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Faculty Association | ||||
MEETING MINUTES |
September 5, 2008
Call to order: F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:31a.m., 120 ATC.
Present: S. Abid (for M. DeVivo), W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, R. Barnhart, J. Hesse, J. Berlin, L. Burris, M. Campo, F. Conner, A. Cook, D. Cope, L. Crossman, K. Danko, D. Folkert, B. Garlough, J. Greer, H. Hoare, D. Huisman, S. Knoppers, A. Lussky, B. Manker, R. Montes-Sutton, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Russell, A. Saldivar, J. Spoelman, D. Terhune, D. Wabeke, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer.
Absent: J. Doane, K. Dobreff/B. Morris, P. Laureto.
Recognition of new representatives: Include A. Lussky, J. Greer, D. Folkert, B. Garlough, J. Hesse.
Approval of agenda: Approved as written.
Approval of Faculty Council minutes from August 11, 2008: Approved as written.
Faculty presentations from the floor:
- The following faculty recently had babies: H. Haney, K. Budden, and N. Banks.
- As a reminder, the Faculty Association sends flowers or fruit baskets in the event of a birth, death, or illness. Contact N. Alexander or submit the form at http://www.grccfaculty.com/flower.htm
- D. Fearnow, retired faculty, recently passed away.
- C. Grin, retired faculty, is undergoing experimental treatment for cancer.
Secretary’s report:
- A thank you from Marilyn Smidt for the retirement gift she received.
- A thank you from Donna Adams for the flowers sent after her extensive spinal surgery.
- A thank you from the Glenn Quist family for the contribution to Faith Hospice.
- A thank you from Faith Hospice for the contribution made in memory of Glenn Quist.
- A thank you from Jennifer Batten for the fruit basket sent after her surgeries.
- A thank you from GRCC for the contribution made to the Smart Girls Scholarship fund.
- A thank you from GRCC for the contribution made to the Bobbi Schrader fund.
- A thank you from Chris Foster for the flowers sent after surgery.
- A thank you from Sarah Petz for the fruit basket sent after her son Jacob was born.
- A thank you from Traci Smith for the fruit basket sent after the birth of Keagan.
- A thank you from Bobbie Anderson for the donation to the Beechwood Blocher foundation in memory of Leonard Anderson.
- A thank you from the Beechwood Blocher Foundation for the donation made in memory of Leonard Anderson.
- A thank you from Kathy Fearnow for the thoughtfulness after the passing of Dave Fearnow.
- A thank you from Jennifer Lawrence for the fruit basket sent in honor of the birth of her son.
- A thank you from Jim Chesla for the gift sent on the passing of his mother, Marie Josephine.
- A thank you from the Holland Rescue Mission for the donation in memory of Roger Schut.
- A thank you from Sue Schut-Koning for the donation in memory of her father, Roger Schut.
- A thank you from Lynn Roberts for the retirement gift she received.
- A thank you from Margaret Bowles for the flower arrangement sent during her hospital stay.
- A thank you from Terri Burt for the flowers and scholarship donation in memory of her mother.
- A thank you from Miriam Thompson to the faculty who donated personal and sick time to bridge the gap for her disability.
- A thank you note from Dick Godfrey for the retirement gift and the fruit sent after his surgery.
Treasurer’s report: J. Spoelman distributed the annual Treasurer’s report (attached) for September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008, and the Treasurer’s report (attached) for August 2008.
- Total expenses for the year were $152,381.80. August 31, 2008, checking account balance was $39,989.69, and money market/savings balance was $133,610.35.
- Total expenses for the month were $13,195.28. August 31, 2008, checking account balance was $39,989.69 and money market/savings balance was $133,610.35.
- Name on accounts were changed from D. Godfrey to J. Spoelman. Bonding amount was increased to $200,000.
- Political Action Committee account earned .54 interest and has a balance of $725.65.
Negotiations report: J. Spoelman reported the following:
- JCC is taking the fall semester off. There are no meetings scheduled other than small sessions for little clean-up issues.
- Administrative reorganization of the School of Workforce Development has resulted in a new automotive department.
- A table agreement has been reached on the SLA (Structured Learning Assistants). SLA is a program in which student tutors are assigned to a class and then hold tutor other students. Students could either be required to attend or on a voluntary basis. It was agreed to pilot the process for a year through a voluntary program with four sections in each school.
- A wage study done by the Employers Association last year for the lab coordinators and job training had ambiguous results, so it was agreed that a new study would be done with an organization without ties to the College.
- The donated days policy is being reexamined. The issue is that in order for donated days to be used, the recipient must apply for long-term disability. This does not always happen. Current work is being done with HR and Payroll to develop a policy, consistent with that of other work groups, which would allow days to be donated to those on leave under the Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA).
Grievance report:
- An informal grievance in which an adjunct faculty member did training but was underpaid has been resolved in favor of the faculty member. Pay has been issued.
- A potential issue has been resolved over a retired faculty member seeking Masters +30 pay. However, because of the way the university calculates credits, it did not apply.
- Grievance 175: This grievance resulted from a change in working conditions for some areas newly required to report time on timesheets. Meetings have been held with HR and this issue may be resolved shortly.
- Grievance 176: This grievance resulted from the denial of a request for an IIPD grant. The issue has to do with how and why some IIPD grants are issued and some are not. HR is working on a response to the grievance.
- In an informal grievance, an adjunct faculty member questioned the low numbers of non-Caucasian faculty members in some departments. The issue has been resolved by discussions with the adjunct faculty member.
- A grievance is pending regarding how retired faculty members are offered overload.
- Two adjunct faculty members over the summer were they will not be hired back, one because of a racial joke in the classroom and the second for viewing pornography at the college. This underscores the precarious nature of adjunct employment. There is little recourse for adjuncts because they are hired one semester at a time.
- Faculty members are reminded that if an administrator calls them in, they have the right to notify their faculty representatives and can have them present. If a faculty member requests a meeting related to discipline or resignation, the College must notify the Faculty Association.
President’s report:
- As a reminder, all faculty members should check their paycheck for accuracy. A pay calculation worksheet and the code to pay advice abbreviations have been emailed. The worksheet is also at http://www.grccfaculty.com/newforms.html.
- The Faculty Association is holding a contract information session on paycheck accuracy on Friday, September 19 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Science Building Auditorium.
- As a reminder, the college computer systems including email are monitored and should only be used for professional activities.
- Pay information was reviewed for exempt employees including A. Mulder, P. Cwayna, B. Partridge, C. Springer, G. Gely, and A. Bowen.
- Fourteen administrative staff are teaching classes this semester.
- A new class, CLS 100 class, an introduction to college for first year college students, is being offered. Faculty members are encouraged to go through the program to learn how to teach it. Currently the class is only offered in the Fall, but a Winter session is being considered.
- L. Burris is receiving four hours of release time this semester to work on the grievance history.
- F. van Hartesveldt is looking for someone to take oral histories of past Faculty Association officers and negotiators. If interested or if you have a recommendation, please contact F. van Hartesveldt.
- The Administration has asked for another faculty representative to the Smoke-Free Campus committee. If interested or if you have a recommendation, please contact F. van Hartesveldt.
- A. Cook and a new student worker worked diligently all summer on the organization of the Faculty Association office and on digitalizing Association records. This work will continue.
- The Foundation is still working on becoming more independent of the college.
Discussion and action items:
- GRCC presidential search
- The faculty team of two Council and two AGC representatives did a great job interviewing the candidates. They did not recommend any of the three candidates, although one seemed a strong choice above the others.
- Thanks were extended to the faculty members who comprised the faculty team and to faculty who attended the candidate forums.
- The faculty team may reconvene depending on the make-up and action of the BOT search committee.
- The past search seems to have failed because of poor timing, little outreach to possible candidates, and a hasty plan.
- The BOT will meet on Wednesday, September 10 to announce the process for moving on.
- Start-up issues, including bookstore concerns
- Technology in the classroom seemed to be the biggest concern. Issues included but not limited to the following:
- Whole buildings were a mess. If faculty were not prepared with an alternative delivery, they looked like a fool in front of their classes.
- Thursday was time for faculty prep, so systems and software were checked. Yet, systems were imaged the Friday after and changed everything. This same issue happened last year.
- At least two labs were not ready for students; no printers were connected.
- Telecourse classrooms were not ready.
- Police SWAT training was scheduled on the same day of new student orientation.
- Communication issues still exist in IT and with IT and the College.
- Laptops are not able to be used in every classroom.
- IT won’t support or won’t install some software that faculty use.
- An outside vendor was hired to work with Macintosh systems, but faculty members were told not to communicate directly with the vendor.
- Custodians were told to cut locks off lockers of photography students. All materials inside including cameras, paper, and film were put into a big pile, making it impossible to sort out and return to the proper person.
- There are an abundance of bicycles on the south end of the commons but not enough bike racks.
- Theft on campus seems to be worse; things behind locked doors have been stolen.
- A Finance committee member and a Parliamentarian is needed for the Faculty Council committees. If interested or if you have a recommendation, please contact F. van Hartesveldt.
- Committee reports – Ethics
- Draft 7 of the AGC’s Ethics statement is going up for vote at the October AGC meeting. This past Spring, they voted to table it for more discussion in the Fall. The draft is minimally different. Faculty members are waiting for the Faculty Council lead on what to do. It was suggested that a joint meeting be held between the AGC and Faculty Council to further discuss the topic.
RCC report: B. Foster absent, reported by F. van Hartesveldt
- Loss of Capitol Services: This will be put on the agenda for future meeting. Should we remain in the RCC if they no longer have Capitol Services?
New Business: Submit items for the next Faculty Council meeting to F. van Hartesveldt.
Next Meeting: Friday, September 19 at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn J. Hesse, seconded by D. Cope. Adjourned 8:04 a.m.
Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary.
GRCC Faculty Association
Treasurer’s Report
August 2008
Checking account balance August 1........................................................... $42,788.02
Deposits: Dues........................................................................................ 10,396.95
Expenses: Donations/Flowers............................ $ 506.27
Negotiations………………………......7,689.44
Office: Archivist……………...…………..474.56
Postage………………………...…14.28
Printing…………….……………...10.36
Supplies……………….……...…243.17
Taxes…………………….…………….4,257.20
Total expenses ............................................................................................ $ 13,195.28
Checking Account Balance August 31........................................................ $39,989.69
Money Market Balance 8/31/08.................................................................. $133,610.35
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Revenue & Expenses Year to Date
Revenue: Dues................................................................................. $171,404.34
Interest...................................................................................... 4,046.33
Expenses: Donations/Flowers/Fruit Baskets.... $ 3,123.72
Food............................................................ 4,999.82
Grievances................................................. 3,567.99
Insurance........................................................ 343.00
Legal........................................................... 4,248.75
Negotiations............................................. 22,528.75
Office: Archivist.......................................... 6,213.05
Election................................................ 70.59
Postage……………….....……………72.40
Printing............................................... 478.48
Supplies……………......…………....338.16
Website............................................. 129.35
Officers’ pay............................................. 67,521.99
Public relations……………….....………..3,500.00
Retirement…………………….....……...11,289.68
RCC ........................................................ 1,370.30
Taxes ..................................................... 22,286.19
Total expenses .............................................................................. $ 152,381.80
Submitted by Dick Godfrey, Former Treasurer
Treasurer’s Annual Report
September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008
Assets September 1, 2007………………………………………………..…...$150,531.17
Revenue: Dues………………………………………………………….....$171,404.34
Interest………………………………………………………….....…..4,046.33
Expenses: Conferences……………………………………………….…..$ 0.00
Donations/Flowers/Fruit…………………………………...…..3,123.72
Food………………………………………...…...…………........4,999.82
Grievances………………………………………………...…...3,567.99
Insurance………………………………………...…………….......643.00
Legal……………………………………………..…………...…4,248.75
Negotiations/JCC……………………………….……….……22,528.33
Office: Archivist………………………………...……...……….6,213.05
Postage……………………………………....…...……… 72.40
Printing…………………………………..……………..…478.48
Supplies……………………………….……………...…..338.16
Website……………………………….…………..………129.35
Public Relations…………………………………….…….……..3,500.00
Retirement Coordinating Co. …………………..………………1,370.30
Salary: Officers………………………………..…….…………67,521.99
Special Events……………………………...……….….……………..0.00
Subscriptions…………...…………………………..………………….0.00
Taxes and Retirement…………………….…………………….33,575.87
Total Expenses…………………………..………………….………$152,381.80
Net Assets August 31, 2008……………………………………………....…..$173,600.04
*Checking Account = $39,989.69
*Money Market/Savings = $133,610.35