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Shared Governance Agreement
Implementing Title 5 Role-of the Academic Senate

Articles of the Constitution of the Academic Senate
of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College


The Los Angeles Trade Technical College Academic Senate and the College President, as the designee of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees, will operate according to the provisions of Title 5, sections 53200-53204 of the education codes, will "rely primarily" upon the recommendations of the Academic Senate in formulating, changing, and/or approving policies in the following areas as they relate to the instructional program. Education Code 70902(7)... the right of the academic senate to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards.

"Consult Collegially" means that the Board shall develop policies on academic and professional matters through either or both of the following methods, according to its own discretion:
1. Relying primarily upon the advice and judgment of the academic senate, or
2. Agreeing that the Board, or such representatives as it may designate, and the representatives of the academic senate shall have the obligation to reach mutual agreement by written resolution, regulations, or policy of the Board and/or such designated representatives effectuating such recommendations.

18001. COLLEGE ACADEMIC SENATE

The faculty of each college in the District may organize a College Academic Senate for the purpose of faculty government and to establish formal and effective procedures for participation in setting policies on academic and professional matters. The President and Administration recognizes such faculty group as representatives of faculty opinions and as a consulting body on (LATTC) Los Angeles Trade Technical College campus.

18002. LATTC ACADEMIC SENATE

The President and Administration recognizes the LATTC Academic Senate, which is comprised of representativ°s of college disciplines. The college president will consult collegially with the academic senate on academic and professional matters common to the College.

18003. SHARED GOVERNANCE

The President and Administration recognizes its obligation to consult collegially
with the LATTC Academic Senate when adopting policies and procedures on academic and professional matters. The primary function of the LATTC Academic Senate, as representative on the faculty, is to make recommendations to the President and Administration, with respect to academic and professional matters.
The primary function of the LATTC Academic Senate, as representatives of the college faculty, is to make recommendations to the President and Administration of the College and the Board of Trustees.

18004. DEFINITIONS

A. "Faculty" means those academic employees of the College who are employed in positions that are not designated as supervisory or management for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, encompassed in Government Code section 3540 et seq., and for which minimum qualifications for hire are specified by the Board of Governors for the California Community Colleges.
B "District Academic Senate" means the Academic Senate for the Los Angeles Community College District.
C. "LATTC Academic Senate" means the Academic Senate for Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
D. The generic term "academic senate" means either or both the District Academic Senate, and the LATTC Academic Senate.
E. "The Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District.
F. "The District" means the Los Angeles Community College District.
G. "The President and Administration" means the Los Angeles Trade Technical College President and Administration.
H. "Academic and Professional matters" means the following policy development and implementation matters -

I . 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 mutually agreed upon between the Board's designated representative, the President, and the LATTC Academic Senate.

1. "Consult Collegially" means the Board, with the President and Administration shall develop policies on academic and professional matters through either or both of the following methods, according to its own discretion by;

1. relying primarily upon the advice and judgment of the academic senate, or;
2. agreeing that the Board, or such representatives as it may designate, the President, and the representatives of the academic senate shall have the obligation to reach mutual agreement by written resolution, regulations, or policy of the Board effectuation such recommendations.

18005. COLLEGIAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

A. The Board and/or its designated representative, the President, through the collegial consultation process shall rely primarily on the LATTC Academic Senate concerning the following LATTC academic and professional matters:

1. Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines.
2. Degree and certificate requirements.
3. Grading policies.
4. Policies for faculty professional development activities.
5. Processes for program review.
6. Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self-study and annual reports.

B. The Board and/or its designated representatives shall reach mutual agreement with the LATTC Academic Senate on LATTC academic and professional matters by written resolution concerning the following policy areas

1. Educational program development.
2. College governance structures as related to faculty roles.
3: Processes for institutional planning and budget development.
4. Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success; and
5. Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the Board's designated representatives and the academic senate.

C. In order to facilitate the consultation process, there shall be regular scheduled meetings, including, but not limited to:

1. The LATTC Academic Senate President and the President and/or the Board designated representatives;
2. Between LATTC Academic Senate Executive Committee and the LATTC President's cabinet; and
3. Other meetings that the LATTC Academic Senate and/or the President and/or the designated representatives find will effectuate the consultation process.

D. All recommendations on academic and professional matters, which have been developed through collegial consultation with the LATTC Academic Senate, shall bear the signature of the LATTC Academic Senate President.

18006. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LATTC ACADEMIC SENATE

A. Recommendations from the LATTC Academic Senate to the Board and/or the LATTC designated representatives shall be in writing and conveyed to the Board usually through the LATTC President or the Chancellor.

B. When the Board and/or its LATTC designated representative relies primarily upon the advice and judgment of the LATTC Academic Senate, the recommendations of the LATTC Academic Senate will normally be accepted, and only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will the recommendations not be accepted. If a recommendation in not accepted, the Board and/or its LATTC designated representatives, upon written request of the LATTC Academic Senate to the Board and/or its designated representatives, shall promptly communicate its reasons in writing to the LATTC Academic Senate.

C. Where the Board and/or its designated representative has provided for mutual agreement with the LATTC Academic Senate, and agreement has not been reached, existing policy shall remain in effect unless continuing such policy exposes the District or LATTC to legal liability or causes substantial fiscal hardship. In this situation the Board and/or the LATTC designated
representative may act, after a good faith effort to reach agreement only for compelling legal, fiscal, or organizational reasons.

18007. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES

A. The appointment of the faculty members to serve on District committees, task forces, or other groups dealing with academic and professional matters shall be made by the LATTC Academic Senate President after consultation with the President or his designee.

B. The appointment of faculty members to serve on college committees, task forces, or other groups dealing with academic and professional matters shall be made by the LATTC Academic Senate after consultation with the College President or his or her designee.

18008. RIGHT TO APPEAR BEFORE THE BOARD

The Academic Senate shall retain the right to meet or appear before the Board with respect to the views, recommendations, or proposals of LATTC Academic Senate through the Executive Committee. In addition, after consultation with the administration of the College and/or the District, the LATTCC Academic Senate, through representation, may present its views and recommendations to the Board.

18009. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND DUE PROCESS RIGHTS

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impinge upon the due process rights of faculty, or to detract from any negotiated agreements between collective bargaining representatives and the Board.

18010. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

A. For purposes of consulting collegially with LATTC the Board designates the college president acting under the authority and supervision of the Chancellor. The Board reserves the right to designate additional or alternative designees at any time.
B. College policies for collegial consultation with LATTCC Academic Senate shall be submitted to the board for approval.

Background: Title S regulations call for the Board of Trustees, the President and Administration to adopt a policy regarding the mechanism for consulting collegially with the LATTC Academic Senate. A group of representatives from the LATTC Academic Senate met with a group of representatives from the LATTC Administration to consult collegially on the proposal policy, presented above.

In addition, attached to the proposal rule and incorporated by reference as part of the legislative history and intent are the following documents:

Guidelines for implementation of Section 53 200-53204 of Title S of the Administrative Code of California ("Guidelines") The Guidelines represent interpretations agreed upon by the Community College League of California ("CCLC") and the statewide Academic Senate for California Community Colleges ("statewide Senate"). In adopting this policy, the District Board of Trustees, the LATTC President and Administration also intend to adopt the Guidelines by reference.

Signed 11/15/00

  • Dr. Daniel Castro, College President
  • Chini Johnson-Taylor, Academic Senate President
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Articles of the Constitution of the Academic Senate
of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College

ARTICLE I NAME

The name of the society shall be the Academic Senate of Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

ARTICLE lI ENABLING AUTHORITY

This society is established under the authority of Title V, Sec. 13080, (Vol. 2, p. 717) of the California Code. By code definition, 'Academic Senate" means an organization whose primary function is, as representative of the entire faculty, to make recommendations to the administration concerning academic and professional matters.

ARTICLE III PURPOSE

The purpose of this society is to promote communication between the faculty and college administration, and to participate in the development and formulation of policies and practices relating to academic and professional matters for the welfare of students and faculty.

ARTICLE IV FUNCTIONS

  • Section 1. The Academic Senate shall provide the faculty with a formal voice in the initiation, development and evaluation of District educational policy.
  • Section 2. The Academic Senate shall provide the Administration and Board of Trustees with a means of ascertaining the convictions and suggestions of the faculty on academic and professional matters.
  • Section 3. The Academic Senate shall appoint all faculty to college wide standing and ad hoc. committees.
  • Section 4. The Academic Senate shall accept a leadership for responsibility for instructional innovation and professional growth.
  • Section 5. The Academic Senate shall appoint a delegate to the State Academic Senate and provide a forum for determining local faculty opinion on issues of statewide concern, to be expressed through the State Academic Senate.
  • Section 6. The Academic Senate shall provide a means for faculty to express their perspectives on college-wide budget and organization.
  • Section 7. The Academic Senate shall conduct programs of social welfare for the faculty.

ARTICLE V MEMBERSHIP

  • Section 1. The Academic Senate shall be composed of the Faculty-at-large, the Council, the Executive Committee, and the Representatives to the District Senate, the latter three groups all qualifying as Faculty-at-large.
  • Section 2. Faculty-at-large shall be any and all regular and probationary instructors on the "preparation type" salary scale who are credentialed and have a regular assignment at the college that does not require an administrative or supervisory credential. The Student Council may send a non-voting representative from the Associated Student Body to Senate meetings. The part-time faculty shall elect two representatives to represent concerns of faculty not on regular or probationary assignment status at the College. As such, these council members will have the same privileges as other regular members of the Senate council representing individual departments including the voting privilege. Should no candidates come forward to be elected, the Academic Senate Executive Board may appoint representatives for the part- time faculty.
  • Section 3. Senate Council members shall be elected by the faculty in their respective departments. Each department shall be entitled to a minimum of two representatives. Department with over 16 members shall be entitled to one additional representative for every 8 department members over 16 or any fraction thereof (e.g. 18 members = 3 representatives).
  • Section 4. The Executive Committee shall consist of five elected officers: President. First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The immediate Past-President and the Parliamentarian shall be members ex-officio.

ARTICLE VI ELECTIVE OFFICES

  • Section 1. Senate offices, except for the Parliamentarian, shall be elected by secret ballot between May 1 and June 1 of every even year. The election date shall be announced at the April meeting of the Senate Council and a Nominating Committee elected. Candidates shall be from the Faculty-at-Large and shall be elected by that body. A majority vote shall elect. If no candidate for a particular office should receive a majority, a run-off between the two candidates receiving the highest votes shall be held within five working days of the initial
    election The term of office shall be two years beginning June first, and officers may be elected to serve consecutive terms in the same office.
  • Section 2. Senate Council Members shall be elected by the faculty in their respective departments. The representatives shall serve for two school years and their terms shall be staggered. Candidates for the Council must be qualified Faculty-at-Large.
  • Section 3. District Faculty Senate Representatives shall be elected between November 1 and December 15 to serve for two years beginning January first. District Representatives must be qualified Faculty-at-Large and shall be elected by secret ballot by that body. One District Representative shall be elected for each 50 Faculty-at-Large or major fraction thereof, in addition to the President who is automatically a member of the District Senate. Other officers may serve simultaneously as a District Representative, but they must be elected to the District Body.
  • Section 4. The Academic Rank Committee shall be elected by secret ballot between November 1 and December 15. The committee shall consist of six members serving staggered terms. Two of the six members shall be elected annually to serve a term of three years beginning January First. Candidates must qualify as Faculty-at-Large and shall be elected by that body.
  • Section 5. Removal of an officer shall require a two-thirds vote of the Senate Council.
  • Section 6. Vacancy of an office may be filled by presidential appointment until the next regular election occurs, except for vacancy of the office of president which is filled automatically by the vice-president.

ARTICLE VII DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  • Section 1. The Senate President shall call meetings of the Senate, prepare agendas, preside: shall appoint with Council approval all standing and special committees except the Academic Rank Committee and the Nominating Committee; shall serve ex-officio on all committees except the two above named; shall serve in the District Academic Senate; and shall perform such other functions as the Senate shall delegate. The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the president, with the approval of the Council. An Election Committee appointed by the President shall conduct elections.
  • Section 2. The First Vice-President shall act in the absence of the President or when the chair is vacated during a Senate meeting.
  • Section 3. The Second Vice-President shall act in the absence of the First Vice-President and shall chair the Social Committee.
  • Section 4. The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the Senate; record, publish, and distribute the minutes of each Council meeting for approval at the next meeting; record and keep minutes of the Executive Committee meetings; send out notices of Senate meetings; keep a list of all standing and special committees with a roster of their members; keep and endorse on the reports of committees the dates of their reception; and keep a roster if Council members and their terms of office.
  • Section 5. The Treasurer shall keep a record of the funds of the Senate, collect any dues make disbursements with prior approval of the Council signed by the President and Secretary, and submit a report on the current state of Senate finances at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Council.
  • Section 6. The parliamentarian shall advise the President on parliamentary questions; shall review procedure to ensure that the Constitution, By-Laws, and established rules of order (Article VII. Sect. 3) are being followed; shall maintain a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws and make such copy available to all Senate meetings; shall serve ex-officio as parliamentary advisor to any committee requesting service; and shall perform other functions assigned by the President.

ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS, QUORUM, AND RULES

  • Section 1. Meetings of the Senate Council shall be held regularly once each calendar month during fall and spring semesters scheduled in advance, and called by the President. Special meetings shall be open to Faculty-at-Large and to invited guests. Only Council members may vote.
  • Section 2. A Quorum of the Senate Council shall consist of 10 Council members, other than the Executive Committee
  • Section 3. Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall govern the Faculty Senate in all cases to which they are applicable, and which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of this Society.

ARTICLE IX ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT

  • Section 1. Adoption of this Constitution shall require a majority vote of the Faculty-at-Large, and be effective immediately thereafter.
  • Section 2. Amendments to this constitution must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Faculty-at-Large.

Last Revision: October 1991
W. Troost
L. Megowan

BY- LAWS OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE OF LOS ANGELES TRDE-TECHNICAL COLLEGE

ARTICLE I CONDUCT OF SENATE COUNCIL MEETINGS

  • Section 1. The time and place of the regular meetings shall be determined by the Senate Council at the January meeting each year.
  • Section 2. An agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting for each meeting shall be prepared and distributed to members of the Senate Council two working days prior to the meeting. Changes may be make in the agenda by majority vote of the members present the agenda shall include but not be limited to the following; approval of the minutes, Treasurer's report, committee reports, old business, new business, and department reports. Committee reports shall be submitted in writing to the secretary 24 hours prior to the meeting at which the report is to be given.
  • Section 3. The duration of the regular meeting shall not exceed two hours unless approved by majority vote of the members of the Council present. The Senate Council may vote o increase the number of monthly meetings beyond one, should official business require such action relative to AB 1725 mandates.

ARTICLE II COMMITTEES

  • Section1. The Executive Committee composed of officers, parliamentarian, and past-president, shall advise the Senate President, assist in planning the agenda for Council meetings, and meet at the discretion of the President. Approval by the Executive Committee shall be required of all Requests for Faculty Conference Attendance. Procedures shall include but are not limited to: a maximum amount per conference, the number of allotments per instructor, eligibility of individuals, and procedure for evaluation of applications.
  • Section 2. The Academic Rank Committee shall consist of six Member-at-Large elected by the body to serve three year staggered terms beginning January 1. The Committee shall consider faculty applications for advancement in professional rank. The chair of the Committee shall be elected by committee members and shall follow the procedures of the Los Angeles Community College District Policy on Academic Rank.
  • Section 3. The administration Evaluation Committee shall consist of the President and three Faculty-at-Large selected by the Council. The President shall chair the Committee which shall meet or convene each school year ending in an even digit; provide a written evaluation of the college administration. Upon approval of the evaluation by the Council, copies shall be sent to the College President.
  • Section 4. The Election Committee shall consist of five faculty-at-large, appointed by the President to serve for one year beginning April 1. The Committee shall prepare numbered ballots, publicize and conduct the polling, and act as tellers for elections by the faculty-at-large as prescribed in Article 3, Section 11. No members of the Election Committee may be a candidate for the election or actively involved in campaign activities. The Committee shall report election results to the Senate President in writing giving the number of votes cast, those necessary for election, the count for each candidate, the number of blanks, illegal or illegible votes, and shall deposit the ballots with the secretary, who shall retain them until it is certain that a recount is not ordered.
  • Section 5. The Social Committee shall have charge of activities designed to sponsor and develop collegiality among the faculty and their families. Activities and expenditures of the Committee shall be funded on a self-sustaining basis. The committee shall be responsible for raising its funds, maintaining it own books, and reporting to the Senate Council monthly. The Committee shall conduct the following activities: the faculty breakfast at the opening of the fall semester, the Retirement Tea, the faculty social at graduation, and other functions as deemed appropriate by the committee.
  • Section 6. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members of the Council to be elected by that body at its April meeting. The committee shall elect one of themselves Chairperson and prepare a slate of candidates for Senate Officers to be presented to the Council at its May meeting.
  • Section 7. The Curriculum Committee shall act as an advisory body to the college President. The Committee shall be responsible for: recommending policies concerning the curriculum, general education, graduation requirements, transfer requirements, academic standards, and related matters; and approve proposals, new courses or programs, including additions, deletions, or changes involving more than one department. The Committee shall be composed of:

•  Faculty member appointed from the Council

1- Faculty member elected from each department

1- Faculty member appointed by the AFT

1- Assistant dean/chair from each department

1- Faculty member elected from the Labor Center

1- Faculty member elected from Coop Ed

1- Faculty member elected from Apprenticeship

The chairperson and secretary shall be faculty members elected by the Committee.

  • Section 8. The LRC Committee shall consist of six faculty at large selected by the Council, two members of the LRC staff and the Vice-President of Academic Affairs or his/her designee. The chair is to be selected by the committee. The Committee shall report to the Council on matters concerning the operation of the LRC.
  • Section 9. The Counseling Committee shall consist of six faculty at large selected by the Council, two counselors selected by the Department, one representative of Academic Services, one representative of Academic Affairs. The chair is to be selected by the Committee. The Committee shall report to the Council on matters concerning the operation of the Counseling service.
  • Section 10. Special Committees shall be formed as needed. Members shall be appointed by the President and confirmed by a majority of the Council.
  • Section 11. Voting Procedure
    • Check to see if faculty member's name appears on the faculty list. (See Budget Office and Vice-President, Academic Affairs for development of this list). Eligible voters are tenured track instructors, probationary and regular at the college. (Specified in Article VI, Section 1).
    • Have the faculty member sign and date opposite his/her name
    • Give prepared ballot to the faculty member for his/her note. Voting must be done at that time in the vicinity of the polling place. No absentee ballots.
    • Have the faculty member deposit ballot in the ballot box and initial on the faculty list when ballot is deposited.
    • The ballot box will be stored each evening in the Campus Police Office.

Contested Ballot Procedure:

Situation: Faculty members name does not appear on the prepared faculty list.

Action:

  • Faculty member prints name and signs at end of prepared list.
  • Places marked ballot in envelope with his/her name and signature and situation.
  • Prior to the counting, the Election Committee will rule on these situations individually. If deemed eligible, the ballot will be removed from the sealed envelope and placed into the ballots box t be counted along with all other ballots.

Contested Election Procedure:

  • The contest of an election must be based upon a violation of the provisions of the Constitution of this body.
  • The Parliamentarian of the Senate will decide issues of this nature.
  • In the event a new election is called for, the necessary corrections in procedures shall be made and the election conducted as prescribed in the By-Laws prior to the closing of the spring semester.

ARTICLE III ADDITION, REVISION, DELETION OF BY-LAWS

  • Section 1. A proposed amendment to the By-Laws may be made by any member of the Council for consideration at any regular meeting.
  • Section 2. A proposed amendment to the By-Laws shall be referred to the Executive Committee for study and report at the next meeting.
  • Section 3. The Council may adopt a proposed amendment by a two-thirds vote of all Council members present and voting at the next meeting.

Last Revision: October 1991
W. Troost
L. Megowan



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