Who is standing up for those kids?

"Those parents lost little kids. I had 20 years with my son. That's all I'll ever have," he said. "But those people lost their children at 6 and 7 years old. How do you think they feel? And who's talking to them now, who's doing anything for them now? Who is standing up for those kids that died back then in an elementary school? Why wasn't something done? It's outrageous."

Rebel Girl suspects that everyone who works at the colleges has been thinking about those students and their families and friends today - and of course, our own students.

We should, of course, do more than think about them. We need to act.

Among the actions Reb took this morning was to call the local office and the D.C. office of Congressman John Campbell and make the suggestion that now is the time for Campbell to revisit his position on gun control.  She reminded the people who took her call that Campbell, of course, has a UC campus in his district. The congressman, it should be noted, has yet to make any statement.

Call and ask that he do so.  It takes about ten minutes tops.

(949) 756-2244
(202) 225-5611

Rebel Girl is always surprised at how many people have never called their congressional representative.  You should. We pay them after all.  It's supposed to be about US, not them.  Today  make it about us.  Better yet, make it about those students.

When Rebel Girl drops off her little guy at his elementary school, she walks by those parents who still shepherd their kindergarteners and first graders to class - and wait with them for the teachers to arrive.  Reb remembers when she used to do that.  She couldn't leave until she had seen him safely into the classroom.   Once, for a brief time, Reb worked as teacher's aide in a kindergarten and she used to volunteer in her son's.  She knows what those rooms are like, the tiny desks, the bulletin boards covered with the handmade work of young children, the teacher's desk, the floor where the students sit cross-legged gather to hear a story.   Now, every day, when she walks by those classes, she cannot help it, she thinks of Sandy Hook. Every day. Without fail. Sometimes longer, sometimes shorter.  But every day. Flashes. What it must have been like in those classrooms. Sometime she thinks if they had released photographs of the classrooms which had become, within minutes (minutes!) horrific crime scenes, maybe that would help. She knows that would be disrespectful, in poor taste - but she wonders what it will take to move people, a nation to really look at the human cost of gun control policies.

Sandy Hook vigil at Irvine High School. 2/15/12

Consider joining the vigil tonight at Aldrich Park at U.C. Irvine.  7 pm. All are welcome.

*
 
What is Campbell's position on gun control?  Here are the main points of a bill he co-sponsored:
Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington D.C.

Nothing in any provision of law shall authorize the Mayor, or any governmental authority of the District of Columbia, to prohibit possessing firearms by a person who is allowed to possess firearms under federal law.
Denies the District any authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms.
Repeals the ban on semiautomatic weapons.
Repeals the District's registration requirement for possession of firearms.
Repeals the trigger lock law.
Maintains the current ban on the possession and control of a sawed-off shotgun, machine gun, or short-barreled rifle.
Eliminates criminal penalties for possessing an unregistered firearm.
Specifies exceptions to the prohibition against carrying concealed weapons in the District.

*

From the May 22 Lariat:

A review of free speech policies on Saddleback College’s campus

     Two vendors collecting signatures for same-sex marriage and the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana were asked to leave Saddleback College last March, on Senior Day, an event held for prospective high school students….

Blue Rocketeer

     Check out Red Emma's profile on H&L's teacher-poet, Virginia Shank, in the latest OC Magazine (pp. 10-11). It begins thusly:

     With her green eyes, red hair, porcelain skin, and stylish retro-Victorian ensembles suggesting both wit, good taste and an eye for vintage clothing-store finery, Virginia Shank unshyly personifies the romantic ideal of the English professor. This young poet and teacher originally from Eden, New York recently earned “Teacher of the Year” at Irvine Valley College, after teaching there only four semesters. The busy little community college in what’s left of an orange grove is lucky to have her. Professor Shank’s curriculum vitae is loaded for serious academic bear: PhD in English from Binghamton, MFA in poetry from University of Idaho, plenty of awards, research and accolades as a student and grad student….

     Oops! Forgot to mention the other day that, for once, Rocky's "Open Door" newsletter mentions one of our own: the Reb!:

     Also: be sure to keep track of the Reb's trouble-making re Chipotle (Facebook).

Irvine Valley: Fabulous Factoids

     You can see IVC commencement photos here (Facebook).

     SPECIALNESS. Recently, the Reb, who co-chairs the English Dept., has been busy dealing with the usual end-of-semester emergencies, including student complaints about a certain part-timer who seems to have become unavailable. Yesterday, thanks to the OC Reg, we discovered something of the nature of her unavailability. It seems that she has “been indicted on charges that” she and a small crew “defrauded 3,500 people of more than 13.5 million in what OC prosecutors believe is the largest loan-modification scheme ever prosecuted in the nation” (Huntington attorney among 7 accused of $13.5 million loan-mod scam, OC Reg).
     “Do you suppose she’ll be turning in her classes’ grades?” asks the Reb.
     Maybe not.
     The Reb tells me that her favorite lines in the Reg article are these: “[Deputy District Attorney Megan] Wagner said the scam targeted people around the country, but victims were concentrated in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, South Carolina and North Carolina. She said it’s common for such operations to be based in Orange County, though it’s unclear why.” (See also NavelGazing.)

     TOP NOTCH. IVC President Glenn Roquemore’s “Open Door” newsletter updates the campus community about two campus building projects:

Linda Fontanilla, Liz Cipres, and
other top notch administrators

#1: Long-suffering members of IVC’s School of Humanities and Languages—which, BTW, will divide into two separate schools in the Fall (thereupon they’ll make twice as much trouble)—are looking forward to a move into a newly-reconstructed A-400 building in about a year:

Work is slated to begin on the A-400 site on May 27. First, a fence will go up around the building and in Parking Lot 2…. At that point, the restroom in A-400 will no longer be open to the public as the building water will be shut off. The maintenance crew is aware of this and will redouble their efforts to keep the A-200 restroom in top notch condition…. Demolition of A-400 will follow after that, and we hope to get the plans through final approval at the Department of State Architects soon thereafter, so actual construction can begin.

—Did you catch that blarney about keeping “the A-200 restroom in top notch condition”? A wonder what bottom notch looks like. A pit of raw sewage?

     Here’s #2: the new “Barranca” entrance:

Plans for the new entrance, "Laser Way," are currently being finalized and reviewed by both the City of Irvine and … SCE. … Once the easements are established, the project will be able to start in two to three months and will take approximately six months to finish….

Love one day, hate the next

The Reb and Virginia at Gabbi's three months ago

     You’ll recall that, as usual, much thought (haha) went into naming the new entry road. For a while, the frontrunner among proposals seemed to be “Dissent the Road,” but Rocky nixed that. As you know, for years, there’s been much grumbling about the campus mascot (or entity, or whatever it is): the laser. At one point, a committee was formed to find a replacement. But then stuff came up and the group got distracted, stopped meeting, wandered off. The usual. Then, six or so months ago, we heard that administrators were fixin’ to call the new road “Laser.” We (at the Senate) said: don’t do that. That’ll render permanent our laserization. Why would we want to do that? Didn’t we decide to dump that moniker?

     So, natch, that’s what they did.
     I’m thinking of spreading a rumor around town that Laser Way will be lined with lasers that will automatically fix on passing cars and pedestrians and burn them to a crisp. That’ll give us that “high tech” reputation we’re always yammerin’ about.

     WINGING IT. As you know, our very own Virginia Shank, poet, was named IVC Professor of the Year. She’s very deserving of that award.
     I’m told that, at yesterday’s Commencement, just before she gave her address, the administrative crew couldn’t find her plaque.
     She winged it and gave a fine speech. Or so I’m told.
     Seen her velomobile?

Yes, Virginia really does ride to work in this thing

Mama! Mama!

2012 scholarship ceremony -photo by Roy Bauer.

People keep dropping by the office with one question: What did you think of the Scholarship ceremony?

Where does one start?

Rebel Girl doesn't have time to begin let alone end.  So she will just get the ball rolling. You can take it from there if you wish.

Yes, money was distributed to deserving students and photos were taken and sliced fruit eaten and hands were shaken. Yes. Applause, applause.

 See you next year.

*

Anonymous - 10:51 AM, May 20, 2014
     What is up with the confusing numbers - cited in the program:
     At today's ceremony, approximately $201,400 will be awarded to 356 Irvine Valley College students for the 2014-2015 academic year.
     In total, this year, 477 scholarships will provide approximately $368,200 in awards.
     Huh? What does that mean?
     And why doesn't the program tell you which awards were given to which students?

Anonymous - 11:04 AM, May 20, 2014
     On the up side there wasn't a prayer!
     On the down side, well...why did the students have to be seated outside the room? It made the room seem empty and we couldn't see their reactions - and they could not see the speeches which were all about them. Very odd.
     The need to take a photo of each group on stage really was awkward and emphasized the photo - not the recognition of the scholars. Couldn't that be done another way? What happens to those photos anyway?
     Couldn't the whole thing be done another way? It's not very dynamic or sophisticated.

Anonymous - 11:12 AM, May 20, 2014
     It's always difficult to criticize a program that assists students but it's important to do because of that very fact - it provides critical assistance to students. So it's important to look at the integrity and transparency of the process of how the awards are determined and how the program is managed. It's broken and it is not getting any better.

Anonymous - 11:50 AM, May 20, 2014
     I don't know how people could sit on that stage or in the audience (or in the lobby!) and not notice there was something very, very wrong. When you try and say something about it, they look at you like to have just kicked a kitten.

Roy Bauer - 11:57 AM, May 20, 2014
     What's the "Mama! Mama!" alluding to?

Anonymous - 3:59 PM, May 20, 2014
     The Mama, Mama is alluding the the opening (and condescending) line of [VP of SS] Linda Fontanilla who started the ceremony not with a welcome but with a bizarre story about a girl getting a scholarship and being able to college just because of that money. The story was told in a pre-school tone of voice and one of the weirder things I have seen at a college ceremony.

Anonymous - 4:00 PM, May 20, 2014
     To the, go to college. Ugh typos

Anonymous - 4:03 PM, May 20, 2014
     Also, what is the deal with the Devil that Morley has signed with follet? Without their contributions, were not actually giving out that much money from the foundation. Think someone needs to investigate what is being bought and sold at IVC. And something tells me it's not just books....

Anonymous - 11:44 PM, May 20, 2014
     The opening story was a very odd, condescending, ultimately infantilizing of our students - and us. 

The stage was bare - with covered drums in the background (!) and trash in evidence.

 Too many speeches saying the same thing to students who weren't in the audience. 

Morely lacked a script and had to be corrected from the audience. He ignored people he asked to the stage to recognize.

 Marcia was on her cell phone!

 The staged photos were AWFUL. 

No one knew who won what or why.

Anonymous - 12:26 AM, May 21, 2014

     I am so glad others pointed out how AWFUL and CRINGE-INDUCING the patronizing story offered WITHOUT introduction at the beginning of whatever that was last Friday morning was. Oh my. Where are the grown-ups around here? It's a good thing the students were not in the room to be insulted like that. Too bad their families and friends were. 
 




Anonymous - 7:06 AM, May 21, 2014

     The ceremony needs to be re-envisioned and streamlined with the focus on the students, not speeches and photos. The process of awarding scholarship needs transparency and accountability.

The May meeting of the SOCCCD BOT: trustee listening sessions' sticky residue!

     While I’m waiting for the May meeting of the SOCCCD board of trustees to start, I shall engage in some BIG, OBVIOUS, OPINERY:
     Recently, the Chancellor-and-Board (the "Choard") have inflicted upon the district community a bad case of whiplash. First, there was the April build-up to the much-ballyhooed per-college trustee “listening sessions.” “We’ll create a safe haven for critical remarks, and we’ll be all ears!”—they seemed to say.
     And then there were the sessions themselves, on the 30th. Not sure about the session at Saddleback, but the one up at IVC seemed to inspire a lot of surprised trustee faces. Really? It’s as bad as all that, is it? We had no idea!
     We were feeling pretty good about this apparent new reality. Could it be that the board had finally pulled its head out of its a**?
     Unfortunately, all of April's accelerating goodness was followed, two weeks later, by May's brake-stomping badness. Yes, the Chancellor seemed to say (in his May 14 “Chancellor’s Perspective”), the trustees really listened at those gosh-darned sessions. But that doesn’t mean they can do a goddamned thing about what they heard. Are you kidding? The trustees’ job, he said, “is to focus on the what … and not the how ….”
     That sounded an awful lot like, “the trustees' hands are tied.” I.e., banish all hope!
     So what were those listening sessions all about?
     Gosh, it's hard to say.
     Maybe there'll be some kind of follow-through tonight. Who knows? Anything's possible, I guess.
     Don't hold your breath.

* * *

     I'm told that several trustees attended last Thursday's Scholarship Awards Ceremony at IVC. By all accounts, the event was a total fiasco, an embarrassment, a nadir. (I couldn't attend; teaching my Friday class.) After years of complaint about fiasco upon fiasco—absurd forms, lost info, hinky awards patterns, general confusion, lapses of common sense—things are now worse than ever, fiasco-wise. Yes, folks, owing to the continued tenure of IVC's Permanent President, pretty much nothing works anymore, and it's really beginning to show.
     Do you suppose the trustees noticed? Tonight, they'll report on the "lovely" awards ceremony they attended last week. Wanna bet?

* * *

     6:01 - The room has its share of green faculty--maybe 20 or 30 green-shirted unionists. Looks like they're gearing up for starting the meeting. Nancy's collecting speaker slips from somebody, I think. All of the trustees are present.

     6:04 - it begins. Actions taken in closed session: 7-0 vote, approved 1 month leave of absence to classified employee, SC.

     Invocation: Wright: "Our Father, who art in heaven...."

     Public comments: Cristina Hinkle: speaks on behalf of part-time faculty. There's been a decrease in full-time positions. Part-timers have to work at perhaps 3 districts. This is doing students a disservice. Part-timers not paid for office hours. She strongly encourage considering the board to consider these issues. Applause.

     Kurt Meyer: draws attention to Article 27, letter a (about benefits): a 2 tier benefits system. Two classes of workers created. Same job, unequal pay, benefits. Divides employees. Separate and unequal. Increases employee turnover rate. Reduces productivity. Inherently unstable. The two-tier system has not served employees in others areas of labor. Let's work together to explore alternatives. Applause.

     Alison Camelot: Also discusses two-tier system. As a sociologist, would never support such a system. I can't believe that it's being proposed. Applause.

     Mike Long: counselor who works with athletes. Obstacles to working together (on same schedule?)

     Next: swearing in of new student trustee. Keefe Carrillo. "Support and defend the Constitution of the U.S....against all enemies foreign and domestic...true faith and alegiance ....." He speaks, pleasantly. Seems to go well.

     Next, resolutions: Carol Danna, Classified Employee, outstanding service award, IVC: Marcia reads it. "Aplomb and grace... unique ability to create unique environment, blah blah. Dedication and commitment to IVC. Fine Arts...." Applause. IVC Prez Roquemore brings out "perpetual plaque," evidently. "You can hang on to this for 24 hours." Applause. Roll call vote.
     Giziel Leftwich: SC Classified Employee, outstanding service award. "Whereas .... study abroad programs ... working with faculty ... attracting student to enroll .... humble and compassionate ... blah blah blah." Applause. Roll call vote. Photo op.
     Sandi Pope - District service classified employee outstanding service award. "Whereas ... systems support...understands the innerworkings and language of IT ... extremely patient ... strong work ethic ..." Applause. Roll call. Applause. Photo op.

Insufferable stinkard

     Commendation: Gary Ribold. Good grief. Roquemore speaks. He "lives, breaths, and exudes Irvine Valley College." 21 years. Brought great honor to IVC. Over 300 sweepstakes awards. "Dr. Rybold." "Gary is a friend." "Outstanding contributions to IVC."
    Rybold insists on speaking. Thanks those most instrumental for ... Names various colleagues. Families. Great administrators. Student government. "Proud to go to work everyday." Our "grounds shine" at IVC. Last of all, thanks God. (Which reminds me of the time Gary had his students say prayers before tournaments. That's some exuding.)

Board reports:

     Bill Jay: people don't get paid for this, by and large--referring to Gary and others of his ilk. Congratulates "all of you" who've worked so hard for "this award."
     Tim Jemal: scholarship awards "were well done." Mentions speaker at SC scholarship ceremony. Amazing. Listening sessions earlier this month: meaningfully better than previous sessions. Valuable, candid, and direct input. Thanks the chancellor, making these sessions a reality. A different format. Thanks for that.
     Marcia Milchiker: "Just fabulous" -- this stuff she attended. Loves the "rhythm of academia." She lists lots of events. Legislative task force meeting. $268 thousand, $720 thousand collected for student scholarships, IVC and SC.
     Nancy Padberg: Lists things she's attended. Nurse pinning. IVC scholarship ceremony. Speech banquet. VA recognition ceremony. Etc.
     TJ Prendergast: missed the listening sessions. Did attend scholarship ceremonies: "very entertaining." "Lots of fervor there." Looking forward to commencement.
     Jim Wright: attended a number of events also. Missed the listening session; was in hospital. Transfer celebration. Nurses pinning ceremony. IVC scholarship awards ceremony.
     Dave Lang: listening sessions. Very successful format. We'll be hearing more about ideas that came out of that session. Did lots of traveling. Looking forward to commencement.
     Student trustee: met with Gary Rybold. "A very interesting man." Very proud of our scholarships.

     Chancellor Gary Poertner: end of school year. Extends appreciation to all faculty. Improving student success. 2nd item: mentions listening sessions. Notes were taken, topics of concrn. Item E in board requests: a request from all board members for "seven different items." Deal with the main topics that were discussed at listening sessions. There is some followup. Issues will come up, one per meeting. [See "Request for board reports" at end of this blog post for "seven items."]

     College Presidents reports:
     IVC, Glenn Roquemore: IVC will hold golf classic, June 10. We also have a "Model UN Team." Top honors, third year in a row. (IVC) Faculty recognized by UCI students, blah blah blah
     Somebody steps in for Tod Burnett (didn't catch his name): blah, blah, blah. Nursing team ceremony, a "gem" celebration. 53 graduates. Etc.

     Board requests for reports. Seven of them. Won't read them out.
     Unanimous approval.

REPORTS:

4.1 Discussion item: student success summit.
     Roopa Mathur: what is the summit? Student success strategies. The two colleges collaborated. 130 attendees.  Diane Rodriguez of RP Group spoke. Nurturing, connecting, etc. 10 ways to apply techniques. (Good Lord.) Patricia Flanigan Chapin also speaks. Shows video clips: instructor Dan DeRoulet speaking. Student success strategies for writing. A counselor on "highs and lows." Final clip from speaker: "nurturing is a catalyst for other five factors" (Good God).
     Dean Cathleen Greiner speaks as well.
     It sound pretty touchy feely. But whatever. Applause. Any questions? No. "Wonderful job," says Pres. Prendergast.

4.2 Basic aid allocations. Deb Fitz, Davit K
     What is basic aid? Blah, blah, blah. The excess beyond what is apportioned by the state (from local taxes).
     Basic aid is not a funding source. It is excess. Preferred terms: self-sufficiency, locally funded, community-based. Now 6 community colleges that are basic aid: Marin, Mira Costa, San Jose, San Mateo, West Valley Mission (the last two years).
     Our formula here at SOCCCD. Colleges receive funding based on state model. DRAC committee. Dollars are taken off the top: allocated to basic aid projects.
     If our enrollment increases, that could harm us. It's "a fine balance." College of Marin--got to basic aid through decrease in enrollments. Davit K: how did basic aid come about in our district? We were placed on a warning by Accreditor in 2011. Need to work on allocation. Aimed at transparent and open process. Only one-time projects are to be funded by basic aid monies to protect the district and colleges and to be fiscally conservative. Capital construction, major renovation, large infrastructure proejcts, site development. Also retirees benefit trust fund.... Trustee elections .... Major tehcnology initiatives. .. Small renovation projects, including maintenance equipment....
     Flow chart. Basic Aid Allocation Recommendation Committtee (BAARC) flow chart. Looks messy. Shows yet another chart: DRAC and BAARC. BP and AR 3110 have worked very well.
     Fitz discusses how the BP and AR 3110 process has been working. First two years, worked very well.
     BAARC discussions very collegial.
Basic info:

property tax: almost $39 million
20% contingency for unrealized tax collections ($7.7 million)
Plus prior year contingency and unallocated funds: $16 million
Amount available for allocation: $47 million this coming year.

     Shows recommendation slide.
     Total allocations: $47 million. Remaining balance to remain in basic aid fund: $77,000
     Contingency for unrealized tax collections (20%): $7,741,000
     Brandye D'Lena comes up: discusses projects. She's "very excited." New ATEP building.
     Blah, blah, blah. Brandye's being chirpy again. Finishes her "recap" on capital improvement.
     Fitz returns, discusses I-know-not-what. Scheduled maintenance,  blah blah blah. Goes through list that is not displayed.
     Now Bob Bramucci is blathering about projects.
     Fitz starts talking about "ATEP operation." It all adds up to $47 million.
     Next: questions. The two diretors of facilities are on hand.
     Jemal: small vs. major. Is $500,000 the cut off for this? No, it's $1 million.
     Also: a question about whether there is a formula, how much to give to IT, etc. Fitz: no formula, etc. Jemal: new ATEP building: what will be housed there? Roquemore: programs that are currently at ATEP: model making, etc. Curriculum for pre-engineering has been developed (in conjunction with UCI). Engineering technicians. DMA (digital media arts). Gaming industry. Possiblity of "electricity and electronics" being at ATEP. And Photonics (I think).
     Wright: excellent presentation. "I seem to understand everything."
     No more requests. Mild applause.

Consent calendar: pull 5.1, 5.6. That's it. Approved unanimously.

     5.1: Minor error corrected. Unanimously approved.
     5.6: misspelled word corrected. "Two Ls." Unanimously approved.

     6.1 Consolidated elections.... approved.
     6.2 Agreement, info tech services. ...approved.
     6.3 District-wide network refresh. Contracts. Bramucci speaks. Miles of fiber at both campuses. Blah blah blah. Approved.
     6.4 Board Policy Revisions - for review and study. Approved.
     6.5 BP Revisions for discussion and approval. No questions. Approved.
     6.6 Full-time faculty hiring amendment. Approved.
     6.7 Recess to public hearing. Bugay introduces. Opportunity for public to speak on distrit's proposal to Faculty Union proposal. Dan Walsh comments: calendar shift for counselors. He says: counselors are faculty. No Ac. Senate meetings during summer. This applies to all of our committees. One faculty! Applause. No response. Public hearing now closed. Discussion by board? No comments. 6.7 now concluded. Jay: moves the item. 2nd by Jemal. Unanimous yes vote.
     6.8 Academic personnel actions. No changes. Approved unanimously.
     6.9 Classified personnel actions. No changes. Approved unanimously.
     6.10 IVC management reorganization. Approve the management reorganization to add a VP for College Administrative Services.
    Roquemore: IVC has had a long history of having a VP for Admin services. In 1998, it was eliminated by then-Pres Raghu Mathur. Almost all colleges have a third VP. This will give me ability to focus more time on demands on student success, leadership to build ATEP. Lots of work to be done there. We're following a process with this: following Saddleback to a "t".
     Jemal: asks Poertner if he supports this. Yes, agrees with reorganization. Should spend more time on student success, ATEP. I have some fear that some areas will suffer without this structure. So, yes. Prendergast: we've approved this before? I yes. Approved unanimously. (Noone mentions that Director of FS automatically becomes VP through this action.)

     7.1 Annual Accred reports. Nothing.
     7.2 - nothing.
     Etc. No requests to speak.

Reports from governance groups:

     Saddleback College AC Sen President Dan W: good listening sessions!
     Faculty Union: Paula J: My term comes to an end. It's been an honor. Thanks various persons. Appreciates Poertner's tone: vast improvement.
     IVC Ac Senate: Kathy Schmeidler. I've been brief in the past. Not so tonight. 1st, welcomes new student trustee. Welcomes Claire C to next two years as head of FA. Thanks chancellor and board for listening session. Lots attended: half faculty, half classified. Everyone had opportunity to speak. Good interplay. General sense of appreciation to board. People seemed to speak openly; appreciate the gesture... One concern: mentions importance of contracts. Mutual respect does not mean that we must all agree. We can argue, as long as we're respectful. What concerns me: throwing tantrums gets attention. (I guess she's saying that someone or some group did that. Not sure who she has in mind. Nurses program?) "Trust the process, use the process," I always say. I hope that's your intention.
     One more item: should we strategically manage our enrollment to stay on basic aid? Would the taxpayers prefer for us to cut back on classes to stray on basi aid? A philosophical question.
     Etc.
     That's about it.

Item 3.1: “Board requests for reports”
3.1  E. 1.

The following reports are being requested as a result of the Trustee Listening Sessions on April 30, 2014.

1. Report on the 50% Law, the Faculty Obligation Number, and the percentage of classes taught by part time faculty. Provide an explanation of each of these measurements and report on how our district compares to other community college districts throughout the state.

2. Report on the process of developing the academic calendar. Explain the negative impacts that have been reported about the nursing program and veteran students. How can the negative impacts on these students be mitigated? How can we end the disagreement between colleges on calendar development?

3. Report on the service area conflicts between the two colleges. Is the disagreement related to credit instruction, non-credit instruction, workforce development, contract education, student recruitment, foundation giving, and/or other educational services? How and when will the colleges make agreements to end these issues? If there are agreements, please report them.

4. Describe the regulations and policy for hiring administrators and managers. How does HR monitor the process to make certain the process is followed? What could be done to eliminate inconsistencies and violations?

5. Describe the BP 4011.1 process for hiring faculty. Is it a top down process and does it interfere with the faculty ability to hire good people? How is the process continually reevaluated to keep current with hiring needs?

6. Is there a trend of replacing full time classified employees with several part-time employees? If so, why has this been done? Has this resulted in diminished services to students?

7. Provide a brief review of the DRAC funding model and describe the distribution of resources. What is the mechanism for funding growth?

Reason for Request…:
     The board of trustees is requesting information regarding several of the issues that were addressed during the Trustee Listening Sessions. The board is asking for individual reports to be presented as discussion items beginning in the fall, during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Chip Lit

Gustavo A—the fellow Prez Roquemore is determined to exclude from IVC Commencements—and our own Rebel Girl get a “mention” in Friday’s New York Times: Chipotle Experiments With Disposable Literature.

It’s about that goofy “lit on a cup” campaign for that restaurant chain.

Why no Mexican writers?

image created by Michael Calienes