FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING
Call to Order: F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to
order at
Present: Nickie Alexander, Rick Barnhart, Jennifer
Batten, C. Lee Brown, Marie Burns, Lyttron Burris, Mike Campo, Jim Chesla, Frank
Conner, Anita Cook, Larry Crossman, Katie Danko, John Doane, Beth Foster, Fred
Garbowitz, Dick Godfrey, Carolyn Grin, Tim Hoving, Brian Keelean, Amy Kerkstra,
Robert Long, Bernie Manker, Bob Monaldo, Brian Morris, Jeff Neumann, Kathleen
Owens, Wayne Rodgers, Jonathon Russell, Mark Saur, Jeff Spoelman, Joel Swets, Fred
van Hartesveldt, Troy Walwood, George Zeeff
Absent: Jim Hayes, Dan Hearn, Stacey Heisler, Doug
Wabeke
Agenda: Today’s agenda was approved as printed.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes
of the
Faculty Presentations
from the Floor.
· Jeff Stone, Lab Coordinator Group, is awaiting his prosthesis and planning his return to work. It appears the number of donated sick days will cover his absences.
· Faculty retirees last semester were Edith Miller and Carol Doubblestein (Nursing), Rick Cederholm (Technology), and Mike Kasperlik (Radiologic Technology).
Secretary’s Report. The
secretary read thank-you notes from Grace Schwanda (Music) for expressions of
love at the death of her father and from Carolyn Grin (Social Sciences) for the
fruit basket following her surgeries.
Treasurer’s Report. D. Godfrey distributed the December 2005 treasurer’s report (attached) and noted that the month’s activities were typical, but that two or three bills for officers’ pay have yet to be issued. Total expenses for December, $2,870.07. The December 31 checking account balance was $51,468.95; money market/savings, $101,031.19.
Negotiations
Report. J. Spoelman said the team is
meeting with JCC today at
President’s Report. F. van Hartesveldt’s report covered the
following items:
·
Accretion
Issues. In addition to the start of
negotiations for the newly accreted lab coordinators, a position in the music
department (music accompanist) will be added to the lab coordinators
group. The Association will seek to
confirm whether or not personnel working for Training Solutions, but not
Association members, are independent contractors.
·
Scheduling
of Classes—Start/End Times. GRCC’s
class management software overlaps classes, which makes a problem for faculty
loads. The setting of class times is
affecting faculty working conditions or contract; therefore the Association can
and will request that class start/end times be negotiated.
·
Scheduling
of Meetings with Administrators. Upon
requesting a meeting with the provost, F. van Hartesveldt was informed that the
provost’s office will schedule meetings for groups only through the electronic
calendar because it takes too much time to do otherwise for those who don’t
maintain their electronic calendars.
·
Credentials
Audit. A handful of full-time
faculty, all in the
· Adjunct Faculty. Language has been added to the Faculty Information Form (FIF) that makes it clear that it is a contract. The negotiating team has reviewed FIFs from last semester and discovered that several adjunct faculty were paid at the wrong appendix rate. Corrections in pay are expected. Faculty (adjunct and full time) are encouraged to check the accuracy of their FIFs and pay stubs. F. van Hartesveldt has scheduled meetings with adjunct faculty on February 3 (morning) and February 9 (afternoon). A favorable resolution was reached without a grievance for the adjunct faculty whose pay was docked during jury duty.
·
Legislative
Action. House Bill 4947 that would
eliminate MPSERS for new hires in the State employment system will continue to
be debated this month. The Retirement
Coordinating Council (RCC) is urging voters to voice opposition with their
legislative representatives.
OLD BUSINESS
The following motion regarding collaborative decision making
with administration was moved from the table (
Previous Motion: We support the
president’s position on collaborative decision making. To that end we will only engage in meetings
that include those individuals who are empowered to make decisions regarding
topics of shared interest. F. Conner;
support, B. Manker.
MOTION: Amend the previous motion to replace “we” with “JCC” and to remove “regarding topics of shared interest.” L. Crossman; support, M. Saur. Carried.
MOTION: Amend the previous motion to read “We, the Faculty Association, support the College president’s . . .” J. Neumann; second, B. Keelan. Carried.
Amended Motion: We, the Faculty Association, support the College president’s position on collaborative decision making. To that end JCC will only engage in meetings that include those individuals who are empowered to make decisions. Carried.
Further
discussion clarified that “JCC” referred to the faculty negotiating team
members on JCC.
Grievance
Report. F. Garbowitz reported
the following:
· Grievance #157—Adjunct hired for summer class and subsequently fired. Resolved in favor of Association.
· Level 1—Adjunct lost pay for jury duty. Resolved in favor of Association.
· Level 1—Adjunct denied free parking. Resolved in favor of Association.
DISCUSSION AND
ACTION
Start-up Problems. Several start-up problems were discussed at length by reps:
1. Classes without room assignments
2. Fewer sections offered in winter than in fall despite high demand for classes:
a. Students are turned away
b. Students are admitted but recommended classes unavailable
c. Students enroll in appropriate classes to fill schedules
3. Students have no immediate contact person to fix course selection problems except dean.
The topic prompted numerous comments and concerns about the administration’s inability to meet student needs and the Association’s options for promoting change. F. van Hartesveldt reviewed the several suggested options available to Council:
1. Consider a resolution directing administration to increase the number of sections, enforce pre-requisites, or take some other action.
2. F. van Hartesveldt can explain to the Foundation board and the administration that for some students GRCC’s open door is a closed door or a policy for student failure.
3. Faculty can communicate concerns to their Academic Governing Council reps, and F. van Hartesveldt can arrange regular meetings with Mike Light (Academic Governing Council) concerning this and other issues.
Faculty Association Tax Records. The Association’s tax records are available for public review. Contact F. van Hartesveldt.
Next
Meeting.
Adjournment. Motion to adjourn, A. Cook; second, R. Long. Adjournment at
Submitted by C. Lee Brown, Secretary
GRCC Faculty Association
Treasurer’s Report
December 2005
Checking account balance December 1........................................................... $40,702.19
Deposits: Dues...................................................................................... $13,636.83
Expenses: Donations/Flowers............................... $ 215.00
Food ..................................................... 668.59
Grievances................................................ 565.65
Legal ..................................................... 937.50
Negotiations/JCC...................................... 453.34
Office: Telephone....................................... 29.9
Total
expenses .............................................................................................. $
2,870.07
Checking account balance December 31........................................................ $ 51,468.95
Money Market/Savings December 31........................................................... $101,031.19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue & Expenses Year to Date
Revenue: Dues..................................................................................... $ 48,874.80
Interest ...................................................................................... 1,182.78
Expenses: Donations/Flowers/Fruit baskets................ 909.02
Food...................................................... 2,184.27
Grievances............................................. 1,552.65
Insurance................................................... 196.00
Legal...................................................... 1,200.00
Negotiations/JCC................................... 2,204.77
Office:
Supplies........................................ 399.09
Telephone..................................... 120.41
Web-site......................................... 69.65
Officers’ pay........................................ 14,792.77
RCC ....................................................... 96.00
Taxes .................................................. 5,341.56
Total expenses ................................................................................. $ 29,066.19
Submitted