May 4, 2003

No Confidence Resolution

Dear Editor:

At the West Valley-Mission Community College District Board of Trustees

meeting May 1, the District Academic Senate read a resolution of "no

confidence" in the chancellor, Stan Arterberry. The basis of the

resolution was not the budget situation per se, but rather the way

decisions have been made in this district.

Under Board Policy, the district has agreed to rely primarily on the

advice of the Academic Senate in academic and professional matters. The

Senate is not same as the union, which has bargaining authority over

salaries and working conditions. At California Community Colleges, the

Senate is vested with responsibility under law for guiding the academic

directions of the college. That means that the faculty are the experts

in selecting which courses should be offered and which services students

need. This chancellor undermined that responsibility with extreme,

inconsistent and haphazard decisions without the needed participation of

the Senates. Why is the faculty so deeply concerned? Because instead

of convening an emergency task force to consider all options for

reductions, this district made closed-door decisions that were not in

the best interest of students. Because unless restored, program and

service reductions will severely hamper students‚ ability to succeed in

their academic pursuits in this district. The leadership of this

district is as much in crisis as the budget. Sadly, the Board does not

hear these concerns nor do they recognize how students are being ill

served. 

The text of the resolution can be viewed at http://www.missioncollege.org/senate/default.html.

Jane Patton

Academic Senate President

Mission College