On September 22, the third Academic Senate meeting of the semester was held. As the pandemic continues to affect our learning, some topics regarding online course learning was discussed. Another important task discussed was the adjustments for the future installment of California Assembly Bill 1460, which would require all California State University students to take 3 units of an Ethnic Studies course for graduation.
Zoom Etiquette and Consent Rules
Academic Technology and Learning Committee Chair Dr. Tom Carter started the discussion by talking about his committee’s efforts to address the laws on recording during classes via Zoom and Zoom etiquette being violated by professors across the country.
“I will remind people that it is easy these days for students to record any zoom session that you have even without using the zoom record button,” he points out. They can just put their phone in video mode and just hold their phone in front of the screen and be recording it.”
California Faculty Association chair Dr. David Colnic brought up the question of academic freedom while Sociology professor Paul Morgan brought up the possibility of a breach in the law already put in place regarding students recording lectures.
Currently in the state law of California, students can record record a class’s audio or do so visually, but that’s only if they first receive consent from professors and principals.
With instruction being primarily online, it is harder to tell whether or not students are recording class meetings on their phones without first receiving the consent of their professors.
Ethnic Studies Requirement
Another topic discussed at the Academic Senate meeting was the passing of CA AB 1460 and how they will attempt to go about implementing it when it goes into effect in the 2024-2025 school year. Dr. Mary Roaf, instructor for the Ethnic Studies department, as well Dr. Xamuel Banales, director of Ethnic Studies at Stanislaus State, joined the conversation with their responses to the implementations of the ethnic studies requirement.
“We [the Ethnic Studies program, Stanislaus State, and the CSU wide Ethnic Studies Council] disagree with the way that the process is unfolding. It’s unfolding in a way that it seems like it’s too rushed…” Roaf said.
“There’s a lack of clarity and understanding [concerning] the collaboration… [and it] starts at the level of the ASCSU (Academic Senate of the CSU’s) and the CSU Ethnic Studies Council,” Roaf explained. “[I’m] really looking to delineate more clarity about how [it] then filters down to the campus level.”
California State University Meetings
Statewide Academic Senator Dr. Steven Filling was able to update all who were in attendance with issues that discussed at the last CSU Statewide Academic Senate meeting. Colnic explained that some resolutions were passed, including one that requests for the state to fund the implementations of the ethnic studies requirement.
CSU Senators also urged for another stimulus check to be requested to the United States Senate, but, as we have not seen a second nationwide stimulus to be passed, the future of that resolution is bleak. A resolution in support of Proposition 16 was additionally passed as it will help reinstate affirmative action statewide.
Colnic shared CFA’s encouragement of engagement in the general and primary elections. “Elections matter. Elections have consequences.” Colnic explained that the CFA is doing what they can to help with the election, such as encouraging people to register to vote.
The next Academic Senate meeting is Tuesday, October 6th at 2p.m. Pacific Time.
