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Faculty Association | ||||
MEETING MINUTES |
April 4, 2008
Call to order: F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:32 a.m., 120 ATC.
Present: W. Acevedo-Ferrer, R. Barnhart, J. Berlin, L. Burris, M. Campo, A. Cook, D. Cope, L. Crossman, K. Danko, G. Ebels (for G. Zeeff), M. Gillan (for B. Morris), D. Godfrey, H. Hoare, D. Huisman, B. Keelean, S. Knoppers, P. Laureto, B. Manker, R. Monaldo, R. Montes-Sutton, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Russell, J. Spoelman, A. Saldivar, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt.
Absent: N. Alexander, F. Conner, J. Doane, F. Garbowitz, C. Grin/M. DeVivo, J. Hayes, D. Wabeke, T. Walwood, F. Zomer.
Approval of agenda: Approved as written with the addition of Faculty Association summer student worker and the Treasurer’s report.
Approval of Faculty Council minutes from March 20, 2008: Approved with the changes of P. Mumaw attended for R. Rayla and D. Terhune absent.
Faculty presentations from the floor: A. Heckwolf, Culinary Arts; M. Olszewski, Nursing; and H. Forrest, Behavioral Sciences each recently had a baby. R. Monaldo in Culinary Arts is retiring. D. Godrey’s retirement party is April 10, 2008. Pat Ingersoll’s son passed away.
Secretary’s report: A thank you note was received from G. Langereis, retired faculty, whose wife recently passed away.
Treasurer’s report: D. Godfrey distributed the Treasurer’s report (attached) from March, 2008. Total expenses for the month were $34,116.00. March 31 checking account balance was $30,932.79 and money market/savings balance was $112,303.77.
Negotiations report:
- Overload cap – The negotiating teams have continued to discuss interpretation of the contractual overload cap that provides that the cap is 27 hours per semester and, to avoid splitting of a class, 28 hours. Although there is no new language regarding the cap, both teams did agree on the interpretation that if a faculty member is below 27 contact hours, the option to select up to 28 contact hours remains the faculty member’s.
- Calendars – The teams will meet today to discuss the 2009-2010 calendar.
- Retro pay – Payroll continues to process retro pay with a goal of paying on 4/18/08.
- Contract copy – There are a few MOU’s and calendars that are unfinished. An unofficial .pdf version can be obtained by contacting F. van Hartesveldt.
President’s report:
- Faculty Council representatives are reminded to follow the rules of the contract that define the Department Head election process. There are 11 elections this semester.
- Faculty members are reminded to get permission from President Olivarez to be excused from commencement. The Provost’s office is examining the commencement process.
- The Nursing department’s proposal for year round base load was approved by the Dean’s council. A MOU will be drafted to pilot the proposal starting in the Fall 2008.
- The Administration has followed up on information that retiree health benefits might be postponed and confirmed that retirees are eligible for benefits immediately after retirement.
- The Administration maintains that, because of IRS implications, the GRCC tuition deferral is only available for faculty, and not their child or spouse. The Faculty Association is verifying this. A spouse or children can share up to four credits of GRCC tuition each semester. A faculty member can get up to four credits of GRCC tuition each semester, in addition to 8 credits per year of outside tuition reimbursement. There are forms to fill out before classes begin and tuition reimbursement is requested.
Discussion and action items:
- Five Committee Reports
- Finance Annual Budget Proposal
- D. Godfrey distributed the Association budget for 2008-2009. There is a projected amount of $171,140. The 2007-2008 budget was $158,800 with projected expenses of $164,700. The full report is attached. M. Campo moved to accept proposal for the annual budget. L. Crossman seconded. Discussion took place on the rise of office expenses which covers the Archivist, projected income is a little low but will rise if classes continue to be added, and the reimbursement to the College for payroll taxes of Offices. Motion passes, all in favor.
- D. Godfrey recommended the dues stay at the current rate of .5%. M. Campo moved to accept D. Godfrey’s proposal. R. Barnhart seconded. Motion passes, all in favor.
- Constitution and By-Laws
- K. Danko proposed the following changes to the By-Laws and Constitution.
- Article I of the By-Laws: Change to allow and absentee ballot to be issued after a written or email proposal is submitted.
- Article VI of the By-Laws: Change to reflect Officer Pay increase according to the annual pay schedule. The proposed increases reflect a 2% increase:
2008-2009 2009-2010 2008-2009 2009-2010
President 34,515 35,205 Secretary 5,522 5,632
Vice President 5,522 5,632 Treasurer 13,807 14,083
- Article VII of the Constitution: Change review of the Constitution and By-Laws from annual to biennially. A review of the April 22, 2005, minutes shows a motion to review the constitution and by-laws every other year rather than every year.
- The Finance and Constitution committees will meet this summer to review the accounting controls and may have some recommendations for Fall.
- D. Cope moved to accept the proposed changes. R. Monaldo seconded. Motion carries and will be on the May 2, 2008, Association meeting agenda.
- Officer Nominations
- The nominations committee emailed letters about upcoming officer elections. Those interested in running for a position must submit a biography by April 18, 2008.
- Ethics
- The AGC Ethics committee held an open forum. Discussion in Council included:
- This could provide an avenue for faculty to take action against other faculty.
- The administration is promoting its ethics hotline as a clearinghouse for complaints and promising anonymity to complainants. It is unknown who in HR manages the hotline, what gets resolved or passed on, what oversight is provided, and how conflicts of interest are handled.
- The Association Ethics committee has a process for ethics complaints.
- The AGC Code of Ethics addresses contractually-bargained items.
- The College may be liable for bargaining with the AGC about contractual items.
- Suggestions for the Council Ethics committee will be solicited from the Association.
- Suggestions were made that the Council Ethics committee be a smaller group, that the Council Ethics Statement be made more public, and that the AGC and Council ethics committees hold a joint meeting.
- Scholarship committee meeting is scheduled for April 18, 2008.
- Bookstore committee meeting will is scheduled for April 17, 2008.
- Hiring student workers
- Should the Association hire a student worker for the Association office over the summer? The Association would have to pay a maximum cost estimated at $1,500. The benefit is that work will continue on the scanning of documenting and archiving of Association records. This may also allow time for training and supervision to prepare for more independent work in the Fall and Winter.
- M. Campo moved to hire a student worker for the summer with a max cost of $1,500. B. Manker seconded. Motion passed.
- Anita Cook, Archivist, is back and working in the Association office.
- Continuing Education Course Offerings
- For the past two weeks Administrators have not responded to requests for information.
Grievance report: L. Burris reported on the following:
- Grievance 172: A faculty member was denied professional expense reimbursement. Faculty members are reminded to assure administration that the money is “predominantly for college or student benefit, not personal use or convenience.” A meeting is scheduled.
- Grievance 173: An IIPD grant was distributed over several faculty members who applied for the same event, and only the grievant was denied.
- Grievance 174: Tuition reimbursement pro-rated for an adjunct faculty working more than ½ time. Contract states if you work ½ time or more, you qualify for tuition reimbursement.
- A grievance may be filed regarding mileage reimbursement. The College has traditionally increased the rate at the end of the fiscal year and not when the IRS adjusts it.
- A grievance may be filed related to denial of overload during sabbaticals.
- A grievance may be filed related to an adjunct faculty member inadequately paid for training GRCC faculty members.
- A grievance may be filed by a faculty member whose computer was taken to the GRCC police as a result of an anonymous call to the Ethics Hotline. User agreement violations alleged, but nothing unordinary was found. The faculty member had no computer for three days.
New Business: Submit items for the next Faculty Council meeting to F. van Hartesveldt.
Next Meeting: Friday, April 18, 2008 at 6:30 a.m., Multipurpose Room, 234 SCC.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn J. Russell, seconded W. Acevedo-Ferrer. Adjourned 8:01 a.m.
Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary.
GRCC Faculty Association
Treasurer’s Report
March 2008
Checking account balance March 1.............................................................. $50,729.85
Deposits: Dues........................................................................................ 14,318.94
Expenses: Donations/Flowers............................... $ 253.31
Food ..................................................... 980.50
Grievances……………………………....671.43
Legal……………………………….…..…41.25
Negotiations………………………......7,366.57
Office: Printing…………………………..64.85
Website……………….………….59.70
Officers’ salary……………………….16,524.48
RCC…………………………116.40
Tax & retirement………………………8,037.51
Total expenses ............................................................................................ $ 34,116.00
Checking Account Balance March 31.......................................................... $30,932.79
Money Market Balance 3/31/08.................................................................. $112,303.77
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Revenue & Expenses Year to Date
Revenue: Dues...................................................................................... $97,462.93 Interest 2,739.75
Expenses: Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets.... $ 1,293.39
Food...................................................... 3,753.99
Grievances............................................ 3,567.99
Insurance.................................................. 368.00
Legal..................................................... 4,248.75
Negotiations........................................ 14,838.89
Office: Archivist................................... 2,141.60
Election.......................................... 70.59
Postage……………………………45.10
Printing........................................ 430.54
Supplies…………………………..59.73
Website........................................ 129.35
Officers’ pay....................................... 49,542.48
Public relations………………………..3,500.00
RCC ..................................................... 297.90
Taxes ................................................ 23,208.09
Total expenses .............................................................................. $ 107,496.39
Submitted April 4, 2008, by Dick Godfrey, Treasurer
GRCC Faculty Association Budget Report
ACCOUNT |
CURRENT BUDGET 07-08 |
PROJECTED |
2008-2009 |
Conferences |
$ 4,000.00 |
$ 000.00 |
$ 4,000.00 |
Flowers/Gifts/Memorials |
2,500.00 |
2,000.00 |
2,500.00 |
Food/Party |
6,500.00 |
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 |
30,000.00 |
30,000.00 |
30,000.00 |
Office Expense/Rent |
3,500.00 |
4,500.00 |
4,500.00 |
Public Relations |
200.00 |
3,500.00 |
200.00 |
Retirement Council |
1,200.00 |
1,200.00 |
1,200.00 |
Salary – Officers |
67,000.00 |
67,000.00 |
68,340.00 |
Special Events |
200.00 |
0.00 |
200.00 |
Subscriptions |
200.00 |
0.00 |
200.00 |
Taxes |
30,000.00 |
40,000.00 |
40,000.00 |
Total |
$158,800.00 |
$164,700.00 |
$171,140.00 |
Dues |
$165,788.00 |
|
$169,104.00 |