West Campus Senate Meeting Minutes
Thursday, 1:15 pm, September 11, 2014
6-202
PRESENT: Karen Cowden (presiding), Ruby Alvarez, Barbara Ball, Betsy Brantley, Tyler Branz, Barry Bunn, Tullio Bushrui, Jamy Chulak, David Curtis, Rudolph Darden, Lynn Hearn, Lynn Howard, Mayra Holzer, Leann Hudson, Beth King, Jackie Lindbeck, Soheyla Nakhai, Pam Sandy, Sherrie Smith, Michael Snyder, Desiree Voita, Bruce Weisenbarger
GUESTS: Barbara Lopez and Falecia Williams
1. Let’s start with you: The group watched a video on the 9/11 Memorial and shared a moment of silence in honor of the day.
2. Approval of Minutes – The minutes from the July meeting were approved.
3. Campus President’s Report:
· Year of Reflection: This academic year was announced at Academic Assembly as a “Year of Reflection.” It is a time to let the white waters subside and reflect on what has been done and what’s next. The College is committed to engaging faculty, staff, and students in the conversation. Falecia welcomed thoughts and feedback from the group on how to engage this in conversation, which included the following:
Ø Apply “1,000 Lunches” idea which provides a gift card for lunch with a student allowing for a one-on-one opportunity for students to share their experience.
Ø Conduct Town Hall meetings
Ø Cross-disciplines
Ø Share at fall convocation
Ø Look at best practices
Ø Consider faculty at high schools, politicians, community and business leaders, and alumni
· Dean of Nursing: Rise Sandrowitz has been hired as the dean of nursing.
· Fall Enrollment: We are experiencing a 1% increase in FTE and hoping to gain another ½ to 1% more with flex start classes. A consistent time schedule for classes, referred to by the deans as “Snapping to the Grid,” may have helped with the rebound in enrollment as it allows students to take classes back to back.
· Renovation of the West Campus Center for Teaching/Learning Innovation: A communication will be coming from Cathy Penfold Navarro, Wendi Dew or Karen Cowden requesting faculty feedback regarding the renovation.
· Review of Textbook Cost Information: The group reviewed the related site that will disclose textbook costs to students and was asked for feedback. The site is currently being blindly distributed for feedback; students have not been given access yet. The purpose of the site is to put as much information in students’ hands in order for them to make an informed decision. This comes from the Textbook Affordability work. Feedback from the group included the suggestions to add compliance details (title, author, publisher, ISBN), to place the information on the bookstore site in addition to the registration site, and to provide a link to course materials and faculty FrontDoor. Additional feedback may be sent to Karen Cowden.
· Online Learning Update: As a result of the work with a consultant regarding online learning and distance learning, five subcommittees were formed: Student Readiness, Faculty Readiness, Dean Readiness, Standardization of Quality in Adjunct Teaching, and Enrollment Management. Consideration is being given to moving to a model of “online” campus and perhaps using a “Virtual Campus” designation rather than a campus location designation. There is some concern with courses materials being different campus to campus.
· Digital Resources Taskforce Update: The taskforce has been reviewing vendors of instructional materials and has narrowed them down to three. A pilot is proposed for one of the three third-party vendors to be used on the Lake Nona and Winter Park campuses in the spring. If the recommendation is adopted, a third-party will be the front-door for instructional materials operating similarly to Amazon.com. The bookstore would then be maintained for convenience items.
· Fall Convocation: Dr. Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, will be the guest speaker for the event which is scheduled during the activity hour on October 30, 2014.
· Learning Day: Learning Day is scheduled for February 13, 2015. The College is committed to campus-based events for the next two years. The District Office will join the West Campus. There will be an appeal for help to design what the day will look like.
· Commencement 2015: It is being recommended to change the venue to the UCF Arena with the ceremony taking place in the evening. The evening hours are due to the availability of the UCF Arena.
4. Division/Department Reports:
a. Advising (Student Affairs): Adrian Manley recently left the college and his position has been filled by Fontella Jones.
b. Allied Health: iPads are being used in smart classrooms to encourage interaction. They are continuing the inter-disciplinary simulations and attempting to finalize a final product. A concern was expressed that the Testing Center computers are not updated; Karen thought the issue had been resolved and she will follow up on this.
c. Arts & Humanities: It has been tricky for Michael Maguire with Valencia Productions to balance faculty-use and marketing-use. Karen has had conversations with Bill White and Dr. Williams about this and encouraged the group to send hiccups they are experiencing her way.
d. Behavioral & Social Sciences: None
e. Business & Hospitality: The International Business certificate is doing well and they are looking at a certificate for Entrepreneurship in 2015. UCF will be revamping the A.S. to B.S. articulation agreements.
f. Communications: With the passing of Senate Bill 1720, which gives students the opportunity to opt out of developmental courses, enrollment in Composition I is up. The Communications Division is trying to address the needs of the underprepared students by providing resources such as one-on-one sessions in skill development, intensive reading and writing sessions in the Communications Center, and intensive English courses through our Continuing Education area for our EAP students.
g. Engineering, Computer Programming, and Technology: None
h. Learning Support: Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the right to read and will take place September 22-26. There will be a session on comic censorship at 10 am on September 23. The Florida Consortium for International Education (FCIE) is holding its annual conference on the West Campus September 25-26.
i. Mathematics: Enrollment in entry-level courses has increased. They are experiencing an invasion of ants in Building 7 near rooms 7-212, 7-213, and 7-214.
j. Nursing: Rise Sandrowitz has been hired as their dean. Concerns were expressed for computer rooms for testing and additional faculty/staff parking in Lot C.
k. Science: There are roaches in the HSB.
l. At-Large: NSE faculty members have expressed concern over the different time requirement; there was conversation regarding how to work out a balance. Virtual hours have been put back in because they are part of college policy.
m. Faculty Council At-Large: None
5. Guest(s): Barbara Frazier was a guest at the meeting and shared information regarding a new internship program that was designed to provide students with an opportunity to connect with an industry mentor at the front door of their academic experience and provides an opportunity for adjuncts to mentor or provide connections for these students.
6. Senate President’s Report:
a. Learning Day: It will be campus-based for the next two years.
b. Faculty Development Courses: Enrollment has been low. The courses are free. The group was encouraged to spread the word in their divisions. Dori Haggerty, Campus Director of Faculty and Instructional Development, will be invited to the November meeting to introduce herself and discuss faculty needs.
c. Circles of Innovation: Sessions are one-hour long and provide information, interactive discussions and the opportunity for participants to experience both digital and traditional strategies that can be used for teaching. The schedule for 2014-15 includes day and evening options. The group was encouraged to spread the word regarding the two upcoming sessions. Details can be found by visiting http://circlesofinnovation.valenciacollege.edu/
d. Six P’s Videos: The NSE course is a total revamp of SLS 1122 and centers around the six P’s: Place, Purpose, Pathway, Plan, Preparation and Personal Connection. The video series features faculty and staff who share their personal experiences surrounding the Six Ps. Feedback is appreciated.
e. Health Care Benefits Fairs: They will be held on the West Campus September 22 and September 23; a discounted membership with the YMCA has been added.
f. Atlas 2.0: If anyone has tested Atlas 2.0, feedback is appreciated. It doesn’t appear to be drastically different, but a little cleaner; incudes student ID pictures; there have been issues with entering grades.
g. New Lynx System/Phones: Feedback is appreciated. Phones in the classrooms are not working.
h. LLC (Learning Leadership Council): The first session was held on September 4 and they are off to a smooth start.
i. Campus Security: Campus Security has a new look. When evacuating the campus, it was suggested to state the reason.
j. Cabin Creek Conversations: Registrations?
k. Faculty Workload Online Process: Feedback is appreciated.
l. Faculty Goals Online Process: Karen instructed the group to send faculty having trouble with this to her.
m. Online Learning Update: This was addressed in the Campus President’s Report above.
n. Valencia Productions: Feedback is appreciated regarding faculty experiences with this.
o. Year of Reflection: Karen encouraged the group to reflect on their experiences as a senator and how their professional life has been changed by their experience and then share this at their division meetings.
7. Discussion Items:
a. Cabin Creek Food Services: The group was asked for feedback that Karen can bring to Faculty Council.
b. Textbook Cost in Atlas: Karen will bring feedback to Faculty Council.
c. Adjunct Senator: James Vrhovac has been selected as the adjunct senator.
8. Committee Reports:
a. Veterans Issues: There are approximately 5,500 veterans on our campuses. There are more on the West Campus than at UCF. The committee is still hoping to secure a one-stop place to provide services for veterans. They would like to share a video to promote a sense of awareness regarding veteran issues.
b. Travel Committee: The West Campus SPD travel funds are requested electronically and the majority of travel requests that the committee receives are for meaningful reasons. It was suggested that a communication come out from the committee.
c. Student Ombudsman: The group was asked to give guidance and feedback to Dr. Williams concerning this.
9. Next Meeting: October – VIRTUAL MEETING
10. Adjournment
11. College Events
September 15-19 Global Peace Week (www.valenciacollege.edu/pji)
October 7 College Night, Osceola Campus, 6:00 pm
October 9 Career Staff Welcome & Ice Cream Social, SEC, 1:00 pm
October 9 College Night, West Campus, 6:00 pm
October 30 Fall Convocation, SEC, 1:00 pm