I. General
A. Call to Order
Rosemary Kesler called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.
Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Carmela Arnoldt, Joanna Chamberlain, Hazel Davis, Bob Galloway, Amy Goff, Mark Gooding, Alan Haffa, Karen Hardin, Rosemary Kesler, Rosemary Leary, Ann Lindner, Jane Marks, Larry Miller, John Nelson, Joe Ortiz, Jim Reed, Janice Reilly, Mark Richard, Laura Ruiz-Scott, Dennis Shaw, Gail Shay, Denny Sheehan, Linda Smith, and Vernon Smith.
Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.
B. Approval of Agenda
Janice Reilly added Service Faculty as Item C under Information and Appointive Status as Item D. under Information. Vernon Smith added CEC Response as Item E. under Information. The agenda was approved as amended.
C. Approval of the August 22, 2000, Minutes
The August 22, 2000, minutes were approved as written.
D. Treasurer’s Report – August 2000 and Year To Date
Council reviewed the Treasurer reports.
E. Committee Reports
1. EBAC (Employee Benefits Advisory Committee)
Rosemary Kesler informed Council that EBAC had met and discussed a number of issues. She told Council that Blue Cross/Blue Shield had given an update to EBAC that said that prescription drug costs would increase nineteen percent next year. Rosemary said that the District is paying thirteen million dollars for all employees for benefits this year, and if costs continue to rise as they have, the District will see an increase of 1.3 million dollars each year. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is allowing the District to keep five percent of the premium cost this year in the belief that the policy will be underutilized. This would allow the District to earn interest on the five percent. Rosemary was asked if EBAC knew how many people turn down employment in Maricopa because of the benefits. Rosemary responded that she would ask EBAC. Council discussed the concerns of the increasing cost of benefits and future options for health care. Rosemary said that Maricopa still has good benefits with options to get care out of the network.
Rosemary told Council that EBAC discussed the forty-nine percent issue as well as life insurance for employees. She said that the cost to raise the life insurance from fifteen thousand to fifty thousand for all employees would cost over one million dollars. She said that one policy group has a huge life insurance policy that may not be increased in the future.
Council discussed the concerns with the increase in prescription drug costs. Rosemary requested that those who have concerns relay those concerns to Diane Johns in the Benefits Office so that EBAC can be made aware of them.
Rosemary was asked if the issue of religious holidays was discussed at the EBAC meeting. She stated that it was and that someone was supposed to research the issue and report back to EBAC. Council discussed this issue that was raised by the diversity committee and the importance of having language that stated that employees could take leave to celebrate religious holidays.
2. Professional Growth
Reinhold Kiermayr, Chair of the Faculty Professional Growth Committee, reported that the committee has been meeting and that he had some issues to discuss with Council. He said that the committee agreed that the additional fifty thousand dollars this year should go into the Projects account. He told Council that there are plans to move the Professional Growth secretary at District to a desk in an open area in MCLI. He expressed great concern about the files she keeps, which are confidential. Reinhold said that MCLI has promised that the secretary and the Professional Growth files will be adequately housed. He told Council that the secretary has too much work for the time that she is paid to do it. Reinhold requested that the Council act quickly to increase the secretary position to a full-time position. Reinhold said that he was aware of the Meet and Confer Professional Growth MOU subcommittee’s plans to streamline the process and shift more responsibility to the campus level, both of which had good and bad points. Rosemary Kesler stated that the District pays for the half-time position and that they are aware of the workload and time problem of the secretary.
3. Meet and Confer
Linda Larson reported that the Professional Growth Survey information has been posted to the Faculty Association web site. She reviewed the history of the Professional Growth MOU subcommittee. She stated that the plans to change the Professional Growth process responded to the majority of survey responses request to simplify the process and to the new Chancellor’s goal to recruit and retain more faculty at Maricopa. She reviewed the plans for changes in the Professional Growth process to increase its accessibility and the opportunities for more faculty. Linda Larson requested that Council give her feedback quickly as she will present the plan to the Professional Growth Committee on September 19th and the strategic conversation with the Governing Board will be in early November. Council discussed the changes presented and responded positively to the plan as well as offered some more ideas for the MOU subcommittee
II. Old Business
A. Faculty Association Legislative Committee
Rosemary said that a couple of people were interested in working on the Legislative Committee; however, no one had indicated an interest in Chairing the committee. She asked for Council for direction, as Council should have an active legislative committee.
B. Forty-Nine Percent Issue
Rosemary Kesler distributed copies of and explained the revised proposed changes in the Active Retiree program. She said that EBAC discussed this issue and it is not an EBAC or a Council issue, but she wanted Council to know about the proposed changes. Rosemary was asked the purpose of the changes. She responded that the intent was to pay people the same for the same work. Council discussed the proposed changes. It was stated that smaller campuses do not get forty-nine percenters because of the lack of budget. Rosemary Kesler said that the program allowed more opportunities when it was funded out of the District than how it is now being funded by each college. Council discussed the need for individual faculty as well as the Council to communicate their concerns to the Governing Board regarding this issue. Council also discussed the need to be able to assign forty-nine percenters duties other than teaching in the classroom, and the need for the forty-nine percenters history and expertise. A motion was made and then tabled to address this issue. Council discussed the concern that administrators who retire and then teach as forty-nine percent get half of their administrative salary.
The motion was made stating “Faculty does not support the proposed changes to this program at this time and requests that the Governing Board convene an employee representative committee to investigate ways to more fully utilize the Active Retirement program so that it benefits all our campuses ensuring equity, fairness and access.” Council discussed the motion and the short time frame in which Council needed to act. A friendly amendment to the motion was offered and accepted which stated, “Faculty support the use of forty-nine percent positions as a way of maximizing our human resources in the Maricopa Community College District.” A vote was taken on the amended motion, and it passed with twelve yeas, three nays and six abstentions.
C. Peerpoint
Carmela Arnoldt stated that two people had responded to her request for Peerpoint reporters from each campus. She asked that the remaining campuses find reporters for their campuses. Carmela reviewed the topics for the first issue of Peerpoint. She stated that the deadline for the first issue was soon.
III. New Business
A. Meet and Confer Team/Reassigned Time
Jeff Andelora asked Council how the Meet and Confer co-chairs will be compensated since this year is the first time that the Meet and Confer Team had co-chairs. A motion was made to allow the co-chairs six hours of reassigned time each. A question arose about if one requested a stipend rather than reassigned time. Council discussed the motion. Janice Reilly requested that Council let the Meet and Confer Team discuss the issue and make a recommendation to Council. Council agreed, and the motion was withdrawn.
B. AAUP State Delegates
Rosemary Kesler informed Council that the Arizona AAUP State conference plans to meet on September 23rd at which elections of officers will be held. She said that there are three delegate positions on the state committee for Maricopa. Also, Rosemary told Council that the yearly budget for the state committee is 8300 dollars of which Maricopa members pay almost 6500 dollars. She asked Council for direction. Council discussed the committee, its activities and how Maricopa could be more involved. Council discussed the amount of dues paid to AAUP, and the services provided by AAUP. A suggestion was made for Council to design its participation in AAUP such as writing the chapter on community colleges in the Redbook. An offer was made to provide the history of the Faculty Association’s involvement with AAUP. Council discussed the need of having one person taking on the project of handling AAUP issues and items for the Faculty Association. Rosemary Kesler requested that the Senate Presidents find people who would be interested in serving as delegates to the state committee.
C. FAC Representative
Rosemary Kesler reminded Council of the MEMO sent to them asking for a volunteer to serve on the District Financial Advisory Committee (FAC). Karen Hardin offered to serve on the committee. A motion was made to close the nominations. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously. A motion was made to approve Karen Hardin as the fourth faculty representative on the Financial Advisory Committee. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
IV. Information
A. Adjunct Faculty Shortage
Laura Ruiz-Scott informed Council that classes were being closed and students turned away due to the shortage of adjunct faculty. Council was told that the Adjunct Faculty Association president was holding a workshop for adjuncts on how to write resumes to get full-time faculty positions. Also, Christine Hall was meeting with adjunct faculty to assist them with their jobs. Council discussed the benefits of getting involved in this issue. The competition for adjunct faculty from other colleges and universities was also discussed as well as compensation for adjunct faculty at Maricopa. Rosemary was asked if the Adjunct Faculty Association has a list of adjunct faculty and what they teach. Rosemary responded that Christine Hall in Employment was currently working to compile that list.
B. Other
AZ AAUP State Conference
Rosemary Kesler reminded Council that the Arizona AAUP State conference plans to meet on Saturday, September 23, 2000.
Professor vs. Instructor Title
Rosemary Kesler stated that any faculty member might use the title, Professor, since Maricopa has no official designation system.
Instructional/Service Faculty
Janice Reilly asked the Senate Presidents to talk with their service faculty regarding two things. First, when service faculty teach a class what are they putting in for prorated hours, and second, what formula is used to determine those prorated hours. Council discussed concerns of the lack of a definition in the RFP for service faculty. Also, Council discussed the various positions considered service faculty and the loads those faculty receive. A suggestion was made to request the Meet and Confer team to make a proposal to remove the word “service” in the RFP and have only one category of residential faculty. The point was made that there may be monetary implications to such a proposal.
C. Service Faculty
See above paragraph.
D. Appointive Status
Janice Reilly stated that in the RFP, it states that when a college has had an OYO position for three years, it must decide whether to eliminate that position or hire a residential faculty member for that position. She continues that if the same person who has held the OYO contract for that position is hired, the years of service as an OYO counts towards appointive status. There is currently a situation where an OYO was hired and because the OYO has taught a sufficient number of years in the District, however not on the same campus, the OYO was given appointive status automatically. This matter has some of the Department Chairs concerned. Council discussed the situation and the language in the RFP.
E. CEC Response
Vernon Smith informed Council of the response to the request that the
Dual Enrollment
Quality Committee be reconvened.
V. Significant Happenings/Presidents’ Reports
One Council member reported that a campus van had a blowout with a Firestone tire. Council discussed concerns of the maintenance of college and District vehicles. A request was made for all representatives to look into the maintenance of their campus vehicles. If necessary, Council agreed to discuss this issue further and contact the district and college administrations with the concerns.
No additional reports were given.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
* * Next meeting, September 26, 2000 will be a Business Meeting * *