At last fall's
plenary session, we launched significant discussions
about essential principles we hold dear as community
college faculty in Californiaamong them
the value of public higher education for all,
especially in the liberal arts; the need to define
and provide equity of funding for colleges and
their programs, the protection of our traditional
base of students.
This spring we amplify those
earlier discussions, demonstrating how to put
principles in action and to ensure that our academic
senate pursuits have, at their bedrock, the principles
we have espoused in resolution, in publications,
and in historically recognized academic traditions.
Marcus
Harvey of the American Association of University
Professors will offer a keynote address on one
such principled tradition: academic freedom. His
presentation is particularly timely as this fundamental
right is under federal and judicial assault and,
regrettably, is understood by far too few.
We also welcome Chancellor
Mark Drummond, newly appointed Chancellor
of our system. He will offer his greetings and
outline his vision for the near future. Also among
us on Thursday will be other members of the Consultation
Council, meeting concurrently with our session
on Thursday. If you are interested in dropping
in on this open meeting for a few minutes to see
Consultation's process at work, consult your brochure
for time and place.
In another keynote presentation,
representatives of the Research and Planning Group
of the California Community Colleges will offer
their best advice regarding the local research
now called for by accrediting standards and in
legislative demands for accountability in this
"culture of evidence." Faculty can proffer
their own principled responses and experiences
in complementary breakouts related to such research.
We are woefully aware of the
current exigencies. Yet the breakout
sessions we will offer demonstrate how on-going
faculty activitieson behalf of our students
and within the governance arenaare predicated
on the principles we first define. We urge you
during our session to explore such topics as the
continued relevance of the 50 year-old Brown v.
Board of Education decision, issues of integrity
as professionals and in the delivery of online
courses, exemplary programs in service to alland
in service to particular populations of scholar-athletes,
basic skills students, and vocational students.
At the same time, we will share how some legislative
and administrative efforts appear to be shearing
the Master Plan and our California Community College
system of long-standing, publicly held principles
of access, self-determination, and local control
in response to local priorities.
Your Academic Senate Executive Committee welcomes
you and thanks you for your willingness to act
on principle in addressing the challenges before
us.
Kate Clark, President
Academic Senate for California Community Colleges