 |
Faculty Association | ||||
MEETING MINUTES |
March 20, 2008
Call to order: F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:32 a.m., 120 ATC.
Present: W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, R. Barnhart, J. Berlin, T. Boersma (for L. Crossman), L. Burris, M. Campo, F. Conner, K. Danko, M. DeVivo, J. Doane, K. Dobreff, F. Garbowitz, D. Godfrey, J. Hayes, H. Hoare, D. Huisman, B. Keelean, B. Manker, R. Mondaldo, E. Stuart (for S. Knoppers), R. Montes-Sutton, P. Mumaw (for D. Terhune), J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Spoelman, A. Saldivar, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt, D. Wabeke, T. Walwood, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer.
Absent: D. Cope, P. Laureto, J. Russell.
Approval of agenda: Approved as written.
Approval of Faculty Council minutes from February 22, 2008: Approved as written.
Faculty presentations from the floor: L. Roberts, English, is retiring May 2008. F. Zomer is the new Counseling Department chair. F. Garbowitz is retiring from Grievance Officer for the Faculty Association. J. Kamstra, former faculty, has passed away. June Langereis, wife of former full-time and current adjunct faculty member G. Langereis, has passed away. J. Batten is resigning as a Faculty Council Representative due to time conflicts.
Secretary’s report:
- A note of thanks was received from Bill Heisler, Stacey Heisler’s husband, for the fruit basket sent after his surgery.
- A note of thanks was received from Wayne Rodgers for the donation in his mother’s name, Hildah Rodgers, to Cedar Creek Bible Church. A separate note was also received from Cedar Creek Bible Church.
- A note of thanks was received from Tricia Siegel for the fruit basket sent following her recent surgery.
- A note of thanks was sent from Betty Kamstra for the flowers sent after the passing of John Kamstra, retired Physical and Math department faculty.
- A note of thanks was sent from Ryerson Library Foundation for the donation sent in the memory of Jean Cope.
Treasurer’s report: D. Godfrey distributed the Treasurer’s report (attached) from February, 2008. Total expenses for the month were $841.75. February 29 checking account balance was $50,729.85 and money market/savings balance was $111,999.11.
President’s report:
- Retro pay will reportedly be paid in April, hopefully in the first pay of the month.
- Faculty Council Officer Elections will be held on May 2, 2008. The nominating committee will be distributing informational letters and soliciting candidates.
- There are 11 department chairs up for election this semester. Faculty council representatives have an obligation to take part in the process in Article 3-K of the contract.
- Faculty members are reminded that you do not have to have a leave form for all professional expense reimbursements. New language states that you must assure administration that the reimbursement is for professional development. Contact the Association if reimbursement is denied.
- Faculty members do not have to find a substitute for missed classes due to a conference if it is within the allowable three days. If conference leave goes beyond the three days, a plan for maintaining assigned classes may requested by the dean.
- There has been a request to add to the agenda the reimbursement of Internet access from individual professional development funds.
- CEBA decertified five members, all Building Managers, through a consent agreement. They have been moved to the Meet & Confer group.
- The Foundation Board of Trustees at its recent meeting discussed the final numbers of the Open Door Campaign. There was a total of $11,566,872 raised. About half will go toward faculty and technology upgrades, and $1,339,190 toward scholarships. The Foundation Board is still in the process of reorganizing and separating themselves from the College. This is likely to happen in May or June.
- There has been a lot of interest in purchasing years of service before July 1, 2008. This is due to changes in the retirement system. Newer faculty members are especially encouraged to start purchasing years of service before July 1.
- Ed Sosa’s new title is the Director of Constituent Relations and Sponsorships. His duties will include management of the McCabe-Marlowe house, managing retiree relations, and selling sponsorships and advertisements.
- The proposal for year round scheduling in the Nursing Department is moving to Dean’s Council. This will likely be approved and a Memo of Understanding (MOU) drafted. This proposed model will not work in all departments. The Nursing department hopes this will reduce the back log of students.
- Continuing Education has been on the agenda for some time. This item refers to examining job duties of contract employees to see if that work should be in the Faculty Association.
Negotiations report:
- N. Alexander has scheduled informational meetings for faculty with questions about the contract. The first meeting is April 18, 2008, from noon to 1 p.m. The topics are longevity, longevity service, and tuition reimbursement. Future meetings with various topics will be scheduled.
- A negotiations meeting is scheduled for March 20, 2008 regarding the overload cap. Both sides are interpreting the results from recent arbitration differently. It is likely that Administration will make a proposal of a flat 28 hour overload cap. Other discussion on this topic included:
- Learning where new interpretations of the language are coming from.
- Past practice of allowing some to go to 28.5 credits and other not.
- How this will affect overload selection.
- How overload cap affects the ability to participate in equated overload work.
- Before an overload cap, only a handful of people were going over 30 contact hours.
- Faculty in Training Solutions teach longer hours and there is no issue about how that may or may not affect their performance.
- Administration is once again failing to send the decision makers into negotiation meetings.
RCC report: B. Foster reported the following:
- The budget is progressing smoother than last year.
- There has been some progress in negotiations on HB 5545 which affects retirees.
- There is a new House committee called Retiree Health Care Reforms which is mandating that unfunded accrued liability must be reported in extremely conservative ways. For example, bond ratings would be affected because it would have to be assumed that Medicare would only be around for one more year. RCC will be involved in these bills.
- The MCCA is asking that new hires be excluded from MPSERS and put into ORP. RCC will stay involved in the discussions.
Grievance report: There are no new or outstanding formal grievances.
Discussion and action items:
- Adjunct concerns
- There continues to be little movement on how the $12,000 professional development fund for adjunct instructors will be distributed. The major concern is the year will pass and no money will be distributed. A meeting is scheduled for April 2, 2008.
- Committee reports
- Bookstore oversight committee has a meeting scheduled on April 17, 2008, to discuss bookstore concerns. J. Neumann is the faculty liaison to the Bookstore.
- Scholarship committee meeting has been scheduled for March 28, 2008.
- Constitution committee will report on proposed changes to the Association Constitution on April 4, 2008. Suggestions should be sent to K. Danko.
- The proposed Association budget for 08 – 09 will be distributed April 4, 2008.
- AGC Ethics committee sent out an invitation for an upcoming discussion on March 25.
New Business: Items for the next Faculty Council meeting should be submitted to F. van Hartesveldt.
Next Meeting: Council meeting on Friday, April 4, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. 120 ATC.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn J. Hayes, seconded T. Walwood. Adjournment at 7:44 a.m.
Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary.
GRCC Faculty Association
Treasurer’s Report
February 2008
Checking account balance February 1.......................................................... $37,363.83
Deposits: Dues........................................................................................ 14,207.77
Expenses: Donations/Flowers............................... $ 398.00
Food ..................................................... 352.98
Negotiations………………………….......90.77
Total expenses ................................................................................................. $ 841.75
Checking Account Balance February 29...................................................... $50,729.85
Money Market Balance 2/29/08.................................................................. $111,999.11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue & Expenses Year to Date
Revenue: Dues...................................................................................... $83,143.99 Interest 2,435.09
Expenses: Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets.... $ 1,040.08
Food...................................................... 2,773.49
Grievances............................................ 2,896.56
Insurance.................................................. 368.00
Legal..................................................... 4,207.50
Negotiations.......................................... 7,472.31
Office: Archivist................................... 2,141.60
Election.......................................... 70.59
Postage……………………………45.10
Printing........................................ 365.69
Supplies…………………………..59.73
Website.......................................... 69.65
Officers’ pay....................................... 33,018.00
Public relations………………………..3,500.00
RCC ..................................................... 181.50
Taxes ................................................ 15,170.58
Total expenses ................................................................................ $ 73,380.39