Standing Committees
Purpose: Review and recommend actions related to issues of academic freedom that affect the District
Statement: A flourishing scholarly community requires academic freedom. In order for students and faculty to pursue shared inquiry and learning, there must be a free environment in which it is possible to discuss controversial issues, employ a variety of different pedagogical techniques, and explore a diversity of points of view. In such an environment, critical thinking skills are honed and enhanced, and students enter into an apprenticeship with faculty, actively contributing to the production and expansion of knowledge and learning rather than passively receiving information. For such a community to prosper it is necessary that students and faculty alike be able to explore ideas freely, frankly, and critically without fear of reprisal. The fruits of such an atmosphere encourage civil exchange of ideas and promote the goals of a free society.
Co-chairs: Ryan Farrar, Diana Gingo
Members: Linda Sears, J Marshall Pittman, Lauryn Angel, Alexis Wilson, Dulce de Castro, Thomas Pickens, Judi Wohead, Monica Nicholson, Jennifer Bridges, Gina Perkins
View Academic Freedom Position Paper
Committee Report
Monday, Jan. 08, 2024
Purpose: Promote greater involvement and recognition of part-time faculty within the college community, facilitate their representation within the Faculty Council, and ensure adjunct faculty members receive valuable and up-to-date information in a timely manner.
Co-Chairs: Katherine McKee, Alyna Nathoo
Members: Divya Swaminathan, Khari Clark, Chris Redgraves, Tammy Cain, Joe Jaynes, Judith Ifarinde Lay, Bonnie Ford, Taylor Ehrhart
Committee Report
Purpose: Review and recommend changes in College Policy
- Review College policies during the 30-day comment period and offer feedback to the administration; and,
- Suggest policy changes where warranted.
Co-chairs: Jillian DeShazo, Jason Morgan
Members: Zack Shipley, Michelle Denny, Jill Mccord, Kerry Loinette, Naomi Myers, Kimberly
Harris, Fredie Williams, Kate Johnson
Shannon Kearns, Barbara Stern, Kyle Kundomal, Jenny Warren
Committee Report
Purpose: Promote goodwill among the faculty at Collin College by celebrating their contributions to the college and demonstrating our concern for them during difficult times, i.e.,
- Maintain the Sunshine Fund
- Host a recognition ceremony of faculty retirees at Faculty Council meetings
- Send flowers or plants to faculty in times of illness or bereavement
Co-Chairs: Seema Endley, Vijaya Velamakanni
Members: Andrew Nowakowski, Syed Raza, Robert Benavides, Eugenia (Jenny) Sideris
Joe Jaynes, Roberta Cravo, Charlene Houston, Smriti Anand, Therese Ogle
Purpose: Review and recommend actions related to dual credit instruction that affect the District. The Faculty Council Dual Credit Task Force is dedicated to advancing the academic excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement of dual credit programs within the District. Our mission is to cultivate an environment where faculty members actively contribute to the development, enhancement, and successful implementation of dual credit initiatives, ensuring a seamless and enriching educational experience for high school students transitioning to college.
Co-Chairs: Laura Clark, Chris DuBois
Members: Monica Cubberly, Jack Andersen, Barbara Smith, Therese Ogle, Theresa Mackie, Serena Richards, Erica Thompson, Jonathan Foresee, Catherine Duke, Robert Whitaker, Caylin Blockley, Leanne Lentschke, Toni McMillen, Stephen Whitley, Nancy Davis
Committee Report
Purpose: Design and manage the monthly Faculty Council newsletters, thus providing and dispersing a valuable repository of information to all faculty members.
Co-chairs: Casey Carter, Matthew Hamilton
Members: Kristie Lussier, Stefanie LeMaire, William Brannon, Alexis Wilson, Katie Johnson
Purpose: Revise Procedures Manual and conduct elections for the Faculty Council.
- Annually review and revise Procedures Manual; and,
- Assist Election Judge in election process as needed.
Co-chairs: Irene Bowen, Tiffany Cartwright
Members: Ed Bock, Laura Hicks, Krystal Humphreys, Dan Lipscomb, Dan Betti
Committee Report
Purpose: Support the mission of the Faculty Council by:
- Serving as a steward of the professional, economic, and social welfare of the faculty
- Staying informed on issues confronting faculty duties, responsibilities, and compensation
- Seeking regular opportunities to include our voices in discussions regarding faculty duties, responsibilities, and compensation
- Identifying and bringing forward issues impacting faculty duties, responsibilities, and compensation
- Gathering constructive feedback from the faculty stakeholders regarding their professional, economic, and social welfare
- Sharing information with faculty stakeholders
Co-Chairs: Patrick Larue, Kevin Suber
Members: Elizabeth Johnson, Kirk Ritzman, Steve Stallings, Monica Cubberly, Roberta Cravo, Jenny Warren
Committee Report
Purpose: Foster a culture of excellence in education by continuously advancing and innovating teaching and learning practices. We are committed to creating an inclusive, dynamic, and supportive learning environment that empowers both educators and students to thrive. Through collaboration, research, and professional development, we aim to enhance the quality of education, promote student success, and ensure that our institution remains at the forefront of pedagogical innovation. We are dedicated to the pursuit of lifelong learning, embracing diversity, and serving as a catalyst for educational transformation.
Co-chairs: Kimberly Gentry, John Hoenig
Members: Elizabeth Pannell, Jennifer O'Loughlin, Alexandra Peters, Danielle Bramall, Christian Madu, Sonia Petch, Autumn Giunta, Alaya Swann, Jennifer Davis, Jaclyn Cobb-Susa, Jason Carney, Dianne Stroman, Mike Panahi
Committee Report
Purpose: Provide technology trend awareness, offer advice, and make recommendations on the selection, use, and implementation of new software. The committee focuses on providing technological resources that impact the teaching and learning process through district-wide collaborative decision-making between faculty, staff, and administration.
- Provide a collaborative environment between faculty, staff and administration to address college technology selection, use, and implementation that affects faculty duties
- Work with administration and faculty to establish and share procedures for decision-making regarding technology
- Research past procedures for collecting faculty feedback to make decisions about technology adoption and use
- Advise and offer recommendations to faculty about technology used for teaching and learning
- Enhance faculty awareness of technology used to accomplish college goals and meet accountability measures
Co-chairs: Mervat Karout, Sunita Rangarajan
Members: Sudha Madhugiri, George Neal, Josh Arduengo, Erin Clark, Alana Parsons, Raji Kannampuzha, Aparna Godbole, Tonya McMillion, Mary Weis, Robert Whitaker
Committee Process:
- Technology Committee
- Faculty Council
- Instructional Technology Committee to review items for approval
Request → If you have items you would like this committee to review, please email the chair.
Committee Report
Purpose: Actively contribute to the overall well-being and effectiveness of the workforce faculty by implementing strategic initiatives that align with our vision of excellence, innovation, and community.
Co-chairs: Tonya McMillion, Karina Taylor
Members: Leslie Teel, Julie Taylor, Ann Cervantez, George Malone, William Kukla, Tammy Bennett, Gage Waggoner, Nadia Bilal
Committee Report
Task Forces
Purpose: Review the proposal to make the use of the Canvas gradebook mandatory for all faculty. This taskforce is charged with gathering information about the current use of the Canvas gradebook by faculty, feedback from faculty about the current proposal, and assessing the feasibility of mandatory use of the gradebook by faculty across all disciplines. Using this feedback, the taskforce will propose modifications to this proposal that are more closely aligned with faculty imperatives.
Co-chairs: Marlo Ballard, Robert Brown
Members: Charles Baclawski, Nadia Bilal, Kimberly Harris, David McCulloch, Claire Robertson, Sam Tullock
Committee Report
Purpose: TBD
Chair: Robert Whitaker
Members: Patrick Greenough, Evans Jarnefeldt, Elizabeth Johnson, Andrea Martinez
Committee Report
Purpose: Find a validated survey instrument that gives better information, reduces biases, and focuses on what students are capable of reporting.
Co-chairs: Amina El-Ashmawy, Mary Weis
Members: Rebecca Burton, Nancy Davis, Catherine Duke, Patrick Larue, Karrie Newby, Mike Panahi, Chris Redgraves, Jenny Sideris
(Administrative Liaisons: Andrea Szlachtowski, Melanie Yates)
Committee Report