, with Senators advocating for careful consideration of resource allocation and long-term planning. The discussions reflect the Senate's commitment to maintaining academic quality while expanding educational opportunities and strengthening community partnerships.

Our next meeting will be on Friday, November 1st. If you are interested in governance work, you are always invited to attend any of our Friday meetings.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best,

Krista, Robin, Brian, Julie and Sarah

Dear Associate Colleagues,

The Academic Senate met on Friday, October 4th and discussed the following topics.

Facilities Future Plan (FFP)

We heard an update from Tim Flood on the Facilities Future Plan, which has been looking at broad ideas and goals for campus design and potential construction over the next 10 years. The plan highlighted goals such as creating a welcoming aesthetic and a sense of belonging for students and employees, giving students spaces and reasons to stick around on campus outside of classes, and optimizing the locations of various student services to help them connect to students when and where they are needed. Translated into broad design concepts, this includes continuing our trend toward the hub-based model for various academic areas, and providing outdoor community spaces for gatherings and events. This is intended to be a broad plan with the flexibility to accommodate future conditions, and the specific needs of students and departments.

Student Travel Guidelines (new AP)

Nick Mortaloni and Stacey Hull presented the draft of a new AP outlining guidelines for college-sponsored events involving student travel. This included general guidelines, as well as specific points related to behavioral expectations, lodging, transportation, and meals. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide district employees and students with clear
information about traveling with students, in combination with the substantial training materials provided for district employees who intend to lead events involving travel. Clarifying language was suggested for this new AP to explicitly make clear that both full-time and associate faculty are permitted to lead travel-based events.

Faculty-led A.I. Taskforce

We heard an update from curry Mitchell on the Academic Senate's intent to commission a task force of faculty to plan an “arcade-style” mini-conference event on January 31st (a 5th Friday during next Spring semester) that encourages all faculty to engage topics and/or skill-building activities, according to their agency, relevant to emerging AI technologies. This is built on the foundational ideas that it is vital for all faculty to engage in the AI conversation, and it is vital that faculty explore AI topics and technologies according to their own agency as instructors. The goal of the conference is to invite faculty to explore AI topics and technologies according to their own pedagogy, academic discipline, and goals for student learning, as well as to provide space and resources for faculty to work with colleagues on approaches to the challenges and opportunities that AI brings.

Have a great ongoing semester!

Robin Allyn

Julie Graboi

Sarah Gross

Brian Page

Krista Warren

Dear Associate Colleagues,

Academic Senate met on September 20th and discussed a number of topics.

Update: AB 1111

We heard an update from CPC Committee regarding common Course Numbering. This is a policy from the State Chancellor's Office to make it easier for community college students to transfer to other colleges and universities and maintain credit for coursework they have completed since the numbering of classes across all CA community colleges will be the same. Some departments will be working on this project with an imminent deadline in October. This is a difficult process that is meant to benefit CC students throughout the state.

Faculty-led, A.I. Taskforce

A new Taskforce has been created to finalize concrete goals to support colleagues and students in defining and using AI in our classes. A day-long Fifth Friday event for January 2025 is one idea under consideration to engage faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. The newly formed AI Taskforce will be meeting this week to make recommendations to the Academic Senate.

Periodic Review – Academic Senate Rules and Bylaws

A discussion about reviewing our Senate Rules and Bylaws occurred. A Taskforce was formed to review current policies to report back at the next meeting. There was a brief discussion about different senates throughout the state. The Taskforce will report back at the next meeting with their findings.

An Important Reminder about the Salary Advancement Committee

The first Salary Advancement deadline for the 2025-2026 salary advancement cycle is quickly approaching. The two deadlines to submit for salary advancement are October 1 (Fall) and March 1 (Spring)—both deadlines allow full-time faculty and associates to submit coursework for salary advancement starting July 1, 2025. Here is some quick information to help you get started on this:

Dear MiraCosta Associate Faculty,

I’m excited to introduce you to your Associate Faculty Senators who will be representing your interests in the Academic Senate this year:

Krista Warren (kwarren@miracosta.edu)

Robin Allyn (rallyn@miracosta.edu)

Brian Page (bpage@miracosta.edu)

Julie Graboi (jgraboi@miracosta.edu)

Sarah Gross (sgross@miracosta.edu)

We are here to advocate on your behalf, share important updates, and ensure your voices are heard on matters that affect our academic community.

During the recent Academic Senate meeting, AS President curry mitchell highlighted the impact of generative AI technologies on teaching and learning. The Senate is exploring ways to lead in this evolving landscape to benefit our academic departments, classroom faculty, and, ultimately, our programs and students.

He encourages us to check out the following resources:

Webinar: "Academic Integrity Policies in the Age of AI" (Passcode: Z3n5q5c$) — This recent webinar hosted by the ASCCC delves into how AI impacts academic integrity policies. Click to access the document discussed.

Professional Development Opportunity: The ASCCC is inviting faculty to apply for a compensated ($6,000) professional development opportunity. This interdistrict community of practice will convene next spring. Details and application instructions are below and attached to this email.

We look forward to collaborating further as we navigate these changes together. Please reach out to any of us with any questions or insights you may have on this important topic.

Warm regards,

~Robin & Your Associate Faculty Senate Representatives~

[Note: This message was sent to All Associate Faculty at MiraCosta College]

Created in 1963, the MiraCosta College Academic Senate is among the oldest Community College Academic Senates. By the late 1970s, it had helped develop a collegial governance process that became a model in the state. The passage of AB 1725 in 1988 confirmed the Academic Senate's role as the college's primary voice in academic and professional matters. MiraCosta College's Academic Senate affirms its commitment to a broad vision of collegial governance.

Learn More - Check out the MiraCosta College Academic Senate Bylaws: https://miracosta.edu/governance/academic-senate/_docs/ASBylaws.pdfAcademic

Academic Senate Primacy (10+1 per Title V)

1. Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines.

2. Degree and certificate requirements.

3. Grading policies.

4. Educational program development.

5. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success.

6. District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles.

7. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self-study and annual reports.

8. Policies for faculty professional development activities.

9. Processes for program review.

10. Processes for institutional planning and budget development.

11. Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate.

Academic Senate meets the first and third Friday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the Oceanside Campus, excluding holidays.
NOTE: Meetings are held as Hyflex meetings in room OCN1068 and via Zoom. The Zoom link for each meeting can be found on the Academic Senate agendas.

• Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC)
• Academic Senate HyFlex Recommendations
• California Code of Regulations (Title V)
• California Education Code (Postsecondary Education)
• Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
• Senate Rostrum (Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Newsletter - all publications)
• State Chancellor's Office

A guest on traditional, stolen Luiseño/Payómkawichum and Kumeyaay lands. For more information please go to www.csusm.edu/cicsc.