Deep River - Fall 2017

Rio Hondo College Academic Senate & Faculty Association Volume 3 • Fall 2017

DEEP RIVER
A Newsletter of the Rio Hondo College Academic Senate & Faculty Association

Embarrassed but Determined

By Michelle Bean, Associate Professor of English, WRC Coordinator, Academic Senate President

At the age of 21, I had two babies under the age of received equitable treatment and the opportunities to

two and a mountain of student loan debt.I had just succeed; I invested time in everything from Summer

graduated from Whittier College, and honestly, I Bridge to Advanced Placement and saw student

didn’t want to leave my babies with anyone to go to success at every level. Now, I am truly elated and

work full time, so I decided to go back to school so I extremely grateful for the opportunities I have here at

could defer my student loan payments a bit longer. Rio Hondo College to guide and motivate students to

I took a risk and timidly called what I thought was push through obstacles, master skills, glean from

the best English graduate program in Southern others, and become life-long learners who positively

California, inquiring of the application process. I contribute to our community.

vividly remember the brief conversation that I had Our students are diverse; their needs are diverse, and

with the department secretary. The voice with a their paths differ, but they are OUR students. And

supercilious tone on the other what brings me the most joy is

end of the phone said with that I know you, my dear

acerbity, “Oh, honey, you need to “…on that day, I vowed colleagues, share in that passion to
call up your undergraduate never to let anyone treat help our students succeed.
institution and get help from As your new Academic Senate
them. Do you not know that we students that way…” president, I am excited about

receive over 300 applications for working together with the Senate

20 spots?” My heart sank. My executive officers, your division

blood boiled. My embarrassment. My naiveté. Senators, our administrators, and the RHC Board of

But I stubbornly and proudly pushed on. I didn’t Trustees through the shared governance process. My

give up, even though I really wanted to. I eventually aim is to provide clear communication to you, the

found a program with faculty and staff who believed in faculty (after all, I am an English teacher—it’s sort of

me and kindly guided me through the process. I in my blood) and to hear your concerns and goals for

finished four years and one more baby later. our students and our campus. We

I share this story not to disparage or belittle that have much on the docket this year

initial program nor any program that has stringent as the college works to integrate

standards, but rather to share with you how on that plans and start pathways, but as

day, I vowed never to let anyone treat students that your Senate executive team, we

way, if I could help it. have vowed to keep student

My path eventually lead me to teaching for eleven support and success at the

years at the local high school, where I helped build forefront. Every Rio Hondo College student is

programs that supported students, no matter what valuable, and every student deserves to be supported.

their deficiencies or needs. It was a battle at times, but We are Rio Hondo! Let’s make it a brilliant
I knew it was vital to ensure that every student Roadrunner year.

Rio Hondo College • United to Educate 1

Rio Hondo College Academic Senate & Faculty Association Volume 3 • Fall 2017

Senate News Full-Time Faculty Seminar

Starfish Early Alert—a new RHC By Katie O’Brien
EOPS Counselor/Professor, Staff Development/FLEX Coordinator
Intervention Program designed to provide
faculty with notification tools to alert students Staff Development and RHCFA, since 2005, has teamed up to
of a grade, attendance, or behavioral concern create an orientation for new full-time faculty. Participation in the 8-
or a success. Opt-in pilot group starting in Fall hour program was voluntarily, as was its organization and facilitation.
2017. Email the Senate President if you are My usual partner in this effort, Adam Wetsman, and I, however, always
interested in joining the Early Alert Learning aspired to a broader and deeper model.
Community.
For this new program, we sought and received buy-in and support
Center of Inquiry Student Survey— from our V.P. of Academic Affairs and the Deans, which was especially
crucial to ensuring that teaching schedules did not conflict with the
RHC has been accepted as participant in a seminar dates and times totaling 16 hours over 5 months. We tapped
Teaching Quality Study conducted by Wabash into a wide array of expertise and resources from across campus,
University. The survey will be administered to including Student Services personnel, fellow faculty who presented on
our students in Fall 2017. topics such as curriculum development and effective teaching
practices, and RHCFA who sponsored an end-of-program social
Integrating Plans—the Senate Executive gathering.
Committee has participated in the summer
planning to integrate the Student Success and
Support Program (SSSP), Basic Skills, and
Student Equity plans.

Teachers Helping Our Spring 2017 pilot intentions were to assist new faculty in the
Students following:
2017 Awardees
• Understanding key processes and personnel relevant for faculty
The Teachers Helping Students effectiveness
scholarship is funded by the generosity of
our faculty. Each student was awarded a • Understanding Rio Hondo student demographics, performance
$200 bookstore voucher. measures, needs and support services/programs

We congratulate our 2017 awardees: • Understanding full-time faculty expectations, obligations, and
opportunities
Natalie Dovales-Flores • Melody Greer
Jason Hoang • Maral Kalayci • Exploring effective pedagogical practices to engage students and
Yarisma Rocha • Natasha Rubalcava promote their success
Rose Rivas • Dianne Saldana
Sofia Tortoledo • Tuan Vo • Becoming grounded in the culture and community of Rio
Hondo via a collegial cohort experience.
Please donate with a check payable to the RHC
Foundation, and mark it for this fund. We were pleased that 19 of the 22 new full-time faculty attended
most, if not all sessions last year, but most importantly, they found this
Teachers Helping Students not just an informative program, but one that forged bonds across
disciplines and divisions. As participants commented,
Fund Balance
“I feel much more prepared to handle my career here now at Rio
Fund as of 4/2017 $5,395.76 Hondo, and I cannot imagine how much more difficult it would be to
do without the New Faculty Success Seminar.”
Awarded 5/2017 (2,000.00)
“The seminar had a good balance of practical information on
Fund Balance 8/2107 $3,395.76 shared governance, employee benefits, available services for our
students, useful pedagogical tools and strategies to use in the
Rio Hondo College • United to Educate classroom. A really fun and effective way to get new faculty up to speed
on all things Rio!”

Our hope is to both expand the seminar and secure
institutionalized support for years to come.

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Rio Hondo College Academic Senate & Faculty Association Volume 3 • Fall 2017

Message from the Rehire Rights

Faculty Association By Adam Wetsman, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology, Coordinator Student Learning
President Outcomes, Coordinator Study Abroad

Welcome to our fall, 2017 ediCon of Rivers Deep! Thanks to the incredible lobbying efforts of the
We have decided to revive our faculty newsleKer California Teachers Association, part-time faculty at Rio Hondo
and the RHCFA.org website to provide you with the College are now going to be eligible for rehire rights,
latest news on campus. I’m excited to start my 12th guaranteeing assignment to at least one class per term.
year as a faculty member and to serve as the new
president of the faculty associaCon. I want to Senate Bill 1379 (sponsored by local senator Tony
extend a warm welcome to our newly hired faculty Mendoza) was signed by Jerry Brown in September of last year,
members and welcome back our veteran members which required districts to have rehire rights in place for part-
and remind you that the faculty associaCon is here time faculty or risk losing Student Success and Support Program
to support you. (SSSP) money. The RHCFA demanded to bargain the issue, but
was thwarted by the District in December, since they argued
• Go to RHCFA.org website for our current 2016-2019 rehire rights did not have to be discussed until July 2019, when
contract for all informaCon regarding your rights as our current contract is set to expire. Organizing efforts by the
faculty and for informaCon about your working RHCFA motivated the District to come back to the table, and a
condiCons like load, benefits, sick leave, and pay as general agreement was reached in March, with final ratification
well as other news and informaCon affecCng faculty. by both parties occurring in June.
• Add us as a friend on Facebook by finding the page
United to Educate, go to CTA.org for info about the While seemingly simple, rehire rights contract language is
many benefits they offer us, and check out our local often incredibly detailed. The Los Angeles Community College
cca4me.org for informaCon about our CCA conferences District, for example, has about eight pages in their contract
and the good work they are doing for faculty across outlining the specifics for their colleges. We chose to go in a
the state and legislaCon coming our way. slightly different direction, keeping things simple for now in the
• Remember that anyCme you want representaCon in hopes that the process will go smoothly, but at the same time
a meeCng with administraCon, do not hesitate to understanding that some refinements may have to be made in
contact the associaCon to have our grievance chair the future.
Sergio Guzmann, myself, or another member present
to help understand the situaCon. The rehire rights process will begin in the Fall 2018 term.
• Finally, your engagement has never been more Part-time faculty will accrue seniority upon completion of an
important as CTA predicts that associaCons like ours assignment (teaching in the classroom or engaging in student
may be in jeopardy again, as soon as June 2018! services) in 4 out of 6 semesters (fall and spring only), meaning
• Stay in the know by aKending the luncheon that this can occur in 2 years if someone teaches each term. This
meeCngs, reading the minutes of the meeCngs, and/or will entitle the faculty member to at least one assignment in
aKending our events that are always free for members. subsequent terms, although more than one is perfectly fine.
• Join us at the San Jose Marriot Hotel this fall, Administrators will evaluate part-time faculty at least once every
October 13-15, and winter and spring conferences at 3 terms. For the exact language in the agreement, visit the Rio
the LAX HyaK February 9-11th, and March 20-22nd Hondo College Faculty Association webpage at www.rhcfa.org .
respecCvely. Your aKendance is 100% reimbursed if
you sign in and out of the conference and aKend all For those faculty who have been teaching one or more
sessions. Significant others and family are welcome, classes term after term (or those counseling), the effects of the
your only cost is for their meals. rehire rights will not be all that visible because assignments have
been ongoing every semester. Nonetheless, rehire rights are an
Jill Pfeiffer acknowledgment of the professionalism of the work that part-
time faculty do for our students (while also offering a level of
Association Meetings & Events employment protection). The Rio Hondo College Faculty
Association and the California Teachers Association are proud
3rd Thursday of the month, of what has been achieved in this area, and we hope to continue
Boardroom of A Building - 12:45- 2 pm the process of improving working conditions for part-time
faculty in the years to come.
Free Lunch is served at every mee2ng
Sept 21* • Oct 19 • Nov 16 • Dec TBA (holiday

luncheon)
* Special post-mee2ng: STRS Re2rement Workshop,

Sept 21 at 2 PM

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Rio Hondo College Academic Senate & Faculty Association Volume 3 • Fall 2017

The NEA Representative Assembly

By Grant Tovmasian, Instructor of Speech and Debate, RHCFA NEA Conference Representative

It was humbling to be elected as a Rio Hondo Community For a delegate the notion of responsibility for addressing
College local delegate to the 2017 NEA Representative educational issues that will have far reaching consequences
Assembly held in Boston, MA. on public education is great. Over 159 new business items
were proposed, debated and voted on during the Assembly.
The National Education Association Representative The significance of educators from the entire US arguing on
Assembly is a yearly event which brings educators, support motions and policy was awe-inspiring. With over 7000
staff and administration from all fifty states together to deal members present on the floor of the Assembly, heated
with organizational, policy and goal directions for three- debate on issues ranged from charter school policy,
million-member strong organization. As such, from June 30 protecting LGBTQA rights of students, to developing and
till July 6, the six-day event is packed with variety of task- promoting the importance of shade structures in public
specific activities that allows NEA to conduct its business. school playgrounds. For Higher Ed, most new business items
Personally, as a first time delegate for 2017 NEA RA, aside focused on contingent (non-tenure track) faculty rights and
from day to day business of elections and constitutional benefits.
amendments, the most fascinating element was
Representative Assembly Sessions.

Welcome to Rio! FacultyAssociation Academic Senate
2017-18 Officers 2017-18 Officers
Welcome to our newest faculty members,
congratulaCons to others who have moved President - Jill Pfeiffer President - Michelle Bean
into new posiCons, and welcome to all new Past President/ Grievance Chair - First Vice-President - Dr. Juana Mora
administrators and classified staff too Sergio Guzman Second VP - Jorge Huinquez
numerous to menCon here—we are all Secretary -Dorali Pichardo-Diaz
United to Educate! VP - Rudy Rios
Secretary - Marie Eckstrom Parliamentarian - Shelly Spencer
MaRhew Schleicher—FT Theatre Instructor Treasurer - Jeannie Liu ASCCC Rep - Mike Dighera
Marina Markossian—FT English Instructor Past President -Robert Bethel
Steven Pokornowski—FT English Instructor At-Large-Rep - Jose Lara, Janet Cha RHCFA President - Jill Pfeiffer
Violeta Lewis—FT Nursing Instructor Part-Cme Rep - Martha Carreón
Dr. Octavia Hyacinth—FT Nursing Instructor NEA Rep - Julius Thomas
Razvan Stoian—FT Nursing Instructor
Dr. Chris\an Vaca—FT Physics Instructor RHCFA NEA Conference Rep -
Dr. Garima Garg—FT Chemistry Instructor Grant Tovmasian
Arely Castaneda—FT Counselor/ Lead NegoCator - Adam Wetsman
Coordinator NegoCaCons Team - Dorali Prichardo-
Marisela Saenz—FT Counselor/Coordinator
Julio Flores—FT General Counselor Diaz, Kathy Pudelko, Shelly Spencer,
Angela Sotelo—FT General Counselor Rudy Rios, Casey Jones
Diana Valladares—FT General Counselor PAC - Joaquin Duran, Casey Jones
Chris\ne Waugh—FT General Counselor
Katharine Lampert—FT DSPS Counselor Photos: Rio at the Races, Academic Senate Officers, and
Belen Torres-Gil 2017 Distinguished Faculty Award recipient.

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