Faculty Executive Council Meeting Minutes


FACULTY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
March 26, 2002

Guests:  Marcus Harvey and Larry Glenn
               American Association of University Professors

Janice Reilly introduced Marcus Harvey who staffs the AAUP western office in San Francisco and
Larry Glenn, Chair of AAUP’s Collective Bargaining Congress (CBC).   Marcus Harvey distributed
copies of the benefits of being affiliated with AAUP.   Marcus spoke about the meeting held the
previous day where he obtained some insights on the issues facing the Faculty Association.  Marcus
discussed the history of the relationship between the Maricopa Faculty Association and AAUP.
Marcus reviewed past situations where AAUP has helped such as the 1994 bond election.  He
noted the turnover in leadership in the Faculty Association from year to year.  Marcus reviewed the
information the benefits of affiliation with AAUP and elaborated on certain benefits.  Marcus Harvey
and Larry Glenn answered questions from Council.  One question was what was the difference
between the Maricopa Faculty Association where all members were also members of AAUP and
ASU, UofA and NAU where only some members of those institutions’ faculty association members
were members of AAUP.  Marcus Harvey explained the difference between affiliated chapters such
as Maricopa and at large chapters such as ASU, UofA and NAU.  Council discussed the AZ
AAUP state chapter.  Marcus Harvey explained that AAUP likes to keep college autonomy and
therefore does not meddle in chapters’ affairs unless asked to do so.  Council discussed the different
benefits on the list.  Larry Glenn gave an example where AAUP helped one institution where
academic freedom was challenged and helped to defeat that challenge.  Marcus outlined possible
grant opportunities for the Faculty Association and said that he could help write the grant requests.
Council thanked Marcus Harvey and Larry Glenn for sharing the list of benefits with Council.

Business Meeting

I. General

A. Call to Order

Janice Reilly called the meeting to order at 2:40 p.m.

Members Present: Carmela Arnoldt, Karen Chalmers, Joanna Chamberlain, Hazel Davis, Bill
Farrar, Amy Goff, Mark Gooding, Alan Haffa, Karen Hardin, Rosemary Kesler, Sharon Luczu,
Hank Mancini, Larry Miller, Saundra Minckley, Ricardo Provencio, Jim Reed, Janice Reilly, Dennis
Shaw, Gail Shay, Linda Smith, Vernon Smith, Jeanne Saint Amour, and Barry Vaughan.

Carrie Taylor took the minutes.

B. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as written.

C. Approval of February 26, 2002, Minutes

The February 26, 2002, minutes were approved as written.

D. Treasurer’s Report – February 2002 and Year-To-Date

Council received and reviewed copies of the February 2002 and Year-To-Date Treasurer’s
reports.  Dennis Shaw informed Council of expenditures in March 2002 that will appear on the
March 2002 report.

II. Old Business

A. FIPP

Council learned that each campus has been asked to submit a FIPP selection plan and that it looks
like each plan now includes the Faculty Senate President and other faculty in the selection process.
It was stated that the next date in the process is April 8, 2002, when the campus selections are due,
and the Chancellor will announce the selections on May 7, 2002.  Council heard that Anna Solley
was including ideology in the definition of diversity.  It was stated that hopefully the recruiting for
FIPP would be altered to include graduate students at a national level rather than staying only in
Maricopa.  A suggestion was made to hold a retreat to discuss what was the best recruitment
program for Maricopa.  Council learned that evaluations would be done on FIPP.  Mentors,
Presidents, Deans of Instruction and FIPP interns will have evaluation tools to use.  Council was told
that a reception for the FIPP interns would be held on April 5, 2002.  Council learned that the
affirmative action report was available.  It was stated that Council needs a copy of the report.

Council discussed concerns with the definition of diversity.  Other concerns mentioned were the
pressures placed on faculty to be mentors, pressure put on the hiring committees to hire FIPP
people, and positions prioritized by staffing committees reshuffled to accommodate FIPP people
being hired.  It was stated at one campus faculty are asked if they want to be a FIPP mentor, then
departments are asked if they would want to participate and finally the campus looks for a FIPP
person who would fit the campus’ need.  Council learned of situations at different campuses that
were causing great concern among faculty.  A point was made that the aforementioned things should
not be happening, and Council needs to speak to the administration regarding those situations.  A
motion was made and seconded stating, “The Faculty Executive Council expresses its grave concern
about the perception of inappropriate pressure being put upon staffing committees, hiring committees
and department/division chairs to favor FIPP candidates over other candidates.”  Council discussed
to whom the message should be sent.  The message will be sent to the Chancellor, the Governing
Board members and members of the Faculty Recruitment Commission.  Council discussed and
decided not to list examples in the message.  A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.

B. Dues

Council discussed the various conversations at the different Faculty Senates.  Council discussed the
information from AAUP and the information from Mike Napier.  Janice Reilly was asked to obtain
information from Mike Napier on the number of hours and total cost he incurred for the new legal
benefit option.  Janice stated that she would ask for that information from Mike.  It was noted that
information was needed about the lobbyist.  Alan Haffa stated that he would send a report on the
lobbyist via MEMO by the end of the week.  Council discussed the various options for the dues
which included: raising the dues to cover the expenses, eliminating or reducing some of the costs or
doing a little of both.  Council agreed that the new information should be discussed at the Faculty
Senates again.  A suggestion was made to vote on the dues during the last meeting of April.  Janice
Reilly requested that feedback be sent to her so that Council could start getting a sense of what
faculty want.

C. Chair Compensation

Mark Gooding distributed copies of the proposed language that the Chair Compensation
Subcommittee had developed to submit to the Meet and Confer process for next year.  Council
reviewed the proposed language.  Mark Gooding reminded Council of the discussion over MEMO
regarding the proposed language.  Mark asked the Council to review the proposed language further
before voting.  A motion was made and seconded to table the proposal.  Council discussed possible
options to the proposed language.  Janice Reilly said that proposals submitted to the Meet and
Confer process are prioritized and some take more than one year to be approved.  A suggestion
was made to table the discussion until the next meeting so that Council members could have more
time to review the proposed language.  A point was made that Council should also look at
compensation for occupational program directors, athletic directors and evening chairs as well.
Council discussed this issue further.  Ricardo Provencio informed Council that a similar proposal for
athletic directors would be given at the next meeting with the request to submit that proposal into the
Meet and Confer process.

III. New Business

A. President-Elect Issue

A motion was made and seconded stating, “In accordance with Article XI, Section B of the Faculty
Executive Council Constitution, I move that Rosemary Kesler be recalled from the position of FEC
President-Elect for failure to comply with the prescribed Code of Responsibility (Appendix A) of
said constitution.”  Council discussed the reasons for the motion.  Rosemary Kesler responded to
requests to defend her position.  Council discussed an open vote versus a ballot vote.  A ballot vote
was taken, and the motion failed with ten votes to disapprove the motion, eight votes to approve the
motion and two abstentions.

IV. Information

A. Drop Defer Retirement Option

Council discussed a current law that allows the option to defer retirement and to work three years
and then get six years credit from the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).  It was stated that
the District needed to articulate an agreement with ASRS to allow Maricopa employees this option.
Council discussed retirement legislation currently at the Legislature.  The point was made that the
District needed to make an agreement with ASRS on the current available option.  Janice Reilly
stated that she would meet with Phil Randolph and find out what the District is doing about this
issue.

B. Other

College Plans

Janice Reilly requested that the Faculty Senate Presidents forward a copy of their most recent
college plan to her.

Nominating Committee

Janice Reilly reminded Council that a nominating committee was needed to gather names for next
year’s President-Elect, EBAC and FAC reps and Meet and Confer Team.  Carmela Arnoldt,
Dennis Shaw and Hazel Davis volunteered to serve as the nominating committee.

V. Committee Reports

A. Meet and Confer

Council received copies of the updated Meet and Confer proposals summary.

B. Professional Growth

Janice Reilly told Council that summer project applications have doubled in number from last year
and saw this as a positive sign of the new changes.  Janice said that the steering committee would
like to continue to clean up the new process and that a proposal would be forthcoming.

C. EBAC (Employee Benefits Advisory Committee)

No report from EBAC.

Jim Reed informed Council that the MAT employee group leaders asked to hold the retirement
benefits survey until they could present the survey to their members.   Jim stated that the retirement
benefits survey was only to obtain information and was not a promise of retirement benefits.  Jim
Reed stated that the retirement benefits survey would move forward.

D. FAC (Financial Advisory Council)

Janice Reilly was asked if the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Faculty Allocations would be meeting.
Janice responded that the subcommittee had met.  She told Council that the allocation process for
2003-2004 would be completed by September 15, 2002.  Council discussed the need to be flexible
in the transition to the new timelines in the hiring process.  Janice was asked if the new formula for
faculty allocations was worked out yet.  Janice responded no, but a formula was not needed now
for the staffing committees to move forward.  Janice Reilly said that staffing committees should now
do the staffing of positions needed and make requests based on the number of positions needed.

E. Legislative

Alan Haffa reminded Council that he had sent a MEMO regarding the legislative bills that held
faculty interest.  He reviewed the bills for Council.  Alan discussed some property tax bills that could
have a negative impact on the District’s budget.  Council discussed the Whistleblower legislation.
Council thanked Alan Haffa for taking the lead on the legislative issues.

F. Intellectual Property Rights

A question was raised if AAUP could review again the Intellectual Property Rights language.  Mike
Napier has already reviewed the language.  Janice Reilly responded that the language would be
faxed to AAUP for its review and comment.  Rosemary Kesler told Council that the Intellectual
Property Rights language, except the textbook policy language, had been presented in the Meet and
Confer process.  Council discussed legal concerns about faculty earning money from their own
manuals and possible conflicts of interest.  Council was told that faculty could only make a profit on
published material.

G. Common Pages

Joanna Chamberlain reported that three small changes requested for the Common Pages had been
approved.  First was the academic renewal issue which will state that the GPA before academic
renewal will be removed and credit will remain for courses passed as well as a caveat to inform
students that this is a MCCD policy only and that other institutions are not bound to accept this
action.  Second was the disciplinary removal from class that would require notification to the
department/division chair as well as the appropriate dean.  Third was the look of the transcript form
that would be redone to tighten up the process.  Joanna stated that the Common Pages have been
numbered similar to the Residential Faculty Policies to make the Common Pages flow better.  Also,
Joanna said, the entire Common Pages and administrative regulations will be available on the Web.
Council was told that colleges usually take only parts of the handbook and the numbering system will
help when cross-referencing.

A concern was raised about the Y grade being expunged from the GPA if a student retook a class.
Janice Reilly responded that it should have been recalculated automatically, but have the student
request that the GPA be recalculated.

H. Peerpoint!

Council discussed the suggestion of putting the Peerpoint! only on the Web.  Council also discussed
a point of whether the Peerpoint! was needed since issues can be sent and/or discussed over
MEMO.  Carmela Arnoldt stated that the April Peerpoint would be ready at the next meeting.  She
requested that ideas for the May issue be sent to her.
 
VI. Significant Happenings/Presidents’ Reports

CGCC
CGCC is in the middle of presidential interviews and will hold a candidates’ forum
Monday, April 1, 2002.

EMCC
No report.

GCC
All is well.

GWCC
GWCC’s new college president is installed.  All is going well.  The GWCC Faculty
Senate sponsored a breakfast for the new college president.

MCC
No report.

PC
No report.

PVCC
All is well.

RIO
Dr. Janine Adkins-Pierce was named Woman of Distinction at Rio Salado College and a
luncheon will be held for her.  RIO had a successful accreditation.

SCC
The new SCC Faculty Development Center is opening March 27, 2002, and the college
will have a nice event to celebrate the opening.

SMCC
No report.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:30pm.

VIII. Executive Session

An Executive Session was not held

                  ** The next Council meeting is April 9, 2002. * *