Faculty Executive Council Meeting Minutes

The discussion with Mike Rooney regarding the Common Pages is outlined in the Common Pages section under New Business.

Business Meeting

I. General

A. Call to Order

Rosemary Kesler called the meeting to order at 2:40 p.m.

Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Carmela Arnoldt, Joanna Chamberlain, Hazel Davis, Mark Gooding, Alan Haffa, Rosemary Kesler, Rosemary Leary, Ann Lindner, Jane Marks, Larry Miller, John Nelson, Joe Ortiz, Jim Reed, Janice Reilly, Laura Ruiz-Scott, Dennis Shaw, Gail Shay, Denny Sheehan, Linda Smith, Vernon Smith, Bill Stewart, and Sandra Stuebner.

Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.

B. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as written.

C. Approval of the November 28, 2000, Minutes

A change was requested in the Peerpoint section of the minutes.  The November 28, 2000, minutes were approved as amended.

D. Treasurer’s Report – November 2000 and Year-To-Date

Council reviewed the treasurer’s reports.  Rosemary Kesler informed Council that a request for tax exemption status had been filed with the state, and it was approved.

E. Committee Reports

1. Meet and Confer

Janice Reilly informed Council on the status of the Meet and Confer process.  Two items were TA’d: Section 3.11.2., the Date for Notice of Non-renewal for Probationary Faculty, and Sections A.5.3. through A.5.4.2. which corrected the dates in the Professional Growth Unpaid Leave procedures.  Janice stated that Jim Daugherty gave a good presentation of current faculty placement for the salary proposal.  Janice said that all employee groups will be presenting their salary and Professional Growth funding proposals to the Governing Board in January.

Council received copies of the mediation proposal for this year’s Meet and Confer process.  Janice Reilly informed Council of the intent of the mediation proposal.  Council discussed concerns about the mediation proposal.

2. Professional Growth

Rosemary Kesler told Council that the list of sabbatical recommendations is on the Governing Board agenda for approval.  Rosemary stated that only 19 sabbaticals were funded because of the high amount of money requested by the Deans for replacements for the faculty taking sabbaticals.  Council received copies of the sabbatical recommendations and discussed the costs listed in the information as well as how those costs were calculated.  Council discussed the issue of using full time faculty versus adjunct faculty for sabbatical replacements.  Council was informed of the lack of accountability for the spending of the funds given to replace faculty on sabbaticals.

3. EBAC (Employee Benefits Advisory Committee)

Rosemary Kesler reported that the Flex Benefits cost proposal will be reviewed by the Governing Board at its meeting.  The proposal will cover the cost of benefits for next year.   Council discussed concerns regarding the benefits package for employees and its effect on the recruitment of new faculty.  Council was told that some of the faculty who were appealing their salary placements had included what benefits they could have received if they had chosen employment elsewhere.  Rosemary Kesler stated that EBAC had discussed the issue of Paid Time Off (PTO), and the other employee groups agreed to have language placed in their policy manuals giving their constituencies four days of personal time.  However, the faculty representatives refused to agree to the language stating that the proposed language would have to be submitted to the Meet and Confer process.  Council discussed other groups that have combined sick leave and personal time into one category.

4. FAC (Financial Advisory Committee)

No report.

5. Legislative

No report.

II. Old Business

A. Peerpoint

Carmela Arnoldt reported a layout error in the December issue of the Peerpoint.  She stated that she would inform faculty of the error via MEMO.  Carmela next reviewed the topics of articles for the next issue of the Peerpoint in the spring.  She said that one person has responded to her MEMO regarding payment for published articles in the Peerpoint.

B. Meet and Confer Proposals

Council discussed the mediation proposal further.  A motion was made and seconded to table the mediation proposal until the next Council meeting so that further discussion could be held on the proposal.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed with 10 yeas, 1 nay, and 5 abstentions.

C. AAUP Membership

Council received a projection of the cost of dues for AAUP membership for 2001.
Rosemary Kesler outlined the recent benefits from AAUP that have included the President attending the annual meeting and two representatives attending the AAUP’s summer institute.  Council was asked to consider having only the Council members be members of AAUP in order to reduce the cost of the dues.  Council discussed the suggestion and its possible outcomes such as reducing Faculty Association dues.  The need for more information about the history of the relationship between the Faculty Association and AAUP was discussed.  Rosemary Kesler was asked to contact the past Faculty Association presidents to get their input on the benefits of AAUP membership.  A suggestion was made for the information to be sent to Council via MEMO.  A motion was made and seconded to table the discussion until the requested information was received.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.

III. New Business

A. Distance Learning Courses

Sandra Stuebner reminded Council that, at the last Council meeting, she had asked that a committee be created to develop a recommendation for RFP language for loading distance learning courses to submit to the Meet and Confer process next year.  Council discussed other loading issues.  Council next discussed the number of representatives on the committee and who should be the representatives.  The motion was made and seconded to form a committee whose charge would be to make recommendations, to be ready by next fall, for language to address loading for distance learning courses in the RFP.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.  Rosemary Kesler will call for names of volunteers to serve on the committee.

B. Common Pages

Mike Rooney was invited to Council to discuss the Common Pages.  Council was informed that there were changes in the way the Common Pages was reviewed.  Mike Rooney shared who serves on the Common Pages Committee.  He also gave a history of the development of the Common Pages and told Council that now Dr. Solley in the final adjudicator of the Common Pages.  Council was informed that the “Y” Grade issue was resolved.  Mike Rooney was asked about a grading issue of accepting D’s from other higher education institutions.  He responded that the Common Pages Committee only handles the front pages of the Common Pages and that grading issues were not under the purview of the committee.  Council discussed the grading issue.  Council was told that grading issues would come through the district’s curriculum committee but the origin of the particular grading issue being discussed was unknown.  Rosemary Kesler said that she would investigate the issue.

Next, Council discussed which parts of the Common Pages were included in the student handbooks.  Mike Rooney stated that this year, the Common Pages Committee would decide where each policy belongs.  It was suggested that a URL in the student handbook referring to the location of policies on-line would be helpful to students.  Council discussed concerns of the Common Pages not being uniform across the district.  Mike Rooney stated that his office keeps the real copy of the Common Pages.  Council discussed who reads and benefits from the Common Pages.  Also, Council discussed the need to receive feedback from faculty on the Common Pages.  Mike Rooney was asked to send the minutes of the Common Pages Committee to the Faculty Association President for distribution to Council who in turn would share the minutes with their faculty.  This would be the best way to get feedback from the faculty regarding the Common Pages.

Council discussion returned to the grading issue of accepting D’s.  Council was told that a court case settled the matter saying that if colleges within MCCCD accept D’s from each other that count towards graduation, then MCCCD colleges must accept D’s from outside colleges and count those toward graduation.  The Arizona General Education Transfer Core Curriculum was discussed.  A suggestion was made to add more faculty representatives to the Common Pages Committee.  Joanna Chamberlain will send out information, printed copies, to Council regarding proposed changes to the Common Pages.

C. Professional Growth Secretary Compensation

Council discussed the history of the compensation paid to the Professional Growth Secretary for taking minutes at the Professional Growth Committee meetings.  Council was informed that the secretary’s hours have been increased to 30 hours per week and was asked if Council wanted to continue compensating the secretary for taking minutes.  Council heard some suggestions and discussed the matter.  Council agreed to pay the secretary through the end of the year and cease compensation on January 1, 2001.

IV. Information

A. Proposed Change to Professional Growth Guidelines

Rosemary Kesler stated that she had reviewed the sabbatical list from last year and had written some language to attempt to resolve the problem of the high amounts of money requested for sabbatical replacement faculty.  Rosemary was asked about rolling over the unspent money to the following year.  Rosemary responded that the funds are not supposed to roll over, even though it has been done recently by Dr. Glasper.  Council discussed several suggestions for correcting the problem of the large amounts requested, and the accountability of those funds given, for sabbatical replacements.  Rosemary Kesler stated that the Professional Growth Guidelines can be changed by Council at anytime.  Rosemary Kesler stated that she would collect more information and report back to Council.

B. Intellectual Property Rights

Rosemary Kesler informed Council that the Intellectual Property Rights Committee was meeting currently and working on intellectual property rights issues.  The committee has developed a first rough draft of guidelines.  Rosemary reviewed the rough draft for Council.  Council discussed the rough draft and the assumptions listed on the first page of the drafted recommendation.  Rosemary Kesler reminded Council that the rough draft was being revised.

C. Flex Credits/Campuses

Rosemary Kesler stated that there was discussion at EBAC of the Flex Benefits credits going to the campuses.  She said that the colleges would get benefit money for the open faculty lines.  Therefore, if a college hires OYO/OSO or adjunct faculty, the college would have to pay for any benefits given to those faculty employees.

D. Other

Part-time Residential Faculty

Rosemary Kesler informed Council that part-time residential faculty do receive benefits but are not eligible for Professional Growth.  Council discussed changing the language to allow some Professional Growth for part-time residential faculty.  Council also discussed the idea of residential faculty staying on part-time and not retiring so that they can keep the benefits package provided by the district.  Council also discussed Faculty Association dues for part-time residential faculty.

Faculty Representative for Financial Advisory Council

Rosemary Kesler stated that one more faculty representative for FAC is needed and requested that the Senate Presidents send names of interested faculty to her.  Dennis Shaw volunteered to serve.

December 22nd – Day of Accountability?

Rosemary Kesler informed Council that December 22nd was not a day of accountability for faculty per the Employee/Operational calendar. Council discussed concerns that some have been told that December 22nd was indeed a day of accountability for faculty.  Also, Council discussed concerns that grades were due that day as well as other concerns.  Rosemary Kesler stated that she would double-check the information she had.

FEC – January 9, 2001 Meeting

Council agreed to cancel the January 9, 2001, Council meeting since it was during the mid-year break for faculty.

State Retirement Presentation at GCC

Those who attended the retirement presentation at GCC were given some different information than the information given to Council.  Council discussed the information presented at the GCC event.  There is a new representative for the State Retirement Department.

V. Significant Happenings/Presidents’ Reports

CGCC
CGCC had its holiday party, a potluck in the courtyard.  CGCC worked with ASU East regarding the different final schedules of ASU and CGCC so that the differing schedules will not happen next year.

EMCC
EMCC is working on finalizing the plans for the expansion of the student services building.  Since EMCC has acquired the new skills center that is adjacent to EMCC, the expansion may include a food service program.  The holiday party at EMCC is December 21st.

GWCC
All is well.

GCC
The members of the GCC football team are the national champions, and the team played a great game.  GCC has a climate study group and an ethics group working.  The Faculty Senate has started holding conversations with the GCC President, and has finished a survey that was submitted to the Chancellor.

MCC
The social for all MCC employees at the Mesa Hilton was a great success, and the MCC President picked up the tab for the party even though the Faculty Senate was going to pay for the event.  The Innovative Projects Committee at MCC has completed its work and has slated $200 thousand dollars to be spent on various kinds of innovative projects.  A holiday party is scheduled at MCC.

PC
PC had an assessment day during which faculty worked on assessment pieces.  PC hosted the 12th Annual Posada.  The holiday part is scheduled for December 22nd.

PVCC
PVCC’s 350-seat Performing Arts Center is in the early planning stage.  The planning is under the direction of PVCC faculty member, Alan Tongret.  Tongret is working with a planning team of faculty, administrators, staff and students to develop a set of educational specifications, prior to selecting an architect.  PVCC faculty, Marilyn Cristiano, was one of four Arizona winners of the Technology Teacher of the Year award.  The award was presented to Cristiano at a banquet hosted by CCS Presentation Systems and Proxima, Inc., manufacturers and distributors of desktop projectors.

RIO
RIO will hold an all employee party on Thursday, December 14th.  The theme of the educational event at the party will be “Meeting of the Minds.”

SCC
The Governing Board will approve the hiring of John Neibling, from New Mexico, as the new Dean of Instruction at SCC.  The Gloria event at SCC was a success and the dinner was wonderful.

SMCC
SMCC held its annual Messiah concert which involved the community as well as the college.  The auditorium was full, and the money raised from the event will be used for SMCC’s music program.  SMCC will have a holiday party.

VI. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.