SJCC Academic Senate Description

ACADEMIC SENATE

On July 7, 1964, the Board of Trustees of the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District authorized the establishment of an academic senate at San Jose City College .  Our Senate became operative during the Fall of 1964.

The San Jose City College Academic Senate represents faculty in all academic and professional matters.  As provided by The California Educational Code, Title V, and District Policy, the District’s Governing Board normally accepts all recommendations from the Academic Senate regarding such matters as curriculum, accreditation, professional development, and program review.  In other words, the Academic Senate, actually shares in the governance of our district in the case of academic and professional matters.

The Senate also shares responsibility for the development of all other District policies with the Associated Students, the administration, classified staff, and employee unions.

The Senate appoints all faculty members to the District committees and task forces, exclusive of collective bargaining committees. 

The Academic Senate normally meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 2:10 pm in the Community  Conference Room, SC204.  All staff and students are invited to attend our meetings.

SJCC Academic Senate Mission Statement

The Academic Senate represents the professional and academic interests of the full-time and part-time faculty of San Jose City College .  In this capacity the senate acts as the official voice of the faculty and is empowered to represent the faculty to the administration and to the district governing board.  In particular, California state education code stipulates eleven areas in which faculty through their senates are to be “consulted with collegially,” if not “relied on primarily,” in setting policy and district goals and objectives.

Rely primarily upon the Senate for:

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 structure, as related to faculty roles

7.      Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation process, including self-study and annual reports

8.      Policies for faculty professional development

Consult collegial with the Senate for:

9.      Process for program review

10.  Process for institutional planning and budget development

11.  Other academic professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the Governing Board and the Academic Senate

This list includes matters that clearly get to the heart of our mission as a community college and our role as faculty.  And, as the eleventh item clearly indicates, this list is not exhaustive.

Also of interest and importance to faculty is the Senate’s right and responsibility to appoint faculty representatives to district and campus committees – including tenure review committees.  This insures that the faculty is represented by representatives of its choice, but it also demands that faculty members are willing to serve.