Academic Senate

The Academic Senate facilitates communication among the faculty, the college and district administration, the students, and the Board of Trustees. The Senate strives to promote the development and maintenance of teaching excellence within the framework of academic freedom, professional responsibility, and ethics. (Title 5 §53200)

Hours

(During Fall and Spring Semester)

Monday, Wednesday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Friday
8:00 a.m. - 11 a.m. 

Academic Senate General meetings: Are typically twice a month from 3 to 5 p.m. in Forum Hall 101.

Executive Board of the Academic Senate meetings: Are typically twice a month from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in OAB 184.

We will not be available during those meetings.

Contact

Purpose

The Academic Senate is the organization on campus that represents faculty in the formation of policy in “Academic and Professional Matters”. Title 5, Article 2, Section 53200 defines such matters as:

  • Curriculum including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines
  • Degree & certificate requirements
  • Grading policies
  • Development of educational programs
  • Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success
  • District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles
  • Faculty roles in accreditation processes
  • Policies for faculty professional development activities
  • Process for program review
  • Processes for institutional planning and budget development
  • Other matters as agreed upon between the governing board and academic senate

Membership

Representatives from faculty departments are elected to serve as senators for one-year terms. The Senate averages seventy members, including senators, elected officers and the Chair of the Curriculum Committee. Elections for senate seats are held in May for the coming academic year.

Meeting Schedule

The regular meetings of the Academic Senate are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 3:00-5:00 pm during the academic year.

 

Executive Board

The officers who serve on the Executive Board are elected by the Senate in different terms. The President, President-Elect, and Past-President each serve two-year terms. The three Officer-at-Large, one of which is the Membership Secretary, each serve a one-year term, and may be re-elected without term limits. The Curriculum Chair is elected by the Curriculum Committee. Elections are held every academic year at the last meeting in the spring. Following is information and contacts for each of the officers serving during the current academic year.

The Academic Senate typically meets every first and third Wednesday of the month during the academic year and the Executive Board of the Academic Senate typically meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month during the academic year. 

Acting President: Michael Takeda

Michael Takeda

Duties:

  • To preside at meetings of the Senate and of the Executive Board.
  • To represent the Senate and faculty at college and district wide meetings, public meetings, the State Academic Senate meetings, and other occasions which require a public spokesperson to represent the faculty within the scope of Senate activities.
  • To appoint other members of the Senate to represent it when the President and President-Elect are unavailable.
  • To serve as an ex-officio member of all committees unless the Senate otherwise limits committee membership.
  • To direct correspondence, issues, and communication to the appropriate committees.
  • To issue agendas developed by the Executive Board.
  • To issue calls to meetings and to keep appropriate records.
  • To manage any clerical support personnel.
  • To appoint senators to special projects in lieu of committee assignments

President-Elect: Denia Ramos Jimenez

Denia Ramos Jimenez

Duties:

  • If the President is absent, to serve as President.
  • To do other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Board.

Past President: Jackie Williams

Jackie Williams

Duties:

  • To assist the President with current duties.
  • To do other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Board.

Curriculum Committee Chair: Liz Rard

Liz Rard

Duties:

  • To carry out the duties of the Curriculum Chair as per the Curriculum Committee operating agreement.
  • To attend Senate and Executive Board meetings.
  • To report to the Senate on the activities of the Curriculum Committee.

Membership Secretary: Karin Gruet

Karin Gruet

Duties:

  • To keep a roster of all senators for the current academic year and to take attendance at all Senate meetings.
  • To notify any subdivision at Fresno City College if it is not fully represented on the Senate.
  • To generate a list of active members of the Senate for the Sabbatical Leave Committee, for the division deans, and for whomsoever else may have need of such information.
  • To do other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Board

Officer at Large: Denia Ramos Jimenez

Denia Ramos Jimenez

Duties:

  • To hold Department Chair meetings.
  • To do other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Board.

2nd Officer at Large: Alena Hairston

Alena Hairston

Duties

  • Serve as the legislative liaison by staying up to date and report on legislation that could impact the Community Colleges.
  • To do other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Board.

Academic Senate Committees

All committee information is provided at the BoardDocs Academic Site.

Academic Standards Committee

Review student petitions (course repititions, extenuating,circumstances, academic probation & disqualification) and recommend policies, guidelines, and/or procedures for academic regulations and standards.

Curriculum Committee

The Curriculum Committee shall be responsible for reviewing, assessing and recommending all proposed additions, revisions, and deletions to the curriculum of Fresno City College. The Committee’s recommendations shall be made to the Board of Trustees through the Educational, Coordinating, and Planning Committee (ECPC).

Equivalency Committee

The Equivalency Committee, oversees equivalency actions in various departments. It establishes forms for this purpose and reviews Departmental Equivalency Policies.

Early College Committee

Explore a world of educational opportunities with our Early College (EC) program! Tailored for high school and equivalent students, EC comprises three distinct pathways: the College and Career Access Pathway (CCAP) Dual Enrollment (DuE) program, the High School Enrichment (HSE) program, and the Middle and Early College programs.

Behind this initiative stands the dedicated Early College Committee. Their pivotal role involves shaping policies, streamlining procedures, and establishing structures that offer technical and administrative guidance. Moreover, they oversee the professional growth of faculty members, including counselors, administrators, coordinators, and all stakeholders within the EC program.