THE SENATE STANDARD – ISSUE 27
ACC Full-Time Faculty Senate Website
Dear Faculty Colleagues,
How YOU doin’? (If you are hearing this in the same voice I do, you GET me!)
This week is a CHALLENGE, but like all challenges, it gives us the chance to grow and do more than we thought possible. I hope you are feeling proud of the way you, your students, your colleagues and administration are meeting this challenge. I know I am.
Please take a moment to review this week’s updates below. Lots to see, lots to do, including senate nominations, news about iPads for students, funds for faculty and students, and communication from Student Affairs. Thanks for taking the time to read in the midst of all that is going on.
Senate Meetings / Minutes / Agendas
3/13/20 Senate Meeting – minutes are in development and will be posted after they are approved.
4/10/20 Senate Meeting noon -2pm – will be held online. This is the second call for agenda items for our April meeting. Please send items for consideration to me at [email protected] or to your campus senator by Friday, April 3.
New Action Items [please check due dates below!]
Second Round Nominations for the 2020-21 Full-Time Faculty Senate [due April 6] The first round of nominations are complete. You can look at the current slate of nominees and review where we still need representation. Please help us ensure a strong Faculty Senate for next year by nominating yourself or a worthy colleague. Note that you may only nominate a person from your own campus as senator, but you may nominate any full-time faculty member for President-Elect.
By April 6, Nominate a faculty member for:
• the position of Senator
• the position of President-Elect
Emergency Funds for Students and Faculty
Times right now are tough. I know you or other people you know may be struggling. Remember, there are funds to help ACC employees. In addition, students may be struggling too. If you have the resources to help students or faculty, here is the way to do that.
Student Emergency Fund – Keep a Dream Going
• To donate to help students: austincc.edu/donate
• Students in need should go to: austincc.edu/sef to apply for aid
Faculty Emergency Fund – Support for ACC Faculty
• Learn more at: https://www.austincc.edu/facstaff/emergency-funds/faculty-emergency-fund
• Donate to help faculty (note that the fund is VERY low right now): https://docs.google.com/a/austincc.edu/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=YXVzdGluY2MuZWR1fGFjYy1mb3Jtcy1pbnZlbnRvcnl8Z3g6Nzg3NjIyZWE5YWQyNDA1Yg
• Faculty in need can apply for funds here: https://docs.google.com/a/austincc.edu/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=YXVzdGluY2MuZWR1fGFjYy1mb3Jtcy1pbnZlbnRvcnl8Z3g6NjNjMDMwYzNkOWRhZDlhYg
Newsworthy
Student Affairs Update – The ways we serve our students are changing constantly as we learn more about the current situation. Our Student Affairs folks are working hard to help. Here are a few things they’ve been working on:
• Review this recent newsletter from Student Affairs to students, outlining what services are currently available: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Student-Affairs-Newsletter–We-know-you-may-have-some-questions—.html?soid=1132568890382&aid=s2rDj7J-J1I
• Read this note from Shasta Buchanan outlining all recent student communications: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m0OHfW8vOFJMHNW_eLL-bJtvVTlc9xeN7Cf7icPwxa0/edit
Supporting our Students in Getting Online – Latest Update – Administration continues to work to ensure that our students have the tech they need to get online for their classes. There is good news in this effort. I was informed that the first shipment of iPads arrived on 3/30, two days before they were expected! They are currently being processed so they can be distributed to students. Other iPads that were already owned by the college have started to be distributed to students who have highest priority needs, like those due to graduate this semester.
There are many folks working to make a speedy distribution possible. TLED’s Matt Evins in Instructional Technology and Marc Petrick in Library are managing this process and are assisted by the following:
• Purchasing – Daniel Garcia
• Shipping and Receiving / Warehouse – Scott Farmer
• Student Affairs – Steve Christopher and Willie Martinez
• HLC Campus Management – Linda Morrison
• Campus Police – Chief Dixon
• Parking and Transportation – Kirk Kirkland
• Information Technology – Lee Buentello
We are grateful to have so many people joining together to get students the tech they need as soon as possible. Give them a shout-out if you are able!
Remember, you can assist in this effort by helping us identify which students need the ipads. Share this link [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MH3DXLJ] with your students. Let them know that if they need help getting online, this is the way to get on the list to receive the loaner ipads.
Instruction – Latest Update – On Friday, March 27, you should have received an email from Mike Midgely entitled “[Full-Time Faculty] Updates on Several Items”. Please review this to ensure you have the most recent details on instructional issues.
General COVID-19 Updates – The college is working hard to keep us all updated on the emerging situation with this virus. Please be sure to check the ACC page regularly to ensure you are clear on current plans and policies. Up-to-date information about ACC’s response to COVID-19 is at the ACC Coronavirus page. You’ll note the page has now been updated with separate special sections for students, faculty, and staff.
Current Action Items (These are reminders for things I’ve already sent out):
Sharing Online Teaching Successes As all of us navigate the new challenges of transitioning to online, there are bound to be “uh-ohs” and “whoo-hoos”. I would love to hear your successes, in hopes that we can all learn from each other.
Please share best practices or other successes on this document, and read about what your colleagues are doing. It is my hope that as this document grows you’ll find some inspiration here. Keep it positive, focus on the GOOD, celebrate your students and your colleagues, and let’s make learning happen online at ACC. GIVE THIS DOCUMENT SOME LOVE! I KNOW YOU ARE HAVING SOME SUCCESSES! DON’T LEAVE A FRIEND HANGING! I’M NOT SHOUTING, YOU ARE SHOUTING!
Review Bylaws – We will be voting on these starting April 10, so now is your chance to get a good read on them before voting. You can review the document that summarizes all of the major changes in our proposed bylaws. It also has links to the redlined and clean versions of the proposed bylaws.
Changes to Testing Center Policies [deadline to submit requests for exceptions is April 17, 2020ß note new deadline] – The website will walk you through all the new policies for faculty using the testing centers. Please take a peek.
SCHOLARSHIPS!!! [due MAY 1, 2020 ß note new deadline] The ACC Foundation has ONE APPLICATION for all 700 scholarships they offer our students. Applications are open now, so please let your students know about them. Students can view THIS PAGE to get the application, and help to apply.
AMP Update – The Academic Master Planning process is continuing, but moving online. Please take a moment to learn more about how you can be involved. Details are in THIS MEMO from Rachel Ruiz and Brandon Whatley. You can learn more about the AMP on the AMP website.
Sick Leave Pool – Did you know that you can donate your sick leave hours to other ACC employees in need? Many faculty have more hours than they need, while staff might need additional help, especially at this time. Policies surrounding this effort and a form you can use to donate your own excess hours can be found HERE.
Best,
++missi patterson