GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING
http://www.grccfaculty.com
January 12,
2007
Call to Order: F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to
order at 6:32 a.m., 120
ATC.
Present: W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, R. Barnhart,
J. Batten, L. Burris, M. Campo, J. Chesla, F. Conner, L. Crossman, K. Danko, J.
Doane, B. Foster, F. Garbowitz, C. Grin, J. Hayes, H. Hoare, T. Hoving, B.
Keelean, R. Long, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, M. Smidt (for M. Burns), R. Montes-Sutton,
B. Morris, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, J. Spoelman, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt,
D. Wabeke, T. Walwood, F. Zomer (for K. Owens).
Absent: J. Berlin, D. Godfrey, J. Swets, G. Zeeff.
Approval of Agenda: Approved as written.
Approval of Minutes
from December 1, 2006: Approved as written.
Faculty Presentations
from the Floor:
·
New babies for J. Drain, Biological Sciences,
and L. Kleinert, Physical Sciences.
·
Pat McClennan, former Director of the
Occupational Therapy Assisting program, has had heart surgery. She is in recovery and cards can be sent to
Pat McClennan, Metron of Forest Hills, 1095 Medical Park Dr. SE, Grand
Rapids, MI, 49546.
·
L. Godfrey is in recovery after recent back surgery. Cards can be sent to 3600 Grand River Dr. NE, Grand
Rapids, MI, 49525.
·
D. Godfrey is also out until February with an
illness.
·
A. Anderson, German/Spanish Professor, is recuperating
after surgery for cancer. Cards can be
sent to 2120 Academy Dr. NE,
Grand Rapids, MI,
49503.
·
As a reminder, requests for flowers/fruit
baskets can be sent to N. Alexander at nalexand@grcc.edu
or http://www.grccfaculty.com/flower.htm.
·
MARPs, group representing retiree benefits, will
host Bonnie Carpenter, Executive
Director of MARSP, on campus January 19, 2007.
·
D. Terhune is the new representative to Faculty
Council for the Library.
Secretarys Report:
- A
thank you note was received from Renee and Michael Rivers for the fruit
basket sent after the birth of their son.
Treasurers Reports: J. Spoelman (for D. Godfrey) distributed the
Treasurers report for December, 2006.
Total expenses were $4,572.10.
Checking account balance is $33,531.44 and Money Market balance is
$135,662.99. Full report is
attached.
Presidents Report:
- F.
van Hartesveldts sent an email update to all faculty members in
December. One correction is that BCBS
will administer both Medicare and MPSERS under one plan called Medicare
Advantage. This plan is not for all
retirees, but only for those who selected BCBS for their carrier.
- The
Associations 2005 tax return is available for public inspection. Contact F. van Hartesveldt.
- The
Associations PAC fund has a balance of $720.96.
- A Faculty
Issues folder is available in GroupWise for faculty members to share
information. If you are not a
member and want to be, contact K. Danko.
- Faculty
numbers for the Winter semester are forthcoming. There are nine temporary contracts, four
of which are new hires this semester.
- Nineteen
administrative staff are teaching this semester. Under a clause in the contract, administrative
staff may teach with the approval of the Association President.
- The
Foundation Open Door campaign surpassed the $10 million goal, and several
gifts are still in the process. Assets
of the Foundation have increased from $13.8 to $16.6 million over the past
year.
- As a
reminder, all issues that faculty may have can be brought to the
Association.
- Contact
N. Alexander if you need help determining if your pay is correct. This is particularly important for
adjunct faculty, especially for those teaching one-half time or more and
for those who are new. It is
important to double check your pay schedule and pay rates, available in
the contract at http://www.grccfaculty.com/
.
- A
review is taking place of independent contractors and Training Solutions
contingency employees out of concern that they may be doing Association
work.
Discussion and Action
Items:
- Negotiations
- JCC
will not meet on January
12, 2007, due to the start of the semester.
- One-year
contract continuation has not been agreed upon due to language issues and
financial package disparity.
- Discussion
of a May millage continues.
- Archivist
for 509 Main?
- The
Association may hire A. Cook, retired librarian, to help organize Faculty
Association records. A proposal will estimate the
amount of work.
- Ed2go
- F. van Hartesveldt and M. Light met with
administrators regarding Ed2go, the non-credit on-line instruction by Thomson
Learning using the GRCC logo that had appeared to be GRCC offerings
outside of the Faculty Association.
Concern was expressed that Ed2go offerings were instituted without
discussion with or notice to faculty.
Ed2go offerings will continue, but they have been distanced from
GRCC. Ed2go offerings are not
comparable to GRCC classes, and participants are not able to get credits
from GRCC, transfer credits, or prior learning credits. Faculty members are encouraged to review
Ed2go offerings in their disciplines to see if they compete with GRCC
offerings. Faculty members may
also develop their own Ed2go offerings through Thomson Learning.
- BlackBoard
Environment
- This
issue of negotiating conditions of the online environment will be placed
on the agenda for the next meeting.
Grievance Report: F. Garbowitz
reported on the following:
- Grievance #167 regarding the overload cap A 3rd
party neutral hearing was held on January 10, 2007.
A decision will be held until February 8, 2007.
- Grievance #168, regarding paid and unpaid leaves, is
still outstanding. Faculty members
are reminded to be cautious on taking a leave without pay.
RCC Report: B. Foster
reported on the following:
- Legislative
update includes the following:
- BCBS
will administer both Medicare and MPSERS under
a planned called Medicare Advantage.
- SB
1071 passed and is expected to be signed by the Governor. This bill changes language for the
purchase of service credits for family and medical leaves and also allows
retirees to name a spousal beneficiary after retirement.
- HB
6694 is underway. This bill allows
certain municipalities to write municipal bonds to pay for unfunded
accrued liabilities for retiree health care.
- RCC
update includes the following:
- Budget
woes continue for the RCC group.
- Capitol
Services will continue to lobby for the RCC.
- Items
for the next Faculty Council meeting should be submitted to F. van
Hartesveldt.
- Friday, January 26, 2007,
at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.
- Motion
to adjourn W. Acevedo-Ferrer, T. Walwood seconded. Adjournment at 8:04 a.m.
Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary
GRCC
Faculty Association
Treasurers
Report
December
2006
Checking account balance December
1
.
$23,996.34
Deposits: Dues
...
.14,107.20
Expenses: Donations/Flowers
.
...
.$99.50
Food
...333.90
JCC.
...2,457.90
Legal
...
165.00
Taxes
.1,515.80
Total
Expenses
...
.
$ 4,572.10
Checking
account balance December 31..
..
$33,531.44
Money Market Balance 12/31/06
..
..$135,662.99
Revenue
& Expenses Year to Date
Revenue: Dues
....
. $50,665.82
Interest (12/31/06)
...
.1,822.26
Expenses: Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets
$557.87
Food
....
2,272.37
Grievances
..
921.70
JCC
..7,070.16
Legal
...
.4,139.85
Office:
Supplies
105.98
Telephone
93
Website
..56.76
Officers
pay
.
33,013.00
Public
Relations
..3,500.00
RCC
.
..780.00
Taxes
.
....13,756.44
Total
Expenses
.
. $66,175.06
Submitted January 12, 2007, by Dick Godfrey,
Treasurer