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Academic Senate and Council


The Academic Senate of Taft College consists of all full-time faculty of the Taft Community College District.  The primary function of the Academic Senate is to make recommendations to the Board of Trustees and to the Superintendent/President of Taft College with respect to academic and professional matters as defined by Title 5 and Board Policy 2510 (10+1).

Academic Senate representatives serve on committees and work groups throughout the college to:

  • participate in the development and implementation of all college-wide policies and procedures of interest and concern to the faculty;
  • strengthen the role that faculty plays in the governance processes;
  • participate in developing objectives, plans, and budgets of the District.

Academic Senate subcommittees exist to provide forums for faculty to discuss, debate, and formalize faculty opinions and resolutions both on academic and professional matters (10+1) and on other issues of concern.

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Senate Subcommittees

The Academic Senate has established subcommittees, composed of Taft College faculty. Some subcommittees include members representing administrators, staff, and students. Our subcommittees are responsible for upholding and performing the academic and professional duties and responsibilities of the Senate. Finally, our Ad Hoc committees are temporary committees formed to address specific issues or tasks that do not fall under the purview of another subcommittee.

Subcommittees of the Academic Senate are: Academic Development (ADC); Academic Policies & Procedures (AP&P); Academic Senate Council (ASC); Career & Technical Education (CTE); Curriculum & General Education (Curr&GE); Distance Learning & Education (DLE);  Dual Enrollment (no abbreviation); Academic Senate Faculty Professional Development Committee (FPD); and Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Steering ((SLOASC).

Go to the committee webpages (button below) for information on the membership and purpose of each committee.

View all Committees

ASCCC - Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges

The ASCCC was formed in 1970, as a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization. Created for the promotion and advancement of public community college education in California, its general purposes are:

  1. To strengthen local academic senates and councils of community colleges;
  2. To serve as the voice of the faculty of the community colleges in matters of statewide concern;
  3. To develop policies and promote the implementation of policies on matters of statewide issues;
  4. To make recommendations on statewide matters affecting the community colleges.

The Academic Senate gets its authority to strengthen local senates on California community colleges statewide from the California Code of Regulations Title 5 Section 53206, which says:

  1. An Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges has been established through ratification by local academic senates or faculty councils so that the community college faculty of California may have a formal and effective procedure for participating in the formation of state policies on academic and professional matters.
  2. The Board of Governors recognizes the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges as the representative of community college academic senates or faculty councils before the Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office.

Designated representatives from local Academic Senates form the voting membership of the ASCCC. Members of the Executive Committee are elected from the full ASCCC membership. Subcommittees of the ASCCC consist of  volunteer representatives from local Academic Senates.

Below are links to resources and information from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC).

Current Members


Position Name Email Phone Office Area
President Candace Duran cduran@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7934   All Faculty
Vice President Dr. Victoria Jacobi vjacobi@taftcolleg.edu     All Faculty
Secretary Dr. Michelle Oja moja@taftcollege.com  (661)-763-7977 T6d All Faculty
Past President Dr. Sharyn Eveland seveland@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7866 Lib office 336 All Faculty
Member Dr. Jennifer Altenhofel jaltenhofel@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7728 Bldg. T office 6F Social & Behavioral Science
Member Kanoe Bandy kbandy@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7779 Gym Allied Health and Applied Technology
Member Nathan Cahoon ncahoon@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7844 Science 5A Math & Science
Member Geoffrey Dyer GDyer@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7724 Bldg. G office 7B English Language Arts
Member Dr. Vicki Jacobi vjacobi@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7719 Lib office 323 Learning Support Division
Member Kelly Kulzer-Reyes kkulzer@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7929   English Language Arts
Member Dr. Lori Travis ltravis@taftcollege.edu (661)-763-7726 Bldg. G office G2a Business, Arts, and Humanities

Agendas, Minutes, and Documents


Last 3 updates

Date Title
11/20/2024 Nov 20, 2024 Agenda & Minutes