GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

November 3, 2006

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:33 a.m., 120 ATC.

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, J. Batten, J. Berlin, M. Burns, L. Burris, M. Campo, A. Cook, L. Crossman, K. Danko, M. Devivo (for C. Grin), J. Doane, F. Garbowitz, J. Hayes, H. Hoare, T. Hoving, B. Keelean, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, R. Montes-Sutton, B. Morris, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, M. Saur, R. Sherman (for G. Zeeff), J. Spoelman, F. van Hartesveldt, D. Wabeke, F. Zomer (for K. Owens).

Absent:  R. Barnhart, J. Chesla, F. Conner, B. Foster, D. Godfrey, R. Long, J. Russell, J. Swets, T. Walwood.

Approval of Agenda:  Agenda approved as printed. 

Recognition of New Representatives:  R. Montes-Sutton will be serving on the Negotiating Team on an as-needed basis.   

Approval of Minutes from October 20, 2006:  Minutes approved with the following clarification:

• Carol Redwine’s thank you was for a retirement cash gift.   

Faculty Presentations from the Floor:

• A. Cook stated that during the College Connections meeting on November 2, 2006, President Olivarez publicly expressed opposition to Proposal 5.

Secretary’s Report:

• Thank you from Jim Schaap, Computer Applications Adjunct, for the fruit basket he received during his hospital stay after an auto accident.
• Thank you from Liz Dix for the floral arrangement she received after the passing of Bill Dix, English Department. 
• Thank you from Bob and Cindy Kennell, adjunct, for the fruit basket they received.   
• Many thanks from the ESP group for the Faculty Associations contribution to help with their dues.

Treasurer’s Report:  J. Spoelman, acting for Treasurer R. Godfrey, distributed the Treasurer’s report for October, 2006.  Total expenses were $6,123.71.  Checking account balance is $33,679.87 and Money Market balance is $134,700.97.  Full report is attached. 

Negotiations Report:  J. Spoelman reported on the JCC meeting held on October 20, 2006.

• Contract Concerns survey to identify issues of importance for contract negotiations was sent out via email on November 2, 2006 and will run until November 15, 2006. 
• JCC continues to work on contract language clarification and on contract language for the accretion of Lab Technicians and Coordinators. 
• A meeting is scheduled for November 9, 2006 to discuss the economic details of a 1-year contract.  Discussion of a 1-year contract include:
• Consequences of the millage, including negotiating under uncertainty for a long term contract and the possibility of a very conservative 3-year contract before millage. 
• Administration is in favor of a short-term contract.
• There is a long list of non-financial issues to be resolved.
• Faculty Council directed JCC meeting scheduled for today, November 3, 2006, to be cancelled because two of three key administrators cannot attend.  Faculty Council reminded negotiating team that if key administrators do not attend JCC, the Association negotiating team is not going to meet.  

President’s Report:

Board of Trustees

• The Board of Trustees (BOT) directed the Administration to survey the community to see if there is support for a millage.  It was also reported that 1/10^th of a mil would result in 2 million dollars in revenue.
• The BOT agenda included that Anita Cook, library faculty, is retiring in December after 31 years of service.
• As a reminder, faculty members are invited to address the BOT. 

Provost Search Team

• Because the pool of candidates was small, the Provost Search committee has decided to hire an outside search firm to target more potential candidates.  D. Boyer, interim Provost, is willing to continue to consult on contract negotiations after his temporary contract ends.

Class Coverage

• An Assistant Dean, after granting a leave, is asking classroom faculty how their classes will be covered.  As a reminder, faculty members are not required to have a sub teach their classes for the first three requested conference/leave days.  However, if the leave extends past three days and a faculty member is not planning on finding a sub, Administration has the right to deny the leave.  If a faculty is on an approved leave, the College will pay for a sub. 

Discussion and Action Items:

• Committee membership and reports
• K. Miller, Nursing, and S. Abid, Social Sciences, will serve on the process based management team to revise the hiring process.
• Currently looking for someone to administer the Association’s PAC fund.  If interested, contact F. van Hartesveldt. 
• The College is moving forward on revising the Code of Ethics and will consult with the Association’s Ethics committee. 
• Finance committee will conduct an outside audit next academic year. 
• Allocations review team seems to be defunct.
• There will be an annual review of the Constitution by-laws. 
• Communications committee is active, primarily with the website. 
• Scholarship committee is not active, but contact will be made with E. Cisler and A. Bowne in hopes of revitalizing. 
• Officer’s compensation committee not active.  Considering hiring an administrator to handle some of the Association business. 
• C. Grin is current Parliamentarian.
• The college’s Bookstore Oversight committee, on which a faculty member serves, seems inactive.
• Faculty members will be asked to serve on the Emeritus faculty committee next semester.
• Faculty Voice committee is active with B. Manker and F. Conner currently serving.  Discussion took place on changing the faculty members on team.
• Base load assignments in summer?
• Discussion began on changing base load assignments so that the 30 hours do not have to be assigned only in Fall and Winter semesters.  One issue is how to equitably distribute base load if among all faculty who might want it in the summer.  Discussion to continue at the next Council meeting.

Grievance Report:  F. Garbowitz and L. Burris reported on the following:

• A meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 06, 2006 in regards to grievance #167, the denial of telecourse overload. 
• The language is being clarified in a recent corrective action notice to a faculty member who was not in the classroom during the scheduled class time.  The clarification addresses the specific circumstances and type of class involved.

New Business: 

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

Next Meeting: 

• Friday, November 17, 2006, at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.

Adjournment: 

• Motion to adjourn, A. Cook; B. Morris seconded.  Adjournment at 7:35 a.m.

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary

GRCC Faculty Association

Treasurer’s Report

October 2006

Checking account balance October 1………………………………………….…… $25,443.48

Deposits:   Dues…………………………………………………………...………….14,360.10

Expenses:  Donations/Flowers/Fruit…………...……………….$310.87

                  Food………………………………………………..1,270.67

                  Legal……………………………………………….…409.30

                  Office:                            

                             Supplies………………………………….……105.98

                             Website…………………………………..……. 56.76

                  Public Relations: ESP………………………………….3,500

                  Taxes………………………………………………….470.13

Total Expenses………………………………...…………………………….………$6,123.71

Checking account balance October 31…………………………………………..…$33,679.87

Money Market Balance 10/31/06……………………………………………..…..$134,700.97

Revenue & Expenses Year to Date

Revenue:      Dues……………………………………………………………....…. $22,142.31

                     Interest…………………………………………………………………….860.24

Expenses:     Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets……………… $410.87

                     Food…………………………………....………1,270.67

                     Grievances……………………………………..…520.99

                     JCC……………………………………………..4,386.50

                     Legal…………………………………...……….3,809.85

                     Office:

                               Supplies……………………………………105.98

                               Telephone………………………………………93

                               Website……………………………………..56.76

                     Officers’ pay……………………………….…15,236.77

                     Public Relations………………………………..3,500.00

                     RCC……………………………………….……..780.00

                     Taxes……………………………….…………..7,423.80

Total Expenses………………………….…………………………………………. $37,503.12

Submitted November 3, 2006, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer