Whereas, The state budget, especially as regards education, is facing potentially severe cuts with the result that many faculty positions are not being staffed or re-staffed and many funds for senate duties are either being cut or the senates are being asked to give back those funds (or time); and
Whereas, Such temporary reductions, although necessary to meet severe reductions in state funding, should not become permanent;
Whereas, Faculty and their governing boards have the ultimate responsibility for shaping the academic environment at the California community colleges;
Whereas, There are attempts to wrest academic control from faculty and replace it with a corporate managerial model; and
Whereas, Imposing a corporate model necessitates overthrowing the existing structure, thereby changing faculty roles in governance, institutional planning and other academic and professional matters;
Whereas, Local senate presidents need to serve as the official spokespersons and advocates for the faculty in academic and professional matters throughout the year, including the summer;
Whereas, Local faculty senate presidents often need to meet with college/district presidents/superintendents/chancellors, vice-presidents and other administrators during the summer;
Whereas, Involvement of local faculty senate presidents in decisions made during the summer can reduce conflict between faculty and administration; and
Whereas in 1995 the Council on Economic Priorities listed Maxxam/Pacific Lumber as one of the nation's worst environmental offenders, and
Whereas Maxxam Corporation and Pacific Lumber have exchanged sustainable for unsustainable and environmentally devastating logging practices and have begun to clear cut the vast majority of its old growth redwood holdings, and
Whereas CALPERS and STRS are among the largest investors in Maxxam Corporation and Charles Hurwitz, the Maxxam CEO, has engaged in financial practices that threaten our pension funds,
Whereas the governing boards and the administrators of various colleges have used general funds to hire consultants to do work for the district, and
Whereas these consultants often do work that directly affects college constituent groups, and
Whereas the Board of Trustees and the administration must follow shared governance procedures as mandated by Title 5;
Whereas the state has only just begun to fund technology at the community colleges, and
Whereas funding is usually for technology not present on the campuses, or for new equipment, and
Whereas community colleges have a need to maintain present and future equipment;
Resolved that the Academic Senate research and recommend by Spring 1997 session, methods and strategies to fund these technology needs.
Whereas SB 1905 would make it possible to waive all AB 1725-generated reform regulations within the next five years,
Resolved that the Academic Senate oppose the concepts in SB 1905.
Whereas CPEC and other state and federal agencies are not accountable to the community college system, and
Whereas the community college system is designed to be a complete system not needing oversight by outside agencies,
Resolved that the Academic Senate direct the Executive Committee to oppose CPEC or other agencies outside the community college system being placed in authority over community colleges by legislation, regulations, or other means.
Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has been charged with exploring the establishment of improved access by local senates to the Info-Net system through the establishment of an 800 number, and
Whereas the Chancellor's Office is currently proposing plans to fund grants providing an electronic system that would enhance the communications capability of the California community colleges, and
Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has enumerated many rights of the disabled, and
Whereas students and staff with disabilities are often isolated and cannot advocate for themselves, and
Whereas diversity should include those with disabilities,
Resolved that the Academic Senate urge local senates to educate themselves on the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
Resolved that the Academic Senate urge local senates to implement the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act on their campuses.