GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

January 28, 2005

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:44 a.m., 120ATC.

 

Present:  Nickie Alexander, Jennifer Batten, C. Lee Brown, Marie Burns, Lyttron Burris, Mike Campo, Frank Connor, Larry Crossman, Katie Danko, Beth Foster, Dick Godfrey, Carolyn Grin, Dan Hearn, Stacey Heisler, Julie Hess, Amy Kerkstra, Robert Long, Bernie Manker, Bob Monaldo, Brian Morris, Jeff Neumann, Kathleen Owens, Wayne Rodgers, Jonathon Russell, Mark Saur, Jeff Spoelman, Joel Swets, Dorothy Terhune (for Anita Cook), Fred van Hartesveldt, George Zeeff

 

Absent:  Douglas Wabeke, Troy Walwood

 

Visitors:   Fred Garbowitz, John Doane

 

Agenda:  Today’s agenda was approved as printed.

 

Approval of Minutes:  Minutes of the January 14, 2005, Faculty Council meeting were approved with one correction by F. Garbowitz—Grievance #152 has NOT been resolved.  The two sides continue to work collaboratively on resolving the discrepancies.

 

Retirement Coordinating Council.  B. Foster summarized the December RCC meeting.

  • The Higher Education Commission released recommendations that include the following:
    • An emphasis in community college attendance
    • Increase in number of Michigan residents with a bachelor’s degree
    • Mandate to help residents embrace expectation that all students achieve a post-secondary degree or credential
    • A requirement that high school students meet rigorous standards and curriculum
    • An increase in dual enrollments and in degree completion by dropouts
  • State superintendent, Tom Watkins, issued a report on school funding which has prompted interest in further review.
  • The governor appointed a 120-member team of volunteers to help Detroit Public Schools make the transition to an elected board.
  • The next legislative reception is Wednesday, February 16, 2005, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  It will have a new format which offers RCC members appointments with legislators or their aids at their offices.  Volunteers are needed and will be trained.  Interested faculty may contact Beth Foster at 234-3986.  Members are asked to contribute $50-$100 for the reception; B. Foster recommended a $50 contribution from the Association.

 

F. van Hartesveldt asked that anyone knowledgeable about the Optional Retirement Plan contact him.

 

Negotiations Report.  JCC starts up today.  The contracts have been distributed to full-time faculty.  Faculty, including adjunct, still wanting a copy of the contract may contact Jim Fox in Human Resources.  F. van Hartesveldt urged faculty to read the contract and report any content errors to the negotiating team.

 

N. Alexander distributed a revised pay calculation worksheet which will be mailed electronically to all faculties. In response to questions generated by the worksheet, F. van Hartesveldt indicated he would ask payroll about regularly including YTD amounts in pay advices and e-mailing pay advices to faculty.

 

F. van Hartesveldt referenced two new Senate bills and noted their significance to community college employees.  Senate Bill No. 55 authorizes the state to establish a board to create a state-wide self insurance program for all K-12 and community college employees.  Senate Bill No. 56 takes away right to bargain health care benefits.  A $250 million feasibility study will be conducted before the bills will take effect. 

 

President’s Report.  F. van Hartesveldt gave the following summaries and updates:

·        Board of Trustees.  At Monday’s meeting a faculty member presented her service learning project to the board in the time slot dedicated to faculty/staff presentations.  Council reps are urged to present or ask someone in their departments to present faculty life to the board in the time slot dedicated to faculty/staff presentations at the beginning of each board meeting.  F. van Hartesveldt will monitor a sign-up list for presentations.  Remaining meetings this year are February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, and June 20.

·        Evaluation of Administrators.  The survey has gone out.  Faculty are asked to choose five administrators from a list of administrators.  Responses to the invitation to participate in the survey are due by January 31.

·        Faculty Evaluations Survey. Thanks to K. Danko’s technology expertise, the Association is surveying faculty who are being evaluated this year with a focus on the timeliness of the steps in the evaluation process.  Anonymity of respondents will be protected in the results.  Deadline for returning surveys is February 2.  Results could be available as early as the next Council meeting.

·        Computer Theft Update.  The theft of computers from the financial services office has yet to be solved.  President Olivarez will give an update to the board of trustees every other month.  F. van Hartesveldt has requested that same report, which will then be forwarded to Council.

·        Renaming of Music Building.  Alfred Smith has learned of and responded to the Association’s efforts to rename the building for him.  He is honored by this recognition of his history and legacy and humbled by the belief that his name might increase financial gifts to GRCC.  He has agreed to the creation of an Alfred P. Smith endowment in support of music education and renaming and expanding the current scholarship.

·        Reminders—Business Leaves and Substitutes.  1) Faculty members are not required to explain the reason for a personal business leave beyond indicating that it is non-medical.  2) Faculty get two personal business leaves in a year, which are subject to restrictions—not during non-work time; not covered by sick leave; not before/after holiday; not on first/last day of school; not for group action in labor dispute; five-day advance notice; provost may give exception.  3) Faculty members are not responsible for arranging substitute coverage of classes during an absence.

·        Student Satisfaction Survey.  The periodic student satisfaction survey that GRCC has done for a number years will be replaced with a nationally based survey (Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement).  The results will be aggregated and not linked to a particular instructor.

 

 

Discussion/Action

 

Faculty Credentials/Qualifications.  Administration has sent faculty a plan to look at faculty credentials.  In discussion of the plan, reps reported strong opposition by several department heads and concern about the absence of faculty input into policy changes.  A caution was offered about the public image of faculty who object to a review of their qualifications.  Council was reminded that departments will have the opportunity to set standards and qualifications in their departments and should take advantage of that opportunity.  Administration has agreed to negotiate this item.  It will remain as a discussion item on Council agendas.

 

Start-up Problems.  N. Alexander identified two problems encountered in the math department:  1) Start and end times match, and 2) students disappearing off class list with no remaining record of attendance or enrollment.  

 

Textbook Oversight Committee.  Julie Hess is the faculty rep to the Textbook Oversight Committee.  Faculty textbook concerns should be directed to her.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Topics for the next Council meeting:

·        Enrollment cap

·        Classroom Faculty Degree/Qualifications Standards

 

Next Meeting.  Friday, February 11, 2005.

 

Adjournment.  Motion to adjourn, M. Saur; second, D. Hearn.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 a.m.

 

 

 

Submitted by C. Lee Brown, Secretary