By | October 23, 2020
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THE SENATE STANDARD – ISSUE 2.8

ACC Full-Time Faculty Senate Website 

ACC Coronavirus page

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

Sorry, but I’m a day late with this one. Find below calls for agenda items for the 11/13/20 Full-Time Faculty Senate (FTFS) meeting, announcements about the upcoming Chancellor Campus Conversation, a call for feedback on a new Administrative Rule and volunteer opportunities, and notes from the recent Faculty Senate Leadership Team (FSLT) meeting with Provost Cook. Have a great week. Be safe. Vote!

Wayne

Senate Meetings / Minutes / Agendas

11/13/20 Senate Meeting noon – 2pm – This is the second call for agenda items for our next monthly Senate meeting. Please send items for consideration to me at [email protected] or to your campus senator by Friday, October 30. Details for how to join this meeting online can be found on the Senate Calendar. You can also add the event (and online joining details) to your own calendar by clicking the link above.

Newsworthy

Campus Conversation with the Chancellor” with special guest Dr. Mark Escott, Travis County Interim Medical Director, Thursday 10/22 at 2:30 p.m. The Chancellor expects his conversation with Dr. Escott to offer helpful advice as we move forward. The livestream chat will be available during the conversation at our Campus Conversations webpage.

The Full-Time Faculty Senate Leadership Team (FSLT) met with Provost Cook on Monday 10/19. Issues discussed include:

  • Requests for FTF volunteers: We’ve received reports faculty are feeling overwhelmed by volunteer requests coming from the Senate, AVPs, Deans, and Department chairs. We discussed options for streamlining the process, such as using a version of the FTFS Volunteer Form at the college level, perhaps in the under-development faculty portal. To be continued.
  • Information portal for non-Shared Governance committees to share agendas, minutes, and reports college-wide. This initiative carried over from last year’s senate. Missi Patterson, the initiative sponsor, will meet with the faculty portal project owner to discuss implementation.
  • Streamlining Association Communications: All four employee associations, plus TLED, IT, and others distributing newsletters, with some replication of content and much effort. We broached ideas for shared efforts among associations via TLED or College Marketing. FSLT members noted we need to protect editorial control and value of information filtered through associations to craft content for constituencies. Butler will meet with TLED’s Courtney Grams. College Marketing may also be involved.    
  • WebEx/Blackboard Integration: Currently, Collaborate is default video conferencing tool integrated into Blackboard. Instructors also have access to Google Meet, Zoom, and WebEx outside of Blackboard. Some FTF want more control and choice of VC tools, but IT concerned about confusing user experience when employing multiple tools. TLED has conducted a feature analysis of all four systems. The FTFS will work with Provost Cook to create survey of FTF to solicit faculty preferences.
  • FSLT members shared concerns about some department chairs mandating specific distance learning modes despite instructor preferences. Provost Cook will follow up with EVPs to learn more.
  • Provost Cook reminded FSLT and FTF the best way for faculty to influence ACC initiatives for next several years is active engagement in Academic Master Plan process via Areas of Study, as the AMP will serve as road map for next five years.

New Action Items [please check due dates below!]

Updated Administrative Rule Available for Comments [Due Nov. 4] – The Administrative Services Council (ASC) has reviewed and approved proposed changes to the following Administrative Rule (AR) and posted the draft for comments from ACC employees:

3.03.013 Requests for Public Information

The AR has been updated to reflect current department and personnel titles as well as reference to Board policy. Additional wording changes have been proposed for clarity.

The draft is available for viewing and adding comments here:

https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/asc-internal/admin_rules_drafts

Please read the instructions before adding comments. The deadline for comments is November 4, 2020.

Virtual Lilly Conference – The Lilly Conference is virtual this Fall and will be held on November 30th – December 4th, 2020. TLED has purchased a college-wide license which means all ACC faculty and staff are can attend FOR FREE!

As you know, we have a new Administrative Rule 6.07.002 that lists requirements for the type of professional development faculty are required to complete. The Lilly Conference helps several of these requirements! This AR should be considered as faculty complete their Portfolios and particularly the Faculty Development Plan portion – due this year on November 6th. Click here for more details.

Current Action Items (These are reminders for things I’ve already sent out):

ACC Service Learning Academy [Due ASAP – Need ONE Faculty Member ß LAST REMINDER] –A project team is being formed to coordinate and develop curriculum as well as the implementation of an ACC Service Learning Academy. Please complete the volunteer service form if interested, or reach out to Philip Roche at [email protected].

Best,

Wayne