LASC Behavioral & Social Science Department

Meeting Minutes

October 15, 2014

Present:

/ E. Braggs, T. Howard, K. Wright, A. Corneal, W. Powel, A. Cranon-Charles, M. Walker, S. Umoja, B. Foy, T. Truitt, L, Robert, D. Thomas-Whitman, S. Lapeyre-Montrose, M. Cunin-Borer, M. Jones, J. Soto, S. Thornton, N. Austin, S. White, M. Smith, G. Britton, M. Meaway, N. Berry, M. Johnson

Next meeting:

/ November 19, 2014 1:00pm SSEC 309

I.  Welcome

Dr. Howard

II.  Agenda Items

FTLA - Faculty Teaching Learning Academy

Dr. Howard, Dr. Smith and Prof. Meaway, have all participated in this program. The program is not only full of valuable information, they provide meals, and it’s a great way to meet faculty from other campuses. Also, after completing the program you may receive a: certificate, plaque or ipod.

Hiring Prioritization

The campus will be hiring 8-10 new faculty members. Dr. Howard will lobby for a new anthropology faculty member. Dr. White feels as though, sociology could benefit from a new faculty member, due to class. Prof. Robert feels as though political science could benefit from a new faculty member, due to class demand. General consensus from the group was for Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science to be presented. Application deadline is coming up in November.

Health Care Center

Not covered – tabled until next meeting.

Work Environment Planning

·  Update – Building temperatures are still fluctuating between hot and cold. The short term fix is to place fans and mobile A/C units, in classrooms. The long term fix is to replace the entire heating/cooling system in the TEC & SSEC buildings. Dr. Wright has emailed and spoken with the sheriff’s on campus regarding parking. So far, she’s only gotten excuses regarding vehicles without a “staff” placard, parking in staff lots.

·  Survey and Record - Dr. Wright is continuing her social media campaign on twitter @mylascview, anyone can participate. Feel free to tag campus/district pages and officials. Prof. Soto would like students to attend the next Board of Trustees meeting. Students do not have to speak, their presence is enough. The department may offer Political Science 41- Principles of Student Leadership, in an effort to organize students.

DE – Mandatory Online BSS Orientation

Dr. Howard would like to have a mandatory orientation, for all BSS online students. Prof. Cranon-Charles pointed out that, etudes offers an online orientation. She also stated that, it’s an ACC JC violation, to make students come on campus, for any reason (unless it’s a hybrid class). Prof. Jones thinks that, even though students enroll in online courses, they still like to see a person. The general consensus is that, our students would greatly benefit from an in person orientation, rather than online.

Student Group Updates

Ms. Johnson is working with ASO, to get specific fundraising and advisor information

Anthropology Club – They are officially chartered. Their first fundraiser is scheduled for, October 27, 2014 in the quad area. The club will sell hot dogs, and other food items. Two field trips have been planned: The Japanese History Museum and the American History Museum. Also, the club will host a, lunch time documentary series, Henry Gates Black and Latin Americans.

BSU – Book Initiative – Dr. Umoja stated that in the near future, the BSU will start collecting books for prison inmates. These inmates are attempting to obtain an education, and are an underserved population.

SAADA – Dr. Apenahier not present

Hip Hop Congress – November is Hip Hop History month. Kick-off events are planned for November 3-4, 2014. Dr. Wright wants to ensure that others know, the group uses hip hop, to address real social issues.

Course Approval

The department has been hard at work, updating our classes. At the previous meeting, one person was assigned to be the lead for both assessing student learning outcomes and updating curriculum. The following courses need department approval:

AJ 3 - added writing assignments and changed pre-requisite

AJ 4 – tabled until next meeting

AJ 16 - added writing assignments and updated textbook

Ed 205 – change Ed 1 to an advisory, rather than a pre-requisite for this class

Hist 1 - added writing assignments, library information, interpersonal activities and updated textbook

Poli Sci 1 - updated SLO’s and textbook, ensured DE addendum was present

Poli Sci 7 - updated SLO’s and textbook, ensured DE addendum was present

Psych 37 – updated SLO’s and textbook

Psych 43 – updated pre-requisites

Anthro 111 – This is a new 2-unit class, offered as an online lab. This is needed for all anthropology majors and should be added to the degree plan as well. Will be offered as a co-requisite to

All courses were approved.

BSS Discussion Topic

Event Planning Update: AJ is hosting a workshop 10/23/14 entitled UNARMED: Why Police Shoot. Dr. Wright is working with The Strategy Center, to organize a rally for students 10/22/14. This is a national day to protest police brutality. Education is putting together a workshop series, Power Through Education. The workshops with consist of panels that include: students, faculty, community leaders, as well as leaders in education. Prof. Powell will be on a panel entitled American Slavery by Another Name. This will take place 10/25/14, 3:00pm-5:00pm at Rancho Park library.

Improving Reading and Writing Skills while balancing content coverage – Many instructors have experienced this issue. Faculty suggests utilizing the workshops offered by the student success Center as well as online help. Prof Cranon-Charles offered a website essayinfo.com. Dr. Smith offered to share a powerpoint and article with the department pertaining to this subject. In addition, multiple instructors give examples of the format, which they prefer, for writing assignments.

III.  Questions/Comments

None

VI. Adjournment

Dr. Howard 3:00pm