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April 3, 2009

Call to order:  F. van Hartesveldt called the meeting to order to 6:32 a.m., 120 ATC.

Present:  W. Acevedo-Ferrer, R. Barnhart, J. Hesse, L. Burris, M. Campo, D. Cope, M. DeVivo, K. Danko, J. Doane, K. Dobreff, D. Folkert, B. Foster, J. Greer, H. Hoare, D. Huisman, S. Knoppers, P. Laureto, B. Manker, J. Neumann, M. Parsons, R. Ralya, A. Saldivar, J. Spoelman, D. Terhune, F. vanHartesveldt, D. Wabeke, G. Zeeff, F. Zomer.

Absent:  N. Alexander, J. Berlin, A. Lussky, R. Montes-Sutton, J. Russell.

Approval of agenda:  Approved as written with the change of postponing the Grievance history.

Approval of minutes of March 20, 2009:  There were over 3,000 suggestions at the academic summit, not hundreds as reported.

Presentations from the floor: 

• A thank you call was received from N. Alexander for the flower sent.  She will be back at the end of the semester.
• K. Kalisz, English, is on maternity leave. 

Secretary’s report:

• A thank you was received from Lynn Roberts and South Haven’s First Congregational Church for the donation to the church in memory of her mother.
• A thank you was received from David Pruis for the retirement gift. 
• A thank you was received from Rosario Montes-Sutton for the fruit basket after her surgery.
• A thank you was received from St. Thomas School for the donation in memory of Joan Faber. 
• A thank you was received from Jennifer Batten for the fruit basket sent after her surgery. 

Treasurer’s report (including audit and guest): 

• Tom Vereecke, the accountant who performed the external Association audit, attended the meeting to report the findings.  He stated that they looked at how funds were classified and collected, and did not find any disbursement or collection of dues that was unsubstantiated or looked irregular.   No adjustments were recommended, and he stated there are a lot of solid checks and balances within the Association.  The audit was from the 07-08 fiscal years, the work of former Treasurer D. Godfrey.
• J. Spoelman distributed the Treasurer’s report for March, 2009 (attached).  Total expenses for March were $1,553.00 and total revenues were $15,513.62.  We are in good shape compared to last year, in part because there has been no negotiating taking place.  At this point there are no pressing issues, but we may have expenses during the summer.  The insurance difference is because of the timing of the bill and the increase for bonding. 
• J. Spoelman distributed a report of typical dues assessment for 2008-2009 (attached). 

Grievance report (including grievance history):

• Grievance history will be on the next meeting agenda. 
• Grievance 170 related to snow day cancellation procedures for December 19 and 23, 2008 was resolved in a meeting between administration and the faculty members affected.  Concerns and frustrations were voiced and heard, and an agreement was reached, when the College is going to be closed, all calendars will be examined.  
• An extension was granted to file a grievance for a faculty member not allowed to teach a class as part of base load from 2005 to 2007. 
• In Grievance 181, regarding the suspension of a faculty member without pay is underway, and Grievance 182, regarding the denial of requested vacation and sick pay after suspension, Level 1 meetings have begun.
• A meeting is scheduled to discuss whether sick days are being appropriately counted, and pay docked, for half-day absences.  Our contract allows us to call in for half days.  The issues are what a half sick day is and what a whole sick day is.

President’s report (including Academic Summit and BOT election):

• A faculty member who lost an interior key and was charged for the recoring of internal locks will not have to pay for the re-coring.  This is because the key agreement that applied to the lost key authorized payment only if exterior locks needed re-coring.  New key agreements provide for a re-coring charge for either interior or exterior lost keys.  
• An issue regarding a faculty member who got a parking ticket was resolved favorably.  Faculty members should hang the plastic college issued parking tag identifying that the vehicle is a GRCC employee’s, and faculty members are reminded to park in their assigned location.
• Faculty members are reminded that the total time scheduled for classes includes break time.
• Two full-time faculty members are needed to work with S. Andrews and M. Klawitter on the joint faculty-administration team for faculty evaluation.  They are considering revision of the faculty evaluation process.  This is a committee established by the contract, and suggestions come back to the bargaining committee.   
• Department head elections are taking place in the following departments with the following nominees:  Wellness (D. Wabeke), Mathematics (N. Alexander), Biological Sciences (R. Long), and Social Sciences (S. Abid). 
• Administration is looking at revisions of Dean and Associate Dean job duties.
• Due to the volume of information received, no new information has been received from the data collected during the Academic Summit. 
• Summer enrollment is up, and adjunct positions have been posted.  Some full-time faculty members have been asked to teach more in the summer.  It was suggested that we need to put our resources into hiring more full time faculty.
• The Board of Trustees election forum is scheduled for April 14 at 3 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room.  Tamara Scott will be the moderator.  Most candidates have sent in their bios and will attend.  Two candidates have met with F. van Hartesveldt and requested Faculty Association endorsements, and another is scheduled to meet.  Discussion took place on getting the PAC active.  The election is May 5.

Discussion items:

•  Association dues and budget for 2010-2011
• Annual dues and budget requests must be approved (attached).  The Association fiscal year is from September 1 to August 31.  There is an increase in offices expenses and rent category, which is attributed to the Archivist pay. The  RCC budgeted cost is down to zero in anticipation of no longer participating, and the subscription budget is the Capitol Services fee. 
• M. Campo made a motion to approve, R. Barnhart seconded.  Motion passes.
• The recommendation for dues is to keep the dues at ½ of 1 percent.  R. Barnhart made a motion to approve, M. DeVivo seconded.  Motion passes.  
• Summer student worker?

Discussion took place on whether the Association should hire a student worker for the summer.  M. DeVivo made a motion that we hire a summer student worker and cap the pay at $1,500 total; S. Knoppers seconded.  Motion passes. 

• Elect negotiating team members?

Next year is a negotiation year.  Under the Association Bylaws, the Faculty Council selects the negotiating chair, and the President serves as vice chair. They consult and present the names of up to three additional negotiating team members for Faculty Council to approve.  It was suggested that we change the process so that the negotiating team members are elected at-large.  This would take a constitutional and bylaw change.  Discussion took place including the following:

• We have continuous feedback now from the team. 
• The Faculty Council is in the best position to select members since we have the most information.
• The current system allows for negotiating team members from different areas of the college.
• Making the positions open to all provides everyone an opportunity to participate. 
• Being on the team requires experience and the Faculty Council must approve the team that is presented. 
• Negotiations are intimate conversations and the people involved should be able to work together.  
• An at-large election might put together those who do not agree internally or those from a single area of the college. 
• An election would not likely change the face of the team, just allow for a more democratic process.

M. DeVivo made a motion that the negotiation team members are chosen in an at large election.  No second; motion fails. 

• Retirement Coordinating Council (RCC) membership

RCC bills membership dues of $750 annually during the summer.  RCC has all but broken down to the extent that the services provided are weak.  B. Foster stated that the group will probably die shortly.  She will attend the April meeting and can better evaluate the current status.  Discussion about whether to continue membership will be postponed until the next meeting. 

• Committee reports – retirees – Contribution to GRCC Retirees’ Quarterly?

The Retirees’ Quarterly is published by the Foundation under the watch of E. Sosa and its funding comes out of the College Advancement budget.  Additionally, they create and publish a retirement planning handbook in both print and online format.  The retiree group has requested financial support from the Faculty Association to publish these documents.  The consensus is that this is a college responsibility for all retirees and the college should better support the publications.  D. Cope, who is the new liaison between Faculty Council and the retiree group, will seek more information.  The item will be on the next meeting’s agenda. 

New Business:  Submit items for the next Faculty Council meeting to F. van Hartesveldt. 
Next Meeting:  Friday, April 17, 2009 at 6:30 a.m., 234 SCC Multi-Purpose Room. 
Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn, J. Hesse; second, M. DeVivo.  Adjournment at 8:06 a.m.