Effective Senates

1
Effective Senates

• Machiavellis Imaginary Tightrope
• Patricia James Hanz
• Wheeler North

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Where Are We Going?

• General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order
• The Brown and Bagley-Keene Acts
• Agendas and Minutes
• Rely Primarily Vs Mutually Agree
• General Dos and Donts
• Some Scenarios

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General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order

• Gen. Roberts first rule if you dont need this
  book put it back on the shelf.
• While they do tend to promote order their sole
  purpose is to???
• Assure the right of the minority to have voice.
• The majority will always carry the vote.

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General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order

• Consensus is always desired but when this fails
  General Robert rules...
• The consensus process is one
• where there is professional dialogue amongst all
  parties
• a general acceptance of the course of action is
  achieved
• This process tends to not work very well in
  larger groups.

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General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order

• When professional dialogue and/or consensus is
  unobtainable then resort to the formal Rules of
  Order.
• All action revolves around Main Motions.
• Actions are any decision made by the body
• All subsidiary motions effect the main motion or
  they clarify the issue.
• Read the book, and review it regularly.

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General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order

• In general, the bigger the group the more formal
  it needs to be.
• Presidential Votes
• they can anytime, but usually dont
• if called upon to break a tie let the motion die
  as there is no clear majority
• President steps down to debate the issue

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General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order

• The most common abuse
• The use of a motion to table is out of order
  unless there is a specific reason the body cant
  act on the main motion.
• It denies the right of the minority to have voice
  because it is not debatable.

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General Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Order

• Resolutions
• Are a main motion put into a fancy format.
• Are no different than any other main motion.
• Are used to provide a public formal statement of
  action, position, or recommendation.

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The Brown and Bagley-Keene Acts

• In general these two Acts are the same in spirit
• The Brown applies to local Boards and their
  agents, the Bagley-Keene applies to the statewide
  Boards and their agents
• The public has right to access to these
  deliberative processes.
• The processes cant be done when the publics
  access is prevented.

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The Brown and Bagley-Keene Acts

• This makes for some inefficiencies.
• all sessions must be noticed and open
• serial meetings and E-mail cant be used
• body can meet socially but cant discuss business
• applies to all subsidiary bodies who would
  normally effect the primary elected bodys action
• Curriculum meeting YES, Dept meeting NO

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The Brown and Bagley-Keene Acts

• Only exceptions for closed meetings are
  employee/personnel issues and sensitive legal or
  negotiated issues.
• personnel exception does not include the elected
  members
• Is what requires an introduction and second read
  of all actions.

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Agendas and Minutes

• Keep it simple
• Date, time and place of meeting
• Approval of agenda and minutes
• Reports
• Old business, new business
• Adjourn

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Agendas and Minutes

• Reports are very useful to engage with the body
  in a way that prevents deliberation.
• Leave space on your agenda and make notes as the
  meeting progresses.
• Dont chair a meeting and be the note taker,
  always delegate this.
• Its a conflict of interest.

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Agendas and Minutes

• Minutes under Roberts Rules approval is not
  required, but its a good idea to formally
  accept them.
• Any member can move to change any minutes any
  time, in perpetuity.
• Minutes should record what was done.
• They do not need to record every word and in fact
  should refrain from quoting unless theres a
  specific reason.

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Agendas and Minutes

• Minutes should follow the agendas format.
• Sound comprehensive record keeping is the bane of
  many senates.
• Continuity in Senate officers and in Senate staff
  is often weak.
• Web-based archiving is becoming the cool tool for
  archiving.

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Rely Primarily Vs Mutually Agree

• First things first The Academic Senate is the
  legal voice for all faculty in the 11 areas.
• Two primary issues arise from this
• Admin will make decisions based upon other
  faculty input.
• Senate President is always weighing autonomy
  against a seeking formal Senate position.

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Rely Primarily Vs Mutually Agree

• AB 1725 provided for local Boards and Senates to
  establish their own process.
• The decision process for the 101 areas can be
  any combination of Rely Primarily or Mutually
  Agree.

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Rely Primarily Vs Mutually Agree

• Rely primarily means the Board will act as
  advised by the Senate unless a condition of
  fiscal or legal hardship exists.
• If they dont for the above reasons they must put
  it in writing and note in the minutes the
  Senates objections.

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Rely Primarily Vs Mutually Agree

• Mutually agree means remain at status quo until
  the Board and the Senate mutually agree.
• AB 1725 only provided for primacy in the
  establishment of processes.
• Such establishing should include granting primacy
  in the actual decision making.
• In all cases neither party can make a change
  without mutual agreement.

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Rely Primarily Vs Mutually Agree

• If the Board fails any of the above responses the
  next recourse is a technical visit.
• These can happen in 4 forms but all require
  mutual endorsement by both the Senate and the
  Board.

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General Dos and Donts

• You are the voice of the faculty.
• This is a legal right and obligation.
• Enthusiasm is contagious
• Stay on issues and values
• Whats best for the students?
• Take nothing personally
• Model collegiality

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General Dos and Donts

• Delegate authority
• but be prepared to do it if critical
• Be visible
• Be an active listener
• Value dialogue and debate
• Be proactive, dont headbutt

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General Dos and Donts

• Be prepared, know your stuff, practice it if
  necessary.
• Avoid secrets and surprises
• Bombing, while fun usually comes back to haunt
  you.
• Utilize monthly and annual goals and summaries
  self review regularly.

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General Dos and Donts

• Your attitude is always your choice and its
  always infectious.
• Be inclusive in all things.
• Make regular reports at Board meetings.
• Particularly items of student success.
• Meet regularly with all administrators.

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General Dos and Donts

• Walk your troops
• visit every faculty you can, particularly those
  you dont know.
• Say Thank You often in many ways.

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General Dos and Donts

• Beware of divide and conquer tactics.
• Never go it alone.
• particularly with those who tend to edit reality
• Know when to disengage.
• Go to every ASCCC function
• and become enlightened!

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General Dos and Donts

• Never talk to the press off the cuff.
• Make an appointment and then get prepared, talk
  to your Exec.
• Work closely with your Faculty Bargaining Agents
• There are times where the two bodies should
  disagree, so no sleeping with them.

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Some Scenarios

• The bean counters want a four week winter
  intersession to make base FTES.
• The local Senate has a pedagogy based position
  against 3 or more unit courses in the four week
  format but some faculty want to teach these
  classes online.
• Students want it as well.

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Some Scenarios
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Some Scenarios
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Some Scenarios