West Virginia Northern Community College 

Minutes:                                                                                                                                                 December 7, 2007

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Present: D. Bartley, S. Beck, D. Cresap, C. Dale,  M. Davis, T. Danford, F. DeCaria (presiding),  G. Evans, D. Ferrell, D. Folger, D. Goeddel, M. Goldstein, M. Grubor, D. Hans, S. Hupp, L. Ingram, C. Kefauver, R. Malek, T. Ramsey, C. Riter, C. Rogerson, D. Ryan, S. Rychlicki, P. Sharma, C. Teaff, J. Tully, J. VanFossen, T. Vavra, G. Winland, D. Yadrick

 

Excused: R. Berry, Carol Cornforth, E. Evans, R. Lucki, Linda Shelek, M. Watson  

 

Absent: K. Atkins, S. Baricska, C. Eastham, S. Gress, K. Herrington, R. Lucki, M. Marlin, L. Miller, C. Morris, K. O’Brien, M. O’Brien, D. Poffenberger, R. Pusz, J. Remias, V. Slider, S. Stokes, C. Tyska

The meeting was called to order by President Frank DeCaria at 1:00 pm in the IP video rooms on three campuses.

Minutes of the October meeting were approved as posted on the Senate web page.(C. Rogerson)

Computer/technology changes:

Sue Pelley was unable to attend but emailed the changes to take place in the computer system to take place Jan. 2008.  All will have to make the changes in order to use email, etc. The new program for the college will require cooperation from everyone.

Dave Haynes addressed assembly:

1st change: email for faculty and students: userid = first initial, last name @wvncc.edu (decision was made by president and others)

*current accounts available until Mar. 1st with extended time depending on usage

*student email will change to gmail with first initial last name @student.wvncc.edu (set up begins next week)

 

P. Sharma noted a possible problem with Vista log in conjunction with student email

 

 

Haynes continued:

*gmail can break addresses up into campus for sending out mass emails

*no advertisements until after students have graduated

*google will change nothing – only shows what Northern creates

*advantages: students can share document with instructor and edits can be made by instructor; then students can change and add to it

 

2nd change: 

*faculty files no longer stored on office computer, files uploaded onto main computer and updated every night

* located on “my documents” on network, can only be viewed by particular instructor

*5 gigs max

 

*M. Goldstein inquired whether or not netscape emails can be saved

 

Haynes continued:

*faculty will be able to access what is saved and it can be transferred over

*outlook is new email

*netscape will never go away, but faculty will receive nothing new

*another advantage: if a faculty member needs a program, it can be installed without technician having to come in person

*all faculty will run uniform programs - same for Weirton and New Martinsville

*should be helpful because everything will be backed up even if computer crashes

 

3rd change: webpages – all will be on text center 1

*faculty should notify tech. support if webpages are inaccessible

 

T. Danford inquired about KD and front page

C. Teaff inquired when webpages might no longer accessible

 

Dave Haynes continued:

*computers will automatically log off at night –

*general discussion of time to log off – 11, midnight, or 2 am?

 

*faculty should email with any questions

 

 

late registration:

T. Vavra: met with Janet Fike and explained situation with signature.  Fike in favor and thought some steps might be easier for her section, also met with Mike Koon.  The requirement will begin with Monday classes, not on Saturday.  Students must have faculty signature.  Also, any administrative withdrawal will be official when submitted during the first week of classes.

 

 

 

LRC Committee

DeCaria announced that K. O’Brien and M. O’Brien will be leaving, leaving spaces open on the committee.  Asked for volunteer – D. Ryan volunteered and DeCaria asked that anyone interested should let him know.

 

Writing Across the Curriculum Committee:

Chairperson K. O’Brien leaving

DeCaria put the question forward – should it discontinue committee?

Motion: Discontinue the committee. (C. Teaff/D. Ryan)

Motion approved

 

Change in the schedule:

Dr. Olshinsky unable to attend but forwarded rationale for changes in schedule

 

C. Rogerson wrote response to change:

*C. Rogerson first inquired whether or not faculty are in agreement

Review of changes and response below:

  1. with new schedule Monday of Thanksgiving classes would meet, but faculty are not in favor and would like schedule to remain the same with no classes meeting – this means keeping four day final exam schedule

Vavra questioned whether or not we would lose a day in spring

  1. with new schedule faculty return later

-         end close to Christmas, grade deadline later, staff time is shortened

DeCaria noted that Dr. Olshinsky is concerned about enrollment factor and believes later start would increase fall enrollment number

Rogerson noted that there is currently no proof this will increase enrollment

Danford inquired about data on classes beginning after labor day

DeCaria answered that there are no numbers yet

Danford noted that this might give an indication of student preferences. Did the classes have high enrollment/demand

DeCaria inquired whether or not any courses were geared to recent high school students?

Vavra answered that his math students started high school classes at the end of the same week Northern classes began; recommended checking high school schedule to see how close Northern’s start date is to this date

 

M. Goldstein suggested that faculty choose one issue to prioritize and suggested that Monday of Thanksgiving break was more important than semester start day and faculty must be very firm, clear about which is more important

 

Some faculty suggested that Northern can see if later semester start date works

Rogerson noted that Northern will have data after one trial semester

DeCaria said that 4 day final schedule should still stand and asked about final exam time conflicts that can’t be resolved

Goldstein noted concern about Monday of Thanksgiving break being the beginning of hunting season

 

S. Rychlicki, T. Vavra, C. Rogerson, willing to meet to discuss issues over schedule. 

 

Motion: Create a committee (assembly?)  to meet with Dr. Olshinsky and discuss schedule concerns (S. Rychlicki/T. Danford)

Approved

 


Vavra informed assembly that Fall 1991 was the first full week off for Thanksgiving break

Teaff: suggested that instead of faculty having to react, faculty might be consulted ahead of changes

DeCaria noted this concern about faculty being involved in decision making progress

 

Motion: no committee meetings that last week – division, etc -  in order for faculty to finish grading (Vavra/C. Dale)

Approved

 

M. Davis suggested a  request of Mike Smith to do number crunching to find out success of classes and see what other colleges are doing

 

DeCaria said he contacted WVU and they will have schedule that will start on the 18th and asked if anyone knew about West Lib any changes.  Will request # from Mike Smith

 

 

Assessment:

D. Folger thanked all who helped with focus visit.  The follow up focuses on the Gen Ed. taskforce – will need help to see that students are graduating with what they need

 

Curriculum – no report

 

Budget:

Vavra reported the committee met twice and are in process of finalizing capitol improvements, using priorities from requests sent in. $125,000 in Perkins $

Danford said that OTPS budget requests due Dec. 13th

 

Board of Governors:

Danford reported the board met last month. 2 new lay members on board, replacement from the superintendent of public schools Mary K. DeGarmo and a new student representative. One member is still needed. Meeting was routine.

 

ACF:

Goldstein reported that the agenda voted on 2 mos. ago was pushed forward with Powerpoint presentation to HEPC, same goes to community and tech. college board.

4 main things endorsed - one that the state is being asked to match up to 7.5% of retirement savings instead of 6%

Goldstein also reported that ACF has decided to promote and endorse Great Teachers. Chancellors put $6,000 in budget.  Handed out flyer that lists dates. Instead of faculty development network supporting it, 23 schools now funding it in part.  Prior year 17 attendees at great teachers. This year HEPC and CTCC will fund the central costs and each school will pay for participants.  Faculty should indicate interest. Dates: Mon. June 23 – Thurs June 26th.  If two new people don’t want to go, two people could go again

 

LRC – no report

 

Online changes for springVista to Blackboard Vista

Sharma announced the schedule for more training - Dec. 18th and Jan. 8th. If  more are interested she  will have more sessions – course design and course management

 

FERC

C. Harbert reminded faculty of change in evaluation cycle. Goals due in mid January, Accomplishment report due at end of January.  Now a January to December cycle.

Motion for adjournment by Rogerson, seconded by Danford.

Respectfully submitted,

Crystal Harbert

Faculty Assembly Secretary