Forums on the ACCJC’s sanctioning of CCSF held at CSM and at City College

Many concerns raised about ACCJC’s accreditation procedures and the impact of a potential closure

As City College of San Francisco (CCSF) continues working to avert closure in the wake of sanctions by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and numerous subsequent legal actions against the ACCJC by the CFT, the San Francisco City Attorney, the U.S. Department of Education and others, a public forum on the CCSF accreditation situation was held at CSM on Monday, October 28. The forum was designed to help the faculty, students, and staff in the San Mateo District understand why the ACCJC is threatening to close City College, one of the largest community colleges in the country, in July 2014, and to solicit support for CCSF from our college communities.

    The speakers at the forum included Jaime Borrazas, an ESL instructor at CCSF for 32 years; Ariel Hiller, a City College student who started at CCSF as an ESL student and has continued as a Labor and Community Studies major while working for the past several years; and Rafael Mandelman, a member of the CCSF Board of Trustees. SMCCCD Chancellor Ron Galatolo introduced the panel of speakers and also made extended comments of his own throughout the forum. A six-minute video of excerpts from the forum can be viewed here.

    About a week after the CSM forum–on November 7–Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, joined hundreds of faculty, students and politicians who packed an auditorium on the main CCSF campus to challenge ACCJC’s accreditation procedures and call for keeping City College open. Chancellor Galatolo was also on the stage and again made remarks expressing his deep concern regarding the actions of the ACCJC. Thus far, he is the only community college CEO in the state who has been willing to publically speak out against the ACCJC’s intention of closing down CCSF.  A video of the entire forum (2 hours +) can be viewed here and a 20-minute condensed version of the forum is viewable here.

Performance Evaluation Task Force: Next steps

When the work of the Performance Evaluation Task Force is complete, AFT will be holding a faculty ratification vote on the new evaluation documents and procedures. The vote will take place during the Spring 2014 semester.

    If the new documents and procedures are not completed before the end of this semester, then a subcommittee of AFT 1493 and the District Academic Senate will take up the work. It is ultimately the responsibility of AFT 1493 to ensure that faculty have a “fair and rigorous” evaluation tool.

    Once AFT and the District Academic Senate have reviewed the final drafts of all of the documents that the Task Force has created, AFT will prepare for the faculty vote by following procedures similar to those used for contract negotiations: Information and a rationale will be provided to faculty about the revisions to documents and procedures, and faculty input will be requested before holding the ratification vote. 

Holober and Mohr win Board seats

On November 5, the two College District Board of Trustees candidates endorsed by AFT 1493–Richard Holober and Tom Mohr–were elected to the Board for the next four years.

    Holober is now beginning his 5th term in office while Mohr, former Cañada College President, was elected to the Board for the first time.

    AFT Local 1493 congratulates both Holober and Mohr on their election to the Board of Trustees.

    The new Board will now consist of Holober, Mohr, Pat Miljanich, Karen Schwarz, and Dave Mandelkern.

Letter to the Editor: “A lovely time” at anniversary party

Dear AFT 1493 Advocate,

Just wanted to say I had a really lovely time at the AFT 50th birthday party.  I could only stay till about 5:30, but while I was there, I found myself gently engulfed by a big-hearted feeling.  There was no robust fire burning in some hearth–but it felt like there was.  A classy jazz combo (CSM’s, thanks to Mike Galisatus, who was present) played pitch-perfect behind all the animated chatter.  Scrumptious edible delicacies, smooth wine, welcoming oversized plush cushions: it was refreshingly elegant, yet warm and earthy.  I didn’t know too many people, but found it no coincidence that I found myself huddled with colleagues especially dear to me:  Amy Sobel, Teeka James and Anne Stafford.  We were hired around the same time (long ago, but not too long!), and used to make little precious coffee outings together.  This felt like a too-fleeting reunion.  Then, Nina Floro and Kathleen Feinblum ended up joining us, and it was a treat to meet them.  A short while later, our fantastic Dean, Sandra Comerford, arrived, spiking our mix in the way only she can.  I remember looking over and seeing CSM President Mike Claire at one end of the room, Chancellor Ron Galatolo at another end, both heatedly enjoying themselves in conversation.  Somehow it was all very “union,” in the best and truest sense of what the union–any union–should be about.  As ours is.  I came away realizing that I made sure to attend this party, not only to say happy birthday, but to say thank you to our union, for all you (we) do.

David Laderman, Academic Senate President, Professor of Film, College of San Mateo

Union college scholarships available to children of AFT 1493 members

The CFT offers scholarships to high school seniors and college students who are children or dependents of CFT members in good standing. Students enrolled in four-year courses of study are eligible for $3000 scholarships; those enrolled in two-year courses of study are eligible for $1000.

    Award selection is based on academic achievement, special talents and skills, participation in extracurricular activities, community service, financial need, and a 500-word essay on a social issue of the applicant’s choice. Scholarships are awarded for any one year of higher education. Students who received scholarships as high school seniors are not eligible for another scholarship during college.

    The program began in 1997 when delegates to the CFT Convention voted to establish scholarships that could help children and dependents of members achieve their higher education goals. The program was named after inspirational CFT leader Raoul Teilhet. Teilhet served the organization as president from 1968 to 1985. Eligibility is available to high school seniors and continuing college students and includes dependents of deceased CFT members.

Raoul Teilhet Scholarships

Links to applications:

• For High School Seniors

Deadline to submit applications: January 10

• For Continuing College Students

Deadline to submit applications: July 1

For more information or to get a hard copy of an application mailed to you, contact the AFT 1493 office at x 6491.

    More scholarships and professional grants are available to members and their dependents through the AFT and the AFL-CIO.  See the Porter and Union Plus Scholarhip programs described in the right column.

Robert G. Porter Scholarship Program

    The AFT awards four $8000 scholarships to high school seniors who are dependents of AFT members, as well as 20 continuing education grants of $1000 to AFT members. Application deadline: March 31. To learn more, email porterscholars@aft.org, phone (800) 238-1133 extension 4457, or go to the Porter Scholars web page.

Union Plus Scholarship Program

    The AFL-CIO offers scholarships ranging from $500 to $4000 to union members, their spouses, and their dependents who are enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education. Scholarships are also available to graduate students. Application deadline: January 31. Learn more from the Union Plus Scholarship web page.