http://www.grccfaculty.com
September 21, 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, L. Burris, M. Campo, F. Conner, D. Cope, K. Danko, M. Devivo, J. Doane, K. Dobreff, F. Garbowitz, D. Godfrey, H. Hoare, B. Keelean, M. Klawitter (for D. Terhune), S. Knoppers, P. Laureto, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, R. Montes-Sutton, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Russell, A. Saldivar, J. Spoelman, F. van Hartesveldt.

Absent:  A, Cook, L. Crossman, B. Foster, J. Hayes, D. Wabeke, T. Walwood, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer.

Approval of Agenda:  The next Council meeting date should read October 5, 2007.  It was suggested that a discussion item be added related to disallowing Administration from teaching. 

Approval of Minutes from September 7, 2007:  Approved as written. 

Recognition of substitute representatives:  M. Klawitter is subbing for D. Terhune, K. Dobreff is the new representative for Performing Arts, A. Saldivar is the new representative for Mathematics. 

Faculty presentations from the floor: 

• A request for donated sick or leave days has been made via email for Sherry Rhoden, Behavior Sciences.  Donation forms should be sent to Cedric Williams, 418 Cook. 
• Recent request for donated days has created a question of how far back to go to start counting sick days:  whether to the last date of teaching, to the date the insurer will cover for Long Term Disability, or the date a faculty member doesn’t return to work.  Issues include what best benefits Administration and the faculty member.
• M. Schuler, Learning Academy, is leaving the college September 28, 2007. 
• C. Manciu, Arts and Sciences, last day was September 21, 2007.

Secretary’s report:  A note of thanks was received in June from Scott McNabb, thanking the Association for the fruit basket sent during his hospitalization. 

President’s report: 

• Legislative report includes the likelihood that, on the topic of retiree health care benefits, legislation for a defined contribution plan will pass.  This will likely only affect future hires.  Faculty members are urged to contact their Representative in opposition. 
• September Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting began with Proposal 2 dealing with affirmative action and an adjunct faculty member who spoke against the Administration tossing out the idea of a one year contract.
• Faculty members are reminded to focus on teaching during contract negotiations.
• Top administrators have inquired about the morale of faculty members. 
• Adjunct election for a new council representative for the School of Arts and Sciences is underway.  Three candidates are in the running.  Voting will last until September 29, 2007. 
• Faculty numbers for Fall semester include 252 full time and 449 adjunct faculty members.  These numbers are similar to last Fall. 
• Tuition reimbursement should be submitted to M. Sweet, 3^rd floor CPP Lisa Snider, 4^th floor CPP (corrected on 9/26/07).   
• Twelve new full-time faculty members attended a recent meeting to discuss employment issues including privacy, job security, retirement planning, and pay.  Most of the new faculty members are former adjunct faculty. 
• A GRCC Policy Manual from the 1950s was recently reviewed, stating in part that the College should not hire faculty with intellectual curiosity, not necessarily because they have credentials in a specific discipline.
• Processing of C3 fund reimbursements are being delayed and possibly denied.  Please inform F. van Hartesveldt if your C3 reimbursements are delayed or denial.  While the funds available should be the same amount as last year during contract negotiations, the Finance department is working on new processes and rules for distribution.  This includes the possible denial of items that require the issuance of a 1099 form.  Discussion took place on how this affects the use of funds for professional development.  This issue has also been discussed during contract negotiations.
• Administration is phasing out telecourses.  Issues include class caps and low success rate. 
• Correct timelines were distributed for faculty members being evaluated this year. 
• The MOU for the faculty evaluation process has expired.
• Top administrators say they will make it a priority to improve the retrieval of information and college-wide communication.  This will be a web-based “knowledge management” system.
• Faculty members are encouraged to start thinking of ways to build ties with the outlying communities within the KISD district.  This may include outreach programs, high school visits, and offering classes in the outlying areas.  Item will put on the agenda for future discussion. 

Negotiation’s report:  J. Spoelman reported on the following: 

• The state mediator met with both teams individually on September 13, 2007.  The goal of the mediator is to gain some momentum by trying to settle issues one at a time.  It is likely that while some issues can be settled through meditation, the issue of wages will be most difficult to resolve.  The Negotiations team feels that mediation will likely result in state fact-finding.  This may not happen until Spring. 
• Actual numbers from last year showed the College came in under budget, with an extra $300,000. 
• Upcoming negotiations meetings will focus on the 08-09 calendar and the removal of Academic Advising day.  Discussion took place on possible ways to advise students.

Grievance report: F. Garbowitz and L. Burris reported the following:

• The MOU for the Grievance process has expired.  New grievances will be filed under the old process. 
• New Grievance 171 relates to Administration mandating that new faculty attend meetings before the beginning of the contract year.  Meetings have been unpaid since 2003, and affect all new faculty hired since that time.  An earlier grievance on this issue resulted in the Administration granting additional personal business days, but the practice of mandated meetings with no pay has continued since then.  A waiver of the signatures (signatures of all new faculty members since the earlier grievance was resolved) has been requested.
• A meeting has been requested to resolve the issue of a faculty member who is performing program director duties and responsibilities but not receiving program director compensation. 
• Discussions are taking place regarding pay for an adjunct faculty member who performed extra work.  The pay was inadequate and it was imposed, not negotiated with the Faculty Association.  Administration stated this was because the work was not new work, when indeed it was new and requested work by the Administration. 

Discussion and action items:

1. ESP request for money:  Last year, the ESP group asked the Faculty Association for money to offset their increase of MEA dues, and the Faculty Association gave $3,500..  Their MEA membership allows other college employees, including faculty, to select MESSA insurance.  Over the summer ESP again has requested that the Faculty Association give money to help with this year’s MEA dues.  Discussion took place and yielded questions to be answered before a decision is made.  Discussion included the following:
1. Pam Degryse, past ESP president, stated she will try to work with the MEA to reduce dues.
2. Suggested that we delay decision until the Association determines how much money will be spent on our contract negotiations. 
3. Suggested that an agreement be made with ESP group whereas a donation request would be negotiated each time. 
4. Suggested that only those faculty members who use MESSA make a contribution.
5. Aside from MESSA, what other benefits does ESP receive from MEA membership?  Known benefits included MEA legal council, legal resources, and legislative lobbying and updates.
6. Can the Faculty Association receive any of these MEA benefits?
7. MEA dues are high, but how much are they?
8. What would be the portion of dues that the Association would pay compared to the portion the ESP group pays?
9. What percentage and how many of ESP uses MESSA?

10.     What percentage and how many of faculty uses MESSA?

11.     What percentage and how many of other College groups uses MESSA?

12.     When are their MEA dues due?

13.     Are similar requests by ESP groups being made to other College groups who use MESSA?

2. Faculty Association release time:  The Negotiations team reached a table agreement that the Faculty Association President shall have the discretion to assign up to 15 hours of release time per semester; that the time may only be taken if an appropriate replacement is available; that the Association will reimburse the College at the appropriate overload rate; and that the assignment shall not result in full release of a faculty member without the consent of the provost.  Discussion on the distribution of these hours included the following:
1. Currently, the Association President takes six hours of release time each semester.
2. Association funds are stressed with the addition of the archivist, requests from ESP, the addition of a second grievance officer, a pending grievance arbitration, and uncertainty of the duration and cost of contract negotiations.
3. There is Association work not being done due to lack of time.  Alternative methods for handling the Association’s work load include granting full release to two faculty members (Henry Ford CC does this), seeking payment from the College for the Association officers (but losing independence), and hiring a full time Association Manager with labor relations background. 
4. F. van Hartesveldt will not assign the hours to someone who takes a lot of overload.
5. If there is a need for more funding, dues may be raised. 
3. Pay calculation worksheet and pay schedule are posted on http://www.grccfaculty.com.  Additional commonly used forms are at http://www.grccfaculty.com/newforms.html.
4. Pay was not rolled over for some faculty members who were bumped up in pay mid-year last year.  Error has been caught and corrected, but those affected are encouraged to check.
5. M. Klawitter was thanked for compiling a list of millage related articles.

New Business:  Items for the next Faculty Council meeting should be submitted to F. van Hartesveldt.

Next Meeting:  Faculty Council meeting, Friday, October 5, 2007, at 6:30 a.m. in Multipurpose Room, Student Center.

Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn D. Cope, C. Grin seconded.  Adjournment at 8:12 a.m.

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary.