More Neanderthalic noise: Why, that Cave Man is our very own Don Wagner!

Here we come ... walkin' down the street ...

     This story caught our attention today:

GOP legislators propose California school districts arm teachers (LA Times)

     According to the Times,

     A group of Republican state lawmakers Wednesday proposed allowing school districts to spend education funds to train teachers, administrators and janitors in gun use. … [T]he lawmakers said arming school personnel would help protect campuses against violent intruders.
     "The idea is to create essentially an invisible line of defense around our kids," said Assemblyman and "tea party" adherent Tim Donnelly of San Bernardino….
. . .
     "With all due respect to my Republican colleagues, that [bill] is just absolutely ludicrous," [Democratic Sen. Leland] Yee said. "I don't know of any educator who would be interested in packing a gun into a school."
. . .
     "The goal of school safety is not to see who can win a gunfight … It is to prevent shootings in the first place and keep guns out of schools" [said Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance)].
     Donnelly … was once fined more than $2,200 for taking a loaded gun to Ontario International Airport….

     Among supporters of the bill are Republicans Diane Harkey of Dana Point and—you guessed it!—Don "Boom Boom" Wagner of Irvine.

     On a still lighter note, one of our colleagues offered the following suggestion for the name of the soon-to-be-built Barranca entrance to IVC: "Dissent the Road."
     That one cracked me up.

SEE ALSO Derek Reeve wants to arm teachers Dec 19, 2012

Neanderthalic noises

Another Liberal Arts Critic (Inside Higher Ed)
…McCrory’s comments on higher education echo statements made by a number of Republican governors – including those in Texas, Florida and Wisconsin – who have questioned the value of liberal arts instruction and humanities degrees at public colleges and universities. Those criticisms have started to coalesce into a potential Republican agenda on higher education, emphasizing reduced state funding, low tuition prices, vocational training, performance funding for faculty members, state funding tied to job placement in “high demand” fields and taking on flagship institutions….

Fight over shared governance in CA

Shared Governance Feud in California Continues (Inside Higher Ed)
     The new chancellor of California's community colleges, Brice W. Harris, has written in opposition to a legal challenge to the system's shared governance structure. California Competes, a nonprofit group led by Robert Shireman, says local academic senates have illegal veto power over board actions, which contributes to a "tangled bureaucracy." Harris, however, said the shared governance regulations are lawful and good public policy. And while he said the group's intentions are well-meaning, they are "seriously flawed." [End]

     The legal challenge at one point (p. 5) refers to “Irvine Valley College Academic Senate v. Board of Trustees of the South Orange County Community College Dist.” That successful suit focused on a statute, which is cited by the challenge to illustrate the intention of legislators in the case of AB1725: “If the Legislature had intended to limit the District Board’s power to those issues on which it could secure mutual agreement from the academic senate, it would have said so explicitly as it did in another provision of AB 1725. Education Code Section 87360 states that 'hiring criteria, policies, and procedures for new faculty members shall be developed and agreed upon jointly by representatives of the governing board, and the academic senate, and approved by the governing board.' (Cal. Ed. Code §87360).” Chancellor Mathur and the board violated that statute when they unilaterally established a new faculty hiring policy, leaving the academic senates out of the process. See “How rude are you!”: the senates sue the district. See also Boom! —RB

SOCCCD CHRONICLES: Saddleback College claims that particular part of the color spectrum

IVC's PAC: Saddleback north?

     As you know, among the construction projects at Irvine Valley College is the new biology building, which, after the inevitable snafu (problems with bankrupt contractors, as I recall), got back on track and is well on its way to completion, I guess.
     Recently, a colleague dropped by to explain the latest absurdity concerning the project. There’s very little color in the building, he said, and what color there is is some kind of red.
     But there’s a problem. Those red accents must be replaced, it seems.
     Why?
     Said the friend: “evidently Saddleback College claims that particular part of the color spectrum.”
     “Huh?”
     “Red is Saddleback’s color. We’re blue.”
     “Yeah, like those goddam balloons they put up all the time,” said another colleague.
     "You're kidding!" I said. "We can't use any red?"
     “Nope. No red allowed.”

PAC: there were so many options

     There was silence.
     “Evidently, black is OK, too. They’re gonna go with black. Beige and black.”
     After a second or two, another colleague mentioned the curious factoid that our celebrated Performing Arts Center (PAC) is colored red, more or less. It looks like a big, rusty collision of geometric shapes.
     “Yeah,” said the friend, “but that’s because the building was supposed to be brick, but they fucked up and the project ran out of money, and so they went with the usual cheapy stucco and painted it ‘brick’—i.e., a particularly ugly shade of red chosen by Glenn [Roquemore, IVC’s Prez].”
     "I heard that he chose that color 'cuz the paint happened to be on sale," I said.
     We stared into space.

Note: I am not suggesting that Saddleback College has somehow interceded to prevent the use of red in the building. My assumption was that some district or college official imposed some sort of district rule or understanding to the effect that red is for Saddleback, blue is for IVC. C'mon.

From IVC Facebook page

Tenure Time

At this time of year, a number of faculty hired a few years ago approach their "tenure time"—the date in the academic calendar where their tenure is approved, or not, by the Board of Trustees.

Old hands will remember a time in the thankfully distant past where the tenure process was vulnerable to political pressure and petty vendettas of personality. Some may recall its nadir which culminated in a dramatic standing room only Board of Trustees meeting and almost cost us a fine colleague. Over the years, our union leadership labored to reform the process to make it meaningful and to protect the faculty as well as the institution.

Recent hires have expressed the predictable concerns one might expect and have been reassured that the institution can now distinguish between those worth retaining and those not. Of course, this is also the result of reformed hiring processes as well.

Today the district is, of course, more risk averse than ever. One wonders about the lawsuit that might have been had Mathur and company prevailed that March evening and denied the tenure of that faculty member in question.

For the play-by-play of that unforgettable evening see: Mathur Goes After Jeff for Naming a Greenhouse (aka "Hello Mr. Chips"). Yes, it's all true. You can't make this stuff up though some would really like for us to forget it all. But we can't do that either. We're too academic. Plus, it's way too entertaining and instructive. Was the instructor almost denied tenure despite his excellent teaching record? Yes. As the then Chancellor Sampson said, "His teaching isn't the issue." Again, one wonders about the lawsuit that might have been. 

Of course, even the reformed process is only as sound as the good faith of all its participants.

Let us know how it goes out there.

SEE ALSO:

• The infamous “greenhouse” affair, part 1 - Feb 29 2000
• The infamous “greenhouse” affair, part 2 - Mar 20 2000
• Tales of Snafuery - Sep 07 2006
• Some Mathurian tales of pettiness and ruthlessness - Jan 04 2000

*

Bad news

Senator Harkin Will Not Seek Re-Election (Inside Higher Ed)
     Senator Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who plays a key role in Congress on higher education issues, has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2014. Harkin is chair of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and of the appropriations subcommittee for education and health. In those roles, he has … been a frequent critic of for-profit higher education, and has backed tougher regulation of for-profit colleges….

Irvine invocation revived, sparks debate (OC Reg)
     IRVINE – Shortly after Irvine's City Council and those gathered in the audience pledge allegiance to the American flag, "under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," they'll hear an invocation from a rotating roster of Irvine-based religious leaders….

IRVINE VALLEY CHRONICLES: Laser, Transfer, Achievement, Success, Veteran or Student Success—Road?

Achievement Road?

     On Thursday, the IVC campus community was sent an email, asking us to take a survey to help name the Barranca Road Entrance, which will soon be constructed.
     According to the email,

The name we select must be completely unique and cannot be repeated, even in part, at another location in the city of Irvine.

     The ballot/survey (see below) includes names suggested “through the College Council” that have been screened by the city: Laser, Transfer, Achievement, Success, Veteran, and Student Success.

     The inclusion of “Laser”—the IVC mascot—is odd given that, a few years ago, the college established a committee to find a replacement mascot. (The college sold its actual laser device many years ago.)
     As you can see, recipients of the email have an opportunity to suggest another name.
     Any ideas?

RELATED:

• The Lariat Gaucho - 2 8 06
     I showed the Lariat Gaucho to knowledgeable Latino colleagues, who assured me that that "Gaucho" causes OUCHO followed by GROUCHO.

• Gaucho & Laser ridiculosity - 2 15 06
     The problem: Gauchos are not angry bandits, they are dignified cowboys. Further, Gauchos are not known for wearing Mexican sombreros (not that there's anything wrong with Mexican sombreros!). Gauchos are Argentinian cowboys that have an identity—and a hat—all their own.

• Wanted: A New Mascot for IVC - 11 16 09
     “The Associated Students of Irvine Valley College are asking you to nominate your idea for the next generation’s College Mascot.”

• Stupid mascots and the Irvine Company's "black heart" - 12 26 09
     According to Bassett, students wanted a silly mascot, like Santa Barbara's "banana slugs," but the Irvine Co. hired professionals to come up with dignified mascots and images, and the pressure was on. The students rejected all that. Must've pissed off those Irvinos.

ALSO:

• Naming Saddleback's "Butt" Library 
     Saddleback College's "James B. Utt" Library—commonly referred to as the "Butt" Library—was named after a nutty cold warrior with a history of highly unfortunate remarks.

Frustrated Inner-City Students Running Out Of Ideas To Motivate Teachers

Official inquiry: when was Harvard Rd. Sewage facility renamed “Raghustan”?

OC Grand Jury Issues Scathing Report on CalOptima (Voice of OC)

Rebel Girl's Poetry Corner: "I want to pass your class"

A little something for the beginning of the semester.  (By the way, the poet teaches across town at UCI as a lecturer and also at CSULB.)

From the Spring 2012 issue of Zyzzyva:

Dear Professor
~ David Hernandez

Let me explain my lengthy absence -
My entire family got food poisoning,
myself included.  We had eaten rotten
fish tacos, old bad cod, I've never been so
nauseous, the house wouldn't stop
spinning, wouldn't stop shuffling
its windows, I was gushing from
I'll spare you the details.  And Grandma
shutting down, hallucinating, said the world
was pixilated. We rushed her to St. Mary's
on a flat tire, no spare in the trunk,
a burst of sparks as the screaming rim
scored the road like a pizza cutter.
They plugged her in, her monitor drew
neon green mountain ranges. Strange,
you'd think they have Internet access
there, free wi-fi, a wing in the hospital
to check one's email.  Odd, too, no
connectivity back home, no electric blood
sluicing through the wires, a hitch
in the system, some inexplicable glitch,
impossible for me to get a hold of you
until now, two weeks after the due date.
I'm sorry.  And sorry I missed class today,
another flat tire, stupid overturned
box of nails on the freeway, I hissed
for miles, the cars listed, such a headache,
and still queasy from the tacos. Please
consider this when grading my essay
(see attachment).  Please excuse any typos
or logical fallacies, my mind has been
elsewhere: Grandma's mountains
stretched flat.  Her green horizon.  I want
to live forever.  I want to pass your class
and graduate, get a gig, marry some hottie.
see the world, drive until my wheels
come wobbling off, and keep driving -
but first I need to pass your class.
No pressure.  Honestly.  No pressure.

*

SOCCCD CHRONICLES: Trustee Jemal takes the tour

     Earlier today, new trustee Tim Jemal was spotted touring Irvine Valley College, speaking with various personnel. I gather that IVC Prez Glenn Roquemore was showing him around.
     We at DtB have always valued and encouraged that sort of thing. We've advocated more and regular visits to the campuses by the governing board. Based on the reports I received (I did not encounter Jemal myself), it sounds as though he was asking good questions, trying to learn the lay of the land. Great!
     Last night, Jemal stirred things up a bit at the monthly Board of Trustees meeting, for he boldly requested three reports: concerning (1) the adequacy of mental health services and facilities for students, (2) the kind and degree of business partnerships at the colleges/campuses, and (3) the effectiveness of CTE programs (Career Technical Education) across the district. Nancy—who, as I recall, endorsed Jemal's trustee candidacy (as did Marcia Milchiker and the likes of Carolyn Inmon)—seemed miffed and sought to have Jemal simply meet with staff and get up to speed. But, largely, Jemal prevailed, and the reports will be generated, though the request for the last and the largest report hasn't yet received a green light. (It seemed to receive Chancellor Gary Poertner's support.) It awaits some estimation of how long producing the thing will take.

     It's kinda nice to see somebody showing up and stirring things up—likely in a very positive way. We'll see, I guess.
     Today, Rebel Girl reminded me how different things are now compared to the days of Tom Fuentes and John Williams. The board is free of such retrograde characters now. It will be interesting to see what kind of trustee Mr. Jemal will turn out to be.
     I have high hopes.

EXACTLY, THREE YEARS AGO:
Mathur canned, Communications Padberged

Related:

• 96 Tears in the Closet - Nancy can't deal with a documentary about an elderly lesbian
• Tomorrow's board meeting, part 3: Saddleback College to be rated "PG" - Gutting a program at SC

• The Student Film/Channel 39 issue (tonight's hot issue)
• Mathur's out - The night they fired his ass
• Chancellor Mathur makes an announcement - Yeah, you decided to retire

SOCCCD CHRONICLES: January's meeting of the SOCCCD Board of Trustees: Jemal stirs things up

     Just got here—at about 5:45, perhaps 15 minutes late.
     As I entered the room, Chancellor Gary Poertner was finishing his "chancellor's report." I gather that, before I arrived, people referred to the passing of Board Prez Nancy Padberg's husband and IVC Prez Glenn Roquemore's father.
     Evidently, the college presidents now provide their reports immediately after the chancellor's report. Roquemore's almost done yammering. He's talking about some recent theft on campus—the perps were apprehended, thanks to D. Gordon, Angela M, Ann A, Mark P, and Officer Mancini. Glenn has them stand up. I think they got a piece of paper or something. And a "hearty handclasp," as W.C. Fields used to say.
     Todd Burnett, Pres. of Saddleback College, now speaks. Blah, blah, blah. He has nurse Phillis Kucharski stand. Evidently, she was recently honored with the title "Educator of the Year" by some big foundation somewhere. "We're very proud of you, Phyllis." Phyllis is gracious, has her coworkers stand up too.
   

     Board requests for reports.
     Oh boy. There are three requests, and "both are by" trustee Tim Jemal, says Board Prez Nancy Padberg. (See Why, the cheek of the man!—Jemal's requests for reports.) Jemal, a newbie, reads his first request, which is an inquiry into the adequacy of mental health facilities and services for students. Nancy notes that, recently, the trustees had a tour of Saddleback's health building, but this request concerns the entire district.
     Poertner says: we can come back in February with a report on mental health. The other two (requests for reports) will take longer, will need more time.
     "We can't tie the staff up with these special reports," says Nancy. Nevertheless, Jemal's first request is approved unanimously.
     Next requested report: in the area of business partnerships, an area of greatest interest to "me," says Jemal, a local businessman. What is the status of partnerships at the three campuses?, etc.
     Poertner says we can have that report next month(?). Trustee Jim Wright notes....
     Nancy notes that the presumption here seems to be that we want these relationships/partnerships in all these areas. Maybe not.
     Lang pipes up, noting that the trustees often hear about partnerships, lots of references. He wants to "better understand" where we want to go with this. "We're a community college," he notes. Not sure how to evaluate the level of involvement, where we're going, he says. He seems bewildered.
     Nancy: "much of this exists. We do have grants, partnerships." We should start by looking at all that, then consider new partnerships, she says. "Lots of these things exist." That needs to be fleshed out first.
     Jemal: Yes, I agree. Let's take inventory, understand where we are. My underlying assumption is indeed that there's room for growth. But I'm only asking for a look at what we have now. I think I'm agreeing with you. Not mandating that new outreach occur yet.

     Nancy: maybe you can sit down with staff to get a feel for all of this on your own. Saddleback College Ac. Sen. Prez Bob Cosgrove pipes up: faculty would necessarily be involved in developing this report, too. Takes time, effort.
     So, asks Nancy, what would we like to do with this?
     Poertner says the request is "OK." A two month period of time is enough time to get back to the board.
     Burnett says Jemal's next request will require even more time. Lots of programs involved. Two months is reasonable, though.
     Prendergast: this seems doable. He's only asking for info. Prendergast moves to approve request. They vote: Unanimous.
     Third report: Jemal: "On a roll, I guess." A few laugh. This one concerns CTE (Career Technical Education) programs, etc. "Absolutely critical," he says. I want to know the number of programs. Number of students. How many students receive certificates over time? How are programs evaluated? Are these programs still viable? Are there non-performing programs? What's the record on discontinuance? FTES comparisons, comparisons to other districts—would be useful. Yes, this is a more involved request, but will be useful guidance.
     Nancy: there are reports at the state level. I wonder if you would like to look at those with staff. I recall these reports are broken down by campus. How about that?
     Jemal: I've looked at some of the reports at the state and national level. The focus here is on our district, our colleges, to figure out whether the CTE programs locally are performing, etc. Not prejudging. It's important that we see that info.
     Nancy turns to college leaders: isn't there this data already?

     Roquemore: this appears to be an evaluation of the CTE programs. There seems to be pressure to do that coming from the state. It would be worthwhile to produce this report.
     Prendergast: my recollection is that this is already being called for in student completion (?) task force. So this is good.
     IVC Senate Prez Kathy S: assessment of the CTE programs is a perpetually ongoing process. We're supposed to be monitoring these programs all the time. Discontinuance occurs, there's a process. Yes, a report can be put together, although it will be outdated as soon as it is done. Bear in mind that this monitoring goes on all the time.
     Bill Jay: my concern is we have over 300 such programs. Gigantic. We can get in over our heads working with all of these. It would take years. I'm reluctant to do "too much, too soon." Sure, need data. (For some reason, he pronounces the word as though he were saying "dada.") Turns to Jemal, refers to him as "Jemal." "It's a huge task," he says, almost consternated.
     Poertner: CTE is an area that the state is really emphasizing, and we need to take seriously. At Saddleback College, there are over 100 programs. We need to know whether they are successful. I think we ought to have a rigorous look at what we're doing in this area. Sure, there are some reports already, so that should make it easier. We can compare ourselves to other districts. Right now, we don't know how we compare. (Sounds like a thumbs up to me.)
     Jemal: I'm sensitive to the complications.... But I do think the info will be of great value. Some things here could be answered in a few days, some would take longer. I'd like to see the report approved, thank you.
     Wright: maybe wait to see how long these reports would take. Everybody's busy. Makes a motion to table. Jay seconds.
     They vote: 4 yes. 3 no. Jemal, Milchiker and Lang vote no. Jemal loses this one (for now).
   
     My sense of this discussion is that Jemal did fine. Poertner seemed to say that the biggest report—on CTE programs, etc.—is of clear value, would give us information we don't have now. So, though, as expected, Nancy was pretty peevish (and Jay seemed to think the request asked too much), generally, Jemal's requests came across as good ideas, well worth pursuing.

Discussion items: 4.1 — student success task force. The usual suspects come up, yammer about ... Blah, blah, blah. Mostly they seem to talk about new mandate, students can only take a course 3 times, etc. But what counts as having taken a course? Blah blah.

     I'm tapping into the middle of this presentation:
     ...yes, we've asked how Math X at Saddleback matches Math X at IVC, etc. This will assist students. We can direct students to the other campus, etc. Intercollegiate cooperation. Blah, blah, blah.
     (Naturally, this is all very painful to listen to. Not anybody's fault. Good Lord. This completion stuff is killing me. You?)
     Wow, the presentation has ended! Brief. I'm smiling. Inside anyway.
     Trustee Marcia Milchiker: if students take a course more than 3 times, no apportionment from state. Can the state track that? Can a student just move to another district? How are we handling this?
     Clarification (from one of the presenters): graded attempts (at courses) only are counted. Yes, we do track this within the district. Marcia yammers a bit. Blah, blah, blah.
     Nancy: "thanks for a wonderful report."

Next: foundations--developing high-performing foundations.
     "Ours are," opines Nancy, half joking.

     Jim Leach, Santa M Water District, Pres of Saddleback C foundation, seems to run the presentation. Here to discuss how we can be most effective, he says.
     Bill Crosby of the IVC Foundation steps up. He's the Pres. Our primary goal is to increase our visibility in the community. We attract qualified students to our college. We hope to be "even more successful,"  "even more effective." We recently completed an assessment, focusing on ways we can do that. Both boards need to be fund-raising boards or more so. Hope to add additional staff member or members.
     Leach again: we are led by professionals who are of the fund-raising world. We need active college presidents. Need a substantial foundation board who understand the mission. Need professional staffing.
     Shows slide: "essential staff for high performance." Shows fully formed foundation organization (10 positions!). "This is what we aspire to." Full staff has "multiplying effect." Can facilitate getting $8 million a year.

     Roquemore: Rickner and Morley—we're lucky to have them. They're well known. We've been at a fairly low level for a long time. We once thought that this reflected merely our low profile. As it turns out, there is another factor. We have one director, one senior assistant. Some accounting support. Now hiring developing associate for data management, research and marketing. We're a young college. We're not financially in the position that Saddleback is today. We plan to go down this path (growth, etc.) as funds are raised. We will grow our foundation. We'll be moving at a slower pace.
     Burnett: ditto what Roquemore said. Saddleback's current staffing: one director and three part-time positions (adds up to one person). A senior accounting specialist. Pending, director of annual fund and development services (fully funded by the foundation).
     Shows graph. Shows CSU private giving. 20 years ago, CSU collected what we collect today. They're way beyond that today. 4 fold increase. Next UCs. 5 time increase over twenty years.
     A chart showing the three systems. Community colleges have stayed flat while the other systems have grown massively (in fundraising). Why? We lack a professional staff.
     Compares salaries, number of staff, dollars raised. Those colleges with larger staff collect more money. The data are clear, he says: exponential return with larger staffs.
     Back to Jim Leach: blah, blah, blah. The upshot seems to be that they're all serious about raising money, growing. Need more staff. That's the big message, as previously.

Jemal: how do our foundations compare to other foundations in OC and in state? (Dollars raised.)

TigerAnn, cat

Rickner: we're in the middling level. 2-3 staff members raising half million a year. OCC: 4-5 million. Fullerton about 1 m. Cypress: about 1 and a half. Santa Ana: 1.5.

Jemal: Is there a fund development plan?

Rickner: IVC has strategic plan, recently finished. We haven't done it on a "calendar basis." Would like to do that. (I don't think I understood his answer.)

Jemal: main inhibitor, lack of staff? Other factors?

Rickner: we're in a very good position in South OC. The alums are older down south. The problem isn't where we are. The problem is the plan. We need to focus on it. We need an exciting vision. Then we need a board that is serious about fund raising.  There are three things necessary: (1) unity of purpose, (2) have fundraising board, (3) having the staff. We have the first two started. Want to get started on the third.

Prendergast: is our own success hurting us? Many students go to universities, and will get "hit up" there. (I guess he's implying that those students won't bother with solicitations from their former CC.)

Burnett: I've got a great example here. UCLA. The most successful fundraising organizations are the most successful colleges/universities. So its the reverse. We should be doing very well. (We're a great college, and so we should be doing great fundraising.)

IVC's [Foundation Director] Morley comes up. Refers to a dissertation made available not long ago. A big deal. Conclusion: CC alumni respond no differently than 4-year alumni. We haven't asked them. That's the problem. We're underperforming, understaffed. [I am surprised that there exists a universe in which somebody's dissertation has this kind of importance! In my world, one dissertation does not a point prove.]

Nancy: great report, we appreciate it.

Consent calendar. 5.6 pulled because of errors. 5.3. So those are pulled.

     5.3 coffee cart operation agreement. Amendment. Additional location of coffee cart services. Blah, blah, blah. They vote unanimously in favor.
     5.6 institutional memberships. Blah, blah, blah. Approved, unanimously.
     6.1 Design/build agreement. Brandye D'lena. Shows slide. Present about design-build. Presented this last March. Contractors and sub-c don't have resources to complete their... Design-build approach would address this. Design-build vs. Design-bid-build. (I won't go into details.) Blah, blah, blah. (Design-bid-build made unworkable by low bids by subcontractors that are unrealistic.)
     I believe this concerns the A400 rebuild. 18 bids were received, so we got more involved in this process (design-build). Questions?
     Lang: raises question about winning bidder, highest bid(?) (soft costs)
     D'Lena clarifies. Fully answers Lang's question. Swinnerton uses 3-d planning. So we get more complete documents earlier. So lower costs.
     Trustees ask very basic questions: which building? When? More discussion. In the end they vote unanimously to support.

BREAK:

     7:26 — "we're back." 6.2 CCCT Board of Directors nominations. Lang asks if anyone is interested in running? Nope.
     6.3 Board Policy revisions. Move approval, Lang. No comments, questions. They approve unanimously.
      6.4: Sabbatical recommendations. Slam dunk.
     6.5 Academic Personnel actions. Slam dunk.
     6.6 Classified Personnel actions. Slam dunk.
     7.1 Information about speakers at the two colleges.
     7.2 Basic Aid report. No changes.
     7.3 Facility Plan Status report. A few updates in italics.

7.4....
7.5....

     8. "Reports by shared governance"

SC Academic Senate (Cosgrove): ... reads letter.
Faculty Association: extends condolences to Nancy Padberg (death of husband).
Ditto IVC Senate Prez. It's a pleasure working with everyone in district. Such an improvement over not so long ago. Such a notable improvement. Discussed flex week.
Etc.
Peebles: condolences to Padberg, Roquemore. Etc.
That was pretty much it.

See also Tere's Board Meeting Highlights

I'm trying to park my car, and....

     Saddleback College and IVC personnel, students, et al.: let us know how PARKING goes for you today on this first day of the semester.
     Here's a shitty video for you to, um, enjoy:



• Worcester State Charges Students for Walking on Campus (Inside Higher Ed)
• As Yudof Steps Down, Major Challenges Lie Ahead for the U. of California System (Chronicle of Higher Education)

What's a "slider"?

What’s happening at the colleges (this week):
• Irvine Valley College Hosting 26th Annual "Astounding Inventions" Competition Saturday, January 26, 2013 (IVC)
• Flip Truck Food Truck (Saddleback)

Why, the cheek of the man!

     Gosh, I was skimming through the agenda outline (large pdf file) for tomorrow's BOT meeting and I noticed this:

Jemal

     Trustee requests for reports are not unusual, but this is a cluster of three requests, and they're all coming from our spanking new trustee, Tim Jemal, who recently replaced Mike Meldau (who had replaced that rat bastard John Williams two years ago).
     Imagine the temerity of the fellow!
     Here are the details:

     It will certainly be interesting to see how our more senior trustees (er, senior trustees who can also be mighty prickly) will react to this bold display of initiative by this upstart Jemal. 

     I.e., I wonder if Nancy's pissed. 

     But what do I know. Maybe she's as pleased as punch. Hope so.

Ex-leader of Black Panthers to speak at UC Irvine (OC Reg)

OC VROOM: fast 'n' loud at the old Marine Base

     I’m a bit of a car nut*, and so I watch shows like “Top Gear” and even Motor Trend magazine videos (Porsche vs. Ferrari, Camaro vs. Mustang, etc.).
     Really. I love that stuff. Don't ask me to defend it. Can't.
     If you’re like me and you enjoy this nonsense, then you’re aware that, in recent years, the former El Toro Marine Base airfield has emerged as a major star in the Car Hollywood heavens—because of those big, long airstrips and the largely unobscured vistas they afford. For instance, the American version of BBC's Top Gear (yes, I know, it sucks) films at the base. That's the main reason I watch the show, despite its undeniable lametude.
     There's lots more. Here’s a smattering of videos that feature the base—and the lovely hills and skies of our own South OC:













See also 2012 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Contenders

*Alas, my bad back long ago prevented my developing into a gearhead.

IVC's Inaugural Connection

This Monday, the grandmother of an IVC alumni, Myrlie Evers, will become the first laywoman to give the invocation prayer at a Presidential inaugural. Evers, the widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers and an activist and scholar in her own right, spoke to the Washington Post on this occasion.

excerpt:

Q: How do you feel about this occurring on the 50th anniversary of the murder of your husband, who was very active in civil rights work?

A: The focus has been on Dr. King and there certainly is nothing wrong with that at all. But I have always wanted to see Medgar be recognized for what he did. Medgar’s remains are in Arlington Cemetery, only about four to five miles away from the spot where the inauguration will take place. It’s kind of a miracle for me that all of this is happening at this particular time.

 Q: What does it mean to you that President Obama is using King’s Bible to take the oath of office on Martin Luther King Day?

A: How can a country become more historical than that? I think it speaks so highly to America’s strength and willingness to change even though it has taken years to bring about efforts from the civil rights struggle into fruition and we are not yet there. But it sends a symbol not only to America, with all of those things combined, but to the world that America is strong, that America does believe in equality for all.

To read the rest of the interview, click here.

Many of us, especially in the Humanities and Languages and Fine Arts, remember her grandson Keanan Kenyatta Evers, a distinguished student who went on to study at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. As Rebel Girl remembers it, he transferred in 2004.

Keanan is the son of Darrell Evers, the eldest son of Medgar and Mrylie Evers.

Medgar Evers, of course, was the Mississippi NAACP field secretary who was assassinated in the driveway of his home by Byron De La Beckwith on June 12, 1963. After two failed trails, Beckwith was convicted in 1994 and died in prison in 2001.  

Rebel Girl will be remembering that "arc of the moral universe" this Monday, the one that Dr. King promised was "long" but bent "toward justice."

"Only a Pawn in Their Game" - Bob Dylan

*

Check out DtB's popular coverage of the 2009 inaugural:

⚂ Get Your Ball Gown On
⚂ How to Kill a Mockingbird

*

Tuesday's BOT meeting

     As per Chancellor Gary Poertner's email earlier today, the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of the SOCCCD Board of Trustees is now available (a large pdf file).
     Prima facie, it's a pretty spare, and even grim, agenda. For instance, there are no "resolutions" or "commendations":

     Golly. 

     There are two "discussion" items:

     4.1 is the expected "completion agenda" blarney. 

     4.2 is curious. Is it a response to some "low performing" somewhere? If so, shouldn't we get clear about the problems before turning to improvements?

     You'll recall that, at the last BOT meeting, confronted with data from the two foundations' reports and audits, trustee Dave Lang said:

     “I do have a request … I understand that there will be a separate report on the foundations in January. ... The one thing that strikes me when I review the financial information, particular this statement of activities for both of the foundations, is the level of support that the colleges provide to each of the foundations in the form of donated services and donated professional fees. For Saddleback it was like 53.4% of the unrestricted total support. For Irvine Valley College it was 92.76% of that figure. And I’m hopeful that in the reports that you’ll come back with, there may be some information that gives us a way to benchmark that against perhaps some of our other peers and community college foundations that are also out there. So I’m gonna be interested to understand that a little bit better."

     Perhaps I am mistaken, but I interpret Lang as worried about the above "levels of support," especially at IVC. Perhaps the foundation directors will attempt to assuage any trustee concerns about that on Tuesday.

     Here's the full item:

     Members of IVC's Schools of Humanities & Languages and Social & Behavioral Sciences will, I suppose, be glad to see this general action item:

U. of California Vows to Push Online Efforts Further (Inside Higher Ed)

Susan & Mike

• Mike Schroeder Files for Divorce From Susan Kang Schroeder (Voice of OC)
• Larry Agran's Sabotage Squad (OC Weekly)

As California Goes? (Inside Higher Ed)
State's governor looks to MOOCs for help in entry-level courses at public institutions. San Jose State takes the plunge while community colleges mull a different path.

California State U. Will Experiment With Offering Credit for MOOCs (Chronicle of Higher Education)
State universities in California, looking for creative ways to reduce education costs at a time of budget stress, are turning to MOOCs to offer low-cost options for students.

What About Community Colleges? (CHE)
As higher education approaches its own "cliff," two-year institutions appear to be well positioned for the future.

Ewscray uidelinesgay!

AAUP Publishes New Guidelines on Librarians (Inside Higher Ed)
Rare Photos Emerge of RFK Landing at Orange County Airport the Week of His Assassination (NavelGazing)

Flex week: to maximize your chance of survival

 “Stop living in an ivory castle!” –An illiterate Trustee John Williams, chastising trustee Dave Lang concerning the latter’s opposition to arming campus cops, September 14, 1998 (see)

Sharon M

     IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN for “Faculty Professional Development Week,” aka “Flex Week”—or at least it will be time, starting tomorrow morning.
     As I’m sure you are aware, “flex” abbreviates “flexible.” The notion of a flex week reportedly originates with the practice, in Nazi Germany, of publicly (and violently) bending the persons of academics around “unwholesome and worthless” abstract sculptures and paintings. Fortunately, the term no longer refers to this, though it does retain some of its original meaning.*
     With Gary Poertner as Chancellor, the new norm comprises, among other things, an annual—as opposed to biannual—“Chancellor’s Opening Session,” which occurs in the fall; hence, there’s no Chancellor’s session this week. This is unfortunate for scribblers such as I, but it does have the advantage of reducing the potential of gatherings in which both Sherry Miller-White and Sharon Macmillan appear together, a situation risking a triggering of the apocalypse.

     1. THE "ACTIVE SHOOTER" THREAT. I observe that, on Tuesday, IVC Chief of Police Will Glen will present information regarding “classroom & office safety.” Evidently, he will focus on the “active shooter.”
     Before proceeding, I must protest: shooting necessarily is an action; hence the term “active shooter” shares the absurdity of the phrase “active actor.” On the other hand, a “shooter” will inevitably spend part of his time not shooting—e.g., while stopping for a smoke or bathroom break. I prefer to call such individuals “a shooter smoking” and “a shooter going to the bathroom.”
     The schedule describes Glen’s presentation thus:

     At any given time, the reality is an active shooter will strike somewhere in someone’s workplace. If that workplace is yours, you’ll need the proper mindset and tools to react with purpose and to maximize your chance of survival.
     Police Chief Will Glen will discuss this very important topic and help you to prepare should you face this real possibility.

     Well, yes, it is in some sense a “real” possibility. —I mean, school shootings, though extremely rare, do happen. On the other hand, being struck by lightning is considerably more likely than encountering an “active shooter” at school. I once saw a tornado while standing at the IVC bus stop. (It caused some damage to nearby homes. Luckily, no one was hurt.) My guess is that injury or death from a tornado is also more likely than injury or death from a school shooting. And so one wonders why the college has never offered flex week activities about those phenomena.

     Gosh, sometimes I think that what colleges (and other entities involving lots of people) choose to do doesn’t reflect reality so much as the public’s perception of reality. And, as you know, and as I often tell my students, if the public were a person, he’d surely be an idiot. (Don't forget that George W. Bush was reelected.)
     This whole business reminds one of a BOT meeting in 2007. As we reported previously,

     During the September 24, 2007 meeting of the SOCCCD board of trustees, San Clemente City Councilman Steve Knoblock addressed the trustees concerning the specter of school violence with its “burgeoning body count." The Republican politico ridiculed the nation’s feeble efforts in addressing violent outbreaks (he mentioned reliance on "sensitivity training," among other things).
     Knoblock's bold recommendation: reject the “strategy of duck and cover” in favor of a strategy of “self defense."
     Said he,

Tod Burnett's personal arsenal

"We may see less school slaughter if students are trained and encouraged to protect themselves. On hand in every classroom and on every school campus there are innumerable books, chairs, backpacks, laptop computers, shoes, etc., that can be used at a moment’s notice as defensive projectile weapons against armed assassins…."

     Afterward, trustee Tom Fuentes, former chair of the local Republican Party, noted that Mr. Knoblock is an “esteemed” member of the community (i.e., he's a Republican).
     You can view Knoblock’s comment here: streaming video.
     Jump to section 2.5 (public comments).
     And, no, I'm not making any of this up. [END]

     2. THE BLIND LEADING THE PISSED-AT-THE-BLIND. At 2:00 on Tuesday, Dean Cipres will present something called:

Students Acting Out in Your Classroom? What Should You Do?

     It is described thus:

     What constitutes disruptive behaviors and the teamwork needed to successfully address, correct and prevent future violations of the IVC Student Code of Conduct [sentence fragment—or question sans question mark]. In addition, a representative from the Community Service Programs will cover community resources such as their 24-hour crisis hotline, crisis response team, family counseling and various community education programs.

     In recent years, some disturbing episodes of potential violence have been mishandled at the college. And so, naturally, we will now hear about ways of handling such episodes—from the chief mishandler.
     Evidently there are those who suppose that her presentation is so damned important that it needs to be repeated Wednesday morning, for, indeed, it will be. Bring popcorn.
     For a delightful romp through our recent past re "disturbed students" and addled administrators, read

• Running with Scissors - Nov 3 10
• More criticism for IVC administration - Nov 5 10
• Benighted and bewildered - Jan 11 11
• Listening? - Feb 28 12

     3.  DELIVERING MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATIONS. This year’s winner of the “Writing to Annoy” Prize is shared by two exquisitely pestiferous Flex presentation blurbs:

The Completion Agenda: What is it and what are the implications for IVC?

"Metrics."

How do we measure completion at IVC? … Depending where you look, you may see that IVC has an ARCC “student progress and achievement rate” of 68%, and IPEDS completion rate of 38%, or a VFA completion rate of 9%. The proliferation of completion metrics are part of the increased attention on student completion that has been dubbed “the completion agenda”. Rather than a uniform movement, the completion agenda is really more of an arena for ideas and metrics that are competing for our mindshare. …[K]nowing what our target is depends on how success is defined and measured. Something as apparently simple as a graduation rate actually has a variety of different implantations and definitions….

Comment: people who use the term “mindshare” are either a**holes or business teachers or both. And “implantations”? C’mon.

Sherpa: Using a Recommendation Engine to Help IVC Students Succeed

The South Orange County Community College District has created Sherpa, an academic recommendation engine that combines human expertise and predictive analytics to provide students with the right information at the right time…. Sherpa uses time and event ‘triggers’ to deliver multimodal (email, SMS, voice, text-to-speech, MySite messages or to-do list items), personalized communications such as: helping students find acceptable alternatives when their preferred courses are full, targeting at-risk students for academic interventions, tailoring information about campus events to individual interests and pushing important tasks into students’ personal to-do lists. It’s almost complete so now we need your help to determine the best way to use this tool to help our students succeed.

Comment: “Helping students,” “targeting” students, “tailoring information,” and “pushing” tasks—these are communications? No, worse, they're “multimodal” communications! And they're "delivered"! Heimat Land!

     Winners can pick up their prizes at the faculty Café (nobody and nothing will be there, as always).

*After all, SLOs are unwholesome and worthless abstractions, and we are compelled to twist our professional lives around them, wasting vast sums of taxpayer money.