Shaka Dixon
The mid-term retirement of Barrie Logan, Ph.D., Pierce College Academic Senate president places Vice President of Academic Policy Izzy Goodman, Ph.D., into the presidency.
“I’m here to build a consensus,” said Goodman.
“I’ve known Izzy since he came here in 1984. We have worked together, so I know that he will be able to do the job and I don’t think that they will notice a difference,” said Logan.
The Academic Senate’s governing bylaws allow the serving vice president of academic policy to ascended to the presidency without challenge during a mid-term vacancy. Goodman, chair of the chemistry department, will serve out the remaining six months of Logan’s term and is expected to run for, and win, the presidency in the upcoming fall election.
Presidents, like all of the Academic Senate officers, are popularly elected by full-time faculty, to two-year terms. Senators, who like officers are drawn from the faculty, are elected by popular vote and serve one year terms.
“Generally candidates (for president) go unchallenged. If there is general discontent, you might have someone run against you. I don’t see any of that,” said Goodman.
The proposals, recommendations and opinions of the Academic Senate are valued because of its intimate connection to the student body. The Academic Senate and Pierce President Robert Garber are bound to a Shared Governance Agreement that directs the president to give credence to the Academic Senate on
all “academic and professional matters.”
Garber often will solicit recommendations and proposals from the Academic Senate, but only he, as president, can authorize binding measures.
Generally, the president will heed recommendation from the Academic Senate and will consult with the Senate before making decisions, even if they lay outside of their purview.
In areas where the president and Academic Senate are known to differ, the president may avoid their counsel and act without their blessing, according to Goodman.
“The college has gone through a renaissance in the last few years with Rocky Young,” said Richard Follet former Pierce Academic Senate president. “The new president is very energetic, so I think Goodman will do a good job.”
As Goodman chaired the Academic Policy Committee, carried out executive duties in the event of Logan’s absence and represented the Academic Senate in other bodies such as the Pierce College Council.
The chairs of each academic department serve on the Academic Policy Committee, and pass proposals and recommendations to the larger Academic Senate on non-curriculum academic matters.
“Changes in grading policy would be something that we would do,” said Goodman
Even though the terms brevity has moderated his goals and expectations, Goodman looks to revamp the current faculty orientation process.
As the median faculty age rises and enrollment continues to increase, Goodman anticipates Pierce hiring up to 30 new professors.
The faculty orientation process will be calibrated toward providing new faculty “a more robust” experience, according to Goodman.
The Academic Senate’s effectiveness, as an advocate for the faculty, rests in its leader’s relationship with the Garber.
Goodman is tasked with elevating concerns sounded in the campus’ classrooms, break rooms.
“I want to make the college more aware of its students… it is important to understand the different needs,” Goodman said.
“People come to Pierce for a lot of reason and with different needs. We have to understand that.”