Resolution Affirming the Authority, Rights, and Responsibilities of the College of Marin Academic Senate
Whereas, California Education Code §70902(b)(7) assigns to the governing board of each community college district the responsibility to “ensure the right of academic senates to assume primary responsibility for making recommendations in the areas of curriculum and academic standards”; and
Whereas, Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations §53200 defines the Academic Senate as the body that represents faculty in academic and professional matters and specifies those matters to include, but not be limited to, the “10+1,” namely:
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;
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 are mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate; and
Whereas, Title 5 §53203 requires governing boards and administrators to either rely primarily upon or reach mutual agreement with the Academic Senate when making decisions in academic and professional matters, consistent with locally adopted policies; and
Whereas, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges asserts that local academic senates have the right, authority, and responsibility to bring issues to the Board of Trustees without filtering from, or consensus with, the administration or other constituent groups; and the College of Marin Academic Senate recognizes that with its authority comes a responsibility to act in the best interests of students, the health of the College, and the mission of the California Community Colleges;
Resolved, that the Academic Senate affirms its statutory authority under California Education Code and Title 5 to be the official voice of the College of Marin faculty in academic and professional matters and to exercise primary responsibility as defined by law; and
Resolved, that the Academic Senate requests that the College community recognize that its recommendations in these defined areas (the “10 +1”) are not in name only, but are grounded in state law and regulation; and
Resolved, that the Academic Senate calls upon all members of the College community to honor its legal definition in California, recognizing that respecting the role and authority of the Academic Senate is legally required.