Senate Executive Committee

Under the direction of the Academic Senate President and the Committee of the Whole, the committee addresses issues relevant to the professional and academic responsibilities of the adjunct faculty.

The committee’s work is in response to the ongoing development of AI and its impact on the working and learning environment. 

The Ad-Hoc AI committee will make recommendations to the Senate for approval through established shared governance processes according to Senate bylaws by the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year or the conclusion of its business and be dissolved at that time. 

The committee acts as a liaison between Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and various constituencies in the College Community and in business and industry. Membership strives to reflect campus diversity in Career Technical Education programs and support services.

As detailed in the Academic Senate Constitution and By-Laws and in Board Policy and in compliance with Title 5 (Section 51022a) and the Education Code Section 78016, include the following:

• To review and recommend to the Academic Senate action on existing and proposed curricula, courses, prerequisites, corequisites, advisories and programs;

• To encourage and recommend development of new curricula and courses;

• To assist faculty in preparing curricular proposals to meet Title 5 and matriculation mandates and district goals and objectives as stated in the college's mission;

• To disseminate curricular information and recommendations to the department chairs and the Academic Senate;

• To implement appropriate state-mandated regulations or policies that affect curriculum;

• To recommend to the Academic Senate additions, deletions, and modifications in general education patterns for the Associate in Arts (AA) degree, the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), and Occupational Certificate Requirements;

• To recommend to the Academic Senate proposals to implement curriculum transformation;

• To ensure that the Santa Monica College Catalog contains only those courses offered on a regular basis;

• To request, consider, and respond to reports from various Academic Senate committees and college groups that have a direct bearing on matters of curriculum;

• To help assure that the curriculum at Santa Monica College supports the college's mission, supports its goals, and meets the needs of its students; and

• To perform other duties assigned by the Academic Senate president with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The committee serves the Senate’s and the College’s commitment to continual reflection by giving deep consideration to  the structures, policies, and culture of the institution. By working toward a decolonized academy, the committee will review and respond to campus-wide matters and give recommendations that aim to alleviate the cycle of colonization.

The membership of the Department Chairs Committee is comprised of all department chairs. Others may be invited as non-voting interested parties.

Under the direction of the Academic Senate President and the Committee of the Whole, the committee conducts elections in accordance with the bylaws and academic regulations and recommends changes as needed in the Academic Senate constitution and bylaws. The committee shall not endorse or campaign for candidates and ensures that Senate resources are not used for such purposes.

The Committee serves as the Senate's and the College's resource and recommending body on academic and professional matters related to the environment, ecological literacy and greening the curriculum.

The Equity and Diversity Committee explores academic and professional matters concerning faculty equity and diversity practices and policies at the college. It works with appropriate campus groups to develop, recommend, and assess policies, programs, and strategies that promote equity and diversity in student success and to update the college’s equity plan.

The Committee consists of a chair who is elected treasurer of the Academic Senate, the immediate past treasurer, and members appointed by the Senate President. The Committee handles internal Senate finances.

To promote and guide the development of global citizenship at SMC. Actively seeks guidance and assistance from SMC students and staff in developing and promoting programs and activities that foster global citizenship

The Committee examines policies, provides vision, and develops plans for academic information technology and digital education, and considers other technology matters that fulfill the goals of the college as deemed appropriate by the Senate.

Institutional effectiveness is the extent to which the college meets its mission and goals. The Institutional Effectiveness (IE) Committee is responsible for:

• reviewing data metrics and other information assessing institutional effectiveness,
• making recommendations to DPAC to identify college priorities and institutional planning based on analyses of the college’s performance on the IE metrics against target goals and institution-set standards; and,
• providing input on the data to be included in the program review process.

All committee work is done with the purpose of improving institutional quality, student equity, and success.

The committee works on behalf of the SMC Academic Senate to monitor and effect changes in public policy on academic and professional matters.

The New Faculty Committee will help facilitate the successful transition of new faculty hires (both full and part-time). The committee will be responsible for designing and organizing a faculty learning community that engages new faculty in an active, collaborative, yearlong program consisting of professional development, mentoring, community-building activities, and academic support. Program elements will be designed to foster a culture of teaching excellence and service that embraces inclusion, equity, diversity, justice, and the implementation of evidence-based practices. To effectively support and engage new faculty, the committee will work closely with various departments and programs on campus, including academic departments, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and other academic senate committees (e.g., Professional Development Committee, Adjunct Committee, and Equity and Diversity Committee.)

Under the direction of the Academic Senate President and the Committee of the Whole, the committee serves as the Senate’s primary resource and primary recommending body on academic and professional matters regarding distance and online education. It explores, addresses, and disseminates information on evolving issues, including, but not limited to, development of, delivery of, and support for online education.

Under the direction of the Academic Senate President and the Committee of the Whole, the committee serves as the Senate’s primary resource on academic and professional matters, including policy, regarding Open Education Resources and Zero Textbook Cost resources and professional development. It provides the support needed by faculty to explore and adapt/adopt OER/ZTC course materials while preserving academic freedom and adhering to the state laws.

The committee examines all Board Policies and Administrative Regulations regarding personnel.

• Reviews District Policies and Administrative Regulations on academic personnel matters.
• Drafts new policies and regulations as directed by the Senate.
• Recommends new policies and regulations to the Senate for adoption by the Board of Trustees.
• Informs the Faculty Association when contract-related policies are under discussion.

Develops, coordinates, supports, and monitors the institutional and individual non-sabbatical professional development activities of faculty. To further collegiality and make good use of resources, this committee coordinates with both classified and administrative professional development committees.

The Committee publicizes and supports the Statement on Professional Ethics, developing policies that encourage adherence to the Statement. The Committee shall include faculty members broadly representing the diversity of the campus community.

Per Title 5 §53200 and §53203, the Academic Senate Joint Program Review Committee shall be established by the mutual agreement of the Academic Senate and college and/or district administration. 

• To prepare an annual report to the College District Planning Advisory Council (DPAC) based on overarching trends and needs across programs as observed during the review process.
• To evaluate, modify, and update the process for Program Review.
• To  review all existing instructional, student and instructional support services, and administrative services programs on both an annual and six-year cycle to document and ensure that all programs are engaged in ongoing self-evaluation and assessment to maintain and enhance their quality, vitality, and responsiveness to student, faculty, program and institutional needs and concerns.
• To recognize strengths and achievements of programs. 
• To verify the development and assessment of course - and/or programappropriate outcomes and assessment plans, and ensure assessments are utilized to inform program improvement. 
• To provide program-specific recommendations to support program goals and planning based on information presented to the committee during the review process. 
• To prepare and disseminate Executive Summaries for each program reviewed that includes commendations, recommendations (both program-specific and/or institutional) and a general summary of the submitted Program Review report. 
• To identify overarching trends and needs across programs that inform the annual update of SMC's Master Plan for Education.

The Committee recommends to the Board of Trustees the awarding of leave time and financial stipends to support individual faculty as they pursue worthwhile professional development.

The Social Committee of the Academic Senate works to build community and a sense of belonging amongst all SMC faculty members

The Committee evaluates and updates all administrative regulations concerning student affairs, including but not limited to admissions and registration, student progress and graduation, student conduct, student activities, counseling, and financial aid.

The Student Instructional Support Committee makes recommendations to the Academic Senate regarding strategic planning for, and institutionalization of, Supplemental Instruction, tutoring, and other student instructional support services. The committee aims to improve tutoring across campus and address equity gaps in the success of historically marginalized students, particularly Black and Latinx populations.