No Confidence in Chopra Cover Letter

May 5, 2009

From: Academic Senate of Southwestern College

RE: Vote of No Confidence Resolution

Attached you will find documents that provide a chronology of events that lead up to our vote of no confidence on April 28, 2009 by our Southwestern College Academic Senate. Our Senate has been cut off from meaningful dialogue with our Governing Board and Superintendent President during both our accreditation process and two different reorganizations of our campus within one year. Here is the chronology and order in which we recommend you read the documents to get a clear overview of our situation.
1. Union Tribune article, March 1, 2008
2. Overview of Academic Senate Shared Governance Policy as seen in “10+1” document
3. Academic Senate Resolution: Shared Governance, March 2008 in response to first Reorganization of campus
4. Statewide Shared Governance Anniversary Release, Fall 2008
5. Academic Senate Resolution: Budget Crisis, December 2008
6. Governing Board Oral Presentation regarding second Reorganization April 2009
7. Budget Information April 2009
8. Statewide Senate Rostrum Article with Southwestern College dialogue, April 28, 2009
9. Academic Senate Resolution: No Confidence, April 29, 2009

Our faculty have expended countless hours to collegially participate in campus processes to have input into planning and budget development activities. Instead of participation there has been a progressive and now increased deterioration in our opportunity to have meaningful communication campus on matters that impact our students directly. Our goal in this resolution asks the Governing Board to open dialogue with our Senate and Superintendent/President so we can have our concerns addressed in a collaborative manner.

Examples of decision making that have negatively impacted our students include:
1. Blanket elimination of course sections without time to consider data.
2. Movement to electronic class schedule and registration processes for su 09 and fa 09 without a transition plan for students.
3. Elimination of Performing Arts Classified position that organized, implemented, and over saw all performing arts events on campus (75 in 08/09).
4. Elimination of our Outreach Office with no communication of a plan for transition.
5. Movement of technical programs to a site at the border that is isolated and far removed from practicum sites causing hardships for students.

We are interested in your support for our students, faculty, staff, and our recent Senate action as we work to improve communication and shared governance processes on our campus. I look forward to discussing this with you.

Respectfully,
Academic Senate of Southwestern College