Faculty Executive Council Meeting Minutes

Business Meeting

I. General

A. Call to Order

Rosemary Kesler called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m.

Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Carmela Arnoldt, Joanna Chamberlain, Hazel Davis, Bo Galloway, Karen Hardin, Rosemary Kesler, Rosemary Leary, Ann Lindner, Larry Miller, Karen Biglin for Joe Ortiz, Janice Reilly, Laura Ruiz-Scott, Dennis Shaw, Gail Shay, Denny Sheehan, Vernon Smith, and Sandra Stuebner.

Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.

B. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as written.

C. Approval of the April 10, 2001, Minutes

A question was raised about some statements in the Peerpoint section of the minutes.  Council discussed the section.  A point was made that the minutes should reflect what is said during a Council meeting.  The April 10, 2001, minutes were approved as written.

D. Committee Reports

1. Meet and Confer

Linda Larson informed Council about the salary package that might be offered by the Governing Board.  The package would include a three percent pay increase, a step for eligible faculty and a point seven percent (0.7%) increase in benefits to cover the increase in premium costs for health benefits from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.  Rosemary Kesler told Council that the administration has taken one million dollars from the employees health care reserve fund to pay for the increase.  Next, Linda reviewed the Meet and Confer proposal summary of which Council had received copies.  Linda stated that Bob Galloway, Marybeth Mason and she would present to the Governing Board, at their meeting, a revised proposal for horizontal advancement on the salary schedule for professional growth.  Linda Larson was asked when Professional Growth activities would start counting for advancement if the Governing Board approved the proposal.  Linda responded that
July 1, 2001, would be the starting date and no professional growth activities before that date would be “grandfathered” in for horizontal advancement purposes.  Linda was asked when the ratification ballots would be sent to faculty.  Linda responded that she was not hopeful that faculty would get the ballots before leaving for the summer.  Council discussed the money that the District receives, and how the dual enrollment monies from the state will impact the negotiations process.

2. Professional Growth

Rosemary Kesler stated that Jim Reed had forwarded a MEMO to her from Reinhold Kiermayr that read that Reinhold would stay on the Professional Growth Committee as a GCC representative, but that he would not ask to be the Chair of the committee.  Council discussed the changes that will take place next year in the Professional Growth process that should make the process easier for faculty.  Council then discussed the process for selecting the Professional Growth Chair and now the Vice-Chair also.

3. EBAC

Rosemary Kesler announced that Dorothy Sisneros from PC would be the second representative on EBAC for faculty.  Rosemary said that Dorothy Sisneros is the Chair of Health Services at PC.

4. FAC

Karen Hardin stated that FAC has not met.  Rosemary Kesler asked about the FAC allocation committee and why there were not any faculty representatives on that subcommittee.  Council was informed that the FAC members volunteer for the subcommittee.  Council was told that the committee was meeting and making appropriations.  Karen Hardin stated that she would check into this matter.

5. Legislative

Rosemary Kesler stated that she did not know the current status of S2050, the bill that would allow retired faculty to teach full-time after one year of retirement and allow them to keep their retirement money.  Council was informed that Dr. Randolph is forming a committee to look at the bill and see how it might affect Maricopa.  Council discussed concerns of where returning retired faculty would be placed on the salary schedule and how the forty-nine percent program at Maricopa would be affected.  Council discussed where the idea for the bill originated.  Rosemary Kesler stated that Dr. Randolph asked her to serve on the committee.  Council agreed that more faculty representation was needed on the committee.

II. Old Business

A. Peerpoint!

Carmela Arnoldt for discussion on the authors of articles for the Peerpoint!  She expressed some concerns, and Council discussed her concerns.  Carmela then reviewed the articles for the next issue of Peerpoint!  Council was informed that the next issue should be distributed around May 8th.

B. Intellectual Property Rights

Council moved into an executive session for discussion on Intellectual Property Rights.

C. Health Care/Legislative Action

Vernon Smith withdrew this item.

D. Use of Attorney

Janice Reilly presented to Council the revised Use of Attorney proposal from Mike Napier.  Mike Napier reviewed the program and its success with other groups that he represents.  He discussed the reduced fees outlined in the program.  He gave an example of one case this year where the administration did not follow proper procedure and said that the Faculty Association would have to cover the costs this year.  However, Napier stated, that under the proposed program, the Faculty Association would not have to pay for employment-related cases.  Mike Napier stated that he would lower the cost of the proposal to two dollars per member per month.  Council discussed membership numbers and payment to Mike Napier for services.  Council then discussed the benefits of the proposal to Faculty Association members and their families and the cost of the proposal.  Council posed several questions for Mike as to what all is included in the proposal.  Council was reminded that it needed to decide on the proposal.  Mike Napier stated that the proposal would include all Faculty Association business.  Also, he stated that he would make at least a six-month commitment while the Faculty Association could terminate the program with thirty days notice.  Council discussed making the proposed program a pilot project for one year to see how useful it is.  A motion was made and seconded to approve the proposal with the verbal changes and no dues increase for the first year.  Discussion ensued on the proposal, its costs and benefits.  A concern was raised that the proposal was not clear enough to vote upon.  It was suggested that Council write a proposal to send to Mike Napier.  Council was asked how many on Council would use the lawyer for the things outlined in the proposal.  Council discussed answers to the question.  A vote was taken on the motion to accept Mike Napier’s proposal with the verbal changes and no increase in dues.  The motion was defeated with 5 yeas and 10 nays.  A motion was made and seconded to form a committee to write a proposal including the elements of Mike Napier’s proposal, detailing the verbal amendments and incorporating an evaluation process into the proposal with no increase in dues for Faculty Association members.  Council was told that the new proposal from Council to Mike Napier would be brought to the May 8th Council meeting.  A friendly amendment was added that the proposed program would be a one-year pilot project.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed with two nays.  Janice Reilly was asked when the program, if approved, would start.  Janice responded that it would begin July 1, 2001.

E. 2001-2002 Faculty Association Dues

A motion was made and seconded to have the Faculty Association dues remain at the current amount for the fiscal year 2001-2002.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.

F. 2001-2002 Faculty Association Membership Form

A suggestion was made to change the words from “write in amount” to “Check One” after Item C. on the membership form.  A motion was made and seconded to approve the suggested change on the membership form.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.

III. New Business

A. Twelve Month Paychecks

Rosemary Kesler stated that she had contacted Van Bradshaw but had not heard anything back from him regarding the twelve-month pay issue.  Council agreed to ask Rosemary to tell Van Bradshaw to either let faculty have the choice of nine month or twelve month pay, or tell him that Council said “No.” to his proposal to change faculty to a twelve month pay cycle.

B. 2001-2002 Meet and Confer Team Nominations

Joanna Chamberlain stated Bob Galloway, Jim Daugherty and Larry Williams are interested in serving on the 2001-2002 Meet and Confer team.  Joanna said that at least one more name was needed for the Meet and Confer team election slate.  Joanna told Council members to send names of any interested faculty to her and Dennis Shaw.  She asked Council members to look for biographies of the nominees that will come before May 8th via MEMO.

C. 2001-2002 President-Elect Nominations

Joanna Chamberlain stated that there are two candidates for President-Elect so far.  Council was informed that no one has stated an interest yet in serving as Treasurer.

IV. Information

A. 2001 AAUP Summer Institute

Rosemary Kesler stated that Council had normally sent two people to the AAUP Summer Institute and had asked that AAUP pay for the two people out of the CBC dues paid by the Faculty Association.  It was stated that the two people should be Meet and Confer Team members and/or the President-Elect who can bring value from the seminar back to Council.

B. Professional Growth Steering Committee

Janice Reilly stated that there will be many changes in the Professional Growth process this year.  Council received copies of a proposal for a Professional Growth Steering Committee to help guide Council and the Faculty Professional Growth Committee through the changes in the process.  Council reviewed the proposal and discussed it and the membership of the steering committee.  Janice Reilly explained that the committee would continually evaluate and adjust the process as necessary.  Janice was asked when the Professional Growth representatives would be trained.  She said that they would be trained in August.  Bob Galloway stated that the Professional Growth representatives would contact the steering committee members and Council for guidance in the new process.  He made the point that the steering committee would be a bridge between Council and the Faculty Professional Growth Committee.  It was stated that Council would still be involved in any troubleshooting matters.  Janice Reilly was asked if the current Council or the new Council would vote on the proposal.  Janice responded that the proposal needed approval, as the committee would be working over the summer.  A request for clarification on the proposal was made.  Janice Reilly stated that the language would be clarified before Council votes on the proposal.

C. TOPS

Rosemary Kesler stated that the acronym was for a “grow your own” program idea that came from the Faculty Recruitment Commission.  In the program, a person would be hired and mentored by a faculty member.  The person may possibly be hired on as faculty in the future but there would be no guarantee of future employment.  The District would hire and pay the person to be mentored.  Rosemary stated that diversity is the focus of the program.  She told Council that each campus would have one person in the program that would be trained by a mentor.  A learning contract would be drawn.  Also, the people in the program would meet to discuss their experiences.  Council discussed the idea.  Rosemary was asked who would be considered for the program and who would do the considering.  Rosemary was asked who would mentor the person and would the mentor get reassigned time.  Rosemary responded that the college would choose who mentored the person and the mentor would get reassigned time.  Council was informed that the idea for this program was first discussed in the Diversity Committee.  Council expressed great concern for potential abuse of the program.  Council discussed how the abuses could undermine the intent of the program.  Council asked Rosemary Kesler to communicate Council’s comments on the program to Dr. Gaskin.  Council offered suggestions for other ways to use the money earmarked for this program to help a greater number of adjunct faculty and to promote diversity.  Rosemary stated that she would take Council’s comments and suggestions to the Chancellor.

D. Instructional Council Meeting

Council was reminded that it had asked Rosemary Kesler to ask Anna Solley to have the instructional councils review their guidelines.  Rosemary Kesler stated that Anna Solley thought that it was a good idea and was holding a meeting on April 25, 2001, to ask the different instructional councils to review their guidelines.

E. Work Force Violence Committee

Rosemary Kesler stated that the Work Force Violence Committee, put together by Ruth Unks, has met twice.  Rosemary told Council that she asked Phil Randolph to have a faculty representative serve on the committee that will be meeting throughout the summer.  One Council member stated that this group may already be meeting without faculty representation.  Council discussed concerns that the committee was meeting in the summer when faculty are on break.  Council discussed another committee, the Firearms Committee.  Council asked Rosemary Kesler to ask Phil Randolph to postpone meetings of the committees until faculty can participate on the committees.

F. Other

Common Pages

Joanna Chamberlain distributed copies of information regarding the Common Pages to Council.  She stated that a question had been raised about academic renewal.  Joanna said that she brought this same language to Council two months ago and sent the language on MEMO to all faculty.  She stated that she received six responses stating that the language was good.

Joanna then asked Council members to take the copy of a MEMO she had sent earlier in the semester regarding the Common Pages back to their faculty for comment.  A point was made that the student handbook and the common pages should be one document to minimize confusion when handling issues addressed in either document.

V. Significant Happenings/Presidents’ Reports

CGCC
CGCC is hosting an Adjunct Faculty Job Fair.  A snake was found in a classroom.

EMCC
EMCC will be hosting a NSF symposium on Friday and Saturday.  EMCC is beginning
the screening process to fill the open Dean of Administrative Services position.

GWCC
Construction is underway at GWCC.  GWCC is remodeling the main instructional
building and will soon be starting on the outside, which will be an office wing.  GWCC is hosting a job fair.  The Hands Across the Border event held last week with SMCC and Rio Salado was very successful.

GCC
GCC is hosting an open house on Academics, Art and Architecture on Friday evening.

MCC
MCC is hosting a Water Safety Day April 25, 2001.  Fire departments from the East
Valley participate in the event as well as students and children.  The event will have much news coverage.  Also, MCC is getting ready to open its second campus, Red Mountain in the fall.

PC
No report.

PVCC
No report.

RIO
RIO hired a part-time librarian.

SCC
The Student Life Leadership group has been active and collected canned food for
charity.  The group displayed the clothing that they had collected.  SCC hosted an Excellence Under the Stars dinner event where students were given awards.

SMCC
SMCC is in the last stages of the Presidential search.  A group from SMCC will visit the
campus of the Chancellor’s preferred candidate for the SMCC President position.

VI. Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.