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GLOSSARY AND TERMS

C

CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE - See California Code of Regulations

CALIFORNIA ARTICULATION NUMBER (CAN) SYSTEM - CANS identifies some of the transferable, lower-division, introductory (preparatory) courses commonly taught on California college campuses. CAN assure students that on one participating campus a CAN course will be accepted "in lieu of" the comparable CAN course on another participating campus. Each campus retains a numbering system, but adds the CAN designation in its publications.

CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5 - The compilation of the administrative regulations of the State of California. These regulations have the force of law. The former name of this code was the California Administrative Code. Title 5 of the code contains regulations affecting education in the state. Division 5 of Title 5 contains the rules and regulations of the Board of Trustees of the CSU. Details may be found at: http://www.calregs.com Additional information regarding California laws and regulations may be found at: http://www.ca.gov/

CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION (CFA) - The sole and exclusive representative for bargaining Unit 3 (Faculty). Since March 1, 1983, the CFA has been recognized in this role by the Trustees of the California State University. It is the personal decision of each faculty member whether or not to join the CFA. All faculty members who are not members of the CFA are required to pay an agency fee. See also: Agency Fee, Collective Bargaining and Collective Bargaining Unit.

CALIFORNIA HIGHER EDUCATION - The California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California constitute public higher education in California. The community colleges offer instruction for transfer to higher education, vocational and technical training, and general or liberal arts courses. The community or "junior" colleges are organized in community college districts throughout the state. The CSU system instructs undergraduate and graduate students through the Master's degree level in liberal arts and sciences, in applied fields, and in the professions, including teaching. Various CSU campuses also offer joint doctoral programs in cooperation with the University of California. The listing and site location of each CSU campus is published in the SSU catalog. The UC system offers instruction in liberal arts, sciences, and the professions. The UC has exclusive jurisdiction in the postgraduate legal education, medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry. The UC is the state's primary institution for doctoral programs and research.

CALIFORNIA POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSION (CPEC) - A commission established by the State Legislature to advise the legislature and make recommendations concerning higher education in California. Membership includes representatives from the University of California, The California State University, the community colleges, private colleges and universities in the state, the State Board of Education and the general public.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT - The California Public Records Act, Government Code, Section 6250 et seq. governs the release of state documents to individuals.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM - The retirement system, also known as CalPers, provides retirement and health benefits to more than 1.4 million members (active and retired) and more than 2,500 employers, including school districts and public agencies.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY (CSU) - The California State University is the largest state university system in the United States. The current CSU site locations may be found in the university catalog. The Board of Trustees is vested with authority to make rules and regulations for the California State University. The regulations of the Board of Trustees are compiled in Title 5, California Code of Regulations and have the effect of law.

CALSTATE TEACH - The California Center for Teaching Careers (CalTeach) was established in 1997, by Governor Wilson and the California Legislature, to recruit qualified individuals to the teaching profession in order to alleviate the shortage of teachers in California.

CAMPUS - As used in Title 5 or the CBA, the term "campus" refers to one member institution of the CSU and all its facilities. When applicable, the term can also apply to the Office of the Chancellor.

CARS, STATE - See State Vehicles

CATASTROPHIC (SICK) LEAVE DONATION PROGRAM - A benefit that provides eligible faculty with procedures to request participation in the Catastrophic Leave Donation Program if sick leave and vacation credits have been exhausted due to a catastrophic illness or injury. The program is coordinated with NDI benefits to provide full pay for up to six months. This compensation is made possible through donations of sick leave and/or vacation credits by other university employees. See Also: Sick Leave

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS - Certificate programs for professionals seeking in-depth or competency in a specialized area, but who do not need a degree. Programs are coordinated through the School of Extended Education.

CHAIR, DEPARTMENT - See Department Chair

CHANCELLOR - The chief executive officer of the California State University is the Chancellor. The chief executive officer of each campus is the President. This is the reverse of the practice in the University of California system where the chief executive officer is the President of the University of California and the individual campuses chief executive officers are chancellors.

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM - In educational institutions, cheating is the practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of improving a grade or obtaining course credit. Typically, such acts occur in relation to examinations. It is the intent of this definition that the term "cheating" not be limited to examination situations only, but that it include any and all actions by a student which are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive means. Plagiarism normally involves a specific form of cheating which consists of the misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of another representing the material so used as one's own work.

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CLASSES, ATTENDANCE - The requirement established by a faculty member for the presence of students in the classroom or laboratory and at all officially designated course activities, such as field trips and special events. Each faculty member is given broad latitude in establishing appropriate attendance policies, but is expected to make the policy clear to the students at the beginning of each semester as part of the written syllabus. Faculty members also establish policy in the syllabus regarding the permissibility of non-enrolled visitors attending instructional sessions.

CLASSES, CONDUCT IN - The manner in which students and faculty interact which is expected to conform to the Student Code of Conduct and the professional standards established by the teaching profession, the CBA, and policy. Faculty members have both a professional responsibility and the legal authority to maintain order in the instructional setting.

CLASSES, DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR - Conduct that interferes with the learning environment. Disruptive behavior may include speech and other behaviors that are clearly disrespectful of either the instructor or other students. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, physically or verbally abusive conduct, interruptions, failure to adhere to the instructor's rules or instructions, vulgar or obscene language, slurs and other forms of intimidation.

CLASSES, SCHEDULING - The process of establishing the meeting dates, times and locations of courses to be taught. Classes are normally scheduled by the department chair and the schedules are published in the Schedule of Classes each semester.

CLASSROOMS - The meeting site established for class sessions. Classes must be conducted at the assigned time and place on campus. Changes to the assigned time and place require prior authorization by the appropriate administrator. This includes field trips scheduled by the faculty.

CLEARANCE - The process of returning university material, equipment, books and related property. Prior to separation from university employment, all faculty members must obtain clearance verification by returning all State equipment and material before the last pay warrant can be released.

COACHES - The assignment of a coaching employee to perform coaching and related duties, including but not limited to service on appropriate system wide and campus committees and task forces, public service, teaching responsibilities and student advising. The duties, location and schedule of coaching assignments may vary. Coaches are members of Unit 3 (Faculty) with all the attendant responsibilities and privileges.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING - The process of negotiating employment issues such as: wages, hours, working conditions, and benefits. Pursuant to the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA), faculty unit employees are entitled to bargain collectively through a bargaining agent. Faculty are members of Unit 3. All employees, except those employees who are members of the Management Personnel Plan (MPP), are represented in one of nine collective bargaining units. The State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) determines the composition of these units.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT (CBA) - The binding agreement, arrived at as a result of meeting and conferring. The agreement between the California State University and the exclusive bargaining agent covers the terms and conditions of employment including wages and working conditions for the affected employees. The CBA may be changed only through the voluntary and mutual consent of the parties in an expressed written amendment to the Agreement. The CBA supersedes all previous agreements, understandings, policies, and prior practices directly related to matters included within the Agreement. In the absence of any specific provisions in the CBA, all CSU practices and procedures are at the discretion of the Employer. The Faculty CBA is administered by the Faculty Affairs Office.

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COLLEGIALITY - Collegiality incorporates mutual respect for similarities and for differences in background, expertise, judgments, and assigned responsibilities; and involves mutual trust based on experience. Collegiality includes a shared decision-making process and a set of values that regard members of the various university constituencies as essential for the success of the academic enterprise. Central to collegiality and shared decision-making is respect for differing opinions and points of view, which welcomes diversity and actively sponsors its opinions.

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES - The celebration of the academic experience which honors students who are graduating. Faculty members participate in the academic procession at commencement exercises. Some groups also have special commencement exercises to display the significance of education to the future of their communities.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES - An extensive system of two year community or "junior" colleges in California. These colleges are governed through a system of community college districts.

CONCERTED ACTIVITIES - Strikes or other concerted activities, by employees, that would interfere with or adversely affect the operations or the mission of the CSU or any of its campuses. The CBA prohibits these types of activities.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Involvement in business or personal relations that may provide the opportunity for preferential treatment, personal or financial gain. Conflicts of interest may arise from situations such as private business arrangements, outside employment, business or consensual (romantic) relations with students or employees, and family relationships that could involve both conflict of interest and nepotism.

CONSENSUAL RELATIONS - Romantic or sexual relationship with a student or a university employee. Consensual relations result in a conflict of interest when the faculty member, supervisor or manager, is currently, or has been in a previous romantic or sexual relationship with a student or university employee, or currently has or forseeably may be given responsibility for the evaluation, supervision, or request for recommendation for application to graduate school or employment, scholarship or other area related to personal or professional advancement.

COPYRIGHT - Material that is legally protected from unauthorized copying under strict guidelines of "fair use" of copyrighted material. The passage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and increased scrutiny from copyright holders requires that faculty follow all applicable laws, especially U. S. copyright law. Material that has a copyright requires that faculty legally acquire the necessary copyright permission to protect themselves, the university and the academic community. Information pertaining to copyright, as well as requests to copyright your material or reproduce copyrighted material can be obtained on the following national website: http://www.copyright.com.

CORE - A common set of courses within a major or minor that all students are required to complete.

CORNERSTONES - The major systemwide strategic planning initiative which was initiated in part by the Association of Governing Boards and Pew Trusts Higher Education Roundtable. CSU Trustees endorsed the Cornerstones Report as the systemwide planning framework in 1998.

COUNSELORS - The assignment of a counseling employee to perform counseling and related duties, including but not limited to service on appropriate system wide and campus committees and task forces, public service, teaching responsibilities and student advising. The duties, location and schedule of counseling assignments may vary. Counselors are members of Unit 3 (Faculty) with all the attendant responsibilities and privileges.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS - The assignment of classes a faculty member will teach, normally made by the department chair acting on behalf of the dean. The right to make course assignments is governed by the CBA and are made at the convenience of the university and with the need to deliver the curriculum to students.

COURSE RECORD KEEPING - See Grade Books

COURSE SYLLABUS - The written outline prepared by the faculty and distributed to the students which states course goals and objectives and course requirements including, but not limited to, grading methodology, types and number of projects, written work, tests, and experiments. The syllabus can be viewed as a legal covenant between the instructor and student and it commits both the instructor and the student to a defined series of actions leading to an identified outcome. Changes in the syllabus should result in issuance of a revised syllabus.

COURT APPEARANCES - See Jury Duty; Witness

CREDIT/NO CREDIT GRADING - A grading system resulting in a grade of C or NC rather than in a traditional A, B, C, D, F grading system. Credit/no credit grading is designed to encourage academic exploration outside the major field of study and when in certain types of courses, student performance is best evaluated in terms of credit/no credit grading rather than through the traditional letter grades. Neither the CR nor NC grade is included in the calculation of the grade point average.

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