A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Willie Minor at 2:50 p.m.
Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Tom Butler, Joanna Chamberlain, Gay Garesche, Karen Hardin, Rosemary Kesler, Willie Minor, John Nelson, Joe Ortiz, Mark Richard, Dennis Shaw, Scott Silberman, Sandra Stuebner.
Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.
A quorum was not present at the call-to-order. Therefore, Willie Minor called the meeting to order noting that no votes could be taken without a quorum.
B. Approval of Agenda
Gay Garesche added FEC Secretary as Item E. under Information. The agenda was approved as amended.
C. Approval of the May 25, 1999 Minutes
The minutes were approved as written.
D. Treasurer's Report - May 1999
Mark Richard informed Council that the May 1999 report was in their folders. He reviewed the report and asked for questions or concerns from Council. There were no questions or comments.
E. Committee Reports
1. FAC
No report.
2. EBAC
Rosemary Kesler informed Council that EBAC had met during the previous week to review the bid process for health and dental insurance. EBAC is looking at a third, and less-expensive, type of dental insurance that covers preventative care such as regular cleanings. Orthodontic and other major dental care would not be covered. She stated that there may be eight companies that respond to the bid request. It was stated that Blue Cross/Blue Shield was the health insurance carrier currently. Rosemary Kesler was asked if the health insurance would remain the same. She stated that EBAC is looking at other options which will probably take all summer. She informed Council that EBAC has to make a final decision on the health and dental benefits this fall. She recalled the last time health benefits were reviewed, five years ago, and told of the tremendous amount of negotiating which took place up until the last minute. A large amount of negotiations are expected this fall.
Rosemary Kesler was asked when the insurance carrier would be switched if EBAC decided on a company other than Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She responded that this would not take place until June 2000. It was suggested that EBAC stick with Blue Cross/Blue Shield as switching carriers is disruptive for employees. Rosemary Kesler responded that EBAC would have to look at Blue Cross/Blue Shield's proposal.
Discussion focused about whether it would be possible to have health insurance modeled on the new type of dental insurance. It was stated that having catastrophic insurance would be cheaper. One opinion was that the third dental insurance was opposite of catastrophic health insurance in that only minimal care would be covered, but if something major happened, the employee would have to foot the bill.
Rosemary Kesler was asked if the District felt that it was doing its part by only giving employees health benefits on a pre-taxes basis. Rosemary Kesler stated that the District gets a rebate if overall the insurance is underutilized. That is why there is a three million dollar fund, and employees did not see their premiums increase. The District previously received a rebate from Cigna, and also has received a rebate from Blue Cross/Blue Shield every year which has been put into the bank and is drawing interest. The Governing Board has agreed not to touch the fund for non-benefits spending. She stated that the benefit to employees has been that premium increases that would have occurred have been offset by money from the fund. However, once that money is used up, employees can expect higher premiums. Willie Minor stated that if Council or other faculty had ideas or suggestions, they should contact Rosemary Kesler or Oscar Hardin, the two faculty representatives on EBAC.
Rosemary Kesler stated that the next item for EBAC is to review the compensation package for employees. It was stated that the Governing Board needed to review the compensation package three months ago as it is felt that pay is inadequate. Rosemary Kesler stated that a Hay Study had been done long ago and it had excluded faculty. EBAC has not yet discussed what they are going to use for evaluation. It was stated that if, after studying employee compensation, the district decided to give an increase in pay to non-faculty, that the budget in other areas would have to be cut. The statement was made that Maricopa faculty are paid pretty well when considering faculty salaries nationwide. Willie Minor stated that if a Hay Study is done, it would probably take place in two years. It was suggested that Council do some research on this issue for the EBAC faculty representatives.
3. Professional Growth
Willie Minor shared with Council his opinion that the Faculty Professional Growth Committee needed to meet with Council early in the Fall to make sure that both groups are communicating and that both have the same understanding of Professional Growth needs. Willie Minor was asked if the Professional Growth Committee had named a chair yet. Willie Minor stated that he did not know who would be on the committee as there will be a number of changes. When the Professional Growth Committee meets again, they will need to select a chair.
Willie Minor was asked if the professional growth representatives would be given reassigned time and when vacancies for committee positions needed to be filled. Willie Minor responded that vacancies needed to be filled as soon as possible, and that reassigned time for committee members was still up in the air. It was stated that John Nelson was on the Professional Growth Committee last year and that Council could call on his expertise. It was suggested that the Professional Growth Committee have more diversity than it did last year, drawing representatives from all faculty areas.
4. Legislative
No report.
5. Hiring Qualifications
Mark Richard stated that there was no update since the last report. Mark Richard was asked if all of the faculty feedback was being given to Dr. De Los Santos. Mark Richard stated that he was trying to get in touch with Linda Ward and Dr. De Los Santos to give them the faculty feedback. The point was made that Dr. De Los Santos should receive the feedback from faculty as soon as possible.
It was stated that Council would be given a report on the new interviewing process. One Council member stated that he had been on a hiring committee recently and had not noticed that the process had changed much. It was stated that there was an understanding that if an application did not match the job description for a position, then the application would not be considered. One Council member responded that his committee developed the job description for the open position. Willie Minor suggested that Council should write to Linda Ward with its concerns to make sure Employment is aware of Council's concerns on the issue. Mark Richard stated that he and Janice Comer had requested another meeting which should show also that faculty are concerned about this issue. It was stated that faculty feel that the resumes and applications don't have to completely match the job descriptions to be considered for open positions. It was felt that the Employment Department was avoiding faculty on this issue.
II. Old Business
There were no Old Business items.
III. New Business
There were no New Business items.
IV. Information
A. Summer Hiring Process
This item was referred by Joanna Chamberlain. The recommended action was to contact the Employment Department regarding this issue.
Discussion Points:
Council made the recommendation that Willie Minor contact Linda Ward about this issue, and that he check previous minutes for past discussion on this issue.
B. Ratification Ballot Final Count
This item was referred by Willie Minor. There was no recommended action.
Discussion Points:
Council made no further recommendations.
C. AAUP Annual Meeting Report
This item was referred by Willie Minor. There was no recommended action.
Discussion Points:
Council recommended that Council members discuss these issues with faculty at their campuses and report to Council about those discussions.
Joanna Chamberlain will be attending the AAUP Summer Institute. It was suggested the new Meet and Confer Chairman also attend. Willie Minor was asked if the Meet and Confer Team had chosen its chair yet. Willie Minor responded that the decision would come soon.
D. Meetings/Maricopa Room
This item was referred by Willie Minor. The recommended action was to revisit this issue in the Fall when all Council members are present.
Discussion Points:
Council made no further recommendations.
E. FEC Secretary
This item was referred by Gay Garesche. The recommended action was for Council to elect a titular Secretary.
Discussion Points:
Council made the recommendation to include this issue on the next Council meeting's agenda.
Willie Minor informed Council that the administration has asked for direction in the case of an emergency in which the President or President-Elect of the Faculty Association are not available for consultation. He stated that Council needs to address the issue of who would be contacted next. Willie Minor stated that his first response to the administration was that he would always be available since he carries his laptop with him and reads his e-mail and A1s daily. A concern was voiced that the administration makes substantive decisions during the summer when it thinks the faculty will not notice. Council should probably not facilitate their ability to do so. The administration should wait until the President or President-elect is available.
V. Significant Happenings/President's Reports
CGCC
Ken Schultz is leaving, and he has taken a position at the Ferris Institute in Michigan.
GWCC
All is well at GWCC.
GCC
The GCC Administration decided to completely closed the library for this year. The administration wants to put the entire library on-line in the interim. The faculty objected to all of this. The administration has told the students to use the Glendale Public Library which is nearby. This issue is a problem for classes which teach students how to research in the library.
MCC
A calendar for Fall 1999 is being developed. One rumor heard at MCC is that some high schools will not do dual enrollment classes, as they think poorly of dual enrollment classes. There are several items at MCC regarding the dual enrollment issue that need to be resolved.
PVCC
PVCC has held several meetings regarding dual enrollment. Negotiations are taking place between PVCC and those high schools which want dual enrollment courses. One item agreed upon is to have all students taking such a class be enrolled in the college course. One item still under negotiation is who is responsible for hiring the instructor of the dual enrollment class, the high school principal or the PVCC department chair. PVCC would pay for the teacher. PVCC faculty feel that, since it is a college course taught for college credit by a certified college teacher, they should not only have the responsibility to evaluate the instructor, they should have the authority to hire and fire. There is a sense of urgency by the PVCC administration to resolve this issue before another college takes the dual enrollment classes. Council discussed problems associated with dual enrollment. The point was made that the dual enrollment classes and curriculum need to be college faculty driven. It was stated that one college demands that the high schools who have dual enrollment courses use the college textbooks and syllabi used at the college for the course. PVCC faculty have asked to make dual enrollment a pilot project for one year and then evaluate it. After the evaluation, the college would decide whether to continue the dual enrollment classes or eliminate them.
Rosemary Kesler informed with Council that she attended the recent Governing Board Retreat and stated that it was very informative. One issue discussed was dual enrollment. Rio Salado College and Estrella Mountain Community College gave a dual enrollment presentation to the Governing Board. The presentation made it apparent to the Governing Board that the colleges were handling dual enrollment differently.
It was stated that Bob Galloway, the Faculty Association President, as well as faculty from different Maricopa colleges made presentations to the State Board in April. Some of the presentations questioned dual enrollment while other presentations defended dual enrollment. A concern was voiced that the Governing Board heard only one viewpoint of the dual enrollment issue at their retreat. It was stated that one Council member had obtained notes from the retreat and that the critical issues for faculty were not noted. It was stated that faculty need to tell the Vice Chancellors and the Governing Board that they want to be included in dual enrollment discussions. It was suggested that the faculty approach the District administration regarding the issues critical to faculty.
One other issue raised was checking out district or college equipment such as laptop computers. The District does not have a liability policy which covers equipment that has been checked out by employees. Employees sign a paper stating that they will be responsible for the checked-out equipment even if the equipment is used solely for school business. Also, homeowner policies and car insurance policies do not cover the equipment if it is damaged, lost or stolen. One company was found which required a seventy-five dollar premium to cover the equipment if it was damaged. Faculty need to be made aware of the lack of coverage for district equipment which is checked out.
PC
The administration's parking lot is being closed in order to tear down the administration building. PC enrollment is up by two percent at this time however it is still early in the summer.
SCC
A quiet summer at SCC is expected.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
* * Next meeting, July 27, 1999, will be a business meeting * *