Title 5 Regulations

#53200. Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter:

(a) "Faculty" means those employees of a community college district who are employed in positions that are not designated as supervisory or management for the purposes of Article 5 (commencing with section 3540) of Chapter 10.7 of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, and for which minimum qualifications for hire are specified by the Board of Governors.

(b) "Academic senate," "faculty council," and "faculty senate" means an organization formed in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter whose primary function is, as the representative of the faculty, to make recommendations to the administration of a college and to the governing board of a district with respect to academic and professional matters. For purposes of this subchapter, reference to the term "academic senate" shall also constitute reference to "faculty council" or "faculty senate."

(c) "Academic and professional matters" means the following policy development and implementation matters:

  • Curriculum, including establishing prerequisites and placing courses within disciplines
  • Degree and certificate requirements
  • Grading policies
  • Educational program development
  • Standards or policies regarding student preparation and success
  • District and college governance structures, as related to faculty roles
  • Faculty roles and involvement in accreditation processes, including self-study and annual reports
  • Policies for faculty professional development activities
  • Processes for program review
  • Processes for institutional planning and budget development, and
  • Other academic and professional matters as mutually agreed upon between the governing board and the academic senate.

(d) "Consult collegially" means that the district governing board shall develop policies on academic and professional matters through either or both of the following methods, according to its own discretion:+

  • Relying primarily upon the advice and judgment of the academic senate; or
  • That the district governing board, or such representatives as it may designate, and the representatives of the academic senate shall have the obligation to reach mutual agreement by written resolution, regulation or policy of the governing board effectuating such recommendations.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 70901 and 70902, Education Code.

#53201. Academic Senate or Faculty Council

In order that the faculty may have a formal and effective procedure for participating in the formation and implementation of district policies on academic and professional matters, an academic senate may be established at the college and/or district level.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 70901 and 70902, Education Code.

#53202. Formation; Procedures; Membership

The following procedure shall be used to establish an academic senate:

(a) The full-time faculty of a community college shall vote by secret ballot to form an academic senate.

(b) In multi-college districts, the full-time faculty of the district colleges may vote on whether or not to form a district academic senate. Such vote shall be by secret ballot.

(c) The governing board of a district shall recognize the academic senate and authorize the faculty to:

  • Fix and amend by vote of the full-time faculty the composition, structure, and procedures of the academic senate.
  • Provide for the selection, in accordance with accepted democratic election procedures, the members of the academic senate.

(d) The full-time faculty may provide for the membership and participation of part-time faculty members in the academic senate.

(e) In the absence of any full-time faculty members in a community college, the part-time faculty of such community college may form an academic senate.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 70901 and 70902, Education Code.

#53203. Powers

(a) The governing board of a community college district shall adopt policies for appropriate delegation of authority and responsibility to its college and/or district academic senate. Among other matters, said policies, at a minimum, shall provide that the governing board or its designees will consult collegially with the academic senate when adopting policies and procedures on academic and professional matters. This requirement to consult collegially shall not limit other rights and responsibilities of the academic senate which are specifically provided in statute or other regulations contained in this part.

(b) In adopting the policies and procedures described in subsection (a), the governing board or its designees, shall consult collegially with representatives of the academic senate.

(c) While in the process of consulting collegially, the academic senate shall retain the right to meet with or appear before the governing board with respect to the views, recommendations or proposals of the senate. In addition, after consultation with the administration of the college and/or district, the academic senate may present its views and recommendations to the governing board.

(d) The governing board of a district shall adopt procedures for responding to recommendations of the academic senate that incorporate the following:

1) In instances where the governing board elects to rely primarily upon upon the advice and judgment of the academic senate, the recommendations of the senate will normally be accepted, and only in exceptional circumstances and for compelling reasons will the recommendations not be accepted. If a recommendation is not accepted, the governing board or its designee, upon request of the academic senate, shall promptly communicate its reasons in writing to the academic senate.

2) In instances where the governing board elects to provide for mutual agreement with the academic senate, and agreement has not been reached, existing policy shall remain in effect unless continuing with such policy exposes the district to legal liability or causes substantial fiscal hardship. In cases where there is no existing policy, or in cases where the exposure to legal liability or substantial fiscal hardship requires existing policy to be changed, the governing board may act after a good faith effort to reach agreement, only for compelling legal, fiscal, or organizational reasons.

(e) An academic senate may assume such responsibilities and perform such functions as may be delegated to it by the governing board of the district pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(f) The appointment of faculty members to serve on college or district committees, task forces, or other grounds dealing with academic and professional matters, shall be made, after consultation with the chief executive officer or his or her designee, by the academic senate. Notwithstanding this subsection, the collective bargaining representative may seek to appoint faculty members to committees, task forces, or other groups.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 70901 and 70902, Education Code.

#53204. Scope of Regulations

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to impinge upon the due process rights of faculty, nor to detract from any negotiated agreements between collective bargaining representatives and district governing boards. It is the intent of the Board of Governors to respect agreements between academic senates and collective bargaining representatives as to how they will consult, collaborate, share or delegate among themselves the responsibilities that are or may be delegated to academic senates pursuant to these regulations.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 66700 and 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 70901 and 70902, Education Code.