GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING

http://www.grccfaculty.com

April 5, 2007

 

Call to Order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:32 a.m., 234 SCC.

 

Present:  N. Alexander, R. Barnhart, J. Batten, J. Berlin, M. Burns, M. Campo, J. Chesla, F. Conner, K. Danko, J. Doane, F. Garbowitz, D. Godfrey, C. Grin, J. Hayes, H. Hoare, T. Hoving, R. Long, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, B. Morris, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Russell, J. Swets, F. van Hartesveldt, G. Zeeff.

 

Absent:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, L. Burris, L. Crossman, J. Doane, B. Foster, J. Hayes, B. Keelean, R. Montes-Sutton, K. Owens, J. Spoelman, D. Terhune, D. Wabeke, T. Walwood. 

Approval of Agenda:  Approved with the change of moving up Committee reports.

 

Approval of Minutes from March 23, 2007:  Minutes approved with the following clarification:  Fred P. Keller Institute for the Future will focus on understanding the future in work similar to environmental scanning. 

 

Secretary’s Report:

  • Thank you from J. Colvin for the cards and fruit basket sent to her after recent surgery. 
  • Thank you from J. Jankowski for the fruit basket sent after recent surgery.
  • Thank you from C. Wells for the fruit basket sent recently.

 

Treasurer’s Report:  D. Godfrey distributed the Treasurer’s report for March, 2007.  Total expenses were $1,891.35.  Checking account balance is $53,453.46 and Money Market balance is $137,094.97.  The full report is attached.  The Association budget has a projected 2007 – 2008 amount of $158,500.  The 2006 – 2007 budget was $156,300 with projected expenses of $150,700.  The full report is attached. 

 

Negotiations Report:  N. Alexander reported on the following:

  • JCC met on March 23, 2007, and continued discussion about proposed changes to counselor’s duties.  Administration is asking counselors to increase work hours and load.
  • Work continues on accretion issues and finalizing academic calendars. 
  • Administration has not responded to the financial offer the Association put forth in regards to a one year contract rollover. 
  • JCC will meet again on April 20, 2007. 

 

President’s Report: 

  • Faculty members are reminded to respond to the administrative performance evaluations that were recently sent via email. 
  • Adjunct faculty do receive mileage for traveling to an off campus class in some circumstances, but do not receive travel time pay.  See Article 7.E.1 of the contract for specifics.
  • Full time faculty members are reminded that they should make reasonable effort to attend meetings related to their teaching function, provided meetings are scheduled by their deans or department head/program directors between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 
  • Faculty Council members and the AGC technology sub group will meet to help resolve BlackBoard issues and concerns about IT communication and decision-making. 
  • Faculty numbers update:  There are 13 current searches for full time faculty members to start in Fall, 2007.  Last year, nine out of 11 new hires were previous adjunct instructors.
  • The Masonry program at the Thompson M-Tec will be losing its funding, resulting in the layoff of one full time faculty member and a lab assistant. 
  • There are 13 faculty members known to be planning their retirement in the next three years.  Faculty members near retirement are reminded they can extend their contract to a 40/42 week scheduled to include the summer session.  This forfeits 90 sick days per each year of an extended contract, but results in an increase in annual retirement pay.  Also, there is additional compensation available from the early notification incentive program. 
  • As a reminder, C-3 funds will expire at the end of the contract year.  Full-time faculty should spend C-3 money by June 30, 2007 and submit paperwork no later than two weeks after that date.  Contact C. Scaturro to find out the balance of C-3 accounts.
  • Administration has agreed to accrete the Nursing Lab Technician position. 
  • Administration has decided that Infection Control work in the Dental Department will be spread among full time faculty members and an ESP member.  F. van Hartesveldt has asked to meet with Administration to discuss this decision and infection control. 

 

Discussion and action items:

  • Millage support:
    • Friends of GRCC are still looking for phone bank volunteers.  It is suggested that departments select an evening to staff phone banks.  Phone banks will run Monday through Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.  Please contact edwagner@friendsofgrcc.com or jimpalmeri@friendsofgrcc.com for questions and to arrange the logistics. 
    • A millage information meeting is scheduled at Fountain Street Church on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 from 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
    • Tom Deschaine, tedeschaine@comcast.net, is a contact person for retirees interested in participating in the millage campaign.
    • Results from telephone polling are running about two to one in support of the millage.
  • Board of Trustees election candidate forum: 
    • BOT candidate forum is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 3 p.m. in the Ford Fieldhouse.  Forum will be moderated by Dennis Sutton.  The event is public and all, including students, are encouraged to attend.
    • Discussion took place on possible questions for the four candidates and the time allowed for their responses.  The forum will include introductions by each of the candidates, two to three minutes for each candidate to respond to each question, and possibly a chance for audience members to submit additional questions to be answered at a later time.  Possible questions include the following:
      • How does your work experience affect or benefit the college?
      • How do you plan to stay connected to the faculty?
      • What are the three most important issues you would address?
      • How would you balance policy governance with other concerns?
      • For example, how would you deal with issues of academic freedom and censorship?
      • What do you think about the trend of increasing numbers of adjunct faculty, and what should the ratio be between full-time and adjunct faculty?
      • Why do we have adjunct faculty?
      • Why are you running for the BOT; what is your agenda; how will the College be different in one year if you are elected?
    • F. van Hartesveldt will send proposed questions to Faculty Council to rate the order of importance.
    • A Faculty Association meeting will follow the forum, Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 5 p.m., to discuss the possible endorsement of candidate(s). 
  • Committees update:
    • Constitution and Bylaws committee will meet for its annual review. 
    • Finance committee must review records annually.
    • Ethics committee should discuss how the Faculty Association committee will differ from the AGC Ethics committee.    

 

Grievance Report:  F. van Hartesveldt reported on the following:

·         Grievance 170 regarding discipline and investigation of a faculty member has been resolved.  Administration has withdrawn the investigation and issued a verbal warning to the faculty member; the faculty member and Assistant Dean have agreed to work on a faculty improvement plan.

 

New Business: 

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

 

Next Meetings: 

  • Faculty Association on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 5 p.m. at the Ford Fieldhouse to discuss endorsement of Board of Trustees candidates. 
  • Faculty Council on Friday, April 20, 2007, at 6:30 a.m., Multi-Purpose Room (234 SCC).

 

Adjournment: 

  • Motion to adjourn B. Morris, F. Connor seconded.  Adjournment at 7:50 a.m.

 

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary


 

GRCC Faculty Association

Treasurer’s Report

March 2007

 

Checking account balance March 1……………………………………….……… $41,482.36

Deposits:   Dues…………………………………………………………...………...13,862.45

Expenses:  Donations/Flowers…….…………...……………….$49.50

                  Legal……………………………………………...…775.50

                  Office:  Archivist………………………………...….679.54

                               Supplies………………………………..…..…28.88

      RCC mileage…………………………………...……..74.32           
      Taxes………………………………………….…..….283.61

Total Expenses………………………………...…………………………….………$1,891.35

Checking account balance March 31..……………………………...…………...…$53,453.46

 

 

Money Market Balance 3/31/07……………………………………………..…...$137,094.97

 

 

Revenue & Expenses Year to Date

 

Revenue:      Dues…………………………………………………………....…... $95,919.15

                     Interest………………………………………………..….………....….3,254.24

 

Expenses:     Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets……………… $960.88

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

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

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

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

                     Legal…………………………………...…….….5,740.35

                     Office:  Archivist………………………………….984.34

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

                                  Supplies……….…………………………..151.60

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

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

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

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

                     RCC……………….……………………….……..1072.72

                     Taxes……………….……………….………......18,566.61

Total Expenses………………….…….…………………………………………. $91,506.37

 

 

Submitted April 5, 2007, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer

 

 

 

 

GRCC Faculty Association Budget Report

 

ACCOUNT

CURRENT BUDGET 06-07

PROJECTED

EXPENSES 06-07

2007-2008

BUDGET

Conferences

$  4,000.00

$    000.00

$  4,000.00

Flowers/Gifts/Memorials

    2,500.00

   2,000.00

    2,500.00

Food/Party

    6,000.00

   6,000.00

    6,500.00

Grievance/Legal

  12,000.00

   9,000.00

  12,000.00

Insurance

    1,500.00

   1,500.00

    1,500.00

Negotiations/Contingency

  35,000.00

 30,000.00

  30,000.00

Office Expense/Rent

    3,500.00

   1,500.00

    3,500.00

Public Relations

       200.00

   3,500.00

       200.00

Retirement Council

    1,200.00

   1,200.00

    1,200.00

Salary – Officers

  60,000.00

 66,000.00

  67,000.00

Special Events

       200.00

          0.00

       200.00

Subscriptions

       200.00

          0.00

       200.00

Taxes

  30,000.00

 30,000.00

  30,000.00

 

Total

$156,300.00

$150,700.00

$158,800.00

 

Dues

$158,400.00 (projected 06-07)

 

$160,800.00

(projected 07-08)

 

Submitted April 5, 2007, Dick Godfrey, Treasurer