I. General
A. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Willie Minor at 2:35 p.m.
Members Present: Jeff Andelora, Freddie Anttila, Judy Boschult, Tom Butler, Laura Cannon, Joanna Chamberlain, Jayni Flores, Bob Galloway, Gay Garesche, Janice Comer for Karen Hardin, Rosemary Kesler, Willie Minor, John Nelson, Joe Ortiz, 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 September 14, 1999 Minutes
Gay Garesche asked for one correction in the Dual Enrollment section of the minutes. The minutes were approved as amended.
D. Committee Reports
1. Professional Growth
No report.
2. EBAC
Rosemary Kesler shared with Council the discussion which had taken place at the last EBAC meeting. She stated that there were three issues which arose from the discussion. First, she said that the administration had asked that the words, "fiscal year" in the policy manual be changed to read, "calendar year" due to the Peoplesoft system. Rosemary Kesler told Council that the second issue was the OYO/OSO benefits issue. She informed Council that there were 472 OYOs last year and the cost to provide them benefits was two million dollars. Rosemary Kesler was asked if everything was being converted to a calendar year. She responded that everything to do with Peoplesoft would be converted to a calendar year in January. Gay Garesche stated that technology was starting to drive the system. The point was made that this issue was discussed by Council in July. Rosemary Kesler stated that Employment wanted the language change in the policy manuals, but the EBAC reps said they needed to take the issue back to their respective groups. Willie Minor agreed with Gay Garesche's point about technology driving the system. The point was made that changing the wording in the RFP would impact faculty in many ways. Rosemary Kesler agreed and stated that was why she and Oscar Hardin told Employment not to change the wording until Council had discussed the issue.
Rosemary Kesler stated that the third issue from the EBAC meeting was a draft of an action item which Dr. Waechter was going to take to the Governing Board on October 26, 1999. The action item proposed to make EBAC the policy-making group on all employee benefits issues and thus take those issues out of the Meet and Confer process. Willie Minor stated that he and Wanda Elie, the PSA President, had spoken with Dr. Cardenas about this and stated to him that the action item, and people trying to unilaterally change policy manuals, are causing much distrust in the District. Willie Minor stated that he will try to work with the Governing Board and Dr. Cardenas on these concerns first. Discussion arose about statements made in the EBAC meeting. Rosemary Kesler stated that Dr. Waechter had offered some proposed articles or by-laws for EBAC and was giving an opportunity for input on changing or rewriting the EBAC by-laws. Willie Minor stated that there was a process in place to deal with these issues and the choice is being made to bypass the process. He stated that Council needs to review its options if the process is not adhered to. Gay Garesche pointed out that Employment wanted to make the LOAs uniform for all employee groups. She said that the RFP Appendix F, Common Policies, outlined a process by which items would be put into Common Policies. She pointed out the difference between the Common Policies Committee, in which every employee group has a veto and changes must be unanimous, and EBAC where a majority vote can make changes. Willie Minor stated that he had contacted the leaders of the other employee groups and that they agreed that employee benefits must stay in the employee group manuals and not be placed in Common Policies. Rosemary Kesler ended the discussion stating that EBAC has received the cost proposals for long and short term disability benefits for both of which the costs were lower. EBAC was still waiting for dental and health benefit proposals.
3. FAC
Willie Minor informed Council that copies of the FAC report from Tom Trollen were in their folders.
4. Legislative
No report.
II. Old Business
A. LOA Changes in the 1999-2000 RFP Draft
Council received copies of Appendix B of the revised 1999-2000 RFP draft. Willie Minor reminded Council that Dr. Waechter had agreed to reinsert the original TA'd language of Appendix B. He stated that he and Carrie Taylor had reviewed the revised draft and found that the language in Appendix B still did not match the original TA'd language. Willie Minor was asked if Council could print the RFP and send the bill to the District. Willie Minor suggested that Council could trade places with the District and, in the future, be the keeper of the changes in the RFP, letting the District proofread the drafted document.
B. Dual Enrollment
Jim Reed stated that he was waiting to hear from CECs Dual Enrollment Finance Committee. Willie Minor said that CEC was still putting the committee together so committee members should be called next week. Willie Minor was asked if there were changes in the membership of the Finance Committee. He answered that he did not think there were changes. Willie Minor stated that he sent a letter to CEC Chair, Art DeCabooter, stating that both he and Jim Reed would serve on the Committee. Willie Minor asked Gail Shay if she would like to be on the Dual Enrollment Finance Committee as well. Gail Shay stated that she would consider serving on the committee. Jim Reed suggested that College Presidents who do not have a lot of FTSE generated from Dual Enrollment course sit on the Finance Committee as well. Willie Minor asked for an A1 if there were any concerns or issues about the Finance Committee.
C. November Strategic Conversation
Tom Butler stated that the November Strategic Conversation on Learning Communities will be presented by Sally Rings of Paradise Valley, Nancy Siefer of Glendale, Elizabeth Skinner of Gateway, and Barbara Shovers of Chandler-Gilbert. These faculty had developed their own interactions on this issue and wanted to give a Governing Board presentation on Learning Communities. Tom Butler stated that if other faculty wish to join in the presentation to the Governing Board, they should contact Sally Rings.
D. PEERPOINT!
Willie Minor reminded Council that they had received the drafted Peerpoint! over A1 and should have had an opportunity to review it. Gay Garesche stated that she did not remember past issues of Peerpoint! having to be reviewed by Council. She said she remembered that previous Councils had placed their trust in previous editors. She informed Council that others had read and proofread the articles which contained a lot of historical information. She recalled that two issues were identified by last year's Council as necessary proposals, however the Meet and Confer team was unsuccessful in getting agreement on either of the proposals, and this Peerpoint! told of those two issues as well as others from last year's Meet and Confer process. The point was made that it would be unproductive to have an editorial board of twenty-five people. The hard work of Gay Garesche was recognized and the Peerpoint! should be printed and distributed. Another point was made that the Peerpoint! has the Faculty Association's name on it and therefore, the Council should review the drafted issue before it is sent out to faculty. Gay Garesche stated that she did not want to write all of the copy for future Peerpoints, and hoped that others who were experts on certain topics would write articles as well. She said that she had hoped to get out the first Peerpoint! in September. Willie Minor proposed to send out future Peerpoint! drafts over A1 to Council for review and if no response was received after two days, the Peerpoint! would proceed. Gay Garesche asked what was Council's expectation of her if someone had a concern about some of the copy. The point was made that some of the language was editorial in nature, and that the reporting parts of the Peerpoint! needed to be separated from the editorial parts. Jim Reed stated that he had spoken with a previous Peerpoint! editor who told him that she never sent the Peerpoint! to Council for review. He asked what the objection was to this Peerpoint draft. Janice Comer responded that she had sent an A1 to Willie Minor informing him of the Meet and Confer team's concern. She said the concern was that the articles in the Peerpoint! discussed last year's unresolved issues, and not what this year's team was doing. She continued that the current Meet and Confer team has a strategy and was concerned that the articles would go against that strategy. Freddie Anttila stated that the Peerpoint! articles would motivate faculty to get concerned and be involved this year, which would be a good strategy too. The point was made that the Meet and Confer team's strategy should be developed by the whole Council and the Meet and Confer Team. A concern was voiced that the title, Unfinished Business, would suggest that that issue would be finished this year, and that Council may decide not to continue with that issue. There was a concern with the timing of the information in this Peerpoint! draft. Gay Garesche stated that she thought that the information about last year's Meet and Confer process would generate interest in this year's process and offered to sign her name to the articles which she had written. Mark Richard made the motion that all Peerpoints will be put on A1 to Council prior to publication for review and response. Tom Butler seconded the motion. Discussion ensued about the motion and what the exact procedure would be. A vote was taken, and the motion was defeated with two yes votes. Council discussed some minor changes that need to be made to the Peerpoint draft. Freddie Anttila made a motion that all future Peerpoint! drafts would be sent to the Faculty Association President for review. Gay Garesche seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
Freddie Anttila stated that previous Peerpoint! editors had received stipends or reassigned time for editing the Peerpoint!, but didn't know exactly what how they were compensated. Bob Galloway asked for the history of compensation for the Peerpoint! editor with and without a secretary's assistance. Willie Minor will get the information and report back to Council. It was suggested that the President, President-Elect and Editor's names be put on the front page of the Peerpoint! Jim Reed made a motion to place the President, the President-Elect and the Peerpoint! Editor's names on the front page of the Peerpoint! Bob Galloway seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
E. PAC Report
The Council moved into an executive session to discuss this issue.
III. New Business
A. Bank One Savings Account
Mark Richard asked to table this item until the next meeting. Council agreed.
B. Computer for Faculty Association President
Mark Richard asked that this item be tabled until the next meeting. Council agreed.
C. Professional Growth Standard Operating Procedures
Council received copies of the Professional Growth Committee's Standard Operating Procedures document. Willie Minor reminded Council that they agreed that giving the document to outsiders to help them understand the Professional Growth process was a good idea. Cori Wright made a motion to approved the Professional Growth Standard Operating Procedures document. Freddie Anttila seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
D. FPGC Secretarial Support
Willie Minor stated that, at the Professional Growth Retreat last Spring with Council and the Professional Growth Committee, Council had promised to provide a secretary to take minutes at the Professional Growth Committee meetings. He said that Council had discussed cost options at the last Council meeting, and then he asked Council what they would like to do. Council discussed various options for securing a secretary to take minutes at the Professional Growth Committee meetings. Willie Minor said that Jeanne Christen took the minutes at the last meeting and transcribed the minutes. Discussion continued. Bob Galloway made a motion to hire a temporary service to do minutes at the market rate for taking, transcribing and distributing the minutes of whole Professional Growth Committee group meetings, twice a month, with work time not to exceed six hours a month. Freddie Anttila seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously.
E. AZ AAUP State Delegates
Willie Minor informed Council that Carol Bernstein had asked if the Faculty Association would retain its current delegates to the AZ AAUP State meetings. He asked Council if they wanted to keep the current delegates who are Bob Galloway, Freddie Anttila and Sue Shuman. It was stated that Sue Shuman was on sabbatical and therefore could not be a delegate this year. Bob Galloway informed Council of a different way, explained to him by Carol Bernstein, of getting delegates by voting from the membership. He said that this different way would give Maricopa additional delegates since MCCCD faculty make up the majority of AZ AAUP members. Tom Butler made the motion to keep Bob Galloway and Freddie Anttila as AZ AAUP delegates and to vote for the third position at the next Council meeting. Larry Williams seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion passed unanimously. Willie Minor suggested that Council send nominees for the third delegate position to him via A1. One Council member asked how often did the state committee meet. Freddie Anttila stated that the AZ AAUP committee usually meets twice a year in Casa Grande.
IV. Information
A. Change in "Y" Grade
This item was referred by Joe Ortiz. There was no recommended action.
Discussion Points:
B. Sick Leave for Forty-Nine Percenters
This item was referred by Sandra Stuebner. The recommended action was for Council to ask that forty-nine percenters get sick leave as well as the adjunct faculty.
Discussion Points:
Council recommended that Willie Minor take this issue to CEC.
C. Other
Letter from Mike Napier
Willie Minor stated that he had received a response from Mike Napier regarding two issues, unilateral changes in the RFP and faculty involvement on the Governing Board's Chancellor Search Committee, which Council had asked that Willie Minor contact Mike Napier. Council received copies of the letter. Willie Minor discussed Napier's findings on the two issues. Council discussed the findings in the letter and how to proceed. Willie Minor asked for Council's permission to present Mike Napier's letter to Dr. Cardenas and the Governing Board. Council gave him permission to do so.
AZ AAUP Constitution
Council received copies of the AZ AAUP Constitution. Willie Minor stated that Carol Bernstein would like for Council to review the constitution and comment on it. This item will be on the Council's next meeting agenda.
Faculty Presentations to the Governing Board
Alan Jacobs of Scottsdale is making a presentation of his work as faculty to the Governing Board at its meeting. Willie Minor would like to have other faculty make three to five minute presentations to the Governing Board in the future as well. He asked Council to let him know of any faculty who are doing great work for possible future presentations to the Governing Board. Rosemary Kesler also suggested that faculty invite Governing Board members into their classrooms to view the faculty working. She invited a Board member and the response was great.
V. Significant Happenings/President's Reports
CGCC
The faculty had the dual enrollment forum which went very well. Discussion was held on what was working and not working regarding dual enrollment. An ad hoc committee was formed and has met once.
EMCC
All is well at EMCC.
GWCC
An Open House for the Health Careers Educational Building will be held on October 26, 1999, and everyone is invited. The Fall Luncheon will be on November 19, 1999.
GCC
The faculty met and discussed the college plan. It is believed that it will soon be accepted by the GCC administration. Council was asked if any other college had administrative evaluation language in that college's plan. MCC's college plan has language for evaluating Chairs. It was stated that SCC had language regarding administrative evaluations. It was stated that Phil Randolph had stated in Meet and Confer last year that administrative evaluation language should be in the college plans and not in the RFP.
MCC
All is well at MCC.
PC
The bear is coming back and all is well at PC.
PVCC
There was nothing to report from PVCC.
RIO
No report was given.
SCC
An Open House will be held on October 15, 1999, for the three newest building at SCC: the Child Development Center, the Applied Sciences building, and the Language and Communications building.
SMCC
SMCC was awarded several million dollars in Title Five grants for Hispanic-serving institutions. SMCC will use the money for a new language lab. One issue under discussion was regarding crisis management plans. There are concerns being raised about changing the Professional Growth sabbatical process and requirements.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
* * Next meeting, October 12, 1999, will be a business meeting * *