GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

December 1, 2006

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:36 a.m., 120 ATC.

 

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, R. Barnhart, J. Batten, J. Berlin, M. Burns, M. Campo, J. Chesla, L. Crossman, K. Danko, J. Doane, F. Garbowitz, D. Godfrey, C. Grin, T. Hoving, B. Keelean, R. Long, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, R. Montes-Sutton, B. Morris, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, M. Saur, J. Spoelman, F. van Hartesveldt, T. Walwood, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer (for K. Owens).

 

Absent:  F. Conner, A. Cook, B. Foster, J. Hayes, H. Hoare, R. Ralya, J. Russell, J. Swets, D. Wabeke.

 

Approval of Agenda:  Approved with the addition of Ed2go.

 

Approval of Minutes from November 17, 2006:  Approved as written. 

 

Faculty Presentations from the Floor: 

  • Senator Bill Hardiman will speak on campus December 8, 2006, as a guest of KARSP, the representative group for retired Kent County school employees.
  • Golden Age Pass cards, available through the GRPS Volunteer Office, provide discounts including free GRCC parking for those age 60 or older. 
  • MESSA will reimburse members for the cost of the GRCC flu shot if you have the preventive care rider and submit a claim with a receipt.
  • Faculty Council representatives can be contacted through a new feature called Message Now, located at http://www.grccfaculty.com/newmembers.html.  The feature allows email contact even if the sender does not have a GRCC email account.

 

Treasurer’s Reports:  R. Godfrey distributed the Treasurer’s report for November, 2006.  Total expenses were $24,099.84.  Checking account balance is $23,996.34 and Money Market balance is $134,700.97.  Full report is attached. 

 

President’s Report: 

  • F. van Hartesveldt will serve on the Millage Planning team.  The College will survey the community to determine, among other things, an appropriate millage amount. 
  • A dean has restarted the review of faculty qualifications.
  • Faculty members are reminded, in regard to unplanned ending of employment, that it is wise to engage the Faculty Association to assist in the separation. 
  • Board of Trustees meeting on November 20, 2006, included discussion of the possibility of a mid-year budget cut in state aid. 
  • Two additional Lab Technician positions will likely join the Faculty Association, bringing the total number of Lab Technician positions to four.
  • Adjunct Advisory group will meet December 8, 2006, to examine adjunct issues.
  • F. van Hartesveldt provided a review of his recent work:

o       Reviewing all past MOUs to determine which are current.  They will be converted to PDF format and posted at http://www.grccfaculty.com.

o       Continuing to work on grievance history database. 

o       Responding to faculty member statements in the recent faculty survey. 

o       Working with student worker to digitalize records.

o       Continue working on communications, various committees, unit determination issues, personnel issues, and adjunct issues.

 

Discussion and Action Items:

Negotiations:  J. Spoelman reported events from JCC meeting on November 17, 2006.

  • The Administration proposed financial terms for a one-year contract.  Negotiating team counter-proposal included issues such as accretion of lab techs and coordinators. 
  • JCC met with Provost to discuss the 2008-2010 academic calendars.   
  • Frustration continues when Administration fails to abide by JCC decisions.   
  • Discussion took place about the additional 15 minutes in scheduled classes, including:
    • Administration sets the schedule, wants faculty to start workday at 7:45 a.m.
    • The 15 minutes can be used as break as long as the 800 minutes/credit is met.
    • Issues arise because student schedules state class ending or starting at a longer time than faculty members are holding class.
    • Suggested that faculty put together an issue paper and submit to AGC.

 

http://www.grcc.edu/ed2go

  • Ed2go is non-credit on-line instruction offered by GRCC but provided by Thompson-Learning.  Association will ask Administration to immediately end these offerings for reasons including:
    • Over 300 GRCC courses are being offered with no CARP process.
    • Instructors are from Thompson Learning and do not undergo the same hiring screening and qualifications that GRCC faculty complete.
    • Thompson Learning instructors are not members of the Association.
    • Some companies and higher education institutions may accept Ed2go courses as prior learning credits and circumvent credit courses.
    • The courses appear to directly compete with many GRCC offerings. 

 

Grievance Report:  F. Garbowitz reported on the following:

  • A third party neutral hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2007, for Grievance 167 regarding denial of overload in a telecourse class.

 

New Business: 

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

 

Next Meeting: 

  • Friday, January 12, 2007 at 6:30 a.m. 120 ATC.

 

Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn B. Manker; N. Alexander seconded.  Adjournment at 7:39 a.m.

 

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary

 

GRCC Faculty Association

Treasurer’s Report

November 2006

 

Checking account balance November 1……………………………………….…… $33,679.87

 

Deposits:   Dues…………………………………………………………...………….14,416.31

 

Expenses:  Donations/Flowers…….…………...……………….$47.50

                  Food………………………………………………...667.80

                  Grievances…………………………………………..400.71

                  JCC (survey)………………………………………...225.76

                  Legal……………………………………………...…165.00

                  Officers’ salary……………………………...……17,776.23

                  Taxes……………………………………………….4,816.84

Total Expenses………………………………...…………………………….………$24,099.84

Checking account balance November 30..………………………………………..…$23,996.34

 

 

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

 

 

Revenue & Expenses Year to Date

 

Revenue:      Dues……………………………………………………………....…. $36,558.62

                     Interest (10/31/06)……………………………………………………...….860.24

 

Expenses:     Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets……………… $458.37

                     Food…………………………………....………1,938.47

                     Grievances……………………………………..…921.70

                     JCC……………………………………………..4,612.26

                     Legal…………………………………...……….3,974.85

                     Office:

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

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

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

                     Officers’ pay……………………………….…33,013.00

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

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

                     Taxes……………………………….………....12,240.64

Total Expenses………………………….…………………………………………. $61,602.96

 

 

Submitted December 1, 2006, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer