Academic Senate

Whereas, The bylaws of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges include procedures and criteria for conferring the status of senator emeritus for the purpose of recognizing the meritorious service of a faculty member upon or after retirement, and Wheeler North has satisfied those requirements as a faculty member of the California Community Colleges system whose service has well exceeded the required five years of significant service to the Academic Senate;

Whereas, The California Community Colleges system, with 1.8 million students at 116 colleges, is the largest system of higher education in the country [1] and is empowered with the Vision for Success from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to remain “accessible and personal institutions that can help students on an individual level regain their hopes and rebuild their futures” and the “California Community Colleges have always been an instrument for achieving broad access to higher education,” [2

Whereas, Resolution F21 1.05 states in-part, “the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges should make remote attendance an option at all Academic Senate for California Community Colleges-organized events” [1] without consideration of resources and technology requirements associated with the provision of remote attendance;

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Area A and Area B meetings have consistently been held on a Friday, and the Area C and Area D meetings have consistently been held on a Saturday, which is often outside of the traditional work week;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) explore options for Area meetings that align with the needs and best interest of each individual Area while also balancing logistical considerations of the ASCCC Executive Committee and ASCCC office team starting with the Fall 2023 Area meetings.

Whereas, Strategic planning is a critical component of successful organizations that provides clear direction and stability and ensures that the organization’s leadership is responsive to its members;

Whereas, Since the 2018–2023 Strategic Plan [1] of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) is set to expire in 2023, the ASCCC Executive Committee engaged in comprehensive and public strategic planning sessions from December 2022 through February 2023; [2]

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) has had a long-standing commitment to participation of part-time faculty as demonstrated in resolutions [1] and papers, as they bring vital and unique authentic voices and experiences to discussions of academic and professional matters in alignment with the inclusion, diversity, equity, antiracism and accessibility commitment of the ASCCC;

Amend the first Resolved:

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) work with the ASCCC caucuses to amend its ASCCC’s bylaws to allow for ASCCC caucuses to appoint a delegate with the full voting privileges defined by ASCCC Bylaws Article 1, Section 1.E [1] at the fall and spring plenary sessions in time for caucus delegate voting at the 2023 fall plenary session with voting at all fall and spring plenary sessions going forward; and

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges serves as “the official voice of California community college faculty in academic and professional matters” and part of its mission is “to include diverse faculty, perspectives, and experiences that represent our student populations”;

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges caucuses were established to “form a collective voice on issues of common concern that caucus members feel are of vital importance to faculty and the success of students as they relate to academic and professional matters”;

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Area A and Area B meetings have been consistently held on a Friday, and the Area C and Area D meetings have been consistently held on a Saturday; and

Whereas, Saturday is often outside of the traditional work week;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, beginning with the spring 2023 term, hold the Area C and Area D meetings on a Friday and hold the Area A and Area B meetings on a Saturday every spring term; and

Whereas, The bylaws of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) include procedures and criteria for conferring the status of Senator Emeritus for the purpose of recognizing the meritorious service of a faculty member upon or after retirement, and Mayra Cruz has satisfied those requirements as a faculty member of the California community colleges, as her service includes three years on ASCCC Executive Committee, six years as the De Anza College Academic Senate President, two years as the Foothill De Anza District Academic Senate President, three years as Career and Techn