FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING
Call to Order: F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:30 a.m., 122 ATC.
Present: Rick Barnhart, Jennifer Batten, C. Lee Brown, Marie Burns, Lyttron Burris, Mike Campo, Jim Chesla, Frank Conner, Anita Cook, John Cowles (for Kathleen Owen), Larry Crossman, Katie Danko, Mike Devivo (for Carolyn Grin), John Doane, Fred Garbowitz, Dick Godfrey, Jim Hayes, Dan Hearn, Stacey Heisler, Tim Hoving, Brian Keelean, Amy Kerkstra, Robert Long, Bob Monaldo, Brian Morris, Jeff Neumann, Wayne Rodgers, Mark Saur, Jeff Spoelman, Fred van Hartesveldt, Doug Wabeke, George Zeeff
Absent: Nickie Alexander, Beth Foster, Bernie Manker, Jonathon Russell, Joel Swets, Troy Walwood
Agenda: Today’s agenda was approved with the addition of the treasurer’s report.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the February 24, 2006, council meeting were approved as printed.
Faculty Presentations From the Floor.
· Troy Walwood, Training Solutions and Council Rep, is absent today for surgery.
· Kim Brems, Language Arts adjunct, lost her dad.
· Bill Dix, English adjunct and retiree, brain surgery.
Treasurer’s Report. D. Godfrey presented the Treasurer’s Report for February 2006 (attached). The February 28 checking account balance was $49,168.89. The February 28 money market/savings account balance was $111,635.20. It was noted that expenses for two approved conferences attended by Association leaders was under budget and that a transfer of $10,000 was made to the money market account.
Negotiations Report. J. Spoelman reported that JCC is meeting today with the following items on the agenda:
· Signing calendars
· Tentative draft of overload selection language for fall semester
· Continued conversation around the $40,000 for release time
A separate accretion meeting is also scheduled for this afternoon to discuss the accretion of Lab Coordinators to the Association.
President’s Report. F. van Hartesveldt’s report covered the following items:
· Association Elections— Association elections and department head elections will be held this semester. Jim Chesla, Joe Hesse, and Kathleen Owens are the Election Committee for Association elections. Department head elections are to be co-conducted by the assistant dean and the department Council representative(s). Responsibilities of Council reps in the election process are defined in Article 3K of the Association by-laws and include 1) ensuring that the election process is followed, and 2) working with the assistant dean to develop a ballot of candidates on which the assistant dean and Council rep agree.
Elections are due in six School of Arts and Science departments: 1) Behavioral Science, 2) Criminal Justice, 3) English, 4) Language and Thought, 5) Physical Science, and 6) Visual Arts. In the School of Workforce Development, the following departments must schedule elections this semester: 1) Applied Technology, 2) Computer Applications, 3) Drafting and Design, 4) General Business, and 5) Manufacturing.
· Accretion of Lab Technicians—The Association submitted its brief to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) in February, but the matter has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. MERC has encouraged a settlement instead of proceeding to hearing. Further conversations and an update are expected by March 31.
· Faculty Credentials Audit. Association leaders, Dean Olsen and the Human Relations director have identified a potential resolution to the credentials issue. The Dean has requested information from other colleges. Follow-up conversation between the Association and administration is scheduled for April.
· Board of Trustees Meeting—The Board discussed the impending budget shortfall for 2006-2007 and recommended tuition increases and a reduction in fund balance. President Olivarez wants faculty to lead the way to increasing the chance of a millage success by agreeing to increase co-pays. The Board also has a new brochuer, “Understanding Policy Governance,” copies of which were given to reps.
·
Retirement
Coordinating Council (RCC) Report—In lieu of an RCC report on the Council
agenda, the Legislative Report was e-mailed to reps prior to Council
meeting. Questions about the report were
encouraged.
Discussion and Action
Prescription Drugs Co-pay Proposal. In an effort to reduce the budget by about $300,000, the administration is seeking approval from all work groups on increased prescription drugs co-pay (from $5/$10 to $10/$20). The other groups have rejected the proposal or are anticipated to reject it. Council discussed the proposal at length and supports the administration’s effort to be fiscally responsible, but rejected the proposal for several reasons:
· Insufficient information
· Faculty already negotiated to contribute to insurance costs
· Undue financial burden on other campus labor groups
MOTION: Council neither vote for nor vote against this proposal. Let administration know we are willing to enter into further discussion and dialogue. D. Hearn; support, A. Kerkstra. Carried.
Disciplinary Actions. F. van Hartesveldt reviewed the three recent disciplinary cases:
1. Criminal Justice faculty member (inappropriate video) resigned before disciplinary action was taken in writing. Faculty members have approached Association leadership encouraging support of that faculty person; others discouraged such support. Settlement terms of separation were reached in a meeting between the faculty member and a vice-president, a violation of the faculty contract prohibiting individual negotiations. The Association has grieved the violation (Grievance 163).
2. The disciplinary investigation stemming from student complaints has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the faculty member, administration and Association.
3. The disciplinary investigation regarding a faculty member’s recordkeeping infraction has led to a five-day suspension without pay. A grievance may result.
The question was again raised about complaints against faculty being processed through Human Resources instead of being treated as academic issues.
Negotiating Team Membership. Discussion of the size of the Association negotiating team was opened after F. van Hartesveldt, on the suggestion of faculty members, reviewed the by-laws allowance of a five-member negotiating team. It was pointed out that the current team consists of six members, though only five are at the table. The suggestion was made to consider increasing the size to allow for more voices and involvement, especially of adjunct. After a brief discussion, reps were asked to initiate dialogue within their departments in preparation for further discussion at next Council meeting.
Grievance Report. F. Garbowitz indicated that a Level 1 grievance regarding an adjunct faculty member who was overpaid at the MA level for two years has been resolved. Full repayment was requested, but the amount disputed. A resolution has been reached. Council was reminded that compensation for advanced degrees requires that an official transcript with degree confirmation be in Human Resource records.
New Business. Items for the next Council meeting agenda should be sent to F. van Hartesveldt.
Next Meeting. Friday, April 7, 2006, 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.
Adjournment. Motion to adjourn, R. Long; second, B.
Morris. Adjournment at
Submitted by C. Lee Brown, Secretary
GRCC Faculty Association
Treasurer’s Report
February 2006
Checking account balance February 1............................................................. $66,826.86
Deposits:Dues................................................................................................ $13,115.69
Expenses: Conferences....................................... $ 3,722.61
Donations/Flowers....................................... 46.00
Food ..................................................... 963.54
Legal ....................................................... 37.50
Office: Telephone...................................... 29.59
Officers’ salary..................................... 14,792.77
RCC ....................................................... 50.00
Taxes .................................................. 1,131.65
Total expenses ............................................................................................ $ 20,773.66
Transfer to Money Market............................................................................ ($10,000.00)
Checking account balance February 28.......................................................... $ 49,168.89
Money Market/Savings February 28............................................................. $111,635.20
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Revenue & Expenses Year to Date
Revenue: Dues..................................................................................... $ 79,089.08 Interest 1,786.79
Expenses: Conferences....................................... $ 3,722.61
Donations/Flowers/Fruit baskets........... 1,050.22
Food...................................................... 3,499.20
Grievances............................................. 1,552.65
Insurance................................................... 471.00
Legal...................................................... 1,387.50
Negotiations/JCC................................... 2,204.77
Office: Postage.......................................... 39.00
Supplies........................................ 408.83
Telephone..................................... 176.69
Web-site....................................... 122.67
Officers’ pay........................................ 29,585.54
RCC ..................................................... 146.00
Taxes .................................................. 7,213.85
Total expenses ................................................................................. $ 51,580.53
Submitted March 24, 2006, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer ...........