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March 20, 2009

Call to order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order to 6:34 a.m., 120 ATC.

Present:   R. Barnhart, J. Hesse, J. Berlin, M. Campo, M. DeVivo, K. Danko, J. Doane, D. Folkert, B. Garlough, J. Greer, H. Hoare, D. Huisman, S. Knoppers, P. Laureto, A. Lussky, B. Manker, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, J. Russell, A. Saldivar, J. Spoelman, D. Terhune, F. van Hartesveldt, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer.

Absent:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, N. Alexander, L. Burris, D. Cook, K. Dobreff/B. Morris, R. Montes-Sutton, R. Ralya, D. Wabeke.

Guest:  Ellen Hoekstra, Capitol Services.

Approval of agenda:  Approved as written, with the addition of the Treasurer’s report.

Presentations from the floor: 

• If you have flower fund requests coming from your department, please send them to F. van Hartesveldt or K. Danko until N. Alexander returns.  It is the responsibility of the Council Representative to track events in their departments. 
• N. Alexander is off for the rest of the year for unexpected surgery.  No cards or visits were requested.
• Rosario Montes-Sutton had back surgery.  It went well, but she will be off from work. 

Treasurer’s report:  J. Spoelman distributed the Treasurer’s report for February, 2009 (attached).  Total expenses for February were $22,730.33 and total revenues were $15,410.22.  The big expense is the officers’ salaries.  The field work for the audit has been done, and a final report is forthcoming.  The annual budget and dues proposal will be submitted soon.

Grievance report:  F. van Hartesveldt reported:

• A full time faculty member was recently suspended indefinitely without pay.  This action resulted after a conviction on a domestic assault charge.  The suspension was done pending further investigation and based on the conflict of interest policy.  The faculty member filed a grievance and the Association has met with legal council. 
• F. van Hartesveldt also keeps busy with many matters that never rise to the grievance level.  They include issues such as pay, evaluation, retirement, and parking.

President’s report:

• F. van Hartesveldt recently met with President Ender.  The meeting went well.  His contract was approved by the BOT and he begins full-time on May 15.
• Department head elections are coming up.  If your department has an election, the Council Representative has contractual election responsibilities.  Elections must be done by the end of April prior to overload selection.  Department head terms start in the summer session.  D. Dewent can verify if your department is in an election year. 
• The Business and Financial Services office has sent out budget news.  They are anticipating a budget shortfall for the upcoming year.  The mid-year report was very tight with expenses only increased by .2 of a percent.  The annual budget is about $90 million. 
• The Administration favors the purchase of the Davenport property, but a price has not yet been settled on.  Questions include can we afford it, how are we going to pay for it, can we afford to maintain and run it.
• A new position, Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies, has been posted.
• The Faculty Evaluation Team is considering changing faculty evaluation.  A pilot program has been completed, but only four people were participated in it.  Among Faculty Council members, most knew of the pilot but did not choose to do it.
• Faculty members are reminded that if you lose your keys, you can be charged up to $200 to have the locks replaced.  This is per the key agreement that employees sign.
• Full-time faculty work loads for the Winter semester include about 12 who have 28 credits, two who have 28.5 credits, and one faculty member who has 29.38 credits.  If you are told you cannot select more than 27 credits, contact the Association. 
• There is an issue of room assignments in the English department.  The number of faculty members from other departments who have been assigned classes on 5th floor Main and Cook has increased in recent years, and the English department faculty members are being assigned in other areas. 
• Adjunct faculty recently had a voluntary Professional Development day.  About 60 attended and it was well received by most.  A lot of progress has been made with adjunct issues over the last few years, but progress is yet to be made.  Despite the progress it was questioned whether the administration sees adjunct issues as a priority.
• A request to evaluate administrators was sent out via email.  Faculty members are encouraged to complete the survey.

Discussion items:

 a. Academic Summit.  There was a high turnout of faculty members and suggestions.  Institutional Research is converting the suggestions into digital format.

b. Board of Trustees election.  The BOT trustee election is May 5.  F. van Hartesveldt has met with two of the candidates at their request.   Both asked for endorsements.  The AGC has asked the Faculty Association to co-sponsor a forum in April.  M. DeVivo made a motion to support AGC’s efforts to hold a forum.  A. Saldivar seconded.  Motion passed.

c. Capitol Services Report.  Ellen Hoekstra from Capitol Services reported the following:

i. The Quarterly Report was emailed to all faculty members.

ii. The status of the retirement supplement legislation is that both bills remain in committee.  These bills would increase the retirement multiplier.  It is unlikely the bills will pass the way they are, but perhaps some modifications to the bills would pass in order to entice senior faculty to retire.  The biggest roadblocks are concerns about health benefits and benefiting people who would have retired anyway.   Another proposal would put a lump sum of state money into the School Aid fund with a match requirement from local boards.  This would allow districts to craft their own early retirement plans.  Discussion has also taken place on whether community colleges should be part of this.  Ultimately the Governor must sign the bill or not, and she is not in support of it as it was introduced. 

iii. The Trust Fund legislation passed in the House.  This allows for the creation of Section 115 trusts.  These trusts are like VEBAs (private and public sector voluntary employee benefits), but are more secure and could be created only in the public sector.  The concept of this is to allow money to go into a trust fund to prefund retiree health benefits.  It is designed to finance future benefits like a pension fund where funds are put in while employees are still working.  The advantage is that would be able to benefit from investment earnings.  They are trying to create a legal vehicle to protect the funds so that the money could only be used for retiree benefits.  Faculty members are encouraged to contact their senators to support for SB 4073. 

iv. The Community College Appropriations bill may result in a proration to funding.  A 0% increase is likely for community colleges, which looks good compared to a 3% reduction likely for universities.  Community colleges have been hit by declining property tax revenue.  Additionally, colleges receiving federal stimulus funds are expected not to increase tuitions and fees this year and next, which is controversial.

v. There is little new talk on SB 1415 which would allow for new hires not to be put in MPSERS.  This may be reintroduced but likely will not go anywhere. 

d. Committee Reports – Calendar

 i. The calendar committee met with faculty members on calendar suggestions.  Suggestions will be accepted through April 3.

ii. D. Cope attended a meeting with the retiree’s group and is impressed with how active they are.  He is acting as the liaison between faculty council and the retirees.

e. Contribution to GRCC Retirees’ Quarterly?  Postponed until next meeting. 

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

Next Meeting:  Friday, April 3, 2009, at 6:30 a.m., 120 ATC.

Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn, J. Hesse; second, M. DeVivo.  Adjournment at 8:15 a.m.