As a Senator, you are a decision maker. We as a Senate are representing MiraCosta's faculty (full time and associates) in 10+1 areas of academic and professional matters, and per BP 2510, our decisions and recommendations are relied upon by The Board and it's designees within our collegial governance structures.
As a Senate, we ought to strive to be as effective and efficient in our discussions as we are fair and respectful with one another in our meeting procedures. The more we engage with agenda materials and with our constituents, and the more we might increase the overall value of our time together.
For the purposes of this training, please review the follow tips and reflection questions. Consider how these suggestions and inquiries fit with your experience and/or interests as a member of the Academic Senate. Please prepare insights and inquiries to share with your colleagues.
Purpose of the Consent Calendar: Items under consent are action items that require approval. Items placed here are assumed to be noncontentious and noncontroversial.
Preparing for the Meeting: Senators should arrive at the meeting having read each item under consent along with all relevant materials. For any item warranting closer review and discussion, senators should prepare questions and concerns.
During the Meeting: The senate president will ask if anyone objects to approving the items under consent, and at this time, any voting member of the senate may ask that a certain item be pulled for further discussion. This item then becomes an action item requiring a motion to approve, followed by discussion, and a formal vote.
Purpose of the First Read of an Action Item: The First Read is for sun-shining new action items and for discussion
Preparing for the Meeting: Senators should arrive at the meeting having read all materials provided by the action item representatives with questions and comments prepared.
During the Meeting: During a first read, the senate president will ask special guests to introduce the action item. After this, the senate president will ask for senators who have questions or comments to identify themselves, and all questions, concerns, comments, and recommendations from senators will be collected at this time. The senate president will then invite special guests to answer questions and respond to comments.
Purpose of the Second Read of an Action Item: The Second Read is for clarifications and voting.
Preparing for the Meeting: Senators should arrive with their constituency’s position consulted when appropriate and with the senator's own voting position decided along with any contingent questions, amendments, comments, etc prepared that are necessary to clarify how to vote “aye” or “nay” or "abstain"
During the Meeting: During a second read, the senate president will ask for senators who have questions, proposed amendments, and position statements to identify themselves, and all will be collected at this time. The senate president will suggest an order in which these be addressed, and will then invite special guests to respond.
Being intentional in your reading and preparation habits can help you feel more confident. Here are a few tips prior Senators have shared:
glance over the agenda early in the week to organize your time for items requiring lengthy review, further research, or extra steps
read according to your individualized process as a representative of your faculty colleagues
read early in the week so you have time to mull over issues or read late in the week so your memory of issues is fresh
read with the intention of sharing key agenda items and discussion with your constituents
read items that may be particularly contentious with intention to process emotional and intellectual response
read with your particular pedagogical, discipline, and other specialized lenses
read after reviewing your notes and minutes from the prior meeting to refresh your knowledge of current discussions
get to know and rely on your Senate colleagues expertise and focus so you may prioritize which agenda items to read closely and which to simply read
Hyperlinks are embedded within each category of the agenda and appear as text enclosed in a rectangle. Many of these hyperlinks link to sections of the agenda document. Some of these hyperlinks link to content outside of the agenda file, and may require a login to different district systems.
If you experience trouble navigating various systems linked in the agenda, please contact the Senate President
What info do you have and what info do you need to be confident in your vote?
How and when do you engage outreach with your constituents?
What questions can you ask that clarify the issues, the language, and the outcomes?
What amendments to the action item would you suggest to resolve matters that are making you reluctant to approve the item?
When is it appropriate to abstain from voting?
When should you feel confident voting "no"?
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