Robin McFarland and Skye Gentile
Faculty senate continues to focus on student equity and student success. With that in mind, at every meeting we devote some time to the topic of Guided Pathways. Many of you attended the Guided Pathways Institute that was presented by the Lead From the Middle team in June. At All College Day, Rob Johnstone provided further information about Guided Pathways. At our last meeting (September 6), the senate voted to support hiring Rob Johnstone as a consultant to further explore how Guided Pathways would look at Cabrillo. Regardless of whether Cabrillo decides to adopt this model, the discussion provides an opportunity to create ways to help our students navigate more effectively.
Another emphasis of the senate is communication and decision-making. The events last spring surrounding the college’s failed bond effort brought questions about communication and decision-making processes into sharp focus. At the last senate meeting, we had a lively discussion about the bond, and explored what we learned from what transpired, and how we can use those lessons to move forward in a collaborative manner that supports our students. A clear lesson is that the process that happened last year was unacceptable. The governing board gave faculty senate the message that they will not move forward on planning for future bonds unless the faculty senate brings a recommendation to the CPC and board. I appreciate that the governing board heard faculty concerns and I am hopeful that future efforts such as going out for a bond will be a more collaborative, faculty-driven process.
Faculty are fortunate to have two representative groups—CCFT and Faculty Senate. Skye and I are proud to work with Karl Ewald and Tobin Keller to represent the interests of the faculty as we all work to support our students.