What is Academic Senate?

Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, which implements the legislature’s intent in passing AB 1725, established relationships among the constituencies within California Community colleges to “ensure faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to express their opinions at the campus level and to ensure that these opinions are given every reasonable consideration, and the right to participate effectively in district and college governance, and the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.”

The Academic Senate is seen by the California Legislature as a governing body and not a college committee. The Academic Senate is the only constituency specifically authorized by Title 5 to have a formal relationship with the Board of Trustees. The Board or its designees will consult collegially with the Academic Senate as duly constituted with respect to academic and professional matters, as defined by law. Procedures to implement are developed collegially with the Academic Senate (Board Policy (BP) 2510).

Consultation must occur in eleven areas of academic and professional responsibility specified in Title 5 (Sections 53200-53204) (referred to as 10+1, listed below).

Shared decision making may be accomplished by either relying primarily on the advice of the Academic Senate or through collegial consultation that results in a written, mutual agreement.

(1) curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines;

(2) degree and certificate requirements;

(3) grading policies;

(4) educational program development;

(5) standards or policies regarding student preparation and success;

(6) district and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles;

(7) faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self-study and annual reports;

(8) policies for faculty professional development activities;

(9) processes for program review;

(10) processes for institutional planning and budget development; and

(11) other academic and professional matters as are mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate.

Academic Senate Goals:

1. Represent the faculty in all professional and academic matters.
2. Promote and participate in shared governance as stipulated by Title 5.
3. Foster continued sense of community, involvement and communication among faculty as well as other college groups.
4. Support and encourage excellence in teaching and learning
5. Continue to ensure understanding among faculty of the role of Instructional Program Review in institutional planning and budgeting

When does the Academic Senate meet?

Dates: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Room 119, Quad 100

The Academic Senate is bound by the Brown Act, which requires that agendas for all open meetings be posted 72 hours in advance.

Access past and current agendas by clicking here:

Once clicking on the above link, the page will initially default to the Board of Trustees meeting page.  

Click on the “Board of Trustees” drop-down menu in the upper righthand corner and select from the menu “Academic Senate” to view agendas.

Who are the Academic Senate Officers?

President 

Jennifer Anderson

jenniferanderson@cmccd.edu

Vice President

LeeAnn Christensen

leeannchristensen@cmccd.edu

Secretary/Treasurer

Heidi Gibbons

hgibbons@cmccd.edu