AJ Circhirillo / Roundup
Interviews for the new Pierce College President will start May 19, according to Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Vice President of Academic Affairs.
This new development in the selection process was announced at the Academic Senate meeting on Monday.
“A good group of candidates were put in for president, whoever we get will be very good,” said Tom Rosdahl, the Academic Senate President and selection committe member.
Dr. Joy McCaslin has served as interim president of Pierce since the sudden departure of former president Robert Garber, who left the position Aug. 1, 2009 after his son was diagnosed with acute liver failure.
McCaslin served as Vice President of Student Services before taking over for Garber, and intends to return to that position after the next president is selected.
“My blood pressure isn’t high, but I am losing sleep,” joked Joy McCaslin, Pierce Interim President.
The first person to speak at the meeting was McCaslin, who suggested the Senate implement a Dean of Agriculture who would take full responsibility and leadership of the 200-acre agriculture area at Pierce.
Currently, the responsibility is shared between McCaslin and the Dean of Research, Planning and Enrollment Management Carol Kozeracki.
Other news included discussions of limited class space, a pool party and a Civil War reenactment that will take place on campus.
Due to the competition for class space in community colleges, one solution for transfer students that was brought up by the Articulation Director Elizabeth Atondo was to implement courses like math and English on a pass-no pass basis. This would help students to manage rigorous course loads.
The chemistry and math departments will be hosting a pool party on June 13 starting at 4 p.m. Lifeguards and food will all be there. Funding for the event is in the works.
“Why not take advantage of the beautiful new swimming pool?” said Izzy Goodman, chemistry department chair.
Civil War reenactments will be at the farm on May 12 and 13 for Heritage Day. Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee impersonators will be there to battle it out. The farm will be selling all of the goods that grow there and the money that is earned stays with Pierce to fund farm expenses.
“We need to bring the community in with their money and their feet,” said Dennis Washburn.
In other news, the Student Success Committee will be having a speaker from the art department on Thursday at noon that will be talking about a class pointed toward teaching students essential skills like reading and writing.
An issue was brought up concerning enrollment management. The senate voted for a taskforce that will be put together to assemble a committee that will be put aside to give guidance to those in charge of enrollment. The Senate will await a proposal from the taskforce in Fall 2011.
Lastly, a reported serious breach of confidentiality was made by the hiring committee of the history department last semester when selecting a new teacher. Outside members will have to be brought in to choose new history professors.
“[There will be a] possible of litigation for pretty much all of the history department that were on the hiring committees,” said Rosdahl.
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