Business Meeting
I. General
A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Willie Minor at 2:30 p.m.
Members Present: Judy Boschult, Tom Butler, Laura Cannon, Joanna Chamberlain, Hazel Davis, Bob Galloway, Gay Garesche, Rosemary Kesler, Larry Miller, Willie Minor, John Nelson, Joe Ortiz, Jim Reed, Mark Richard, Laura Ruiz-Scott, Dennis Shaw, Gail Shay, Denny Sheehan, Vernon Smith, Sandra Stuebner, Larry Williams.
Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.
B. Approval of Agenda
Mark Richard deleted Item C., MAP Committee, under Old Business. The agenda was approved as amended.
C. Approval of the January 25, 2000 Minutes
Gay Garesche requested that it be stated in the Dual Enrollment section of the minutes that a discussion took place concerning the fact that faculty representatives on district commmittees should be allowed to report back to Council all information discussed in the committee meetings. Council discussed this request and agreed to discuss this issue under Information and add it to the next Council meeting agenda. Gay Garesche withdrew her request. The minutes were approved as written.
D. Treasurer's Reports - January 2000 and Year-To-Date
Mark Richard reviewed the reports and asked Council if they had any questions. Tom Butler inquired about the recent A1 regarding approval for Mike Napier to sit in on the Meet and Confer meeting of February 15, 2000. Tom asked how extensive Napier's involvement would be. Willie Minor responded that Mike Napier would sit in for one hour of that meeting which would cost the Faculty Association $110.00. Tom Butler asked how strict Council needed to be in staying within the budgets allocated to the different categories. Bob Galloway stated that the current budget was recommended and approved by Council. Bob shared with Council a brief review of the recent history of the Faculty Association's budget. He stated that the Council could shift monies between categories if it was deemed necessary. Willie Minor informed Council that the Faculty Association was better off this year than in recent years.
E. Committee Reports
1. Professional Growth
Reinhold Kiermayr first informed Council of the sad news that respected GCC faculty member, Irwin Westenberg, had passed away.
Reinhold Kiermayr informed Council that the Professional Growth Committee has ninety-six thousand dollars in unused sabbatical funds. He said that originally forty-three thousand dollars was leftover, and then, one faculty had declined to take the sabbatical that was approved for him. Reinhold stated that there were not many sabbatical applications this year. The Professional Growth Committee has asked that some of the money be transferred to the Projects account and that the other money be used to compensate those representatives who have not received reassigned time from their colleges and to equalize the compensation for all representatives. Next, Reinhold Kiermayr reported that the Professional Growth Committee wants the proposal for three hours, preferably per semester, of reassigned time to be submitted to the Meet and Confer process this year. He said that the Professional Growth Committee has also asked that language be proposed in the Meet and Confer negotiations that makes the funds in all three Professional Growth accounts fungible.
Reinhold Kiermayr was asked what the status of the Projects and Travel account were for this year since the Sabbatical account has a surplus. Reinhold responded that he did not know about the Projects account this year, however, in the past, there has always been a shortage of funding. He stated that he was currently not concerned about the funds in the Travel account. Reinhold Kiermayr was asked to compile the dollar amount for funding the requested reassigned time for the Professional Growth Committee representatives and report that figure to Council. Vernon Smith reminded Council of the suggestion at last Spring's Professional Growth retreat that the administration pay half of the representatives reassigned time and that the faculty pay the other half.
Reinhold Kiermayr was asked if workloads of the representatives are different depending on the size of a representative's campus. He stated that there was little difference, and that the difference came in the amount of in the routine work at the campus level. The amount of work at the committee level is the same. Reinhold Kiermayr thanked Council for considering his and the Professional Growth Committee's requests.
2. Meet and Confer
Rosemary Kesler stated that there was no report.
3. EBAC
Rosemary Kesler stated that there was no report.
4. FAC
Willie Minor stated that there was no report.
5. Legislative
Willie Minor stated that Council needs to focus more on the current legislation at the Arizona State Legislature. He informed Council that there are some bills with serious implications for faculty. Willie Minor said there was talk of one expected amendment to a bill which would allow ASU West to offer four-year degrees. Willie Minor stated that ASU West should be held to its original agreement to offer only upper level division courses while lower division courses would be offered at the community colleges. Vernon Smith told Council that ASU West has already been offering lower division foreign language courses that have pulled students away from the community colleges, particularly Glendale. Vernon made the point that ASU West becoming a full four year university would really affect the community colleges in the West Valley. Gay Garesche shared with Council what has happened with the nursing programs at the community colleges since ASU West has reclassified some lower division courses into upper division courses so that they could offer the course. Bob Galloway asked who would sponsor the amendment. Jim Reed responded that Representative Jim Weiers is the sponsor. Council discussed this possible amendment further. Gay Garesche stated that the deadline to introduce new legislation has already passed. Bob Galloway made the point that this amendment could be attached to any bill, or the original language of any bill could be stricken, and then, the amendment could be inserted in its place. The Council discussed further concerns about this issue and the administration's position.
Council discussed the Dual Enrollment bills currently at the Legislature. Gay Garesche expressed her concern that the bill which would create a special study committee for Dual Enrollment, which does not include a full-time community college faculty member on it, is moving through the Legislature quickly. Council further discussed its concerns about the Dual Enrollment bills.
Willie Minor emphasized that the Council needs to start focusing on the bills and start representing faculty issues and concerns to the Legislature. Vernon Smith informed Council that ASU hosts coffees for legislators to come to discuss legislation and suggested that hosting meetings with legislators is a possibility. Jim Reed stated that Glendale had hosted one event last year. Council discussed this idea. One concern was that these meetings could also be turned into fundraising events for the legislators. Council discussed the idea of having someone in the District oversee Dual Enrollment. Dennis Shaw stated that this was a good idea, however, the faculty would need to make sure that the person selected is faculty and not an administrator. It was stated that the person would have to look out for faculty issues and work to make standards uniform throughout the District. Gay Garesche stated her concern that the legislation which would affect Dual Enrollment standards has been "pigeonholed" and the only Dual Enrollment bill moving through is the one which would create the study committee with no full-time community college faculty on it.
Willie Minor stated that the last issue for today was to discuss the Whistleblower bill. Carol Bernstein has been sending update on her bill. Willie Minor reminded Council that Maricopa has a Whistleblower policy. He suggested that Council could get together with Pete Kushibab to rewrite language using the existing Maricopa policy language. Willie Minor stated that Council had an opportunity this year to get something out of this issue. Gay Garesche asked if Council could write something for the District to give to the Legislature. Willie Minor asked Council to give that idea some thought. Bob Galloway made the point that there is a short time period to work with the Administration on this. Bob informed Council the Maricopa Whistleblower language was weak and that two years ago, Council was looking at language to allow the Faculty Association to sit on the Whistleblower Review Board for the District. Bob Galloway stated that Carol Bernstein's bills contains some language that could be incorporated into Maricopa's Whistleblower policy. Willie Minor asked for two people to work with him and Pete Kushibab on this issue. Council discussed the opportunity to get something positive from the Legislature this year on the Whistleblower issue.
II. Old Business
A. Dual Enrollment
Jim Reed stated that Dual Enrollment will be one of the topics discussed at tonight's Governing Board meeting. Willie Minor informed Council that Carl Samuels, of Glendale, and Larry Burgess of Paradise Valley, were reporting on the Full-time versus Part-time faculty issue. Willie Minor informed Council that they had copies of Carl Samuel's speech in their Council folders. Then, Gay Garesche of Glendale, Laura Cannon of Estrella Mountain, Sandra Stuebner of Chandler-Gilbert, and Abby Hemingway of Paradise Valley would give presentations on an discuss Dual Enrollment issues. Gay Garesche stated that Gene Eastin had asked her to review the current legislation and report to the Board of various happenings in Maricopa regarding Dual Enrollment. Tom Butler asked if the minutes from the Governing Board meeting would be available. It was stated that they should have minutes. Willie Minor stated that the Board meetings are also on IPTV.
Gail Shay asked what had occurred at the recent Dual Enrollment Quality meeting. Vernon Smith stated that he was at first concerned with the charge of the committee since all community colleges across the state are involved. He continued that the Quality Committee reviewed the various areas and said that the committee needs to start looking at the real quality issues. Vernon Smith stated that the committee also needs to look at what is going to happen at the State Board since currently the requirements for Dual Enrollment now are minimal and how what happens at the State Board translates into Maricopa. She said that the Quality Committee had discussed the possibility of Maricopa developing stronger requirements and suggested that the District develop stronger requirements for Dual Enrollment than what the State Board is developing.
Gay Garesche reminded Council of the current regulation which was developed at last April's State Board meeting. She said that the current regulation is weak and that now there are some recommendations, but they are also weak. Gay stated that the State Board is now considering revisions.
Council reviewed copies of a draft revision of dual the Dual Enrollment regulation from the state community colleges presidents. Vernon Smith inquired to whom the recommendations would be made. Gay Garesche responded that the recommendations would be made to CEC and to the State Board. She stated her concern with the last bullet point in the draft which, in her opinion, implied that the students enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes would not have to prove that they were college-ready. Council discussed the drafted recommendations further and differing viewpoints were given. Mark Richard questioned bullet point number three, which states that dual enrollment credits are transferable only to the Arizona public universities, and suggested that faculty should be concerned about the transferability of Dual Enrollment credits nation-wide. Mark Richard stated that bullet point number three would be a great disservice to students. Dennis Shaw made the point that transfer of credits from one college or university to another, especially one in a different state, is not always guaranteed anyway whether the course were taken at a college or a high school. Vernon Smith stated that at that point a student advisor should ask the dual enrollment student what is their college goal to help determine how to proceed. Vernon continued that the student advisor (appropriate chair) would then need to observe, evaluate, etc., the student. Laura Cannon stated that at her campus, the department chairs are compensated for overseeing dual enrollment programs in which the instructors serve as adjunct faculty.
Vernon Smith stated that the next Dual Enrollment Quality Committee meeting will be held on March 3, 2000 at the District Office. Laura Cannon stated that a number of colleges have developed recommendations on Dual Enrollment issues and asked if the committee would be reviewing those recommendations since faculty have done much of the work on the recommendations. Vernon Smith responded that the Quality Committee will be reviewing the recommendations because the committee wants to know what already has been done at the campuses. Willie Minor asked that the Quality Committee representatives report back to Council with as much information as possible. Dennis Shaw made the point that at Rio Salado, the faculty made certain that Dual Enrollment was faculty driven. He suggested that Council ensure that it stays firm on the standards since nothing in the drafted recommendations indicates any faculty control.
B. Common Pages
Willie Minor informed Council that they each had a copy of some Common Pages proposals in their folders. He stated that Joanna Chamberlain had given the Common Pages Committee some language to include in the Common Pages to help resolve the disconnect between the Student Handbook and the RFP regarding the Student Grievance process. The proposed language states, "The faculty member may ask that the College Faculty Senate President be in attendance." The language, which appears in RFP Sections 6.3.3. and 6.3.5., would be included in Steps 3 and 4 of the Student Grievance/Academic Process section of the Common Pages. Willie Minor asked if Council agreed with Joanna Chamberlain's suggestion. A motion was made and seconded to approve the proposed language for inclusion into the Common Pages. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Willie Minor stated that he attended the last meeting and that the Common Pages Committee had considered taking out the second sentence of Step 1 in the Student Grievance/Academic Process, "This conference should be requested by the student within fifteen working days from the time the student knew or reasonably should have known about the unfair or unjust treatment." Willie Minor said that he told the Common Pages Committee to leave the sentence in the Common Pages. Vernon Smith made the point that the student should speak with the faculty member involved in the grievance first and not other faculty. Gail Shay stated that at her campus the students speak with the Department Chairs first, because they feel that they cannot speak with the faculty member involved. Joanna Chamberlain stated that that procedure was not the procedure outlined in the RFP and the Common Pages. Willie Minor asked Council if it wanted to keep the second sentence of Step 1 in the Common Pages. A motion was made and seconded to leave the second sentence in the Common Pages. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Willie Minor shared with Council a third issue discussed at the Common Pages Committee meeting. The issue was transcript fees. The committee wanted to charge a fee for all requested transcripts. Then, the committee discussed not charging for the first transcript requested, but charging a fee for any other requested transcripts. Willie Minor said that he told the committee that they should not charge a fee for any requested transcript. Laura Cannon stated that Maricopa charges more than other colleges/universities do for transcripts.
C. Bank One Savings Account
Mark Richard informed Council that he was bringing forth proposals so that all of the monies in the Faculty Association accounts can be insured. He stated that Desert School Federal Credit Union has an option where a jumbo CD can be chosen and monies can be insured up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mark continued that if a CD were chosen, then the dividends from the CD would go into a money market account. Mark Richard proposed that Council approve moving one hundred thousand of the Desert Schools monies into a jumbo CD for six months at a six percent interest rate and put the remainder into a money market checking account. Mark Richard then suggested that the Council approve moving twenty to thirty thousand dollars out of the Bank One Account and into the Desert Schools money market account. Next, he proposed that Council approve putting fifty thousand dollars at Bank One into a CD with a higher interest rate of four and a half percent over fifteen months. The proposals would leave approximately one hundred seventy thousand dollars in Desert Schools accounts and approximately ninety thousand dollars in the Bank One accounts. A motion to approve Mark Richard's suggestions was made and seconded. Gay Garesche asked if the jumbo CD at Desert Schools was federally insured or privately insured. She emphasized that the monies need to be federally insured as there is much less security in privately insured accounts. Gay Garesche also asked what the interest rates were for a CD with a shorter maturity time period as fifteen months was a long time. Mark Richard reviewed the interest rates for a CD with a shorter time period attached and the penalties for early withdrawals of funds in a CD. Jim Reed asked if there ever was an occasion where Council has had to move a large amount of money in the accounts. Bob Galloway responded that when the Faculty Association sued the Governing Board, they had to pay Mike Napier sixty thousand dollars, but his bill did not come for sixty days. Gay Garesche made the point that currently a bank can require a period of time to hold money or can require thirty days notice of an intention to move a large sum of money. Larry Williams commented that only fifty thousand dollars would be tied up in a CD. Laura Cannon questioned why the Faculty Association had this amount of money. Bob Galloway responded that historically, organizations keep a contingency fund. Council was reminded of the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed with one abstention. Gay Garesche commented that there would be a three hundred dollar difference to lessen the time of the CD.
D. Professional Growth
Willie Minor told Council that the issue of handling Professional Growth Summer Projects during the summer was discussed, and there was concern that Professional Growth is turned over to the Administration in the summer which should not happen. Willie Minor emphasized that faculty need to be involved in Professional Growth during the summer and suggested that the Faculty Association President and President-Elect oversee it instead of the Deans of Instruction. Dennis Shaw made the point that the deadline for summer project applications occurs before faculty leave for the summer so he did not understand how the Deans of Instruction could make decisions on summer projects. Willie Minor responded that appeals on summer projects can come in during the summer which the Deans of Instruction make decision on. Council discussed this issue further. Willie Minor stated that he would bring back this issue with Reinhold Kiermayr.
Willie Minor stated that the next issue which Council needed to discuss was the remuneration issue for the Professional Growth representatives who have not received reassigned time from their colleges. Larry Williams made the point that if Professional Growth funds were used to compensate those Professional Growth representatives whose colleges did not give reassigned time, then the colleges who did give reassigned time to their Professional Growth representatives might take it away. Larry emphasized that such a course of action would set a precedent for having to use Professional Growth funds to pay representatives. Vernon Smith stated that he had not seen the Deans of Instruction sit on the committee until the end of the sabbatical process, therefore, in essence, the faculty have taken over Professional Growth, and the District should compensate the representatives. Dennis Shaw expressed his opposition to using Professional Growth funds to compensate the Professional Growth representatives. Dennis Shaw gave an example where he streamlined the Professional Growth travel process at Phoenix College so Professional Growth funds would not have to be used to pay a part-time secretary to keep the books. Joe Ortiz asked if one of the Deans of Instruction might take this issue to all of the Deans of Instruction in the District and discuss the issue. Bob Galloway stated that all Deans of Instruction have various amounts of discretionary reassigned time available to them. Vernon Smith suggested that the faculty propose that the Deans of Instruction either give reassigned time to the Professional Growth representatives from their colleges or they will be formally requested to start attending the Professional Growth meetings themselves. Larry Williams stated that the ownership should be put back on the Deans of Instruction, and suggested that Council send a letter to all of the Deans thanking those who have provided reassigned time and requesting that all Deans do so. A motion was made and seconded to not use any Professional Growth funds to compensate the Professional Growth representatives this year and to express Council's regret of the duress of those not compensated. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously. Vernon Smith suggested that Council write the Professional Growth Committee outlining the actions it will take to address this issue.
Willie Minor said that there is ninety-six thousand dollars left in the sabbaticals account. Willie reminded Council that Reinhold Kiermayr had stated earlier that the Professional Growth Committee had requested that Council approve moving some of those funds into the Projects account which has been done twice in the past. Willie Minor stated that he had talked to Rufus Glasper who stated that the sabbatical funds were not fungible but said that he would work with the Faculty Association on this. Council discussed the options of transferring the funds into the Projects account and/or requesting that they be rolled o ver to next year. Bob Galloway stated that ten percent of the total Professional Growth budget has been rolled over in the past. Bob suggested that Council ask that ten percent be allowed to roll over for next year. Council discussed the number of sabbaticals in past years. A motion was made and seconded to approve the recommendation of the Professional Growth Committee and roll over any remaining funds to next year. A friendly amendment was made requesting that Council see hard data to support the transfer of any funds into the Projects accounts. Denny Sheehan made the point that the recommendation could be to put all of the unused sabbatical funds into the Projects account. Denny asked if this is what Council really wanted to do. Bob Galloway stated that the motion could be tabled until Council sees the data to support the transfer of funds. A motion to table the first motion was made and seconded. A vote was taken on the motion to table, and it passed unanimously.
III. New Business
A. Discussion of GCC Matter
Willie Minor reminded Council that this item was discussed at the last meeting but no closure was brought to it. Bob Galloway asked what the Glendale Faculty Senate decided to do. Jim Reed responded that the Glendale Senate did not take any action. Gay Garesche responded that the Glendale Senate was taking action by writing a letter. Gay said that the Senate voted 10-4 to write a letter to the Governing Board about the A1 of the GCC President and Mr. Eastin. Jim Reed stated that the writing of a letter had yet to come back for approval. Bob Galloway suggested that the Glendale Senate decide first what it wants to do and then bring this issue back to Council. Gay Garesche stated that the GCC President had made statements about the Faculty Association and that the Council should respond to those erroneous statements. Gay reminded Council of the suggestion at the last Council meeting to have Mike Napier write a letter to the GCC President concerning her statements. Larry Williams reminded Council that the suggestion to contact Mike Napier was his, however he now agreed with Bob Galloway's suggestion for Council to not take any action until the Glendale Senate finishes its action. Jim Reed stated that he did not know that the A1 of the GCC President was going to be in the Council folders at the last Council meeting. Jim Reed said that he asked the Glendale senators if they wanted him to take this matter further, and two had said yes and two said no. Jim Reed said that when the issue is resolved at the Glendale Senate, he can bring it back to Council. Gay Garesche stated that she was concerned about delaying this issue. She stated that the letter from Mike Napier would only address the comments made in the GCC President's A1 about FEC and would not address the entire A1. Gay stated that it would be very little reciprocation for Mike Napier to write a letter to the GCC President pointing out that her statements about Council in her A1 were erroneous. Judy Boschult suggested that Jim Reed meet with the GCC President to get clarification of her statements about the Council. Judy said that also keep in mind that comments can be made about public figures which the public figure cannot fight. Tom Butler agreed with Gay Garesche saying that comments were made about Council that were wrong, and therefore, the Council should respond to those statements. Vernon Smith expressed his concern that the A1 was sent only to the Chancellor and how could copies of it have ended up in the Council folders. Vernon suggested that the Glendale Senate should address this issue. Vernon Smith continued that, in his opinion, Gene Eastin had already taken care of the statements made about Gene Eastin. Vernon stated that perhaps the GCC President could apologize to Council for her statements. Bob Galloway stated that he was not interested in reconnecting the PAC with the Faculty Association since that is one of the concerns that caused the PAC to be monitored by the county attorney. Gay Garesche responded that resolving the matter with the GCC President alone was not enough. Gay stated that the GCC President asked in her A1 to share the A1 with the Governing Board which has been done. Gay Garesche stated that the Glendale Senate had asked her to bring this issue to Council. She made a motion for Council to ask Mike Napier to write a letter to the GCC President regarding her statements about FEC. Jim Reed seconded the motion in order to ask a question. He asked Gay Garesche, "Now, when did the Glendale Senate ask you to do that?" Gay Garesche stated that she thought she could find it in the minutes. A vote was taken on the motion, and it was defeated with sixteen no votes, one yes vote and one abstention.
IV. Information
A. Chancellor's Search
This item was referred by Willie Minor. There was no recommendation.
Discussion Points:
Council made no further recommendation.
B. March Meetings
This item was referred by Willie Minor. Council was asked to make a recommendation.
Discussion Points:
Council agreed to meet only once, on the fourth Tuesday, March 28, 2000.
C. Other
Faculty Representation on District Committees
Willie Minor stated that when faculty representatives sit on District committees, they need to report the issues and discussion to the Faculty Executive Council(FEC). The faculty representatives also need to tell the District Committees that they are representing the faculty and that any discussion will be shared with the FEC. Willie Minor stated that this item will be placed on the next Council agenda under New Business.
V. Significant Happenings/Presidents' Reports
CGCC
The lady Coyotes are playing their first softball game today. The grass was finished in time for the game.
EMCC
The first non-Saturday faculty orientation was held this semester. The EMCC Senate will be reviewing the dual enrollment recommendations shortly. EMCC is building a new fountain and all are invited to come and see it.
GCC
Things at GCC are status quo.
GWCC
GWCC had a career fair today and over 1400 high school and middle school students attended. The NCA will be at GWCC on February 22-24, 2000.
MCC
Last Fall, MCC commissioned a climate study with all employee groups on their views of the working atmosphere at MCC. An outside consulting firm was employed.. There were seven or eight pluses and some negative issues of which there was consensus among the different groups. The climate study group is summarizing the results and they will have solid ground to talk with MCC's President about making changes at MCC. Council discussed why the climate study was ordered.
PC
All is well at PC.
PVCC This week, PVCC is hosting an international festival which focuses on China. Some terra cotta items will be on exhibit.
SCC The SCC Senate hosted a luncheon meeting at the Artichoke Grill with Nancy Stein as a guest, and all had a nice visit with her.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
* * Next meeting, February 22, 2000 will be a Business Meeting * *