September 21, 2007, Manzanita Community Education Room

Committee Members Present: Nancy Bull, Anne Cavagnaro, Coni Chavez (recorder), Dave Chesnut, Mercedes Craig (ASCC Secretary), Sean Day (ASCC Senator), Jeff Fitzwater, Dennis Gervin, Doug Lau, Jayme Johnson (ASCC President), Gary Mendenhall, Connie Mical, Katherine Schultz, Joan Smith, Gene Womble

Committee Members Not Present: Doralyn Foletti, Rose Hefley, Reid Milburn (ASCC Representative)

Guests: Laureen Campana, Alexandra Campbell

1. Approval of the minutes for the April 6, 2007 meeting of the College Council

It was moved, seconded (Gary Mendenhall/Gene Womble) and passed that the minutes of the April 6, 2007 meeting be approved.

2. Accreditation Progress Report/Recommendations

Dr. Smith briefly reviewed the events and efforts leading to the completion of the Columbia College Accreditation Progress Report. Columbia College submitted an Accreditation Self-Study Report in 2005. Subsequently, an accreditation visiting team came to Columbia College to validate the report. At that time, the team made recommendations for improvement in five areas: 1. communication; 2. planning; 3. resource allocation; 4. research; and, 5. student learning outcomes. Upon acceptance of the team’s findings in January 2006, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) directed that Columbia College prepare an accreditation progress report, addressing the five areas noted above. The ACCJC further directed the report be submitted no later than October 15, 2007 and would be followed by another visitation. In preparation for submission of the progress report, the report was discussed in many venues such as College Council and Academic Senate meetings. The progress report was placed on the Columbia College website for the entire college community to review and provide comment. All comments were collected and will be shared with the visiting team upon their arrival to the site visitation – the site visitation has yet to be scheduled by the ACCJC. Finally, the progress report was approved by the Yosemite Community College District Board of Trustees on September 12, 2007 and will be sent to the ACCJC the week of September 23^rd.

Accreditation is an on-going cycle. As such, Columbia College’s next step will be to prepare an accreditation mid-term report. Dr. Dennis Gervin, the accreditation liaison officer, will take the lead on developing the mid-term report. Dr. Gervin will bring forward a request to College Council in January 2008 for committee member appointments from constituency groups. It is expected that a representative from the academic senate will co-chair the committee, either the current president or president-elect would be the customary selection.

3. Title III Grant

It was reported that Columbia College will be preparing a Title III grant for submission in the spring 2008 with the purpose of developing the Columbia College foundation and grants departments as well as enhancing our distance education services to students. Columbia College has been working to increase its distance education offerings; however, without adequate funding to pursue these efforts, the institution has met with little success on this front. A task force, comprised of the college distance education committee and deans, has held meetings to develop the basis of the Title III grant project and is excited about the prospect of bringing in funds to support their educational efforts. The task force will be meeting with a grant consultant on October 5^th to formulate the next step in moving the project forward. In the event the Title III grant is not successful with the first submission, we are prepared to re-submit. If Columbia College is successful in being awarded the grant, development of a second federal grant project to support our basic skills initiatives will be pursued.

4. Oakdale & Calaveras Centers Advisory Committee Development

While community advisory committees had been formed in the past for both Columbia College off-campus sites, Oakdale and Calaveras, some time has passed. In using a more “global” approach, the YCCD Chancellor’s Office has committed to funding a consultant to assess the educational needs of all of the District’s off-campus sites, Oakdale, Calaveras, Patterson and Turlock. Ideally, a plan should be developed similar to the Educational Master Plan which focuses specifically on these sites before we move forward with revitalizing community advisory committees.

5. Facilities Bond Effort & FMP Changes

This item was deferred.

6. Safety Committee Report

As an agenda item at the September 14^th Safety Committee meeting, the group considered the issue of smoking on-campus. The issue was moved forward as a result of feedback received after implementation of the temporary ban of smoking on campus (except in autos). The temporary ban was put into place as a safety measure during the unusually high danger this fire season. The temporary ban will be lifted at the end of the current fire season, November 1. As a separate action, the Safety Committee devised a process to review the current smoking policy and make a recommendation to the Facilities Committee. The Safety Committee’s recommendation will be informed by research using surveys, focus groups, open forums, input from experts and study of other colleges’ policies. After consideration by the Facilities Committee, a recommendation will be made to the College Council.

It was reported that the 2007 Columbia College Annual Safety Report was published. As stated on page 2 of the document, the information contained in the report was prepared under the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The report describes the College’s security/safety policies and crime statistics for the most recent calendar year and the two preceding years. A copy of the report can be obtained online, in the security office, fire house, health services office or library. Under the Clery Act, the report must be updated once per year.

7. Revised FY 07-08 College Budget

The Columbia College Fund 11 Final Budget for the Fiscal Year 2007/2008 DRAFT, dated September 21, 2007 was presented to the College Council. Items of note included an augmentation by the YCCD for security costs—which will be used cover additional hours by security personnel and contracted services related to fire protection—and the college contingency was reduced by $5,000 to $95,000. The $5,000 was redirected to a college repair/maintenance contingency line item. Also distributed to the Council was the Yosemite Community College District General Fund Budget Actual 2006-2007 Final Budget 2007-2008 document. Discussion was held regarding the expenditure line item for Columbia College which equals approximately 14% and the process for which funding from the District occurs. Furthermore, the Council expressed an interest in operational expenses as it relates to prudent fiscal management and requested a report be presented each September to the group categorizing college expenditures. For 2007, this report will be given at the November meeting of the College Council.

Lastly, the Council was reminded that by April 2008 it is expected that a process will be in place to allocate funds based on integrated planning.

8. Senate Reports/Updates

a. Student Senate – Jayme Johnson reported that the Student Center remodel has greatly improved traffic flow in the area and more students are now making use of the space. All executive office positions have been filled with 2 senator vacancies still available. The student leadership group is considering a number of activities this semester including a “you survived” event at the end of October, open microphone nights, and an ATCAA partnership.

b. Classified Senate – Nancy Bull reported that the first Classified Senate meeting was held on August 23^rd and the group appreciated the attendance of Drs. Darnell and Smith. The Classified Senate leadership members are experiencing an increase in interest by classified staff members regarding participation and remind them that the Classified Senate is open to hearing all issues and opinions as it relates to college participatory governance. Ms. Bull announced that Dr. Smith will host the classified staff at a breakfast in October and is encouraged by her support.

c. Academic Senate – Kathy Schultz reported that the faculty retreat was successful and raised funds for the Lake Tahoe area in response to the devastating fires over the summer. While faculty are significantly involved in student learning outcomes activities and Academic Wellness Educators Committee activities including reading across the curriculum, of particular focus for the Academic Senate currently are staff development activities, participation in matriculation, flex activities and process for team teaching. Additionally, two topics which have been more charged are the smoking policy and academic calendar. Ms. Schultz reported that at this time the faculty see no benefit to students to change the current calendar; however, they will investigate the alternatives further.

9. Review College Council Constitution and Principles of Collegial Governance

This item was deferred.

10. Review College Council Annual Agenda

The DRAFT College Council Annual Agenda FY 2007-08 was reviewed. It was reported that while the annual agenda does list items that must addressed annually, each month’s agenda may be adjusted based on critical issues. References to special priorities will be removed from the annual agenda and a revised document will be sent to members of the College Council.

11. Health Fee Adjustment

Education Code Section 76355 provides the governing board of community college districts the option of increasing the student health services fee by the same percentage as the increase in the Implicit Price Deflator Index for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services. Current calculations permit a $1.00 fee increase at this time. Fully self-funded through the health fee, the Columbia College Health Services program would be able to offer students additional direct services if the increase is approved. Specific additions would include, salary cost coverage for college health nurse summer hours and funding for a partnership with Sonora Regional Medical Center. This partnership which would allow the hospital to bring their health van to campus on a limited basis and offer access to a family practitioner who could provide a more advanced level of treatment, such as writing prescriptions. Lastly, this increase will be proposed by Modesto Junior College for their health services program. Columbia College’s concurrence would assure consistency in fees between both colleges of the YCCD. It was moved, seconded (Gary Mendenhall/Dave Chesnut) and passed that a recommendation be moved forward to the YCCD Board of Trustees for approval of a health fee increase to $16.00 for the fall and spring semesters and $13.00 for the summer session.

A second proposal was brought to the College Council to recommend to the YCCD Board of Trustees an administrative procedure which would allow for “automatic” continual increases as described above without prior consideration by the College Council. The College Council, by consent, did not agree with the concept of this procedure; therefore, no motion was made to move this particular proposal forward.

12. Review Educational Master Plan Draft

The Columbia College Draft Educational Master Plan, dated fall 2007 was presented to the College Council. The Council was cautioned that this is a first draft of the document and the information contained therein should not be considered final until all phases of review has been completed. It was noted that the draft goals and strategies developed by the College Council in the spring of 2007 were not included in this first print run. Inclusion of that document, along with a few other minor revisions will be made and a fresh copy of the document will be distributed to each College Council member. College Council members were asked to review the document and come to the next meeting prepared to discuss its contents. Dr. Dennis Gervin will be available at the October meeting of the College Council to provide an explanation on WSCH vs. FTES as referenced in the document. It was reported that Dr. Alexandra Campbell will be scheduling interviews throughout the fall semester to gather additional data with which to complete the document.

13. Planning Calendar for the Year

This item was deferred.

14. Assignments for October Meeting

Please see item #12 above.

15. Other Item(s)

a. Self-Introductions – Those in attendance provided a brief self-introduction at the beginning of the meeting.