SPG-3201/AA: Occupational Program External Advisory Committees (OPEAC)

SPG-3201/AA refers to Occupational Program External Advisory Committees. The current Occupational Program Advisory Committees will be replaced by these. To read the College's proposed language for SPG-3201/AA, please click here.

Below is the Memo that PCCEA wrote in response to the College's proposed language.

To add your own comment or view other comments, click the "comments" link below. Be sure to formally submit your comments to the College by visiting the official Draft Policy Website: http://www.pima.edu/policies/drafts.shtml

Note: The memo below was never sent officially to the Chancellor! PCCEA apologizes for the oversight.

PCCEA Memo

To: Chancellor Flores
From: Ana Jiménez, PCCEA Vice President
Date: October 1, 2008
RE: Draft SPG 3201/AA

PCCEA appreciates the opportunity to comment on the proposed BOG Standard Practice Guide SPG-3201/AA: Occupational Program External Advisory Committees (OPEAC). We acknowledge the modifications that were made to the first draft of this SPG and note the College’s willingness to discuss this topic further. In reading through this new draft, we see that the new language still does not allow for a faculty co-chair, and it does not allow for faculty participation in the advisory committee meetings. If the advisory committee does not have the Lead Faculty as co-chair, we do not believe that the committees will be effective for many reasons including the following:

1. The lead faculty is aware of the needs of the program and is really the only person who is capable of knowing what should be on the agendas of the meetings and what the timelines and deadlines should be for completion of committee business.

2. For many occupational programs, curriculum matters originate in the advisory committee, placing the committee in charge of drafting new curriculum and curriculum review and revision. These duties require the expertise of a faculty member.

PCCEA respectfully requests again, for the sake of the functionality of the committee, that the Lead Faculty be allowed to be the co-chair of the advisory committee. We request that the language in E be modified to reflect this. PCCEA also requests that faculty be able to participate in meeting business, versus simply observing. Faculty should be allowed to participate based on the needs of the committee. Please see proposed language changes in red below.

E. One co-chair is filled by an individual external to the College, who will be elected by the committee members for a one-year renewable term. The other co-chair position will be filled by the Lead Faculty for the program. The Division Dean for a single campus program or The College Discipline Area Committee (CDAC) Chair for a multi-campus program will serve as the other co-chair of the committee

C. Administrators, faculty (full-time and adjunct) or staff members may observe advisory committee meetings in an ex-officio role (non-voting), at any time, and participate in meeting business on an as needed basis as determined by the co-chairs.