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, Jim Chesla, Frank Conner, Anita
Cook, Larry Crossman, Katie Danko, Beth Foster, Carolyn Grin, Jim Hayes, Dan
Hearn, Stacey Heisler, Brian Keelean, Amy Kerkstra, Robert Long, Bernie Manker,
Bob Monaldo, Kathleen Owens, Wayne Rodgers, Jonathon Russell, Mark Saur, Mary
Scanlan (for Brian Morris), Jeff Spoelman, Fred van Hartesveldt, Doug Wabeke, George
Zeeff, Fred Zomer (for Kathleen Owens)
Absent: Mike Campo, Dick Godfrey, Jeff Neumann, Joel
Swets,
Visitors: John Doane, Fred Garbowitz
Agenda: Today’s agenda was approved as printed.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the
47 faculty members are at 27 to 28.5 credit hours; 15 of those have 28 to 28.5 contact hours.
Faculty Presentations from the Floor.
§ Bill Dicks, English retiree and adjunct, had surgery this week for a brain tumor.
§ Articles on the closed doors of Iranian educational institutions were received from Richard Reid, Language and Thought retiree, along with a message suggesting faculty take interest.
§ C. Grin announced her diagnosis of a malignant melanoma and a second scheduled surgery. She requested no flowers.
§
Citing a recurring question about tuition
benefits for children of faculty, F. van Hartesveldt indicated that tuition
benefits are not extended to children of faculty. However, GRCC Foundation scholarships are
extended to faculty children. Mary
Ambrose, Scholarship coordinator, is the contact person.
Secretary’s Report. C. L.
Brown read thank-you notes received from Nancy Forrest (Math) for a floral
arrangement following her illness and from Hillery Haney (Language and Thought)
for a floral arrangement following childbirth.
Treasurer’s
Report. The treasurer’s report for
October 2005 (attached) was distributed by J. Spoelman. Total expenses for October were
$22,149.32. As of
Negotiations Report (J. Spoelman). The current memo of understanding on overload language has expired. The team anticipates having a new memo of understanding in place by April when overload for fall should be selected. The Release Time Committee will meet today in a continuing effort to allocate $40,000 set aside in the budget for faculty release time. The Language Clarification Sub-committee is also working on a mutual meeting date. The team voiced frustrations with their many failed attempts to meet with administration.
President’s Report. F. van Hartesveldt’s report covered the
following items:
· Calendar Conflict. The due date for grades this semester falls during the holiday campus shutdown. The Registrar’s Office says the same case existed last year and there were no problems, but it will publicize resources available to faculty during that time.
· Reminder to Track Longevity/Service Credits. Faculty are reminded to keep track of their longevity service and training hours to ensure timely and accurate payments and appropriate faculty title recognition. Discrepancies and questions from full-time faculty should be directed to Jim Fox in Human Resources; adjunct faculty should contact Jan Benham.
Discussion and Action
Health Insurance Issues and Legislation. Council discussed at length the health care benefits implications of House Bill 5314 and Senate Bill 635, both of which the Retirement Coordinating Council is asking faculty help in defeating. Faculty may contact their RCC representative, offer to testify at a hearing (RCC help is available), or write letters to voice opposition to the pending legislation.
It was noted that MESSA is provided to GRCC faculty through the life of the current contract. Recent Negotiations Team discussions about health care benefits options (i.e. Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts) fulfill the agreement to start looking at other options the second year (this year) of the contract to offset the $90 co-pay that becomes effective next year.
Administration
Timeliness. President Olivarez has
directed administration and faculty to collaborate. However, unsuccessful attempts at scheduling
meetings are resulting in little collaboration and consequently few decisions. Members of the Negotiations Team and several
others expressed frustration with the unavailability of administrators for meetings,
their canceling of meetings, and their scheduling of meetings that conflict
with the normal faculty work day. Several
suggestions were offered as to how faculty might spur a change in this pattern in
the interest of collaboration.
NEW BUSINESS
Topics for future meetings should be forwarded to F. van
Hartesveldt.
Next
Meeting.
Adjournment. Motion to adjourn, J. Hayes; second, B.
Foster. Adjournment at
Submitted by C. Lee Brown, Secretary