Jeanne Dunphy
Speech Communications
Los Angeles City College

Education:
B.A. – Communication Arts – 1973 – Arizona State University
M.A. – Theatre – 1976 – Arizona State University

Local and Statewide Leadership

Los Angeles City College Assignments – Department Chair – Speech Department

Memberships on campus: Department Chair Caucus 2004 – Present, Enrollment Management Team – 2004 - Present, Accreditation Self Study Chair – Present, Student Success Initiative Team Member - Present, Faculty Senate Representative 2004 – Present & 1990 - 1992, AFT Grievance Representative – 1987-1988, AFT Negotiations Representative – 2001-2002, Speech Department representative to AFT - 2001 to present, Work Environment Committee – 2004-2006,

Professional Memberships: Member National Communication Association, Conference Presenter – 2002, FACCC Member: 2001 – Present,

FACCC Service:

Professional Development Committee 2002 to Present
Co-Chair of Committee 2004/2005

Candidate Statement

Two years ago I became a member of the FACCC Board for the first time. Shortly after becoming a board member, I was elected Department Chair for the Speech Department at Los Angeles City College. My learning curve in both experiences has been high and extremely rewarding. Now that I have experienced the Community College from a multitude of experience, I am even more committed to the to the task of representing community college faculty in the state of California.

I have always dedicated myself to certain issues, but through my recent experiences I have learned to feel these issues as the reality of them struck home over and over again as my responsibilities to my fellow faculty members increased. A few things that have intensely hit home are the following:

· Everything is a team effort, no one person can do it all.

(This is something that I have always known, but I never realized HOW important it was until the past two years. . .I can not single handedly run a department, nor can FACCC place an Initiative on the ballot without the wholehearted support of those who support it!)

· In order to be effective, one has to know what is going on within the state as well as those concerns that affect individual campuses.

(If I support FACCC without knowing the needs of my campus, I have failed FACCC , if I support my campus without knowing what is important to all of the campuses in the state, I have not only failed FACCC, I have failed those I represent.)

· Part timers are the backbone of my department and deserve my full support both on campus and within the state community college systems.

(It is the part timers’ experiences that link us to so many other campuses, thus, it is through meeting their needs that we can give back what they have so willingly given each and every college in time, energy, and support.)

· Support for the hiring of full time faculty needs our full attention.

(Not because the part timers aren’t meeting our teaching need, but because there is so much to be done on every campus beyond teaching and those part timers who realize this and contribute time and effort to accomplishing this, deserve full time assignments!)

· I strongly support those leaders who work to serve the students, not merely count their numbers.

(Students need so much more than cookie cutter schedules and transfers to a University - some need basic skills, some need vocational certificates, some need financial assistance - it is our job to deliver what the students need.)

· Funding for the community college has to be consistent and on going. Measures, such as the Community College Initiative should be passed to make this happen.

· And, on a lighter (but not so light) note – I have learned, above all, that just when you think you have it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

Now, of course, you may ask. . .“Have you personally accomplished any of these things in the past two years?”

To get an answer to this, you must first and foremost, remember the first statement above – I do NOTHING alone, I do everything with the support of those capable people who share my responsibilities.

· Full Time Hiring - My department has hired three new full time members (from our part time faculty) in these past two years.

· Growth - My department has had growth in a declining enrollment cycle for the past two years.

· Part Time Hires - I have had to hire additional part timers to accommodate growth, despite the fact that most of the part timers in my department who want the work are teaching their full 60% load. Part timers now share a private office with a computer in the Communications Building on campus.

· Basic Skills - We have strengthened our Basic Skills component of ESL Speech in my department.

· Technology - New technology and labs facilitate our ESL, Basic Skills, Speech program.

· As Chair of the Professional Development Committee of FACCC, I am proud to say that we have weathered changes in personnel and provided successful workshops and conferences, and added additional speakers and areas of expertise to our programs. Our staff leadership just keeps getting stronger and stronger.

· As a FACCC Board member, I have supported the Community College Initiative since its conception and gathered many signatures in support of the initiative. My thrusting of signature pages at the teachers in my department produced one signature gatherer who was one of the leading signature gatherers in the Los Angeles Community College District.

Having been a Community College Faculty member since 1977 (first in Arizona, then in California), I continue to find the most pressing issues of my career are directly tied to issues tackled by every other college within the Community College system. I would like to continue to serve on the FACCC Board supporting this organization in making the important decisions that affect those who share my commitment to the Community College System. And, yes, we can accomplish our goals one by one. . .together!