GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

October 7, 2005

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:30 a.m., 118ATC. 

Present:  Nickie Alexander, Rick Barnhart, Jennifer Batten, C. Lee Brown, Lyttron Burris, Mike Campo, Jim Chesla, Katie Danko, Beth Foster, Dick Godfrey, Carolyn Grin, Jim Hayes, Dan Hearn, Stacey Heisler, Pat Ingersoll (for Anita Cook), Brian Keelean, Amy Kerkstra, Robert Long, Bernie Manker, Bob Monaldo, Jeff Neumann, Wayne Rodgers, Mark Saur, Mary Scanlan (for Brian Morris), Jeff Spoelman, Fred van Hartesveldt, Doug Wabeke, George Zeeff, Fred Zomer (for Kathleen Owens) 

Absent:  Marie Burns, Frank Conner, Larry Crossman, Jonathon Russell, Joel Swets, Troy Walwood 

Visitors:  John Cowles, John Doane, Fred Garbowitz 

Agenda:  Today’s agenda was approved as printed. 

Approval of Minutes:  Minutes of the September 23, 2005, Faculty Council meeting were approved with two corrections:

• Committee Memberships, page 3:  Delete “F. van Hartesveldt indicated that the Academic Senate has asked the Association to deal with ethics issues.” Mike Light, president of Academic Senate, submitted the following correction:

For the Senate to move away from an Ethics Committee would be a violation of the Senate By-Laws.  The original idea was to find a way to create a joint committee that would allow for Senate and Association involvement.  Hopefully, we can still find a way to accomplish that goal.  It doesn’t make much sense to have two ethics committees.  Mike Rydman is the chair of the Senate Ethics Committee. 

• President’s Report, Faculty Credentials Audit, p. 2.  The reference to administration sending a letter to all faculty about the status of their credentials should specify “all full-time faculty” (not all faculty).

Faculty Presentations from the Floor.

• The memorial tribute to Eleanor Scheifele, Visual Arts Department, is 2 p.m. today at Meijer Gardens
• The GRCC Hurricane Relief effort is tomorrow, October 8.
• Contributions to the Lyttron Burrris family (English) for hurricane-related (Hurricane Katrina) expenses are still being accepted.
• Flower Fund requests are to be submitted to N. Alexander.  Reminder – In-laws are excluded from disbursements from the fund.
• Sarah (Preschool) and Joe Petz gave birth to their first child, Joseph Kenneth, May 13, 2005.
• J. Hayes thanked the Association for the fruit basket at the premature birth of their child last month.  He said both wife and newborn are doing okay.

Treasurer’s Report.  .D. Godfrey distributed copies of the September 2005 Treasurer’s Report (attached), which reported a September 30 checking account balance of $19,718.12; money market balance, $95,105.66. 

President’s Report.  F. van Hartesveldt’s report covered the following items:

• Meetings with Departments/Programs.  F. van Hartesveldt has contacted department heads and program directors and offered to attend individual department and program meetings to hear faculty concerns and questions; those meetings are underway.
• Printing Services.  Doug Miller has asked the Association to advise faculty of the October 31 deadline for course packs and bibliographies.  Printing Services will also send communication announcing the deadline.
• Meeting with New Faculty.  F. van Hartesveldt and the Negotiating Team invited new and temporary faculty to an informal breakfast a week ago to ask questions and receive information about contract and related issues.  Eight of the thirteen invited faculty attended.
• Faculty Information.  Faculty were reminded to review FIFs for accuracy and completeness and to keep copies of their most recent FIFs since it is the record of their retirement credit.
• Pay Advices.  1) Adjunct faculty have requested better communication about their first pay checks.  Payroll has said they will publicize a schedule of pay dates. 2) Some full-time faculty have asked for printed pay check stubs at their home addresses instead of the electronic pay advices.  According to Payroll, paycheck stubs cannot be printed for selected individuals, and mailing paycheck stubs to all employee home addresses would cost $12,000.
• Original Receipts for Reimbursements.  Faculty have asked if reimbursement requests must be accompanied by original receipts only.  The answer is “yes” because it is common auditing procedure, it reduces the likelihood of duplicating a reimbursement, and it reduces the potential for fraud.
• Tuition Reimbursement.  Adjunct faculty teaching one-half time or more qualify for pro-rated GRCC tuition reimbursement.
• 800 Minute Rule.  F. van Hartesveldt sent an e-mail to faculty clarifying the 800-minute rule – it applies to credit hours, not contact hours.
• Foundation Board.  The GRCC Foundation assets are at approximately $13 million.  The fund-raising goal is to add another $10 million.  A meeting of the Campaign Cabinet (50-100 community business people) was held three days ago to advance the campaign.  Most of the Foundation expenditures have been for scholarships, which have totaled approximately $564,000 to date for 2005.  Other expenditures have been for advancements in technology, innovation and program development, and community education needs.  Individual departments wanting involvement in the campaign should contact the Foundation to coordinate efforts and to avoid duplicate contacts to the same prospective donors.  A sub-group on which F. van Hartesveldt serves is developing planned gift-giving such as estate planning options.  M. Saur indicated that the retirees support the campaign, that several of them are experienced at fundraising, and that they will get involved.

Discussion and Action

Committee Memberships

• Retirement Coordinating Council.  A faculty rep is still needed to attend the monthly (3^rd Mondays) Retirement Coordinating Council luncheon meetings in Lansing.
• Student Allocation Committee.  The student allocation amounts, which are the same as last year, have been sent to the committee, and attempts are being made to get committee approval electronically.  Eric Mullen, budget officer for Student Services, indicates an effort to expand student leadership opportunities may minimize a faculty role on the committee.
• Committee for Professional Development.  F. van Hartesveldt has been asked to serve on a committee for professional development along with other union group leaders to design the Raider Learning System Leadership Team (RLSLT), which replaced the Center for Teaching and Learning.  Faculty, including adjuncts, interested in joining this committee should contact F. van Hartesveldt.
• Ethics Committee.  N. Alexander reminded reps that the Ethics Committee is to consist of representatives from each department.  As stated in the by-laws, those reps may not be Council reps and are to be appointed annually by departments.  Each department needs to appoint a member to serve on the Ethics Committee.  The method by which the appointments are to be made is undefined.

Super Senate.  N. Alexander, J. Spoelman, and several reps commented on the future of Academic Senate and the talk of combining the deans, ALT, and Academic Senate into a Super Senate.  F. van Hartesveldt noted that a Senate ad hoc committee will consider redesign of the Academic Senate and make specific recommendations before the winter 2006 semester.  Members of that committee are Velvie Green, Patti Trepkowski, Mike Light, Sandy Andrews, Randy Sahajdack, and Garret Brand.  F van Hartesveldt will ask that Senate representatives update Council. 

Adjunct Faculty Contract Negotiations.

F. van Hartesveldt referenced several notes from adjunct expressing dissatisfaction with the level of consideration they often receive (i.e. “Where were the adjuncts in the recent press coverage of the Hospitality Program?” “Adjuncts exist in impossible state with regard to workload versus pay.”)   D. Hearn also spoke of comments received in the last two weeks related to the delayed first pay, tuition reimbursement, and seniority and adjunct overload selection rotation.  The topic generated much discussion.  Comments indicated faculty empathized with adjuncts, but on several issues doubted the manageability of the requests.  F. van Hartesveldt also indicated that the Administration is willing to negotiate on some points.  After the discussion, F. van Hartesveldt asked reps to submit 2-3 names of adjuncts interested in adjunct issues. Beginning in November, he will plan monthly meetings with adjuncts at varying times for the good of communication and to invite them to voice their concerns.   

Negotiations Report.  J. Spoelman indicated release time continues as the Negotiating Team’s focus.  The release time subcommittee has put together a proposal which the administrative members of the committee have presented to administration.  The Negotiating Team has yet to have its first meeting with JCC this year. 

Grievance Report.  .F. van Hartesveldt indicated that he, Katie Danko and the Association student worker are updating the Association’s grievance history and hope to distribute part of the update for the next Council meeting. 

F. Garbowitz reported that the grievances that are before lawyers and at appeal have not moved.  The issues before McKimmy are also unchanged.  The Level 1 grievance regarding compensation for previously overloaded telecourses has been resolved – payment had been made appropriately for overloads in previous semesters. 

NEW BUSINESS

Topics for future meetings should be forwarded to F. van Hartesveldt. 

Next Meeting.  Friday, October 21, 2005, 6:30 a.m., 120ATC 

Adjournment.  Motion to adjourn, J. Hayes; second, W. Rodgers.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 a.m. 

Submitted by C. Lee Brown, Secretary

GRCC Faculty Association

Treasurer’s Report

September 2005 

Checking account balance September 1  $36,660.34 

Deposits: Dues  $7,498.67 

Expenses: Donations, flowers, fruit baskets……$    255.20

Grievances 527.78

Insurance 196.00

Legal 75.00

Office:

Telephone 25.95

Officers’pay 14,792.77

RCC-travel 96.00

Taxes & retirement 3,749.42 

Total expenses:   $ 19,718.12

Checking account balance September 30  $ 24,440.89 

Money Market Balance September 30  $95,105.66 

Submitted on October  7, 2005, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer