Academic Senate
About the Committee
Special Meeting March 22: Referendum Procedures + Set Date for Open Forum
Charge
The purpose of the Senate is to provide the means to represent the “Senate Association” in the formation and implementation of policy on academic and professional matters.
In implementing policies, the Senate will represent the Senate Association” to the President of the College and to the Board of Trustees with respect to academic and professional matters {so called 10+1 issues} and exercise the powers granted by the California Education Code and the Board of Governors.
The Senate shall assume primary responsibility in the areas of curriculum and academic standards as specified in the California Education Code.
Senate By-laws also dictate, to some degree, the manner in which the above charge shall be accomplished.
The Academic Senate Charge document was reviewed and approved on September 28, 2020.
Scope of Authority
The Senate is the sole voice of the faculty and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees or designee with respect to academic and professional matters {10+1}. District board policy states that the Board of Trustees shall rely primarily upon the recommendations of the Senate in these areas. Rely primarily on means:
- Recommendations of the senate will normally be accepted
- Only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will the recommendations not be accepted
- If not accepted, board/designee shall communicate reasons in writing, if requested (see Title 5.3 §53200)
Membership
- Chaired by the Academic Senate President
- Senate Vice President
- Senate Secretary
- Senate Treasurer
- Senate ASCCC Representative
- Elected representatives-at least one from each academic department
- 1 Elected adjunct faculty representative
- 1 SGA representative; 1 alternate (non-voting member)
- Members of the Academic Senate Executive Board (non voting members)
Title 5 & Academic Senate
Pursuant to Title 5 of the Administrative Code of California, Section 53200, the Academic Senate is a faculty organization whose primary function is to make recommendations with respect to academic and professional matters as it relates, in particular to the following areas:
- 1. 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;
- + Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon.
Members
Officers & Executive Board
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| President 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Nick Strobel |
| Past President 1 year term |
|
| Vice President 1 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Erica Menchaca |
| Secretary 1 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Paula Parks |
| Treasurer 1 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Teresa McAlister |
| Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) Rep 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Chris Cruz-Boone |
| AIQ Chair 3 year term, ending Spring 2025 |
Grace Commiso |
| Assessment Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Faith Bradham |
| Budget Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2022 |
Steven Holmes |
| Curriculum Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Michelle Hart |
| Curriculum Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Scott Dameron |
| Enrollment Management Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Krista Moreland |
| Equal Opportunity & Diversity Advisory Council Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Andrea Thorson |
| Information Services & Instructional Technology Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Matt Andrasian-Jones |
| Professional Development Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Chris Dison |
| Program Review Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Kimberly Nickell |
| Book Store Advisory Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Michael McNellis |
| Facilities & Sustainability Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Pam Kelley |
| Safety Advisory Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2023 |
Roy Allard |
| Distance Education Chair (Comm. not approved) 2 year term, ending Spring Spring 2024 |
Vacant |
| Scholarship Chair 2 year term, ending Spring 2024 |
Laurel Mourtzanos |
| Equivalency Chair 3 year term, ending Spring 2025 |
Kimberly Bligh |
Award Committee Chairs
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Shirley Trembley Distinguished Teaching Award Chair No term |
Donna Star |
| Margaret Levinson Faculty Leadership Award Chair Rotates alphabetically |
Kim Nickell |
Academic Senate Office
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Administrative Secretary | Tarina Perry |
Senators, Fall 2022 to Spring 2024
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Adjunct Representative* | Debra Thorson |
| Allied Health | Crystal Rodriguez |
| Biology | Melissa Berube (Khuram Zaman Proxy for Spr 23) |
| Business Management & Information Technology | Rudy Menjivar |
| Communication* | Matthew Maddex |
| Counseling* | Cynthia Zamora |
| Engineering Systems* | VACANT |
| English* | Savannah Andrasian-Jones |
| English* | VACANT |
| English for Multilingual Students | Michael Westwood |
| Kinesiology, Health & Athletics | Carl Dean / Casandra Goodman |
| Mathematics* | Donna Starr |
| Nursing* | Alisha Loken |
| Performing Arts | Robby Martinez |
| Philosophy | Anna Collins |
| Physical Sciences | Wade Ellis |
| Social Science* | Richard (Alan) Bolar |
Senators, Fall 2021 to Spring 2023
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Adjunct Representative* | Lynnette Mello |
| Agriculture | Healther Baltis |
| Applied Science & Technology | VACANT |
| Art | Ronnie Wrest |
| Behavioral Science | Karimeh Amin |
| Communication* | Michael Korcok |
| Counseling* | Sarah Villasenor |
| Education | Bill Chapman |
| English* | Laura Peet |
| Family & Consumer Education | Melissa Ysais |
| Foreign Language/American Sign Language | Qiu Jimenez |
| Industrial Technology | VACANT |
| Library & Academic Technology | Alex Rockey |
| Mathematics* | Dillon Giblin |
| Nursing* | Malissa Buggs |
| Public Safety Training Programs | Don Brady |
| Social Science* | Michael Harvath |
| Student Government Association Senator | Tania Escalante |
| Student Government Association Vice-President (Alternate) | Maram Makrai |
*Discipline allows additional rep
Committee Resources
Forms for participating in a Senate meeting are in the "Joining Academic Senate Meetings" section.
- Standing Committee Request Form
- Standing Committee Appointment Process (est. Fall 2011, rev. Fall 2022)
- Screening Committee Appointment Process (est. Fall 2021, rev. Spring 2022)
- KCCD Board Policy & Contracts
- Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC)
- California Laws & Codes
- Department Chairs Effective July 1, 2022
- Legal Basis for the Academic Senate
- Governance Committee Relationship to Academic Senate
- Standing Committee vs. Governance Committee in the DMD
- Committee Charge Required Elements
- Committee Representative's and Senator's Role (Delegate vs Trustee model)
- Ins and Outs of the 10+1 and Other Faculty Rights (Fall 2022)
- Participatory Governance Committee vs. Academic Senate Committee
- Officers & Executive Committee, 2022-2024
- Senators, Fall 2022-Spring 2024
Committee Co-chair Job Descriptions
- General Committee co-chair job description (rev 2020)
- AIQ Committee co-chair job description (rev 2017)
- Assessment Committee co-chair job description (rev 2022)
- Curriculum Committee co-chair job description (rev 2017)
- EODAC co-chair job description (rev 2017)
- ISIT Committee co-chair job description (rev 2010)
- Professional Development co-chair job description (rev 2017)
- Program Review co-chair job description (rev 2017)
- ASCCC Delegate role and responsibilties (rev. 2022)
References for Conducting Meetings
- Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance August 31, 2021
- Robert's Rules of Order - Quick Reference
- Brown Act Presentation - Grant Herndon (Schools Legal Services) January 14, 2020
- Robert's Rules + Brown Act Flex Workshop - Nicky Damania -- January 13, 2021
- BBK Law Firm advice on Public Comments
- Brown Act and Recent Legislation (AB 361/AB2449) - ASCCC November 28, 2022
Awards
- Trembley Guidelines
- Nomination Instructions
- Margaret Levinson Award Guidelines
- Margaret Levinson Nomination Form
- Trembley and Levinson 2022-23 Timeline
Academic Senate Executive Board
The Academic Senate Executive Board is an advisory body for the Academic Senate President. Visit the Academic Senate Executive Board webpage for more information.
Meeting Times
Last Meeting
Documents
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Guidelines for Changes | 83.94 KB |
| Constitution & Bylaws (April 2022) | 279.49 KB |
| Election Timelines for Fall 2022 | 202.81 KB |
| Election Timelines for Spring 2023 | 200.54 KB |
| Faculty Department Chair nominations for terms beginning July 2023 (as of Oct 24) | 140.39 KB |
| Standing and Screening Committees appointment processes | 129.67 KB |
Links
Joining Academic Senate Meetings
Special Meeting: 3/22/23
Regular Meeting Dates: 9/7/22, 9/21/22, 10/5/22, 10/19/22, 11/2/22, 11/16/22, 11/30/22, 2/1/23, 2/15/23, 3/1/23, 3/15/23, 3/29/23, 4/19/23, 5/3/23
Meeting Time: 3:30-5 p.m.
Location: Campus Center 231 and Delano DST 126 and BC Southwest 101F. Additional location for March 22 Special Meeting: Starbucks at 27984 Seco Canyon, Santa Clarita, CA 91354
Public Comments for Senate Meetings (Standing Rule)
Opportunity to Address Request (3 hour prior to meeting deadline for posting documents)
Agenda Item Request (4 working days before meeting deadline)
Proxy Voting Form (bring filled out form to the meeting)
Recordings of Senate Meetings
Recordings of past meetings are available on the "Video Recordings of Academic Senate Meetings" page.
Media
A Better BC
Bakersfield College is improving the main Panorama campus through a series of projects resulting from the voter approved Measure J bond of 2016. Our website, A Better BC has all of the information to keep you updated.
This video is an aerial view of our campus, before Measure J construction updates.
Photos
Contact Information
Please contact Tarina Perry (Academic Senate Administrative Secretary) for more information.
Office Location: Campus Center, second floor - President Suite
(661) 395-4300