1. Home
  2. Departments
  3. Office of the Provost
  4. Academic Senate

Academic Senate

Faculty's voice in shaping the policies, priorities, and academic future of Cal State Monterey Bay.

College of Business students listening at class
Office of the Provost

Championing Shared Governance

Since 1996, Cal State Monterey Bay’s Academic Senate has helped shape the university’s academic mission and community priorities through shared governance. Representing the entire faculty, the Senate plays a crucial role in academic policy, planning and advocacy. Shared governance is more than a principle; it’s a collaborative, equity-driven practice that engages faculty, staff and students in guiding the university’s direction.

The Role of the Academic Senate

The Academic Senate is the representative body of the Academic Assembly, which is the collective voice of Cal State Monterey Bay’s faculty. Established by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Academic Assembly, the Senate works closely with the university administration to help actualize Cal State Monterey Bay’s vision of a pluralistic academic community.

Guided by faculty leadership and grounded in CSU system policy and state law, the Academic Senate reviews and recommends university policies that impact the academic mission, guides curriculum development and academic standards, convenes to address campuswide academic issues, and delegates authority to committees to support faculty-driven collaboration.

Faculty Leadership in Action

Senate committees drive faculty participation in governance, shaping academic policy and campus life. The Academic Assembly holds constitutional authority, with powers delegated to the Senate.

Senate committees are the primary avenue for faculty engagement in governance, helping to shape university policy, curriculum, and campus life.

Standing Committees Include:

  • Academic Senate Executive Committee (ASEC)
  • Academic Committee on International Programs (ACIP) 
  • Assessment Committee
  • Budget and Resource Management Committee 
  • Committee on JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)
  • Committee on Research, Scholarship & Creative Activity (RSCA) 
  • Educational Planning & Policy Committee (EPPC)
  • Faculty Affairs Committee
  • General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC)
  • Post Graduate Studies Committee (PGSC)
  • Senate Curriculum Committee Council (SCCC)
  • Senate Technology Committee
  • Student Affairs & Academic Support Committee (SAAS)
  • University Requirements Curriculum Committee (URCC)
  • Appeals & Grievances Committee (not a standing committee)

As defined in Article V, Section 1 in the Constitution, subject to the laws of the State of California and the regulations of the California State University, the Academic Assembly (or units to which it delegates its powers) shall formulate, review, revise, and adopt for recommendation to the President university policies regarding matters affecting the academic mission of the University.

In accordance with Article V, Section 1 of the Constitution, all powers of the Academic Assembly shall reside in the Academic Assembly except that certain functions may be delegated to the Academic Senate as defined in Article X of the Constitution. The Academic Assembly convenes to address broadly significant campus or faculty issues that merit the involvement of the entire Faculty. The Assembly delegates primary responsibility for the development and review of academic and educational policy to the Academic Senate. The Academic Senate shall represent the Academic Assembly in carrying out the functions defined in Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution. Actions of the Academic Senate are subject to review by the Academic Assembly in accordance with Article X of the Constitution.

In accordance with Article V, Section 1 of the Constitution, all powers of the Academic Assembly shall reside in the Academic Assembly except that certain functions may be delegated to the Academic Senate as defined in Article X of the Constitution. The Academic Senate shall represent the Academic Assembly in carrying out the functions defined in Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution. Actions of the Academic Senate are subject to review by the Academic Assembly in accordance with Article X of the Constitution.

The Technology Committee shall review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding standards, policies and practices related to information technology used in support of the academic programs of the University. The Technology Committee shall also serve as a primary forum for communication about current and planned academic technology initiatives of the various stakeholders.

The Committee’s charge shall include the establishment of means of effective communication between Information Technology and faculty at the college level, and review, evaluation and recommendation regarding:

  • Policies and guidelines for the selection, funding deployment, management and assessment of technology for instructional and other academic purposes;
  • Resources and support for faculty development in the use of academic technology;
  • Guidelines, policies and standards for faculty regarding academic technology assets, infrastructure, support, and usage.

2023/25 Technology committee members include:

Position First Name Last Name
Chair Erin Ramirez
CAHSS Jill Yamashita
COB Sumadhur  Shakya 
COE Erin Ramirez
CHSHS George Beckham
COS Arun Sharma
University College    
Library Rachel  Safa
Appointed Senator Jimmy Guilinger
Appointed Senator Chris Carpenter
Representative, Associated Students    
**Ex-Officio Members**    
Director for Teaching, Learning and Assessment Vivian Waldrup-Patterson
Director of the Center for Academic Technology Jeff McCall
Director of Technology Support Services Henry Simpson
CLC Tech Tutors Coordinator Rep Elise Dixon
Academic Scheduling Office Allison Bagchee
Technical Staff Representative from one of the Colleges    
Student Disability and Accessibility Center (SDAC) Tyler St. Pierre-Young
CLC Tech Tutors Coordinator Lauren Reagan
Student Rep., Associated Students Liam Cristescu
Chief Information Officer    
Technology Collaborative Gus Leonard
Web/Technology Support Services Tom Burns
Provost or Designee Cindy Juntunen
Academic Senate Executive Committee
Chair Arlene Haffa
Vice-Chair Jill Hosmer-Jolley
Secretary Sara Salazar Hughes
Parliamentarian Lisa Leininger
Faculty-At-Large Sara Powell
Faculty-At-Large Erin Ramirez
Statewide Senator Ryne Leuzinger
Statewide Senator Meghan O'Donnell
Academic Area Senator Alternate
Agricultural Plant & Soil Sciences, BS JP Dundore-Arias Arun Jani
Biology, BS Liz Alter Caetano Albuquerque
Business Administration, BS Heiko Wieland Mohamed Abouzahra
Business Administration, MBA Jenny Lin Mary Anne Majadillas
Cinematic Arts & Technology, BA Silvia Turchin —
Collaborative Health & Human Services Ignacio Navarro —
Communication Design, BS Lindsey Brammell —
Computer Science, BS Sam Ogden —
Elementary Education (Multiple Subject) Kayce Mastrup —
Secondary Education (Single Subject) Bethany Schwartz —
Special Education Credential Jillian Talley —
Education, MA Erin Ramirez —
Environmental Studies, BA Seth Gustafson Tori Derr
Environmental Science, BS Jenny Duggan Jimmy Guilinger
Environmental Science, MS John Olson Jimmy Guilinger
Ethnic & Gender Studies, BA Jeremias Zunguze —
Global Studies Angie Tran —
Humanities & Communication, BA Estella Porras —
Human Development & Family Studies Christi Cervantes Rob Weisskirch
Instructional Science & Technology, MS Miguel Lara —
Japanese Language and Culture, BA Dustin Wright —
Kinesiology, BS Steven Machek —
Liberal Studies, BA Irene Nares-Guzicki Patty Whang
Library Jeff Corrigan Joy Camp
Marine Science, BS Sherry Palacios —
Marine Science, MS Cheryl Logan —
Mathematics, BS Ali Lynch —
Mechatronics Engineering, BS Luis Cabrales Prashanta Pokhare
Music, BA Violet Cavicchi Muñoz —
Nursing Mali Bakhshi Alyssa Erikson
Psychology, BA Christine "KiKi" Rosales Zurine De Miguel
MS School Psychology Tara Kulkarni —
MS Speech-Language Pathology Kerrie Chitwood —
Social & Behavioral Sciences, BA Rebecca Bales —
Social Work, MSW Kamilah Majied —
Spanish Language & Hispanic Cultures, BA David Vila Dieguez —
Statistics, BS Steven Kim —
Sustainable Hospitality Management, BS Angel Gonzalez Choonghyoung Lee
University College — —
Visual & Public Art, BA Stephanie Johnson —
Additional Faculty Representation    
Lecturer Representative (1) Aimee Escalante Ajit Abraham
Lecturer Representative (2) Lee Ritscher Christiana "Pilar" Graham
Athletics / Coaches Representative Laura VanWart Courtney Materazzi
PGCC Representative Amy Miller —
Previous Chair, Academic Assembly — —
Committee Chairs    
ACIP Jenny Lin Renie Rendon-Jackson
Assessment Committee Corin Slown —
BRMC Lipika Deka —
EPPC Arlene Haffa —
Faculty Affairs Committee Joel Ryman Trish Sevene
GECC Aimee Escalante —
JEDI Committee Amir Attia —
PGSC Cathi Draper Rodriguez —
RSCA Committee Kent Adams —
SCCC Trish Sevene —
Senate Technology Committee Erin Ramirez —
SAAS Committee — —
URCC Ryne Leuzinger —
Ex-Officio (Non-Voting)
President Carlos Vargas
Provost Andrew Lawson
Student Affairs Representative —
Staff Council Representative Gus Leonard
Associated Student Representative Ana Muñoz
Associated Student Representative —
Senate Staff
RJ Enriquez
A woman stands behind a desk, smiling warmly and waving hello.

Stay Connected

Questions, input and participation from the campus community are welcome.

Get Involved

All voices are welcome in shaping Cal State Monterey Bay’s academic future.

Contact

Academic Senate