|
|
š Fall Meeting ›
Date: Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007 Location: H 102, Renton Technical College Hosting Rep: Tim Culler tculler@bcc.ctc.edu |
ATTENDEES:
Diane Pelletier, Green River CC Max Heinzmann, Big Bend CC
Ruth Frickle, Highline CC Mike Dodge, Olympic CC
George Neal, South Puget Sound CC Diana Knauf, Shoreline CC
Mark Doerr, Spokane Falls CC Chuck Weedin, Yakima Valley, CC
Steve Byman, Lower Columbia CC Tim Culler, Renton TC
Michelle Quinn, Seattle Central CC
Call to Order, Introductions and Welcomes
FACTC FOCUS - Update and Discussion: Mark Doerr
The draft has been circulated. Mark will add sources of the table information at the back. If you see anything that needs correcting, please let him know immediately. We need to begin to consider topics for next year so that we can put the call out for papers relatively early. We made some comments about formatting that Mark will incorporate. We also discussed how salary information should be reported in FACTS section. Many campuses are reducing the number of paper copies being ordered in favor of the electronic distribution.
Discussion about a current topic occurred on Friday and the idea of funding for ctc’s is the general topic. It was decided that we present some information to generate informed responses for our next issue. Mike complimented Mark on a job well done on past issues; it is great for us to have the Focus to point to as a tangible product we produce.
FACTC INFORMATION BROCHURE – Update and Discussion: Mark Doerr
We need to update the brochure and print new ones. This should be an item for the agenda of every fall meeting. What the organization is (a state-wide faculty network established by the State Board for all faculty of community and technical colleges which meets quarterly to discuss system-wide matters of common concern as they affect teaching and learning). Representation comes from the ranks of faculty – one from each college on a volunteer basis. If we continue to have a website, we will want to refer to that.
FACTC: produces the annual FACTC Focus.
maintains a website.
presents the Tools for Teaching conference on a semi-regular basis.
provides an active state-wide network for information exchange about campus issues.
contributes to the New Faculty Seminar.
provides a venue for communication with the State Board about teaching and learning as well as governance and administrative topics and issues.
Maintains links with the Instructional Commission.
You can contact your campus FACTC representative to obtain system-wide information on issues of interest.
It was agreed that the brochure needs to be updated. Mark Doerr will update based on the edits we choose to make.
Discussion of FACTC Representation at IC meetings: Diane Pelletier
Coordinator: George Neal
Winter meeting is Feb 14-15 - SPSCC Hawks Prairie
Spring meeting is May 15-16 – Whatcom CC
IC's web page [where meeting materials will be found] is http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/_g-instructioncomm.aspx.
Max H. will be attending the Fall meeting. Outside representatives are welcome on the first day and are asked to speak (about 15 minutes). Max plans to stay for the day to see what the group is currently working on. Max will also ask if there are any issues the group believes we should be considering at the present time. He will also attempt to get active members from campuses that do not currently have them.
It was agreed that when one of us attends, it is important to write up our impressions and then share them with the entire group by email as well as a verbal report at the next meeting.
We also discussed what the HEC Board does and how closely we should be paying attention.
--------------------------------------
Friday, October 19
ATTENDEES:
Diane Pelletier, Green River CC Max Heinzmann, Big Bend CC
Ruth Frickle, Highline CC Mike Dodge, Olympic CC
George Neal, South Puget Sound CC Diana Knauf, Shoreline CC
Mark Doerr, Spokane Falls CC Chuck Weedin, Yakima Valley, CC
Steve Byman, Lower Columbia CC Tim Culler, Renton TC
Michelle Quinn, Seattle Central CC Noreen Light, SBCTC
Leon Khalsa, Pierce – Puyallup Tim Keely, Tacoma CC
Randy Nelson, South Seattle CC Jennifer Wu, North Seattle CC
Continental Breakfast and Conversation
Call to Order, Introductions, Welcomes
Officers’ Reports
Secretary: Diana Knauf
Action needed: approval of 5/10 & 11/07 minutes – Corrections were noted and a final version was approved. The final version will be sent to all members.
Tim moved, Mike seconded, and they were approved.
Treasurer: Randy Nelson
Current balance is $5391.89, with very few non-payers from last year. Randy will be sending out invoices for this year soon. Bates, Edmonds and Whatcom are the schools that have historically not paid. One refund went to Green River CC for a check that was inadvertently deposited to FACTC.
Vice-president: George O’Neal
George is working to insure that we have representation at the Instruction Commission meetings. Leon suggested that at schools for which we do not have representatives, we send items to the union leadership as a default.
President: Diane Pelletier
Diane deferred her report as items she plans to discuss are later in the agenda.
Welcome from Renton Technical College President, Dr. Bressler
Tim Culler introduced Dr. Bressler, the President of Renton Technical College. Dr. Bressler is a Packers fan and appeared in full Packers regalia. He pointed out that while there are 5 technical colleges in the system, each is very different. The RTC student body is: 60% vocational and professional-technical, with another 30% being basic skills students, and the average age of students is 32.
Two years ago a decline in enrollment was compensated for by eliminating the waiting list for basic skills. Renton has a large immigrant population, and so the campus is 44% people of color, and ABE and ESL programs are well-liked. The key is to move them into the prof. tech. programs once they have completed basic skills programs. Universal Design for Learning grant - began with a desire to educate those with disabilities (through learning styles assessment and adaptive technology). It was determined that what was being done for that group, was actually good for ALL students. This was so successful that RTC was selected for Achieving the Dream, a national initiative to identify initial entry skills and then track the cohort to see how they improve over time at the institution. The 58 participating schools share their successes with each other at regular meetings. This college is 65 years old and began as a war-time training facility.
70 occupational programs: Renton has been promoted through a series of partnerships that focus on Renton as a place to work. The Boeing plant has been changing (downsizing, but also more efficient), but is also releasing long-owned land (Frye’s), new development includes retail space and condos just down the hill. 70 or 80 businesses are going in and this will have an impact on RTC. Given that we have the potential of doubling our size in the next 10 years. The Seahawk training facility is moving to Renton (a site near the lake). Homes are also replacing a now defunct paper processing plant. Additional land will be released in the near future - $400k of free advertising.
Pop. 65,000 now.
Capital requests - $580 million for the biennium with $ going according to the priorities list. Of course, the costs on which those budgets were based have increased.
Governor’s last budget included a quality award, but the problem is that it exactly duplicates the accreditation procedure (in other words, a lot of extra work for it do be done right). There is a suggestion that what we do for accreditation should be adequate.
Childcare
ESL/ABE tuition shortfall – RTC loses $200 million dollars in meeting this part of the mission.
FACTC @ New Faculty Institute Conference 2007
Table staffing: Mike Dodge, Diana Knauf, Diane Pelletier
Session presentation: Diana Knauf, Diane Pelletier
Discussion of future involvement: Leon Khalsa, Jim Howe
Mike staffed on Thursday but he was unsure if it was worth it to have the table staffed all day. So, it may be that we need the presence through handouts, candies, or something like that. Perhaps someone could be there for the early morning and then for breaks.
Our session (the last of the day) was successful in that those who attended found it worthwhile, but we did not have tremendous attendance. In the past, the president spoke to the whole group for about 15 minutes and provided a handout. Mark suggested that we include stories about how campuses have used FACTC – Spokane Falls was able to use FACTC to collect information and prevent budget cuts in the journalism area. It might also be great if the FACTC person also attends the sessions to mingle with the attendees. Leon is still interested in a session on “flow” when what you do and what you need is in synch to pitch material to the appropriate level for their students and great for students in that they enjoy the learning process.
Dates are not yet set for next year, but Diane P. will find out so that we know the date by our Spring meeting so that we may plan ahead.
SBCTC Updates and Discussion: Noreen Light, Faculty Development Coordinator, Assessment, Teaching & Learning, SBCTC, nlight@sbctc.edu
Noreen just started at SBCTC as the Assessment, Teaching, Learning Faculty Development Coordinator after teaching at RTC in the 911 program. She views this as an opportunity to promote faculty development. She will be coordinating Faculty Professional Development across the state. Noreen plans to attend FACTC meetings on a regular basis.
Noreen distributed the organizational chart for the State Board to clarify roles. She asked us to note that there is no council for faculty development. Perhaps a more formal presence (under the Instruction Commission, for ex.) is needed to support faculty development.
Student Achievement Initiative (Achieving the Dream) – handouts were distributed and discussed (Leon and Noreen both contributed here). Potentially this is a very large change to the system with both up and down-sides. Originally initiated with the BOT – prove to us you are doing good things for students and show us how you can measure this. Goal is to assess instructional success and to reward colleges when they succeed. Leon looks at the project with “guarded optimism,” but he notes that he is unaware of research out there that supports this approach, so we are leading edge. Plans were created with no actual budget numbers on the basis of existing data at SBCTC. Student success does not equal the student’s initial goal when they enter (given that they change their minds). The initial outlay is $50k per school to implement. Leon observed that it may really measure state goals of achievement rather than goals for individual students. The plan is intended to have a 3-5 year duration.2008-2009 is the first year that individual school “performance” will be compared to the figures listed in the first 5 columns of the table on the 2nd page. If they are improved, then the school will achieve “points.” This is designed as an institutional reward system, although many can see how this could be used for other purposes. The political reality is that this has been formed without all of the questions around it being addressed – perhaps they will be addressed in implementation. That is why this year is considered a “learning year.” Every college (probably the institutional researcher) is now involved in this project. You need to find out who is heading this effort on your campus? Future monies will go to school who have demonstrated success. The involvement of the Institutional Researchers is critical to this process; it would be wise to check with that person(s) on your campus. It will also be important that faculty look carefully to see if it is headed in a positive direction or not. See also http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/college/e_studentachievement.aspx
Faculty Compensation Study – this committee advises the Task Force that will meet for the first time next March to make recommendations. THIS committee is meeting on 10/29 to look at faculty and staff compensation with a consultant hired to gather this information. The committee will complete their work by August, 2008. Their findings will go to the Task Force who will make actual recommendations. See handout. Di – add website here, On the website go to groups and then system task force and then salary task force for additional information.
Instruction Commission Workplan – Noreen distributed a paper copy of the plan so that we may see who is working on what.
Technology Task Force – go to groups, task forces then this, Noreen distributed a handout. The Task Force met 10/2. The online faculty survey was done, but just ended last Friday so no analysis yet. Focus groups will be held in November at Shoreline, Tacoma and Big Bend to consider what is being used, what is needed and what sort of training is needed to provide support. eLearning = all instructional technology, not just distance education. You can also look online: major themes – the time it takes us to decide we need it plus the time it takes to get the funding means it may be out of date by the time we get it. This does not serve us well. This task force is more about the process than what we actually purchase. We need to look at what we spend administratively versus what directly impacts students. The final plan will be produced in early Winter, and by next September the State Board – see the timeline on the webpage – it is a very short time line.
Supplemental Budget Request – Noreen distributed the supplemental budget “wish list” from the State Board (please note, this is a wish list only). Not all of it will end up receiving funding but here are the candidates. See handout.
Revival of the Teaching and Learning Network – Noreen will be bringing this group back together after several years’ hiatus. She is interested in any and all ideas relating to faculty development. She is happy to receive your comments and suggestions. For example, discipline-specific times before other conferences. Leon suggested a state-wide survey for discipline-specific groups. Additionally, Noreen could provide links to Professional Development opportunities at the four year institutions in the state.
Common Course Numbering – Please see the website for more information. There is a list of the institutions farthest along in the implementation process on the website. The course correspondence list is also available there. Di – put link here
FACTC @ 2008 Pacific Northwest Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference, April 30 – May 2 and possibly associated FACTC meeting -
Mike Dodge and Noreen Light (SBCTC), planning begins in November for this conference. We would like to have a presence there, but what shape that should take this year is still up in the air. Randy will check on possibly contributing community college wines and possibly dessert for a reception. We could go as far as having a wine and dessert competition from using rubrics, etc. We could also have an information table and bag give away. Tentative commitment from George, Randy, Max, Tim, Diana, Michelle and Mark to attend the event. We could reduce our meeting time in Spring to accommodate attending both. Currently we are saying Friday after the conference for the meetings (1-6pm Fri, May 2nd).
To Do: Mark will check on whether we can meet at his institution on Friday afternoon. He also suggested that we consider our next Fall meeting happen in Olympia so that we can meet with State Board folk as well as legislators BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, when they have time to meet with us.
FACTC Website: We used to have a forum, before blogs existed, but then it was abandoned, by us, but NOT by outside others who used it for nefarious purposes. We have solved the problem, but without a regular webmaster the website is very out of date.
To do: Randy will check with their Teaching and Learning coordinator who does web work and is currently part-time. She may have some insight or even be interested herself. Ruth is willing to coordinate the monitoring and updating in the future. Jennifer will write up a description of what it is that we will need and Randy can use that to generate options. It is suggested that we hire someone, copy the site and then discontinue our use of the current host.
It was moved and passed that Randy, as treasurer, and Diane, as president, are authorized to allocate funds up to $500 for the initial start up and maintenance of our website. Motion passes.
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
“Governance on individual campuses: Faculty Senate/Instructional Council, or other?” How do faculty and administration work together on teaching/learning related issues on your campus?
Campus Reports -
4:00 pm
Adjourn
~~ Upcoming Meeting REMINDER ~~Winter 2008: Olympic College Feb 7, 8 Mike Dodge = host