
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.
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 include:
- Academic Development Committee
- Academic Policies & Procedures Committee
- Academic Senate Council
- Career & Technical Education Committee
- Curriculum & General Education Committee
- Distance Learning & Education Committee
- Dual Enrollment Committee
- Academic Senate Faculty Professional Development Committee
- Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Steering Committee
For information on the membership and to view thier charter and agendas, please visit the Taft College committee website.
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:
- To strengthen local academic senates and councils of community colleges;
- To serve as the voice of the faculty of the community colleges in matters of statewide concern;
- To develop policies and promote the implementation of policies on matters of statewide issues;
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
Current Members of the Academic Senate Council
| Position | Name | Phone | |
| President | Candace Duron | cduron@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7934 |
| Vice President | Victoria Jacobi | vjacobi@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7719 |
| Secretary | Michelle A. Beasley | mbeasley@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7911 |
| Past President | Geoffrey Dyer | gdyer@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7724 |
| Member | Kenneth Smith | ksmith@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7920 |
| Member | Kanoe Bandy | kbandy@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7779 |
| Member | Nathan Cahoon | ncahoon@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7844 |
| Member | Christopher Chung-Wee | cchung@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7820 |
| Member | Darcy Bogle | dbogle@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7889 |
| Member | Lori Travis | ltravis@taftcollege.edu | (661) 763-7726 |
Agendas, Minutes, and Documents
Last 3 updates
| Date | Title |
| 11/03/2025 | Nov 03, 2025 Agenda & Minutes |