GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

January 26, 2007

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:31a.m., 120 ATC.

 

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, R. Barnhart, J. Batten, J. Berlin, L. Burris, M. Campo, J. Chesla, F. Conner, L. Crossman, K. Danko, M. Devivo (for C. Grin), J. Doane, B. Foster, F. Garbowitz, D. Godfrey, H. Hoare, T. Hoving, B. Keelean, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, R. Montes-Sutton, B. Morris, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Russell, J. Swets, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt, D. Wabeke, T. Walwood, G. Zeeff.

 

Absent:  M. Burns, J. Hayes, R. Long, K. Owens, J. Spoelman.

 

Approval of Agenda:  Approved as written.

 

Approval of Minutes from January 12, 2007:  Minutes approved with the following correction:

  • Pat McClellan is recovering from heart surgery. 

 

Faculty Presentations from the Floor:

  • D. Godfrey is recovering from an illness. 
  • GRCC retiree’s released a current copy of the Retiree’s Quarterly.  Current and archived copies can be found at http://www.grcc.edu/ShowPage.cfm?PageID=6156.
  • The Association is looking for two persons to attend the RCC Legislative Day on February 28, 2007. 

 

Secretary’s Report:

  • A thank you note was received from Anita Cook for the kind words and retirement gift. 
  • A thank you note was received from Dick and Liora Godfrey for the food basket and flowers after surgery and illness.
  • A thank you note was received from Aleta Anderson for the fruit basket after surgery. 

 

President’s Report: 

  • Board of Trustees meeting held January 22, 2007.  Issues include budget concerns related to possible state cuts; College is considering hiring an outside consultant that will examine energy efficiency; petitions for nominations for the Board of Trustees deadline is February 13, 2007.  Incumbents T. Handlin and M. Anderson are running, as well as former Board of Trustees secretary F. Pepper. 
  • The MEA urges everyone to contact their elected representative to ask them to preserve K-12 and Community College budgets.    
  • Unresolved issues with Administration include:
    • Language on MOU, resulting from a grievance, defining a sabbatical leave. 
    • Contract for Lab Coordinators and Technicians. 
    • Unit determination issues involving Automotive Lab Technician, Nursing Program Lab Technician, and Infection Control Officer.
    • Two unresolved grievances related to overload cap.
  • IT donated a used computer the Faculty Association office. 
  • There are concerns about the adequacy of information about retirement options provided to new faculty during orientation. 
  • A faculty member has suggested that the college offer a new provider of Long Term Disability coverage.
  • Information forthcoming includes: Training Solutions contingent employees, pay for independent contractors, pay for Meet and Confer group, follow-up information regarding Ed2go.
  • Millage status is still undetermined.  The College is waiting on the results of the public survey.  If millage proceeds, date will be May 8, 2007.      

 

Discussion and Action Items:

  • Negotiations
    • Agenda for JCC meeting on February 26, 2007, includes the following:
      • No-fault adjunct leave days so that leaves can include bereavement and conference days, in addition to sick days.
      • Accretion proposal for Lab Coordinators and Technicians.
      • Association President’s pay issue.  For the past year, the Association reimbursed the College for replacement pay for President, per an agreement with the VP of Finance.  However, the College now wants to be reimbursed ½ of President’s salary, which is significantly higher than the replacement cost to the College.  Discussion is scheduled for a 3rd party neutral hearing on February 8, 2007.
    • Winter pay calculation sheet was sent out via email.  Changes in salary must be submitted by February 16, 2007. 
    • There has been no movement on the proposals to continue the current contract for one year. 
    • Recent adjunct meetings resulted in examining adjunct pay tiers at other colleges and identifying the most common concerns such as job security. 
  • Archivist for 509 Main
    • A. Cook has proposed a pay rate of $38.87 per hour in order to organize and archive the Association office.  Proposal included a commitment to a year, with a 12 hour maximum per week.  Job duties also include a weekly update.
    • J. Neumann made a motion to approve the proposal at a pay rate of $38.87 and the time commitment of 12 hours maximum per week; M. Campo seconded.  Motion passed.
  • BlackBoard Environment
    • Concerns include changes to the BlackBoard environment without sufficient input from faculty.  Issues include inability to manage enrollment, not being allowed to merge class sections, and student records being dropped from the gradebook. 
    • B. Manker, F. van Hartesveldt, and Computer Applications faculty member will request a meeting with BlackBoard leaders in order to resolve issues.      
  • Textbook unavailability
    • Bookstore experienced many semester startup issues.  J. Nutt, who oversees the bookstore, is aware of the issues as they were addressed at AGC. 

 

  • Committees
    • College wide ethics committee is working to create a clear ethics statement. 

 

Grievance Report:  F. Garbowitz reported on the following:

  • Grievance #167 regarding the overload cap:  A 3rd party neutral hearing held on January 10, 2007 was continued to February 8, 2007.
  • Grievance #168 regarding paid and unpaid leaves:  A meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2007 to see if leave can be classified as conference pay.  Issue is that Administration advised faculty member to take an unpaid leave as conference leave would be denied.  Faculty members are reminded that if an unpaid leave is requested, Human Resources calculates your base salary and any extras such as longevity, divides by 161, and docks the pay appropriately.  If a faculty member has any questions about the appropriate leave, see your Faculty Council Representative. 
  • New grievance #169 regarding the overload cap:  a faculty member was not allowed to exceed 27 hours. 

 

RCC Report:  B. Foster reported on the following:

  • Much discussion on the state budget. 
  • SB 1017 is now a law, Public Act 617 of 2006. 

 

New Business: 

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

 

Next Meeting: 

  • Friday, February 9, 2007, at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.

 

Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn F. Conner, R. Barnhart seconded.  Adjournment at 8:02 a.m.

 

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary