Overcoming the Rubber Stamp Phenomenon: The Shifting Sands of Curriculum and the Senate's Roles

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Comunicación y Gerencia

• Overcoming the Rubber Stamp Phenomenon The
  Shifting Sands of Curriculum and the Senate's
  Roles

Pat James Hanz Michelle Pilati

• 2006 ASCCC Leadership Institute

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Curriculum and you, the Senate Leader
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Description

• The curriculum process is arguably the most
  important function a senate oversees. It can be
  the foundation on which the strength of your
  local senate can be assured. This session will
  address how curriculum committees and local
  senate bodies should function together as a
  well-oiled machine to keep the college focus on
  teaching and learning.

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A Little Background

• Why do we have so many regulations to contend
  with?
• Initially, we were part of the k-14 system.
• While we are now recognized as an institution of
  higher ed, many of the regulations in place are
  remnants of our k-12 days.

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Matters Academic and Professional

• The Education Code and Title 5 provide the basis
  for local senate authority.
• As a result of being part of the Master Plan
• Minimum qualifications were raised and
• Probationary periods were extended.
• Peer review was attached to faculty evaluation
• Funding was established for professional
  development.

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Matters Academic and Professional

• Local senate authority includes Academic and
  Professional matters.
• ten-plus-one
• The basis for college governance policies that
  are established between local senates and their
  governing boards.

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Education Code 70902 (b)(7)

• The Governing Board shall ensure the right of
  academic senates to assume primary responsibility
  for making recommendation in the areas of
  curriculum and academic standards.

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TITLE 5 53203 - Powers

• (A) Governing Board shall adopt policies
  delegating authority and responsibility to its
  Academic Senate.
• (B) Policies in (A) shall be adopted through
  collegial consultation with the Academic Senate.

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1 ofThe 101

• 1.   Curriculum, including establishing
  prerequisites.
•  2.  Degree and certificate requirements.
•  3.   Grading policies.
•  4.   Educational program development.
•  5.   Standards or policies regarding student
  preparation and success.
•  6.   College governance structures, as related
  to faculty roles.
•  7.   Faculty roles and involvement in
  accreditation processes.
•  8.   Policies for faculty professional
  development activities.
•  9.   Processes for program review.
•  10.  Processes for institutional planning and
  budget development.
•  11.  Other academic and professional matters as
  mutually agreed upon.

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Education Code

• The academic senate has primary responsibility
  for making recommendations in the area of
  curriculum and academic standards Ed. Code
  '70902(b)(7). This right is protected as a
  minimum standard set by the Board of Governors
  Ed. Code '70901(b)(1)(E).
• The local governing board has the responsibility
  to establish policies for and approve courses of
  instruction and educational programs Ed. Code
  '70902(b)(2).
• Title 5 55002(a)(1) requires that the curriculum
  committee contain faculty.

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What is the relationship between your CC and your
Senate?
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What is the relationship between your CC and your
Senate?

• And what should it be?
• Fall 1996 The Curriculum Committee Role,
  Structure, Duties, and Standards of Good Practice
• There is no single or monolithic list of "good
  practices" in the process of curriculum renewal
  and development. Instead, many effective
  practices exist that are appropriate within
  unique settings of shared governance of each
  local college.

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The Curriculum Committee and your Senate

• The curriculum committee is the vehicle upon
  which the local academic senate relies in
  carrying out its responsibility to develop
  curriculum recommendations for presentation to
  the local governing board.

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Title 5, 55002. Standards and Criteria for
Courses and Classes

• (1) Curriculum Committee. The college and/or
  district curriculum committee recommending the
  course shall be established by the mutual
  agreement of the college and/or district
  administration and the academic senate. The
  committee shall be either a committee of the
  academic senate or a committee that includes
  faculty and is otherwise comprised in a way that
  is mutually agreeable to the college and/or
  district administration and the academic senate.

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Structure and Membership of the CC

• Must the CC be a subcommittee of the Senate?
• No, but .. the policies and procedures by which
  the committee will operate are determined by the
  academic senate, either solely or in partnership
  with the board. Because of this required senate
  oversight, there must be a direct link between
  the curriculum committee and the senate.
• What is this link on your campus?

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Linking the Senate and the CC

• Chair may be a member of the senate.
• Chair may be an ex-officio member of the senate.
• CC may be regular senate agenda item.
• Does the senate have the ability to override the
  CC?
• What role do district CCs have?

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Many Roads Lead to CC Solutions

• Clear policies covering curriculum can solve
  problems that may seem not related to CC
  functions
• Class size Ed. Code allows for the CC to
  recommend class size.
• What policy is used on your campus?
• Why should the CC play a role?

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Many Roads Lead to CC Solutions

• Clear policies covering curriculum can solve
  problems that may seem not related to CC
  functions
• Load Issues The Title V. section 55211 covers
  regular effective contact in Distance Education
  and the System Office Guidelines suggest that at
  policy regarding REC be developed by the CC.
• Other Examples?

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Carrying the Load Doing the Work

• Diversity of members.
• Knowing the law and regulations
• Taking the power/doing the work
• Recognizing when to be creative
• Not taking the easy way out