Crafton Hills College Academic Senate
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The Academic Senate is the voice for the faculty on all matters related to curriculum and academic standards. In its simplest form, the Academic Senate is the main source for faculty recommendations on anything related to our students. The Academic Senate meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3 p.m., normally in the multipurpose Room of the LRC.Purpose
The Academic Senate shall serve as representation of faculty whenever consultation or interaction for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards with the District or the college administration is necessary. Unless it is directly under the authority of the faculty bargaining agent, SBCCDTA.
This is in accordance with, Education Code §70902 (b)(7) “…the governing board of each community college district shall… ensure the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards."
The local Academic Senate relies on the State-Wide Senate, ASCCC ("A. S. triple C") for recommendations and state-wide representation.
Academic Senate Membership
Each of the campus divisions will elect up to forty percent of their faculty as representatives:
- Career Education and Human Development
- Language, Arts, and Mathematics (LAM)
- Social, Information and Natural Sciences (SINS)
- Student Services (For purposes of inclusion, this division in these by-laws, regardless of college organization structure, includes all non-instructional faculty who are not organized under one of the instructional divisions.)
Full-time faculty will be elected for two-year terms. Seats that become open for any reason will become open Senator-at-large seats to be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee.
Senator Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of each Senator are:
- To prepare for all Senate meetings by carefully reviewing all materials prior to the start of each meeting.
- To attend all Senate meetings and participate fully in the Senate’s deliberations.
- To maintain regular and effective contact with his/her constituent group.
Term: Two years
Academic Senate Resources
Statewide Academic Senate
- Local Senates Handbook 2020
- Academic Senate for California Community Colleges
- California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
Academic Senate Standing Committee Assignments
General Faculty Resources
- PPR Faculty Hiring Prioritization Process - Adopted May 2016
- CHC Course Caps
- Procedure for Establishing and Modifying Course Caps
- Program and Curriculum Approval Handbook
- CHC Syllabus Checklist
- Program Viability
- Program Discontinuance Process
- Senators: 2023-2025
- Faculty Fund Expenditure Guidelines - Adopted F17
- Academic Senate Additional Forms and Documents
- Advancement in Rank
- Faculty of the Year
Chairs
State Law Supports Faculty Recommendations
California State Law, Title 5, gives the senate its powers. State law also defines the Ten Plus One as the primary role of faculty, see below. Please read the law in full here: Title 5 § 53203 - Powers
"...the governing board or its designees will consult collegially with the academic senate when adopting policies and procedures on academic and professional matters"
"...the recommendations of the senate will normally be accepted, and only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will the recommendations not be accepted. If a recommendation is not accepted, the governing board or its designee, upon request of the academic senate, shall promptly communicate its reasons in writing to the academic senate."
The "Ten Plus One"
- Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites.
- Degree and certificate requirements.
- Grading policies.
- Educational program development.
- Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success.
- College governance structures, as related to faculty roles.
- Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes.
- Policies for faculty professional development activities.
- Processes for program review.
- Processes for institutional planning and budget development.
- +1. Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon.
Meeting Resources
- Understanding APs and BPs
- Brown Act Information
- Motions and Rules of Order
- Academic Senate Meeting Norms
- Current Year Agendas & Minutes
- Previous Years Agendas, Minutes, and Documents
Academic Senate Standing Committees
- Academic Senate Exec
- Chairs Council
- Curriculum
- Honors Steering
- MOPED
- VESPA
Historical Committees
- Educational Technology
- Basic Skills
- Noncredit
- Educational Policies
Academic Senate Work Group
The ASWG meets as needed via Zoom. Please contact the Vice President of Support for more information.
Academic Senate Executive Members:
| Member | Title |
|---|---|
| Meridyth McLaren | President |
| Natalie Lopez | Vice President of Outreach |
| Chris Olivera | Interim Vice President of Support |
| Vacant | Leadership Liaison |
| Gwen DiPonio | Treasurer |
| Liaison | Title |
|---|---|
| John Grounds | CTE Faculty Liaison |
| Brandi Bailes | Legislative Liaison |
| Vacant | Noncredit Liaison |
| Vacant | Guided Pathways Liaison |
| Brandi Bailes | OER Liaison |
| Lead(s) | Title |
|---|---|
| Jillian Robertson and Lauren Bond | AB 705 |
| Rick Hogrefe | Interim Chair of Chairs |
| Gwen Diponio and Kim Salt | Curriculum |
| Cynthia Hamlett | Distance Education |
| Shella Scott | Guided Pathways |
| Chloe de los Reyes | Multilingual |
| Kashaunda Harris | Professional Development |
| Breanna Andrews | Starfish |
| Rejoice Chavira & Souts Xayaphanthong |
MOPED (Mentoring, onboarding & prof. dev). |
| Jillian Robertson |
VESPA (Valuing Equity-Sustaining Practices for Achievement) |
