GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

March 23, 2007

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.

 

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, R. Barnhart, J. Batten, J. Berlin, M. Burns, L. Burris, M. Campo, J. Chesla, A. Cook, K. Danko, M. Devivo (for C. Grin), J. Doane, B. Foster, F. Garbowitz, M. Gillan, D. Godfrey, J. Hayes, S. Heisler (for R. Ralya), H. Hoare, T. Hoving, B. Keelean, R. Long, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, R. Montes-Sutton, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, J. Russell, J. Spoelman, J. Swets, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt, D. Wabeke, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer (for K. Owens).

 

Absent:  F. Conner, B. Morris, T. Walwood.

Approval of Agenda:  Approved with the following changes:  BlackBoard discussion item moved to President’s Report; Next meeting will be in 234 SCC; Treasurer’s Report added. 

 

Approval of Minutes from February 23, 2007:  Approved as written.

 

Faculty Presentations from the Floor: 

  • D. Fearnow, HVAC faculty member, has announced his retirement.
  • Effective August, ESP new President will be M. McClure.

 

Secretary’s Report: One note of thanks from Jack Van Aartsen, former Association President, for a gift in memory of the passing of his wife June. 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  D. Godfrey distributed the Treasurer’s report for February, 2007.  Total expenses were $22,258.72.  Checking account balance is $41,482.36 and Money Market balance is $136,600.06.  The full report is attached. 

 

President’s Report: 

  • Release and equated overload for Winter, 2007, includes 134 faculty members totaling 606 hours. 
  • J. Fox, full-time faculty HR representative, is available to help process paperwork and address problems.  His extensive knowledge and willingness to help has benefited faculty.
  • R. Rayla has offered to meet with departments to explain the proper process for working with students with disabilities. 
  • Adjunct faculty members can buy insurance at the college group rate during the open enrollment period or a change in status.  Contact L. Alsgaard at x4175. 
  • Conference attendance qualifies for release from commencement obligations.
  • Biological Sciences, Wellness, Social Science, and Math will be holding department head elections this semester. 
  • A. Cook, Association Archivist, reported that the file subject system is being organized so that it will be easy to find files in the future.
  • B. Manker and F. van Hartesveldt met with G. Brand and L. Foster regarding the BlackBoard environment.  Areas of concern include course merging, enrollment management, lack of faculty voice in decision making, record keeping, and lack of communication with LRTS.  Some issues might be classified as a change in working conditions and therefore possibly a grievance issue.  AGC has a technology sub team that may work with LRTS to address issues and improve communication. 
  • Open Door campaign is at $12.6 million.  Almost $2 million has been pledged for an increase in scholarships, $1 million for discretionary funds, and the majority of the remainder by major donors for specific purposes.  Most recently a generous gift of property has been received from F. and L. Keller.
  • The Foundation is looking for more directors with ties to the community to serve on their board.  Forward any names to F. van Hartesveldt.
  • The Provost Search committee recently reviewed a list of candidates.  The next step is to narrow the number of candidates to six and conduct first round interviews.
  • Accretion issues include the following:
    • Auto Lab Technician:  Administration denied this position accretion to the Association, stating it is similar to the Preschool Lab Assistant.  The Association has responded by asking that both positions be accreted. 
    • Nursing Lab Technician:  Administration stated they would likely agree to this accretion and would respond by March 1, 2007.  No response to date. 
    • Infection Control Officer:  Deans were to respond in February regarding this position.  No response to date. 
    • Educational Development Services Specialist:  This position is a modified counseling position.  The Association has asked this be accreted.
  • Board of Trustee’s meeting held on March 19, 2007, included the following:
    • M. Hansen, from the Michigan Community College Retirement council, presented materials on the ORP. 
    • G. Shenk thanked the faculty for their help in identifying YES millage voters and sponsoring the BOT Candidate Forum to be held on April 19, 2007.

 

Negotiations Report:  J. Spoelman and N. Alexander reported on the following: 

  • Recent meeting resulted in a table agreement that will allow adjunct faculty to convert one sick day to a personal day each semester.  No memo of understanding (MOU) yet.
  • Discussions continue regarding changes Administration wants to make to newly hired Counselors.  This includes a 52 year work load and five additional hours per week. 
  • Discussion continues regarding pay increases for the Tutor and Lab Assistants. 
  • The Negotiation Team recently submitted a new proposal for a one year contract.
  • Adjunct Issues Advisory group met recently to discuss year long contracts for adjuncts.  Recommendations will likely be forwarded to the Negotiations Team. 

 

Grievance Report:  F. Garbowitz reported on the following:

  • A draft MOU to settle grievance 165 regarding the sabbatical process, resolved by a 3rd party mediator in September 2006, is stalled in the hands of attorneys.    
  • Grievance 170 regarding disciplinary investigation of a faculty member is at Level 1.  Both the grievance and the investigation are being suspended pending further discussion.
  • Grievance 168 regarding denial of conference leave resulting in docked pay was resolved.  The faculty member received ½ of pay that was docked.
  • Grievance 169 regarding a denial of faculty member requesting 27.68 credit hours will go to a 3rd party neutral hearing.  The issue is the overload cap. 
  • Possible grievance regarding the portfolio portion of the evaluation process was resolved.  Both the faculty member and administrator will attend portfolio training together. 

 

Discussion and Action Items:

  • Board of Trustees election candidate forum
    • Public forum is scheduled April 19, 2007, at 3 p.m. at the Ford Fieldhouse.  D. Sutton will moderate and all candidates will attend. 
    • Discussion took place on how the forum will be held.  Association representatives are asked to come up with questions by asking their department members.  Forward suggested questions to F. van Hartesveldt.
  • Millage support
    • Millage campaign has asked for financial and volunteer support from the faculty.
    • Discussion took place on a possible donation from the Association to help fund the estimated campaign cost of $70,000 to $100,000. 
    • B. Manker made a motion that the Association supports the millage financially.  Seconded by J. Hayes.  R. Long amended the motion to include an amount of $25,000.  Seconded by J. Hayes.  Motion passed with 13 yes and 8 no votes. 
    • Recent phone calls made by Association representatives to faculty members resulted in 140 confirmed YES votes, 56 willing to help with the phone banks, and 4 wishing to support campaign financially.  Calls are not completed. 
    • Phone banks will be located at Lake Michigan Credit Union on Eastbrook.  They will operate Monday through Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. 
    • Faculty are asked to continue to help identify YES voters and phone bank volunteers.

 

RCC Report:  B. Foster reported on the following.

·         There is a strong sense that benefits for new hires will decrease in the future. 

·         RCC bylaw changes were defeated.  Changes will be reworked and voted on again.

·         The RCC is holding a fundraiser raffle.  Contact B. Foster to purchase a $1.00 ticket.

·         Legislative update included discussion on the financial problems in the State.

·         A. Cook and A. Donahue attended Legislative Day on February 28, 2007.  They met with T. Pearce, A. Meekof, D. Agema, and M. Jansen and discussed bills related to the pension and retirement system. 

 

New Business: 

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

 

Next Meeting: 

  • Thursday, April 5, 2007, at 6:30 a.m., 234 SCC. 

 

Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn M. Devivo, R. Barnhart seconded.  Adjournment at 8:11 a.m.

 

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary

 

GRCC Faculty Association

Treasurer’s Report

February 2007

 

Checking account balance February 1……………………………………….…… $49,741.01

Deposits:   Dues…………………………………………………………...………...14,000.07

Expenses:  Donations/Flowers…….…………...……………….$100.00

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

                  Grievances…………………………………………....592.73

                  Legal…………………………………………….....…783.75

                  Office:  Archivist………………………………….….304.80

                               Website……………………………………..…49.75

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

      RCC milage…………………………………………..218.40           
      Taxes………………………………………….…….4,304.72

Total Expenses………………………………...………………………….………$ 22,258.72

Checking account balance February 28..……………………………...………..…$41,482.36

 

 

Money Market Balance 2/28/07……………………………………………..…..$136,600.06

 

 

Revenue & Expenses Year to Date

 

Revenue:      Dues…………………………………………………………....…. $82,056.70

                     Interest………………………………………………..….………...….2,759.33

 

Expenses:     Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets……………… $911.38

                     Food…………………………………....….……3,274.07

                     Grievances………………………………….……1514.43

                     Insurance………………………………………….275.00

                     JCC……………………………………………...7,070.16

                     Legal…………………………………...…….….4,964.85

                     Office:  Archivist………………………………….304.80

                                  Postage…………………………………......39.00

                                  Supplies……….…………………………..122.72

                                  Telephone….……………………………..……93

                                  Website….………………………………...106.51

                     Officers’ pay……………………………….…...48,249.77

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

                     RCC……………….……………………….……....998.40

                     Taxes……………….……………….………......18,283.00

Total Expenses………………….…….…………………………………………. $89,615.02

 

 

Submitted March 23, 2007, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer