Faculty Executive Council Meeting Minutes

FACULTY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Informal Meeting Minutes
July 24, 2001

Business Meeting

I. General

A. Call to Order

Janice Reilly called the meeting to order at 2:50 p.m. Janice noted that were was not a
quorum present and stated that the meeting would be only an informal discussion of the agenda items.

Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Joanna Chamberlain, Mark Gooding, Alan Haffa, Rosemary Kesler, Hank Mancini, Jane Marks, Janice Reilly, Dennis Shaw, Vernon Smith and Barry Vaughan.

Carrie Taylor took informal minutes.

B. Approval of Agenda

Due to no quorum present, the agenda was not formally approved.

C. Approval of June 26, 2001, Minutes

Approval of the June 26, 2001, minutes was postponed until the next meeting.

D. Treasurer’s Reports – June 2001 and 2000-2001 Year-End

Council reviewed the June 2001 and 2000-2001 Year-End Treasurer’s reports. Council discussed how to advertise the new legal benefit for Faculty Association members for 2001-2002.

E. Committee Reports

1. Meet and Confer

Council was informed that the Meet and Confer Team has not met this summer.

2. Professional Growth

No report.

3. EBAC

No report.

4. FAC

No report.

5. Legislative

Council discussed various topics regarding legislative issues such as the right-to work versus union, the bond election, 2002 Governing Board elections, state legislation, the Clean Elections Act, AZ AAUP elections, etc. A suggestion was made to hire a consultant/lobbyist to help Council with interpretation of state legislation that is of importance to faculty. Alan Haffa volunteered to research the cost and procedures of securing a consultant/lobbyist for Council. Alan Haffa also agreed to assist with legislative issues for Council. A suggestion was made to review the AZ AAUP bylaws regarding officer elections for the state conference.

II. Old Business

A. FIPP (Faculty In Progress Pilot)

Council was informed that there are eleven people in the FIPP program. Council discussed concerns about the program and the hiring process. Council discussed last year’s retreat with the Governing Board and CEC and how it resulted in some good ideas. A suggestion was made to hold another retreat with an agenda of more specific issues. Another suggestion was made for Council to hold a retreat beforehand to discuss the issues and agenda for a Board/CEC/FEC retreat. Barry Vaughan and Dennis Shaw volunteered to coordinate the faculty retreat. Council discussed having Mike Napier look into the legalities of the FIPP program as it relates to the hiring process. Council also discussed advertising for faculty positions and the lack of funding for advertising. Council agreed to invite other faculty members of the Faculty Recruitment Commission to speak with Council regarding FIPP.

B. Intellectual Property Rights

Council was informed of communications among the members of the Intellectual Property Rights Committee. The original members of the committee will meet on August 13th to discuss concerns from Council and AAUP. Janice Reilly told Council that Ocotillo would be focusing on intellectual property rights and distance loading this year, and that the Chair of Ocotillo had asked for a Council member to sit on Ocotillo. Barry Vaughan volunteered to represent Council at Ocotillo. A suggestion was made to have an article on intellectual property rights in the first issue of Peerpoint! Council also discussed having Mike Napier comment on the drafted policy, developing a counterproposal, and reviewing RFP Section 2.7.2. with the Intellectual Property Rights Committee.

III. New Business

There was no new business.

IV. Information

A. Payroll Error

Council was informed of an error in the paychecks in May. One faculty member had reviewed his pay stubs from the past two years and found not only errors in the deductions from his paycheck but also errors in the amount of sick leave accrued. A question was asked if the Peoplesoft system has had an independent audit since implementation to see if it was working properly. It was thought that an independent audit had not occurred, but rather a limited internal audit. Council discussed concerns over the erroneous deductions in several faculty members’ paychecks and the amount of sick leave given to faculty. Janice Reilly asked the Faculty Senate Presidents to speak with their faculty about any problems the faculty may have had. A copy of the MEMO from the person who research his pay stubs will be sent to Council for review. Council discussed the fact that faculty only receive 19 paychecks instead of 20 as they used to receive. It was thought that getting only 19 paychecks might be the cause for the lower amount of sick time. It was suggested that Janice Reilly contact Phil Randolph regarding the error in the sick time given since all faculty might be affected by that problem.

B. Professional Growth Funding 2001-2002

Janice Reilly informed Council of the problem regarding the Professional Growth Funding request for 2001-2002. Janice stated that she was working with Phil Randolph to resolve the problem. Council discussed options for in which of the three accounts, sabbaticals, projects, and/or travel, to place additional money received for Professional Growth. Council discussed the money rolled over from the previous year and also what Professional Growth activities have been requested and of those what activities were approved in recent years. Council requested a report outlining how professional growth funds were spent over the past three years.

C. Other

FEC Constitution

Janice Reilly stated that the FEC Constitution allows for the Executive Committee, of which there is a quorum, to act in place of Council if Council does not have a quorum for a meeting.

Governing Board Retreat

Council was told that there would be a Governing Board retreat on Thursday,
July 26, 2001.

W Grade

Council was informed of a rumor that the “W” grade was counted as a zero in the G.P.A. Joanna Chamberlain stated that she would check with the Common Pages Committee and report her findings to Council.

Hiring Committees/Governing Board Inquiries

Council discussed a concern about Governing Board members inquiring about applicants being screened and/or interviewed by hiring committees.

Proposition 301 Funds

Council was informed that the campuses are applying for Prop. 301 funds of which there is $ 400,000. The money will not be given all at once in case something comes up later of which 301 funding is needed. Any faculty slots funded by Prop. 301 money cannot be eliminated in the future. Council was told that the committee handling the Prop. 301 funds has a policy and philosophy regarding the funds and are being critical regarding what the campuses can request.

ACT

Council was told that ACT is asking Maricopa to be a testing site and that some colleges are reviewing the request. ACT provides certification tests for different occupations. There is certain criterion that a site must meet to be a testing site. A concern was raised regarding the need to have certification classes and if those classes would take part of a college’s budget. Another concern was if ACT would give classes for certification that should stay at the colleges and be taught by faculty.