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January 9, 2009

Call to order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, R. Barnhart, J. Berlin, L. Burris, M. Campo, F. Conner, M. DeVivo, K. Danko, J. Doane, D. Dobreff, D. Folkert, B. Garlough, J. Greer, H. Hoare, D. Huisman, S. Knoppers, P. Laureto, A. Lussky, B. Manker, R. Montes-Sutton, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, J. Russell, A. Saldivar, J. Spoelman, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt, D. Wabeke, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer.

Absent:  N. Alexander, D. Cope, J. Hesse. 

Approval of agenda:  Approved as written with the addition of Retiree Gift increase. 

Approval of Faculty Council minutes from December 12, 2008:  Approved as written. 
 
Faculty presentations from the floor:

• N. Alexander is planning on coming back mid-semester and recovering well. 
• D. Godrey’s mother-in-law passed away recently.
• The mother and mother-in-law of Jim Schulte, Wellness, passed away. 
• T. Burt, Counseling, is back after surgery.
• R. Crossman, wife of L. Crossman, who just retired from Drafting and Design, is recovering in Florida after a recent stroke.
• D. Adams, Nursing, had a recent surgery.
• M. Thompson, Library, has returned after back surgery.  She may need more donated sick days.
• M. Swets, retired English faculty and Dean, recently passed away.  Service is January 9, 2009, at Fountain Street Church.
• A. Cook sent a thank you for the work as Association Archivist.  

Secretary’s report: 

• A thank you from Donna Adams for the fruit basket sent after surgery.
• A thank you from Beth Foster for the fruit basket sent after surgery.
• A thank you from Sammye Zollman for the fruit basket sent after the death of her mother.
• A thank you from Steve and Marilyn Muma for the flowers sent. 

Treasurer’s report:  J. Spoelman distributed the Treasurer’s report for December, 2008 (attached).  Total expenses for December were $2,845.74 and total revenues were $15,613.21.  The outside audit is complete, but no report has been provided yet.  Grievance expenses are up a little bit from the pay associated with the grievance history project.  Archivist pay has gone up, but will go down over the next few months as A. Cook is away.  J. Spoelman will look around at COD’s as possible investments. 

Negotiations report:   

• JCC did not meet during Fall semester and no meetings are scheduled for Winter semester.

President’s report:

• The Adjunct faculty met as a whole group on January 6 celebrating their years of service.  The event was a success.
• The BOT election is in early May.  February 10, 2009, is the deadline for filing petitions is someone wants to run for a position.
• A. Mulder has been involved in the presidential search and is planning a smooth transition.  She states that all three candidates are good candidates.
• RCC is still alive with meetings scheduled through June.
• December BOT meeting included the collection of taxes from county residents, a brief discussion on the presidential search, and AGC highlights. 

Discussion report:

• GRCC presidential search
• F. van Hartesveldt asked the BOT to hold a faculty forum with the presidential candidates but got no response.  In January, they announced the format for the forum and were asked why they did not respond to the request for a faculty forum.  No response was received.  The result is that there is little time with the candidates and the BOT has not responded in any way.
• Discussion included the following: 
• The hiring committee has interviewed the candidates.  This committee did include several faculty members.  After the search was narrowed to three candidates, the BOT set the schedule.  The only communication from the BOT has been their secretary’s request for the questions that faculty asked of the summer candidates.
• Questions were raised about why the candidates were scheduled for so little time.  They will do an hour presentation followed by a short question and answer period from the audience and then a public interview by the BOT.  
• Ultimately, the BOT has the authority to hire, but they have not made public the criteria, they’re providing less time with the candidates, and they’ll make their decision with less input from other faculty. 
• It was suggested another email be sent asking for time with the candidates.  Persistence was encouraged.
• Other suggestions:   ask the candidates directly for time, visit their campuses, and learn more about them outside of the Board’s limited opportunities. 
• Faculty members are encouraged to attend the scheduled forums.  A request will be made to excuse faculty and students from classes those days (January 28 and the morning of January 29) to allow attendance at the forums.

• Academic Summit
• G. Gely announced the Academic Summit scheduled for February 25 and 26 from 8 to noon.  She stated that faculty would be excused from class to attend on one of these days.  Faculty members are encouraged to attend. 
• This is an opportunity to ensure that academics drive the College by brainstorming and discussing ideas centered on academics. 

 

• ESP request for contribution
• ESP has asked for $3,500.  This has been an annual request since the MEA increased dues.  MESSA is available to GRCC because ESP is a member of the MEA.
• A spring vote is expected within the MEA to reduce their dues from 1.5% to 1%. 
• M. DeVivo made a motion to provide $3,500 to the ESP.  B. Manker seconded.  Motion passes.
• Committee reports – Calendar and Scholarship
• The calendar committee is scheduled to meet on February 6, 2009.  J. Spoelman will send out an email to solicit attendance.  Everyone is welcome, but representatives will be needed from specific areas with unique schedules.
• The Scholarship committee met at the end of the semester.  Monthly updates are supposed to be available on the S drive. 

Grievance report:

• A retired faculty member who requested to teach as adjunct is not being allowed classes.  This is up to the Administration and there is not much the Association can do. 
• A corrective action notice will be issued to a full-time faculty member for violating the Authorized Use Agreement (AUA).  The violation occurred when the faculty member allowed a family member to use the college-issued laptop computer.   The violation came to light after the computer became infected by a virus.
• A 3rd party neutral hearing was held on Grievance 177 regarding a retired faculty member being denied classes before returning adjunct faculty.  A resolution was proposed, and a response is expected from K. Keating. 
• A meeting will be held soon on the denial of C3 funds to purchase a second computer.  A computer was approved last year for this faculty member, who does the majority of work from home.  The contract simply states that the faculty member must assure the college that professional development money is used predominantly for college or student benefit.
• A third party neutral hearing was held on grievance 173 regarding denial of an IIPD grant request.  The grievance was not resolved, but it will not be continued because the Foundation, not the college, is responsible for giving the grants.  A meeting will be held with the Foundation to discuss the IIPD process. 
• A group of faculty members are very unhappy about the inadequate notice the administration gave when closing the college on December 19.  There was much advance notice of bad weather, and the day before the administration gave early notice that the holiday breakfast was canceled.  Counselors and job training faculty were affected, and perhaps students and employees at several other locations.  A grievance will be filed. 
• J. Spoelman suggested we increase the retiree’s gift.  Currently the amount is $50.  F. Conner made a motion that we pay $10 for every year of full time faculty service at the College.  R. Barnhart seconded.  F. Conner amended the motion to include that it be effective for this academic year.  R. Barnhart extended his second.  Motion passes. 

 
New Business:  Submit items for the next Faculty Council meeting to F. van Hartesveldt.

Next Meeting: Friday, January 23, 2009, at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.  Capitol Services will be report.
             
Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn M. DeVivo, seconded by A. Saldivar.  Adjourned 8:08 a.m.

Submitted by K. Danko, Secretary.

GRCC Faculty Association
Treasurer’s Report
December 2008

Submitted by Jeffrey Spoelman