GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

February 23, 2007

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:35 a.m., 120 ATC.

 

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

 

Absent:  J. Batten, L. Burris, F. Conner, L. Crossman, B. Foster, J. Hayes, J. Russell.

Approval of Agenda:  Approved with the following changes:

  • Grievance report moved higher on the agenda.
  • Addition of discussion item regarding early registration for special populations. 
  • Addition of discussion item on the millage.

 

Approval of Minutes from February 9, 2007:  Approved as written.

 

Faculty Presentations from the Floor: 

  • P. DeGryse, President of the ESP group, sent an email commending staff and faculty for the handling of the recent bomb threat.   

 

President’s Report: 

  • Administration stated that while there were some communication problems during the bomb threat, the reason for the evacuation delay was because there were two different reports (a note and a backpack) that came in at two different times.
  • A. Cook, the Association Archivist, and student worker have been busy sorting and scanning documents.
  • Evaluation is complete of the Training Solutions contingent employees to identify if their work should be in the Faculty Association.  After thorough examination, all but three of the contingent employees are faculty members and their pay is being equated as overload. Contingent employees will continue to be monitored. 
  • Department Head elections are coming up in some departments.  Council Representatives are reminded that they, along with the Assistant Dean, are to conduct elections.
  • The Provost hiring team met to review the interview schedule and process.  The hiring firm has categorized candidates.  A Provost should be hired by April 27, 2007. 
  • Outstanding unit determination issues include:
    • The Association maintains the Auto Lab Technician position should be part of the Association, contradicting the views of Administration.
    • Nursing Lab Technician position will probably be accreted into the Association. 
    • Infection Control Officer work was done without pay by an adjunct faculty member.  Administration and the Association are trying to determine who should be doing the work and how it should be paid.  Discussion has brought to light safety and liability concerns in the dental program that the administration was advised of but has left unaddressed.
  • Recent Board of Trustees meeting estimated the 06-07 budget shortfall will be approximately $33,000, down from the fall 2006 estimate of a $500,000 shortfall.  The new estimate does not include possible mid-year cuts from the state.   

 

Negotiations Report:

  • JCC agenda items include Advisor positions in Counseling, no-fault adjunct leave days, and the accretion of the Lab Coordinators and Technicians.  Accretion delay centers around resolving issues related to working conditions, benefits, leaves with pay, and layoff language.  Table agreements have been made on the majority of the language related to the accretion.  
  • Faculty and administration advisory team on adjunct issues is addressing adjunct job security issues.
  • One-year contract has not been discussed recently. 

 

Grievance Report:  F. Garbowitz reported on the following:

  • Grievance #168 regarding a faculty member being docked pay for a leave of absence – Administration postponed meeting until March 30, 2007. 
  • Grievance #169 regarding a faculty member not being allowed to go over 27 credit hours – meeting has yet to be scheduled. 
  • Grievance #170:  This is a new grievance in which a faculty member was formally disciplined based on student complaints and is now being investigated for the same student complaints.  Other process problems include that HR rather than the faculty member’s dean handled the student complaints and that the complaints do not warrant administrative investigation.

 

Discussion and Action Items:

  • Request to endorse Board of Trustees candidates
    • All four candidates, M. Anderson, T. Handlin, C. Lopucki, and F. Pepper, in this year’s Board of Trustees election have contacted the Association President for an faculty or endorsement information.  Discussion took place on the benefits and disadvantages of endorsement.  It was suggested that the Faculty Association sponsor a Candidate Forum. 
    • J. Chesla made a motion that the Faculty Association sponsor a forum for the candidates.  T. Walwood seconded.  Motion passed.  Date, location, process, and a moderator need to be determined. 
  • Millage update
    • Friends of GRCC will publicly kick off millage support on March 7, 2007.  All faculty members are reminded that support of the millage can’t be done with college resources nor on college time.  Friends of GRCC have secured offsite office space to manage the campaign.  Strategy will include mailings, phone banks, and targeted media campaigns to secure at least 30,000 yes votes. 
    • R. Barnhart made a motion that the Faculty Association support the millage.  D. Godfrey seconded.  Motion passed.
    • Potential participation and financial support from the Association will be on the next meeting agenda.
    • Friends of GRCC have a website http://www.friendsofgrcc.com/. 
  • Blackboard environment
    • A meeting to discuss environment issues is scheduled for February 23, 2007. 
  • Committee update
    • The AGC is forming an Ethics committee.  Ethics issues college-wide may differ from faculty ethics issues.  The Faculty Association Ethics committee handles issues related to the Association rather than to academics and other work groups.
  • Special populations and early registration
    • AGC will address special populations and early registration.  Many students are classified as special population and are allowed to register early, leaving few seats available when open enrollment starts.  Some students know how to work the system to obtain early registration.  Issues include how special populations are defined and when early registration starts.  The AGC wants to restructure the process to reduce registration inequity. 

 

RCC Report: 

  • Beth Foster is unable to attend Legislative Day on February 28, 2007.  The representatives will be A. Donahue and A. Cook. 
  • P. Stoddard has been named the Senior Deputy Director of the Workforce Development and Retirement System, the branch that manages MPSERS.

 

New Business: 

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

 

Next Meeting: 

  • Friday, March 23, 2007, at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.

 

Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn B. Manker, H. Hoare seconded.  Adjournment at 8:10 a.m.

 

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary