President's Update | May 2018

  Julie Bruno, ASCCC President

Dear Colleagues,

As the spring term ends and summer approaches, faculty usually enjoy a slower pace that allows for time to reflect on the past academic year and prepare for the next. That is unfortunately not the case this year. This last year we have seen protracted disruption in our colleges and our system, and it appears that the turmoil will continue into the summer and fall. Disruption can be productive and lead to improvements when it encourages us to examine our behavior and attitudes and initiate change for the better. However, it can also be destructive and lead to division and animosity. 

For educators dedicated to the students in the California Community Colleges, the goals set by the Board of Governors last year make complete sense. Many in our system have long held these same goals, such as eliminating the equity and achievement gaps and increasing the number of students that obtain a degree, certificate, credential, skill set, or transfer to a CSU or UC. These long standing shared goals made explicit by the Board of Governors can help focus our efforts and guide our collective action. 

Although we share these aspirational goals, we find that there is disagreement in not only how to achieve the goals but also a lack of interest in identifying a way to move forward that relies on the time-tested policy of consultation that is codified in Education Code and Title 5. The California Community Colleges system is often called a federation of colleges because of the autonomy each college retains within the structure of our larger system.  Balancing autonomy and connectedness is difficult in a system with 114 colleges serving many communities with different populations, interests, and circumstances. Disagreement in how to act as a system is healthy and productive; it ensures that we get to the truth of the issues and find the best possible solutions. But leaders must rely on processes and policies to ensure that balance is maintained. Since the implementation of AB 1725, we have used the consultative process and effective participation to ensure that all voices of all constituency groups are heard and all perspectives are valued while respecting the primacy of the academic senates – local and statewide - in making recommendations regarding academic and professional matters. These policies and processes guarantee that those with the expertise necessary are providing the best possible counsel in the decision-making process. 

Now is not the time to circumvent or set aside effective governance; rather, it is a time to recommit to those principles that have served us so well in the past. The disruption we now face may be the impetus our system needs to be not only the largest system of higher education in the world, but also a national model of how to best serve students. We must find a way forward to determine the best possible solutions to the issues that immediately and directly affect the lives of millions of students. We owe them no less than our best selves.

This is my last President’s Update since my term ends this week. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Academic Senate President. Thank you for your support and assistance over the past two years. It has been my honor to work with such dedicated and talented colleagues from across the state. Have a wonderful summer.

Respectfully,

Julie Bruno

Advocacy: Budget Revision 

At the spring Plenary Session, the delegates adopted a number of resolutions to establish positions on critical budget components, including the online college and the proposed funding formula, and on bills that fall within academic and professional matters. These resolutions continue to guide the ASCCC advocacy efforts on the budget and bills. 

In the past two weeks, the Senate and the Assembly took positions on items in the budget. In the coming weeks, Governor Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon will continue negotiations until an agreement is reached. 

The ASCCC submitted a letter stating our position on items in the budget May revise. As directed by the body, we maintained our focus on opposing the performance based funding portion of the funding formula, and drew attention to the more problematic components of the online college. 

Some critical points in ASCCC’s positions include:

1.    Funding Formula:

• Faculty are committed to eliminating equity and achievement gaps for our students and ensuring adequate funding for our colleges to be able to support our most vulnerable students with the resources they need to be successful. 
• There is little evidence that shows that outcomes based funding works and could in fact incentivize behaviors that increase the equity and achievement gaps.

2.    Online College

• The burden of proof in establishing the need for proposal is not met. 
• States that the funds would be better spent on a solution that leverages the expertise at 114 colleges by establishing a college or consortium of colleges at an existing district and connected to the Online Education Initiative.
• Establishing the regulatory CCC Board of Governors as the board of trustees to oversee the online college sets up a conflict of interest and potentially creates a situation where the interests of the online college is privileged in policy and regulation over the interests of the 114 community colleges.
• Medical Coding is currently identified as one program to be offered through the online college although it is currently offered at California community colleges.
• The differential fee structure set by the CCC Board of Governors rather than the Legislature is a dangerous blurring of appropriate power separation.

 3.   Support for ASCCC

• Express gratitude for supporting the work of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges in all academic and professional matters with stable and ongoing funding for the C-ID System and base operations, as well as new funding to support the ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative.

If your academic senate or college has taken a position regarding items in the budget, now would be the time to call your local legislator and then call Senator Atkins (916.651.4039) and Assemblymember Rendon (916.319.2063). All ASCCC letters regarding the budget and legislation may be found on the Legislative Update page on the ASCCC website.

AB 705 Implementation Workgroup

The AB 705 Implementation Workgroup will continue to meet over the summer months. The Workgroup’s focus for the summer is on assessment and placement for mathematics. The ESL Subcommittee will also continue their efforts in working through recommendations for the assessment and placement of ESL students. The workgroup and subcommittee are to make an initial recommendation on the development of guidelines for local implementation.  However, assessment for placement, curricular design, and educational program development are academic and professional matters and as such, the Chancellor’s Office and the Academic Senate through authentic consultation should develop the guidelines. More information may be found on the Chancellor’s Office Assessment and Placement website.

Guided Pathways

The ASCCC Guided Pathways Task Force (GPTF) continues their work over the summer in creating and curating resources for local senates and faculty to use as they implement a guided pathways framework. The ASCCC Curriculum Institute in July will have a pre-session on guided pathways as well as numerous breakouts on issues integral to implementing a guided pathways framework such as assessment and placement, reexamining curriculum, building meta-majors, course sequencing and program mapping. The GPTF is currently working on the program for the 2018 Academic Academy, which will focus on guided pathways implementation. The event is scheduled for September 14 and 15 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton South San Francisco Airport and is expected to sell out quickly so be sure to reserve your space today. To ensure that local senates remain in direct contact and communication with the ASCCC regarding guided pathways, appointing a liaison is highly recommended. More information on the Guided Pathways liaison and all ASCCC liaison positions may be found on the Liaison webpage.

Executive Committee Meetings

The ASCCC will hold its next Executive Committee meeting on Friday, June 1 in Monterey. All are welcome to attend this and any of the Executive Committee meetings.

Upcoming ASCCC Events

• Faculty Leadership Institute, June 14-16, 2018, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina (Bay Towers)
• Curriculum Institute, July 11-14, 2018, Riverside Convention Center
• Part-Time Faculty Institute, August 2-4, 2018, Westin SFO Airport
• Academic Academy, September 14-15, 2018, Embassy Suites South SFO
• Save the Date! Fall Plenary Session, November 1-3, 2018, Irvine Marriott Hotel

Note: More events will be posted as soon as they are confirmed.

The ASCCC is always happy to provide assistance or guidance on any senate-related topic.  We also make visits to local colleges to connect directly with academic senates or other faculty bodies when appropriate.  Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in these services. More information may be found at www.asccc.org.