Academic Standards and Practices Committee

Minutes

May 2, 2007

Present:  Craig Kolins, Judy Selander, Michael Warwick, Taylor Hanna, Porter Raper, Barb Van Amerongen, Michael Sonnleitner, Jim Hicks, Leslie Macaulay, Debra Porta, Yvonne Norman

Guests:  Jerry Brask, David Rives, Sheryl Stohs, Michael Dembrow, Ann Kopel

Part-Time Voting Rights Issue:   There was concern expressed at the last EAC meeting from some EAC members and guests about limiting the decision-making processes practiced across the district and having a proposal which was viewed as too prescriptive for some SACs.  Some also expressed the need for part-timers to be recognized in terms of the huge role they play at PCC and their need to participate fully.  There is one more opportunity to have a discussion about this issue at the EAC before the last meeting in June. 

Porter passed out the updated PT Faculty Voting Standards.  Discussion followed.

Action:  It was agreed by this committee to take Option 1 to the EAC with these changes: 

All instructors, including part-time instructors, have the right to participate in all SAC deliberations including those concerning instructional materials selection, curriculum, faculty qualifications, and class size.  Many SACs tend to make their decisions by consensus, while others use a voting process.  For SACs using a voting process, part-time instructors with assignment rights attending a SAC meeting will have the right to vote.  SACs may extend decision-making rights to a greater number of their part-time faculty, including full decision- making rights to all SAC members who attend. 

Grading Forums and EAC Update:  Porter passed out the Grading Policy, Grading Options Table and the Background & Rationale. 

Forum Reports:

SE – 3 people attended, a faculty member, student, and a support staff.  They supported this and agreed that students need to have some responsibility for determining their grades.

RC – 15 people attended and participated in a survey.  The majority agreed with the new policy.

SY – 4 faculty members attended.  They wanted to keep the original language as is for the “I” grade. 

CA – 8 or 9 in attendance.  There was concern about the DE population.  Could the new policy not apply to DE students? Could DE courses be offered as P/NP?

Grading Policy Issues:

• As PCC pushes towards retention, some faculty feel this new grading policy is working against some of our student population who are very vulnerable:  for example, DE students and students who have very low skills. 
• No Show (NS) mechanism: the reality that not all faculty members are likely to follow this guideline and it couldn’t be enforced. 
• IW – some faculty would like a mechanism to drop students from their class during the first two weeks. 
• Porter read Veronica’s email regarding the new grading policy and banner:  “…The good news is banner does allows for a student to select/change the grading method, the bad news is there is no time restriction they can do from the first day of class until the end of term.  The capabilities will not allow us to meet the initial turn off dates set by the committee.  In addition, a possible problem can be that a faculty member will post their grade and a student will be able to change their method until the end of the term to a P/NP.”  Craig suggested shutting it off the first day of class and if a student wanted to change their grade option it would have to be done manually. 
• Audit Grade – With the new grading policy we will be publicizing the Audit grade.  There is some concern this might cause problems for students who shouldn’t be choosing this option.  It was suggested to put the “Audit” at the bottom of the list and to have a pop-up screen explaining the grade. 

Action:  The Committee needs to talk with Veronica about the Waitlist.

Committee Chair for 07-08:  Porter asked the committee members if anyone would be interested in serving as the Academic Standards and Practices Chair for 2007 – 2008.

Action:  Porter will talk with the members who aren’t here to see if they are interested. 

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, May 30, 2007, from 1:30 – 3:30PM, Central