Speaking of the Senate

Speaking of the Senate
by Sid Kolpas, Academic Senate President

Focus on Adjunct Faculty

Last academic year, our adjunct faculty numbered 605, while our full-time faculty numbered 249; adjunct faculty accounted for almost 71 percent of our instructors. For many years, the GCC Academic Senate has sponsored a Distinguished Faculty Award (DFA), honoring an exemplary full-time faculty member. However, adjunct faculty continues to do so much for our college, yet until last year was never recognized for exemplary teaching. That is why your Academic Senate created the Exceptional Adjunct Faculty Award (EAFA), inaugurated during the 2004-2005 academic year. The criteria for the award are as follows:

According to Senate regulations,
“the award shall be given primarily
for distinguished contributions to
Glendale Community College (GCC)
in the recipient’s discipline, but other
professional responsibilities and
accomplishments may also be
considered.” The award can be
given to any adjunct faculty member
who has been at GCC for ten
semesters, which need not be
consecutive. The nominee may be
from either instruction or college
services.

Nominations for the award are coordinated by division chairs. Nomination forms will be distributed to division chairs at the beginning of the spring 2007 semester. Last academic year, your Senate was proud to select the first EAFA recipient, Claire Thoke, who has taught for almost 30 years at our Garfield Campus. Claire was honored at a surprise visit to Garfield last June, where she was presented with a plaque, and a cap and gown to wear at graduation. At the June graduation, Claire was called to the podium to receive a plaque from the GCC Foundation and a $1000 honorarium. At Institute Day, Ms Thoke was asked to say a few words to those assembled.

Claire Thoke has taught for the Continuing Education Business Program since 1977, having taught Business Math, Accounting, and Keyboarding. During that time she has been instrumental in the evolution of the program from typing to keyboarding, and from bookkeeping by hand to computerized accounting.

Clearly, Claire is a leader. With no full-time instructor in the office skills area, Claire acts as the department chair. She helps create the class schedule. She also places special program students in classes and monitors their progress. Moreover, she heads the re-design of the curriculum. All of these extra-curricular activities are done on her own time.

Claire is an exemplary instructor—caring, patient, practical, and inspirational. She takes a sincere interest in her students and their well-being. She treats them with deep respect, and they in turn learn invaluable workplace skills. Students leave her class equipped with the most up-to-date information in accounting and accounting software programs.

I would like to share some quotes about Claire from her students:	Some quotes about Claire from her colleagues include:
“She is my favorite teacher.” “She treats everyone with respect.” “She has the patience of a saint.” “She is an expert in her field.”	“She is the engine that drives us.” “She is the teacher most loved by students.” “She makes her teaching relevant to her students’ needs.”

Claire, on behalf of the Academic Senate, I congratulate you on being selected as our 2005-2006 Exceptional Adjunct Faculty of the year.

Please think about the adjuncts in your division that meet the aforementioned criteria. This academic year’s award nominations will be due April 2, 2007. Send nominations to your division chair for this year’s award. &

CHAPARRAL