Technology

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has a long established position of supporting technology that will enhance the educational experience of students, and

Whereas there are significant portions of the Technology II budget proposal for 2001-2002 that support these priorities,

Resolved that the Academic Senate support the allocation of funds to colleges to permit improved technology that directly enhances the educational experience of students, and

Resolved that the Academic Senate direct the Executive Committee to research and make recommendations on the creation of a system wide process to administer secure testing for students enrolled in distance learning courses.

Whereas the Legislature and the Board of Governors have given considerable money for technology and related areas to California community colleges, and

Whereas accountability for this technology money is often obscure,

Resolved that the Academic Senate direct the Executive Committee to work with the Chancellor's Office to develop a reporting mechanism for the use of technology funds, by each college, involving accountability, including a sign-off by the local academic senate president.

Whereas the use of technology is an important option in the delivery of quality instruction to a diverse student population and in faculty development, and

Whereas the professional development of faculty is a responsibility of local academic senates under Title 5 Regulations 53200, and

Whereas faculty, as educational professionals, best understand the nature of faculty professional development activities needed to improve the quality of teaching and student services,

Whereas many districts are implementing new administrative computing systems, and

Whereas these new systems are making it imperative for faculty to adopt new methods of calculating grades, tracking student progress, submitting grades; and are allowing students to adopt and adapt to new ways of registering, scheduling, enrolling, and obtaining grades and transcripts, and

Whereas districts statewide are adopting new administrative computing systems which have a profound effect on faculty, students, and instructional programs, and

Whereas faculty are required to use administrative computing systems to access and maintain class rosters, calculate grades, input grades, check prerequisites, organize course admission waiting lists, monitor course enrollment, maintain records in positive attendance courses, and provide counseling to students, and

Whereas technology is a major tool for enhancing instruction, and

Whereas faculty training and professional development are an academic and professional matter, and

Whereas a portion of Telecommunications and Technology Infrastructure Program (TTIP) funds are specifically allocated for faculty training and professional development,

Whereas faculty members regularly engage in intellectual work on the basis of individually-directed professional activity, above and beyond their minimal contractual obligations, and

Whereas the creators of intellectual works not commissioned or assigned by the college or the district are judged independently on the merits of work considered conventionally to be their own, and

Whereas the California community colleges and the Chancellor's Office are involved in a wide variety of technology-related projects, grants, and initiatives, and

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has adopted many resolutions involving a variety of technology-related activities, (i.e., currently proposed resolution 8.01 F99 regarding web advising), which perhaps are being addressed on many campuses, but the Academic Senate has no way of knowing where or what is being done in web advising in California community colleges, and

Whereas DETAC (Distance Education Technical Advisory Committee) is charged with a revision of the Distance Education Regulations by 2002,

Resolved that the Academic Senate direct the Executive Committee to provide opportunities at future Academic Senate sessions for faculty to give input directly to the work of the Senate's Technology Committee and DETAC (Distance Education Technical Advisory Committee) in the revision of Title 5 guidelines on distance education.