A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Willie Minor at 2:35 p.m.
Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Judy Boschult, Tom Butler, Laura Cannon, Jayni Flores, Bob Galloway, Gay Garesche, Donna Gaudet, Rosemary Kesler, Willie Minor, John Nelson, Jim Reed, Mark Richard, Laura Ruiz-Scott, Dennis Shaw, Gail Shay, Denny Sheehan, Scott Silberman, Sandra Stuebner, Larry Williams, Cori Wright.
Minutes were taken by Carrie Taylor.
B. Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as written.
C. Approval of the July 27, 1999 Minutes
The minutes were approved as written.
D. Treasurer's Report - July 1999
Council received copies of the July 1999 Treasurer's Reports. Mark Richard asked Council if there were questions, and there were none.
E. Committee Reports
1. FAC
No report.
2. EBAC
No Report.
3. Professional Growth
Willie Minor informed Council that the Professional Growth Committee held its orientation meeting last week. He stated that approximately half of the representatives attended and there are many new members. Willie Minor expressed that he wanted the Council and the Professional Growth Committee to have a closer connection this year. He also stated that Council needs to act immediately when the Professional Growth Committee has a recommendation.
4. Legislative
Willie Minor stated that the District Legislative staff had held a legislative caucus.
5. Hiring Qualifications
Mark Richard stated that he was told that since Dr. De Los Santos was retiring in September that the Hiring Qualifications Committee was defunct, and he did not know if anything further would happen with regards to the committee. Willie Minor stated that the discussion of hiring qualifications needs to continue so that Council knows what is palatable to faculty concerning this issue. Willie Minor was asked if he would discuss the list of concerns which Council generated at the Council meeting in July. Willie Minor responded that he would address that list under the Information section of the meeting.
II. Old Business
A. Summer Hiring Process
Council postponed discussion of this item.
B. FEC Secretary
Gay Garesche stated that Council needed to name a titular Secretary for constitutional purposes, to make certain that minutes are taken to proofread the minutes taken by Carrie Taylor and to ensure that faculty receive the minutes. She also stated the Secretary needed to sign the annual report sent to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Council was informed that the signature requirement for the annual report had changed this year where only one authorized officer needed to sign, however, the Council still needed to select a Secretary for the other aforementioned reasons. Willie Minor asked for nominations. Tom Butler was nominated. Gay Garesche made a motion to elect Tom Butler as Council Secretary. Jeff Andelora seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
III. New Business
A. Professional Growth Guidelines
Willie Minor stated that recommendations for changes to the Professional Growth Guidelines had been given to Council at the July Council meeting. He stated that a Consideration of Consent agenda will be used to vote on the recommendations and that any recommendation can be pulled for discussion. Gay Garesche asked that the recommendations for the following sections be pulled for discussion: Section A.4. through A.4.4., D.1.2., E.1., E.2.4., E.3.2., G.1.2., G.6.6., H.1.4.4., and H.6. Recommendations for Sections E.3.3., E.5.1., F.2.1., H.3.1., I.2.1., and I.2.3. remained on the Consideration of Consent agenda. Willie Minor reminded Council that the Professional Growth Guidelines were a clarification of the RFP which is the prevailing document. John Nelson said the intention and motivation for the recommendations was to close the loopholes in the Guidelines and for the Committee to be able to apply fairness to all faculty.
Council began to discuss the first recommendation. Gay Garesche stated that the procedures for Professional Growth activities were included in the Professional Growth Guidelines whereas policy for Professional Growth was supposed to remain in the RFP. She stated that the first recommendation as well as others set up policy in the Professional Growth Guidelines which should be reserved for the RFP. John Nelson informed Council that the language was just a clarification of the policies in the RFP and was intended to help guide faculty who may not read the RFP when they are applying for Professional Growth. Gay Garesche voiced her concern that it appeared as thought the Professional Growth Committee was interpreting the RFP which is not in its scope of responsibilities. She stated that the Guidelines should not include specific language to allow for some flexibility. John Nelson stated again that the intention of the recommendations was to clarify the policy in the RFP and to show consistency between the RFP and the Professional Growth Guidelines. The point was made that faculty may not refer to the RFP when reading the Guidelines, therefore if the RFP policies were in the Guidelines as well, then faculty would know what the Professional Growth policies are without having to consult the RFP, which they may not do anyway. Another point was made that faculty should be informed that the Professional Growth Guidelines are just that, guidelines.
It was stated that faculty do not read the Guidelines or RFP until they must, and thus it is a good idea to reference the RFP in the Guidelines. Any policy recommendations should be given to the Meet and Confer Team to put into the Meet and Confer Process. It was suggested that the Professional Growth application only be a one to two page document. It was stated that it appeared that more rules were being written for the Professional Growth Guidelines which was restricting faculty. The point was made that it was Council's responsibility to ensure that Professional Growth policies were put into the RFP. A suggestion was made for Council to more clearly emphasize the statement in the Guidelines introduction which states that the RFP is the prevailing document. The point was made that when the Professional Growth Committee has a policy question, it must be brought to Council for a decision since it is Council who should make that decision anyway. One response to that point was that it would hold up the process for the Professional Growth Committee who has a huge amount of work to do when reviewing the large number of applications for Professional Growth activities. It was emphasized that decisions about Professional Growth policy are the responsibility of the Faculty Executive Council and not that of the Professional Growth Committee. Willie Minor reminded Council that it had a full agenda and that Council needed to focus on approving or disapproving the recommendations before it. It was stated that most of the Council appeared to agree with the recommendations and that some policy should be in the Guidelines. One final point was made that the Professional Growth Guidelines were not the RFP which must to go through the Meet and Confer process, be approved by faculty and then approved by the Governing Board. Therefore, if changes are made to the Guidelines and then do not work, Council can easily change the language.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Sections A.4. through A.4.4. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Mark Richard seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed with two nays.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section A.8.3. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Cori Wright seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed with two nays.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section D.1.2. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Mark Richard seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed with one abstention.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section E.1. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Mark Richard seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed with one abstention.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section E.2.4. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Mark Richard seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Mark Richard made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section E.3.2. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Bob Galloway seconded the motion. Gay Garesche asked for an amendment to the motion to include the first three sentences of the current language and also to correct a misspelling in the proposed language. Cori Wright made a motion to accept the amendment to the original motion. Bob Galloway seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously. A vote was taken on the original motion as amended, and the amended motion passed unanimously.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section G.1.2. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Donna Gaudet seconded the motion. It was stated that this language gives the Professional Growth Committee authority that is not in its purview. Bob Galloway withdrew his motion. Larry Williams made a motion to remove Section G.1.2. from the Professional Growth Guidelines. Tom Butler seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section G.6.6. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Tom Butler seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section H.1.4.4. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Mark Richard seconded the motion. Council discussed the fact that March 15th usually falls during the week of Spring Break, and that the language should be changed. Dennis Shaw suggested to change the language from "March 15" to "by the Friday prior to Spring Break." Council agreed with the suggestion. A vote was taken, and the amended motion passed with one abstention.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendation for Section H.6. of the Professional Growth Guidelines. Jeff Andelora seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion was defeated unanimously.
Bob Galloway made a motion that Council approve the recommendations of the sections still on the consent agenda which were not discussed. Tom Butler seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Council was reminded of the form which was created during the Professional Growth Committee and Faculty Executive Council last Spring. It was suggested that Willie Minor request that when the Professional Growth Committee makes a recommendation for a change to the Professional Growth Guidelines, it would include a rationale to help Council understand the reason for the recommendation.
B. Meet and Confer Chair
Willie Minor informed Council that the Meet and Confer Team recommended that Janice Comer be selected as the 1999-2000 Meet and Confer Team Chair. Bob Galloway made a motion to elect Janice Comer to be the 1999-2000 Meet and Confer Team Chair. Larry Williams seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
C. Adjunct Faculty Sick Leave
Willie Minor told Council that this item was discussed at the CEC meeting on August 4, 1999. The proposal was to give adjunct faculty sick time; one hour per semester for each credit hour taught that semester with no carry over option. Dr. Waechter brought this to CEC for future discussion. Willie Minor stated that the Council should set up a committee to look into Adjunct Faculty issues. Tom Butler stated that he was interested in being on the committee. Willie Minor was asked if this proposal was a "done deal". Willie Minor affirmed that it was, and stated that the College Presidents would be using monies from their existing budgets to cover adjunct faculty sick leave this year.
It was stated that Council deserved an answer to the question of from where the money was coming. Willie Minor stated that he would ask the College Presidents as a group. Willie was asked the status again. He reiterated that the Presidents would be using existing funds to cover adjunct faculty sick leave, and that it would be a pilot project this year. The point was made that since the money was coming from the colleges, why would Council want to support something that was not in the best interests of the residential faculty. It was stated that adjunct faculty do a big job for little pay.
Tom Butler made a motion that Council ask each President from where the money is coming to fund adjunct faculty sick leave, what is the total amount spent at the end of this academic year, and how this benefit is being communicated. Gay Garesche seconded the motion. Discussion continued. It was stated that the carry over issue would give the adjunct faculty incentive to take sick leave since the leave would not carry over to the next semester. It was asked when the adjunct faculty would be informed of this benefit. Council was informed that there would be an all-adjunct faculty conference next month. Sandra Stuebner stated that the Chandler-Gilbert College President had brought this issue to her attention, and she had brought it to Council. One Council member said that he was surprised that the College Presidents would go along with this proposal, that Council should thank them, and that Council should work with the College President to institutionalize adjunct faculty sick leave. Tom Butler stated that he made the motion, but had concerns over the cost since adjunct faculty would probably take advantage of this benefit. He stated that he would advocate the adjunct faculty getting paid if the sick leave benefit was not used. A concern was raised that this idea was being rushed. Council agreed. Tom Butler withdrew his motion. Donna Gaudet made a motion to ask CEC to put this on hold until January so that there would be time to communicate the benefit to all adjunct faculty. Judy Boschult seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously. Willie Minor was asked who would hear about this motion. Willie Minor stated that he would send a memo to CEC regarding the Council's motion and concerns. It was suggested that Willie Minor inform the Governing Board and the Chair of CEC at the Governing Board meeting.
D. FEP Representatives Reassigned Time
Council received copies of an A1 to Willie Minor regarding last year's FEP Representatives Committee recommendation on reassigned time for the FEP campus representatives: the representatives at Estrella Mountain, Rio Salado, and South Mountain would get three hours of reassigned time; the representatives at Chandler-Gilbert, Gateway, and Paradise Valley would get six hours of reassigned time; the representatives at Phoenix College and Scottsdale would get nine hours of reassigned time; and, the representatives at Glendale, and Mesa would get twelve hours reassigned time. Bob Galloway made a motion to accept the recommendation of the committee. Judy Boschult seconded the motion. A clarification of if this was per year or per semester was requested. Gay Garesche informed Council that it would per year. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
E. Professional Growth Monies
Willie Minor reminded Council that the faculty have received an additional $120,000 for Professional Growth activities for 1999-2000. He stated that Council needed to decide how to divvy up this money to go into the three Professional Growth accounts: travel, projects and sabbaticals. Bob Galloway stated that last year's proposal to the Governing Board had given a rationale that $120,000 was needed based on the previous year's figures of what the Professional Growth Committee was unable to fund. The breakdown in the rationale was $80,000 for sabbaticals, $20,000 for travel, and $ 20,000 for projects. Bob Galloway then stated that the Professional Growth Committee now has more rules and more money at this time.
It was stated that Council needed to make a decision since the amounts are recorded in the RFP which still needs to be printed and distributed to faculty. Council continued discussing professional growth monies. Larry Williams made a motion to distribute the additional $120,000 proportionally between the three accounts. Cori Wright seconded the motion. Dennis Shaw stated that he has served as a travel committee member. He said that the cost of attending a professional meeting these days is around one thousand dollars and since travel funding does not cover all of the bill, faculty have to pay out of their own pockets. In his opinion, there is a huge discrepancy in the travel budget amount. It was stated that putting more money in the travel account would help more faculty since travel funds are available to more faculty. It was suggested that $40,000 be put into the travel account and the rest distributed proportionally. Council discussed the suggestion. Larry Williams withdrew his motion. Dennis Shaw made a motion to place $50,000 dollars in the travel account. Mark Richard amended the motion to place $80,000 in the travel and projects accounts and $40,000 in the sabbaticals account. Larry Williams seconded the amended motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
F. LOA Changes in the 1999-2000 RFP Draft
Willie Minor informed Council that there have been changes made to the RFP with regards to the Leaves of Absences in Appendix B, Benefits. Council received packets of information containing: an A1 from Willie Minor to CEC; the original RFP Appendix B language from 1998 which was tentatively agreed to in the Meet and Confer process, ratified by the residential faculty and approved by the Governing Board; Appendix B of the 1998/99 RFP; Appendix B of the 1999/2000 RFP draft; and, a copy of Section 104 of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, Public Law 103-3. Willie Minor explained to Council what he had written in his A1 to the members of CEC. He stated that although the faculty have representatives on EBAC, those representatives do not have the power to make decisions on behalf of the residential faculty. The EBAC faculty representatives must bring to the Faculty Executive Council proposals and other information for Council to vote on. He distributed an A1 from Dr. Waechter who responded to Willie Minor's original A1. The A1 from Dr. Waechter informed Willie Minor of plans to empower EBAC to make benefits policies for all employee groups. Willie Minor stated that he will respond to Dr. Waechter's A1 and asked for Council's input. Willie Minor stated that he had looked at EBAC's bylaws and the make-up of the group looked similar to the Common Policies Committee. He shared with Council that EBAC's by-laws stated that the membership would consist of the presidents of all employee groups. Gay Garesche reported that Bob Hubbard explained to her that unlike EBAC, the Common Policies Committee makes its decisions by consensus only. Hence each employee group has a veto on any additions or changes to the common policies. Furthermore, the RFP requires that additions or changes to the common pages be done by convening the Common Policies Committee.
Gay Garesche informed Council of the discussion at the end of the July Council meeting and the discussion after the meeting. Willie Minor had asked that the LOA action item before the Governing Board be pulled from the agenda. It was stated that the 1999-2000 RFP draft was reviewed and contained changes which were not approved by faculty nor TA'd in the Meet and Confer process. The 1999-2000 RFP draft, the 1998-99 RFP, and the original TA'd language were compared and it was discovered that changes, not approved by the residential faculty nor agreed to in the Meet and Confer process, were made in the 1998-99 RFP as well. The pertinent language in the Family and Medical Leave Act was reviewed also. Council discussed concerns about the changes which were made unilaterally and which were not approved by faculty. Willie Minor stated that he would like the Council's permission to speak with Mike Napier, the Chancellor, and to each Governing Board member individually about this issue. Gay Garesche reported to Council that Freddie Anttila told her that Mike Napier informed Freddie Anttila that the MCCCD LOA policy did not have to have be stated exactly as the law is stated. He said that it is the District's option to offer its employees a better LOA policy, such as one that would return employees to the same position after a LOA. Hence, Council and faculty do not have to make a change in the LOA policies to conform to the law. It was stated that Council has a window of opportunity this year, with the current Chancellor, of working more actively with the Governing Board directly and not the administration, and that this issue should be taken to each Governing Board member. It was suggested that this issue and Council's great concern should be brought up at the Governing Board meeting and be made public. The point was made that the administration should be taken to task on this issue. A concern was raised that taking this to the Governing Board and making it public could backfire. Council discussed how to proceed with this matter.
Willie Minor was asked how the RFP is drafted each year. It was stated that Linda Back, Dr. Waechter's assistant, keeps a diskette containing the RFP and the approved changes. After the faculty ratify the changes, the diskette is given to the Employee Relations department to post to the web after the draft is proofread and signed by all persons named on the attestation page. Willie Minor stated that the unilateral changes need to stop. He again asked Council for permission to meet with Mike Napier, Dr. Cardenas, and the Governing Board. Council agreed with this course of action. It was suggested that Willie Minor state that the printing of the RFP will have to wait because the changes were not agreed to and the RFP is a contract. Council was shown the comparisons in the information they received.
G. Peerpoint Editor
Gay Garesche volunteered to be the Peerpoint Editor this year. Mark Richard made a motion to elect Gay Garesche as Peerpoint Editor this year. Jim Reed seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously. Gay Garesche suggested that the first issue could contain the unresolved proposals from last year's Meet and Confer process.
IV. Information
A. 1998/99 Tax Return
This item was referred by Mark Richard. The recommended action was to agree to ask Chuck Milliner of Glendale to prepare the Faculty Association 1998-99 Tax Return.
Discussion Points:
Council agreed and recommended that Chuck Milliner be contacted.
B. Other
CEC
Willie Minor shared with Council the discussion at the CEC meeting on August 4, 1999. He shared the list of Council's concerns with CEC. One issue has already been resolved. The faculty who were being paid at the adjunct faculty rate before being Governing Board approved will be paid at the faculty rate retroactively.
PAC
Willie Minor informed Council of a situation regarding the Faculty Association PAC. He asked for permission to discuss the matter with Mike Napier. Council granted his request.
V. Significant Happenings/President's Reports
GWCC
There are concerns with the new paychecks generated by Peoplesoft. Faculty are asking why their sick hours have dropped. The District had told Gail Shay that an A1 explaining Peoplesoft and the sick leave hours for faculty was sent out last April. She requested that the A1 be sent to faculty again. It was stated that faculty should have been getting six hours of leave but instead got eight hours. It was stated that one faculty member lost over 400 hours of sick leave. Council discussed the problems with pay checks since the implementation of the Peoplesoft system.
PC
Denny Sheehan and Dennis Shaw are the new Council representatives this year.
SCC
Laura Ruiz-Scott is SCC's President-Elect and joins Council this year.
SMCC
SMCC has one Professional Growth representative and the search for second representative is continuing.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
VII. Executive Session
The Executive Committee met and discussed issues.
* * Next meeting, September 14, 1999, will be a business meeting * *