GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

October 20, 2006

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:30 a.m. 120 ATC.

 

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, R. Barnhart, J. Batten, J. Berlin, M. Burns, L. Burris, M. Campo, J. Chesla, F. Conner, A. Cook, L. Crossman, K. Danko, M. Devivo (for C. Grin), J. Doane, B. Foster, F. Garbowitz, D. Godfrey, T. Hoving, B. Keelean, R. Long, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, B. Morris, J. Neumann, R. Ralya, J. Russell, M. Saur, J. Spoelman, J. Swets, F. van Hartesveldt, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer (for K. Owens).

 

Absent:  N. Alexander, J. Hayes, M. Parsons, D. Wabeke, T. Walwood.

 

Approval of Agenda:  Agenda approved with the addition of the ESP proposal. 

 

Recognition of New Representatives:  H. Hoare is the new adjunct representative for the School of Arts & Sciences. 

 

Approval of Minutes from October 6, 2006:  Minutes approved with the following clarification:

  • C-3 funds should be spent before June 30, 3007, and receipts submitted by July 15. 

 

Faculty Presentations from the Floor:

  • Michael Sak will speak on campus on October 20, 2006 as a guest of KARSP, the representative group for retired Kent County school employees. 
  • Association attorney N. Smith and his firm were named in the 2000 edition of Best Lawyers in America. 
  • Open enrollment for health coverage lasts until November 3, 2006.  You must return form to HR even if you are not changing coverage. 

 

Secretary’s Report:

  • Thank you from Kevin Dobreff for the fruit basket he received during his hospital stay.
  • Thank you from C. Redwine for the fruit basket she received as a retirement gift.  

 

Negotiations Report:  J. Spoelman reported on the JCC meeting held on October 6, 2006.

  • There has been discussion to define faculty work. 
  • Administration would like the work day to begin at 7:45, rather than the current 8 to 5 contract obligation.  While many 7:45 a.m. classes are staffed by full-time faculty, Administration is concerned because this time slot cannot be assigned.  Council members should discuss with their departments.  Other discussion included:
    • Some adjuncts teach a 7:45 a.m. class and then return later in the afternoon.
    • There are scheduling conflicts with labs if classes do not start at 7:45 a.m. 
    • Pass time between classes should be revisited. 
  • Financial package is not defined and will not be proposed until the Board of Trustees has input. 

 

President’s Report:

  • Minutes from recent meeting with Department Heads and Program Directors will be emailed to Council members.
  • Faculty numbers for Fall 2006 are as follows:
    • 17% of faculty are teaching 27 hours or more; 21% are teaching 24-27 credits. 
    • 21% of adjunct are teaching 11 hours or more; 40% are teaching 5 hours or less.
    • There are 559 hours of release time and equated overload, 195 different assignments paid to 127 different faculty members. 
  • On October 19, 2006, representatives from health care providers were on campus.  Discussion included:
    • Differences between WMHIP and MESSA Supercare have been presented as comparable, but there are differences.  For example, MESSA covers 100% of chemotherapy and radiation therapy whereas WMHIP covers 90%.
    • Physician participation of WMHIP is unknown.    
  • Administration has issued a corrective action notice to a faculty member for being out of the classroom when a minor injury to a student occurred.  Administration proposes that the faculty member is not to leave the classroom except for scheduled breaks. 
  • There will a new Personal Business Leave form that incorporates the contract language. 

 

Discussion and Action Items:

  • Presentation and approval of negotiating team members:
    • Currently no representative on negotiating team is from counseling and library.  R. Montes-Sutton, Counseling, will serve on team on an as-needed basis. 
  • ESP contribution:
    • Discussion took place on a contribution to ESP to help with their substantial increase in MEA dues.  It was recommended that a single contribution be paid directly to the ESP group.  There are 171 faculty who have MESSA because the ESP group, but not faculty, belong to the MEA.  ESP will stay with MEA at least during their current contract which runs through 2008. 
    • R. Long made a motion to contribute $3,500 to the ESP group.  M. Devivo seconded. Motion carried. 
  • Thank you letters to Foundation donors:
    • Discussion took place on writing thank you letters to major GRCC donors.  L. Crossman made a motion that the Association write a personal letter of thanks if a one time gift is over $100,000.  No second and issue was closed.
  • Legislative Proposal 5 to establish mandatory K-16 funding levels:
    • Proposal 5 would guarantee a base level of funding every year for K-16 education, increasing the annual per pupil spending by the rate of inflation.  RCC took a position against proposal expressing concerns of where funding might come from.  GRCC has not taken a position.
    • Recommended that the Association take a neutral position on Proposal 5. 
  • Recognition clause:
    • Discussion continued over redefining the Faculty Association’s Recognition Clause.  Current clause is very broad; other college employees have sought to join the Association.
    • Recommended that the Association maintain its clarity and purpose.
  • Overload cap:
    • Discussion to do away with a hard cap on contact hours and come up with contract provisions that address student success and quality teaching when credits are high.  This might alleviate constant cap issues with Administration.  Discussion took place on the following questions:
      • When faculty reach a certain number of contact hours, should they have more office hours and more evaluations?
      • Should the college pay less as the amount of overload increases?
      • Should high credit loads be allowed in consecutive semesters?
      • Do high loads lead to less involvement?
      • Do high loads affect the quality of teaching?
      • What effects would there be on adjuncts? 

 

Grievance Report:  F. Garbowitz and F. van Hartesveldt reported on the following:

  • A Memo of Understanding (MOU) was signed for Grievance #163 regarding individual negotiations during separation from the College.  The MOU sets forth what must happen if a faculty member requests a meeting with Administration regarding discipline or resignation.
  • Grievance #164 regarding disagreement over the content of an FGIP is not officially resolved. 
  • Grievance #165 regarding sabbatical leaves was verbally settled at a neutral-third-party hearing, but the MOU is unfinished. 
  • Grievance #167 regarding a telecourse overload cap is at level 2. 

 

RCC Report:  B. Foster reported on the RCC meeting held on October 16, 2006, including:

  • SB 1017, regarding post-retirement marriages, is going to the House for approval.
  • The House and Senate continue to introduce bills that would regulate the pharmaceutical industry. 
  • The Director of ORS is leaving the RCC. 

 

New Business: 

  • Items for the next Faculty Council meeting should be submitted to F. van Hartesveldt.

 

Next Meeting: 

  • Friday, November 3, 2006, at 6:30 a.m., 122 or 124 ATC.

 

Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn, J. Russell; R. Barnhart seconded.  Adjournment at 7:59 a.m.

 

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary