Welcome to the Merritt College Academic Senate

The Merritt College Academic Senate is a legislatively mandated body that brings the voice of the faculty to college policy and practices.  Senators are elected by the faculty in yearly elections, and work as a body to address faculty concerns. The Senate has a formal constitution with by-laws.  The Senate’s voice depends on faculty involvement. We encourage and welcome the faculty to contact the Senate with any ideas, feedback, and suggestions to improve the college and create a greater connection with the faculty and the campus. The Peralta Colleges also have a District Academic Senate made up of Senate representatives from all four PCCD colleges. Finally, there is a statewide academic senate (ASCCC) that addresses faculty concerns at the state level.

Dr. Thomas Renbarger
Academic Senate President

The Merritt Academic Senate meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. in R-29.

The District Academic Senate  meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of  each  month from  2 :30 p.m. – 4 :30 p.m. in  the Board Room at the District office

THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE AT MERRITT COLLEGE

The Role of the Academic Senate, provided by state law, is to make recommendations to the Board of trustees in the following 10+1 areas. The Board is to “rely primarily” on the recommendations of the college Senates in developing policies and procedures in these areas.

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Academic and Professional matters means the following policy development:
1.      Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites.
2.      Degree and certificate requirements.
3.      Grading policies.
4.      Educational program development.
5.      Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success.
6.      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.
11.     Other academic and professional matter

MERRITT COLLEGE ACADEMIC SENATE CONSTITUTION 

ACADEMIC SENATE OF THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

PREAMBLE OF CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE ACADEMIC SENATE

We, the faculty of the California Community Colleges, through the local academic senates, do hereby establish the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, Inc., in order to promote the best interests of higher education in the state and to represent the faculty in all California Community Colleges at the state level.

From the American Association of University Professors document

SECTION V: THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION: THE FACULTY

“Agencies for faculty participation in the government of the college or university should be established at each level where faculty responsibility is present. An agency should exist for the presentation of the views of the whole faculty. The structure and procedures for faculty participation should be designed, approved, and established by joint action of the components of the institution. Faculty representatives should be selected by the faculty according to procedures determined by the faculty.”

From “Empowering Local Senates: Roles and Responsibilities of and Strategies for an Effective Senate”

(click on link above to download entire document)

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