Office of the President

March 30, 2005

The Maricopa County Community Colleges’ Faculty Executive Council, made up of 1265 full-time faculty members, supports the concept of HB 2079, which would provide the opportunity for community colleges to offer selected baccalaureate degrees. The faculty is supportive of increased access and affordability for the students in the communities we serve.

With that support, we have concerns relative to costs, quality and appropriate implementation. To these concerns, we recommend the following:

1. It is our hope that as HB2079 moves forward that a more comprehensive analysis will be done on the true costs of the proposal and that the appropriate funding be applied to the bill.
2. Further, we respectfully request that faculty representatives be included in the public policy deliberations going forward. Faculty, after all, are the educated and experienced professionals who will actually carry out the day-to-day aspects of this proposed public policy in the community college classrooms.
3. The faculty expects to be involved in the planning and design of these programs.  In addition, faculty-driven curriculum development must remain to insure the continuing quality and integrity of teaching and learning in Maricopa.

The Maricopa Faculty Association looks forward to working collaboratively with the Legislature to move this progressive agenda.

Sincerely,

Sandra Stuebner

2004-2005 President

Maricopa Community Colleges Faculty Association