Academic Senate at Mt. San Antonio College
Welcome to the Current Issues Page
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Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are having impacts in art, writing, audio/video production, and more. In Spring 2023, the Academic Senate formed an AI and Education Workgroup to study the issue and provide recommendations to the faculty. As a result:
- The workgroup produced a Report, including recommendations for specific actions Senate should take.
- The workgroup produced a Guide for faculty, with specific suggestions for how to manage AI in the classroom, sample syllabus language and classroom activities, a long list of resources and references, and more. Check it out!
- In light of the workgroup's report, Senate approved the formation of a new Educational Technology Committee (ETC). This committee is tasked with keeping current on AI and other educational technology issues, and making recommendations to the Senate via regular reports to the Student Preparation, Equity, and Achievement Council (SPEAC). If you are interested in serving on the ETC or any other Senate committee, please fill out the committee interest form.
As mentioned below, statewide conversations around CalGETC have led to many discussions between faculty from different institutions. In solidarity with CSU faculty, we developed a resolution to support continuing the American Institutions requirement, which is crucial to help students understand their place within our civil society as a whole.
Statewide conversations have been happening around a unified transfer pathway for all community college students to all CSU and UC institutions. This unified pathway, known as CalGETC, was developed by the Intersegmental Committee of the Academic Senates, a group brought together to combine perspectives of the various institutional groups. Unfortunately, that unified pathway does not include courses in lifelong learning and self development, which have historically been one of the strengths of the community college system. This resolution was developed in response, to offer ways for us to continue to support those courses and faculty here at Mt. SAC.
Associated Students was concerned about sexual harassment on campus and passed a resolution calling for mandatory sexual harassment training for all students. Academic Senate agreed to support Associated Students' resolution and passed our own resolution affirming their work.
In response to discussions at the Board of Trustees and elsewhere on campus, Senate developed and passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and reaffirming our support for antiracist actions and policies on campus.
Many of Mt. SAC's students are DACA recipients, or have DACA recipients in their families. Recent events nationwide have highlighted the hazards they and their families face, and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision brought these concerns to the forefront. The Mt. SAC Academic Senate recognizes that all our students deserve to be able to learn and progress towards their goals, regardless of citizenship status, and passed this resolution in response.
After hearing the concerns of numerous Indigenous and Native American students, staff, and faculty, the Academic Senate passed this resolution to urge the Board of Trustees to retire the moniker of "Mountie", in alignment with the newly revised Mission, Vision, and Core Values statements of the college.
The Academic Senate of Mt. San Antonio College, pass this resolution to endorse Dr. Jane Nazzal for the ASCCC nominee to the Board of Governors.
The Geography and Political Science Department seeks collaboration with the Academic Senate to review and distribute best practice guidelines that may help curb the unauthorized dissemination of course material on online websites such as CourseHero and Chegg. The department also produced a guide to best practices for faculty to advocate for themselves and their material, which Senate agreed to disseminate.
The Academic Senate of Mt San Antonio College thanks Chisa Uyeki for her hard work as the heart of the Senate that has kept the body thriving through uncertain times, and we wish her nothing short of the best in her future endeavors.
In light of current events, the Senate felt it crucial to issue a timely statement in support of the fundamental rights of privacy, reproductive health, and mental health for everyone. The Senate also urges continued study, including consideration of possible financial impacts of travel to states that enact laws restricting reproductive healthcare.
Many faculty remain concerned about providing a safe learning environment for our students as COVID-19 continues to spread. On April 21, the Senate instructed its executive leadership to conduct a survey on student attitudes towards policies that might promote a safe learning environment, including vaccination requirements and/or masking policies. Highlights of the survey results , received from over 1500 students across campus, include:
- More than 77% of students are somewhat or extremely comfortable coming to campus with the current vaccine and mask mandates.
- More than 40% of students would feel uncomfortable returning to campus in Fall 2022 in the absence of either a mask mandate or a vaccine mandate.
- Nearly 80% of students think that Mt. SAC should have either a vaccine mandate, a mask mandate, or both, in place for Fall 2022.
- An overwhelming majority (85%) of students would like to continue the option to take a COVID-19 test on campus through Fall 2022.
In light of these results, the Senate approved Resolution 22-03. The Senate also approved sending Recommendations for Safe Learning Environments to the Board of Trustees.
Revised Academic Senate Constitution:
The Academic Senate has approved a revised version of our body's Constitution and Bylaws, including a revised department list and updated Senator-at-Large positions. Check it out!
The last few years have had a substantial impact on how we do our work. In the interests of greater equity, sustainability, and flexibility, the Academic Senate recommends continuing to use the digital tools we have developed during the pandemic as we continue performing faculty work outside the classroom.
The cost of textbooks and other instructional materials can be a hardship for some students. After extensive discussion, Senate approved recommendations from the Textbook and Instructional Materials Committee to create a special symbol in the catalog, designating courses with a total materials cost under $40.
A Teaching Modality workgroup from AMAC reviewed and discussed the Academic Senate Resolution Faculty Primacy on Teaching Modality 2021-02. Following a lengthy discussion that included the lessening funding gaps between modalities, the workgroup agreed to follow an intentional approach for modality scheduling decisions. An intentional approach includes collaboration between deans, chairs, and discipline faculty based on student needs, student success, and student demand, and curricular design as considered from an equity lens. The finalized schedule is an administrative decision. This collaborative scheduling process does not take away from the administrative right of faculty assignment to courses. This approach ensures that the faculty voice is involved in the modality decision making process.
Senate carefully considered previous years' goals and input from our annual August retreat in developing a list of goals for this academic year.
This is identical to the Resolution 21-06 passed in Fall. Senate has continued to pass this resolution at meetings through the spring semester. Version 22-01A was passed by the Executive Board on February 16, 2022 according to the direction given by the Full Senate on Dec. 2, 2021. Versions 22-01B, C, D, E, and F were approved by the Full Senate on February 24, March 10, April 7, April 21, and May 5, respectively.
The Racial Justice Task Force produced an extensive list of recommendations, including specific improvements to:
- faculty recruitment, hiring and evaluation
- teaching modalities
- mental health services
- campus events
- professional development
- student resources
- and more!
After extensive review of the available options for proctoring online exams, the Proctoring Work Group recommended shifting from Proctorio to Honorlock.
To offer our students increased flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, we changed the processes for Excused Withdrawal (EW) and Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading options. These new processes were first applied for Spring 2020, but they have been continued through Spring 2021. Students with questions are encouraged to consult a counselor.
We have many faculty continuing to work remotely for their health and safety. As a large body, the Academic Senate is concerned about meeting in person with all of our attendees. As per Assembly Bill 361, we find that current emergency conditions justify continuing to meet remotely. Identical Resolutions 21-06A and 21-06B were approved on November 4 and December 2, 2021, respectively.
- Some courses in different disciplines will naturally overlap (for instance, biology and chemistry might both discuss molecular ion interactions), but courses should not overlap too much. Senate recently approved an updated process for appropriate consultation regarding course overlap.
- Because of AB705, it is important to recognize all equivalent courses when defining prerequisites and corequisites. If you use ENGL 68 or ENGL 1A as a requisite, see the updated guidelines on AMLA equivalents. Please incorporate these when revising Course Outlines of Record.
- Senate voted to continue COVID-era P/NP and EW policies for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021.
SPOT - Mt. SAC's Certification for Online Teaching
SPOT or Skills and Pedagogy for Online Teaching is the certification process for Mt. SAC faculty who wish to teach courses online. Faculty members develop a basis in the skills and pedagogy needed for effective online teaching and demonstrate their knowledge through the completion of tasks in the certification process.
Why complete SPOT? SPOT certification is a requirement for all Mt. SAC instructors
who wish to teach Distance Learning (online or hybrid) courses. For more info on SPOT,
consult the Distance Learning Committee's SPOT information page.
DL Amendment Form
In order to make your course DL-ready, you must complete the DL amendment form process. There are two ways to submit DL amendment forms. In both cases, the DLC (Distance Learning Committee will review and approve the form before sending it to EDC (Educational Design Committee).
Please click here to go to the Distance Learning Committee webpage. This page will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to download and complete the DL Amendment Form, how to submit the DL Amendment form, and what happens after the form is reviewed at DLC.
Guidelines for Independent Studies and Special Projects Courses
Many departments choose to have an independent studies course and/or a special projects course (often given the course number 99), but these have frequently had different names and requirements in different departments. To improve clarity surrounding these courses, the Academic Senate approved new guidelines in Spring 2020.
Here are the recently approved guidelines for departments to use as they review their course offerings.
Academic Senate Textbook Task Force
Amendments accepted at the last Academic Senate meeting were incorporated into various Textbook Task Force documents. See them below:
Resolution 18-11: In Support of Our Transgender Students
Provided to the Mt. SAC Board of Trustees just yesterday, December 12, 2018, Resolution 18-11 In Support of Our Transgender Students highlights the Academic Senate's recommendation to support the safety and inclusivity
that the Mt. SAC Pride Center gives to LGBTQ+ students each day, despite recently
proposed changes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to change the
already-accepted definition of gender in federal programs.
Special Admit Program
The Special Admit Program is open to high school students who would benefit from taking advanced scholastic course work or vocational training at Mt. San Antonio College. Students can complete college level courses during the Summer, Fall and Spring terms.
https://www.mtsac.edu/counseling/special_admit
You are a special admit student if:
- You have received permission from your high school to take Mt. SAC courses
- You will be taking a Mt. SAC college credit course(s) on the college campus or online
- You are a current high school student
- You can select credit courses from the Mt. SAC catalog (some restrictions may apply)
- Your courses will be taken in addition to your regular high school schedule
Contact Special Admit Program
8:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Building 9B 2nd Floor
(909) 766-0628
specialadmit@mtsac.edu
www.mtsac.edu/special_admit