The purpose of the Classified Senate is to provide a vehicle by which the classified staff is able to fully participate in the process for achieving the goals and mission of the college and promoting a successful learning environment for students. It shall be the function of the Classified Senate to participate in the governance of Butte Glenn Community College on a consultative level; to actively collect, evaluate and disseminate information for the classified staff; and to represent those interests in non-bargaining agent (CSEA) issues before and on governance or college committees. The Classified Senate shall also promote professional and personal development through participation for all classified staff. The body represents the classified staff on professional matters and in the general participatory governance process. The Classified Senate President interfaces with the Superintendent/President. The Senate President and one of the classified executive committee members serve on the College Council and the Planning and Budget Committee.
The Butte College Classified Senate represents all professional staff members of the Butte-Glenn Community College District in matters relating to participatory governance, and assumes the primary role in disseminating information and gathering input on behalf of the Classified Staff. The Senate works in conjunction with the California Community Colleges Classified Senate (4CS) to promote and clarify the roles, rights, responsibilities and opportunities for Community College Classified Staff to become involved in participatory governance and to contribute toward the Mission of the California Community Colleges as originally described in AB 1725. The Senate does not deal with any matters related to "collective bargaining" or hiring committees. To better explain the differences between the Districts relationship with the CSEA staff union and the Classified Senate, please refer to the Delineation of Duties as agreed to by the CSEA, the District, and the Classified Senate.
The Classified Senate utilized funds from our general operating budget as we were not awarded any additional augmentation last year to purchase a Laptop Computer as requested in our unit plan for 16/17. Additional funds were provided by Student Equity for travel and conference which allowed us to use our district budget to make this purchase.
The laptop computer is essential for our Secretary to take minutes at our bi-weekly Senate meeting and set the agenda at our bi-weekly executive board meetings. It can also be used by other members of the Senate for storing and sharing information. The President or other officers may also use the laptop while attending state-wide Board meetings and conferences. The benefit is that we now have a computer that can be shared among various users while belonging permanently to the Senate for maintaining archives and records as we have frequent change-over so that we do not lose information as personnel change.
Dues and Membership annual fee to belong to the 4CS (California Community Colleges Classified Senate) was also paid for out of our operating budget.
Membership to the 4CS allows us to have voting responsibilities and rights as part of the Statewide Senate.
We requested $6,706 for Travel and Conference funds for our two 4CS representatives and delegates to attend the annual board meetings and special trainings throughout the year. We were not granted this amount, however we used $1,200 of our district operating budget for travel and conference. The remaining cost was covered through assistance throught the 4CS Non-profit organization and our Student Equity department as part of the training was included in the Classified Leadership Institute.
Not Applicable
The main goal of the Classified Senate which requires financial support from the district is to fund Classified Professionals to attend the Classified Leadership Institute, a professional development conference sponsored by the 4CS (Calfiornia Community Colleges Classified Senate) which provides information about changes from the Chancellor's Office, Leadership skill building, Equity Training, workshops on best practices for serving students and representing your college, as well as a variety of other valuable information. Our current allocation which has rolled over for many years and does not account for changes in inflation, simply does not support us to meet our goal. We would like to fund a team of 8-15 people from Butte College. I would also like to point out that many California Community Colleges have operating budgets for their Classified Senates of $30,000 - $50,000. We do not fit under the same structure as the other departments submitting unit plans as we are a unique entity. We ask that you will take this into consideration when reviewing our augmentation requests. There really aren't any other funding sources available to us. Professional Development Funds are tied up in the Innovations grant which also excludes us from being eligible because it focuses on instruction and student outcomes. Student Equity funding did support us last year to attend the 2016 CLI however their funds are now locked in and the way that the roll-over budget is structured means they are not trying to spend funds quickly as they were in the past. So this is the only avenue that we have to request a review of our current budget and ask for the funds needed for us to support the Classified staff at our college.
Strategy 1 - Promoting Professional Development for Classified
The Classified Senate will help the college to achieve its initiatives by promoting leadership and participation in governance by Classified Professionals, as well as encouraging professional development opportunities so that we may better serve our students.
Classified Professionals work in every facet of the college from facilities, business services, student services, department support, instructional support, human resources, auxilliary services, etc. We are often the front line personnel that interact with students on a daily basis. We offer support to our students and to the college to achieve all of our strategic direction goals. Offering additional training and opportunities for professional development improve employee morale, competency, and in turn helps us to better serve our students and support our departments.
Strategy 2 - Representation for Shared Governance
Members of the Classified Senate serve on many campus committees in support of participatory governance. We also have representatives for Butte College at the state-wide level for the 4CS California Community Colleges Classified Senate.
The Classified Senate's current revenue stream is provided by the district. The only other external resources available are those of our own fundraising efforts for projects that require funding not provided by the district. Funds raised are deposited into the Classified Senate’s Foundation Account and are separate from the district funds.
Last year we were granted funds from the Student Equity Department to send 13 members to the annual Classified Leadership Institute largely because the keynote speaker was presenting on the topic of Student Equity and funds were available at that time. We understand that the department cannot continue to support our attendance at the conference as funds are now tied up with other professional development activities and was considered a one-time award.
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Classified Senate | Operating Expenses | 11.000.200.1.679004 | 55300 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| 4CS Annual Membership Dues | The Butte College Classified Senate holds “Senate Level” Membership with the 4CS (California Community Colleges Classified Senate). The yearly membership fee is $100. This amount was cut from our allocation last year and we hereby request that it is reinstated as an ongoing augmentation. |
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| 2 | Classified Senate | Operating Expenses | 11.000.200.1.679004 | 55200 | $15,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Travel to the CLI Annual Conference | Each year Classified Professionals from across the state travel to the CLI (Classified Leadership Institute) Conference. The current total allocation for travel is $3,500 annually. The 3,500 barely covers the cost of our 4CS Regional Representative and Classified Senate President to attend the quarterly board meetings and special trainings as required. The Classified Leadership Institute is our biggest opportunity for professional growth and development; to stay informed about policy changes, best practices, and initiatives at the State level. It is also an opportunity to network with Classified Professionals from other community colleges and to bring information back to our campus to share with others. This event has a huge impact on those who attend and they often come back inspired and motivated. The cost is approximately $1,600 per person to attend which includes registration, transportation, and hotel accommodations. If granted this augmentation, we could send 8 people. If funds are limited, please consider giving us whatever amount is available for this augmentation so we can send some people to CLI. Description of the program from the 4CS CLI Webpage: “The annual Classified Leadership Institute (CLI) focuses on effective classified participation in participatory (shared) governance processes, both state-wide and at the local district and college levels. Participants attending the CLI conference will explore numerous events that encourage personal development, leadership, and strong communication skills, leading toward increased confidence, enhanced professional skills, and broad-based knowledge of our California Community Colleges. Activities include both interactive and informational sessions with ample time for networking and workshops where newly acquired skills can be utilized in a supportive environment. CLI is designed to meet the educational needs of today's California Community College Classified Staff.” |
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| 3 | Classified Senate | Operating Expenses | 11.000.200.1.679004 | 55200 | $2,270.00 | $0.00 |
| Travel for 4CS Representatives to Annual Special Events/Conferences/Trainings | The California Community Colleges Classified Senate (4CS) currently has representatives from Butte College on the state-wide board serving a two-year term. The amount we are seeking in the one-time augmentation request is for the Travel, Registration, Meals, and Lodging for the North Quarterly Board Meeting held in September at $500; Travel and registration to the CCLC (California College League of California) Annual Convention in November , which costs $1,200 per person; $570 for the Quarterly Board Meeting for Classified Senates in March. |
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