Glendale Community College Faculty Senate

Meeting of August 23^rd, 2001 – Council Chambers

Unapproved Minutes

I. General

A. Call to Order: A quorum being present President Jim Reed called the meeting to order at 2:35 PM. Members of the Senate that were present included: President Jim Reed, Vice President Carmela Arnoldt, Treasurer Diana Abel, Secretary Jack Rose, Counselor-at-Large Linda Smith and Senators: Larry Bohlender, Renee Barstack, Trish Hofer, Jeanne Saint-Amour, Bob Hubbard, Kirt Shineman, Pamela Nelson, Carl Samuels and David Raffaelle. Guests present included: Susan High, John Griggs, Johnnie May, Casey Furlong Marla DeSoto Lyle Walcott, Dean Terasaki, Betty Hufford, Frank Gonzalez, James Abraham, Jim Daugherty, David Rodriquez, Eileen Johston, Kristin Bennes and Doug Brenner.

B. The proposed agenda was modified and adopted.

C. The minutes of the May 13^th, 2001 meeting were approved without revision.

D. The Treasurer’s report reflected a balance of $12,258.50. Approved.

E. President Jim Reed reported the following:

· He is involved and monitoring several salary appeals both of new hires and others arising out of professional growth.

· A district wide committee is being formed to address concerns about safety in the workplace. (Susan High later accepted an appointment as the GCC representative.)

· Voting is currently taking place within the Math Department to elect a Chair.

· He attended a retreat that discussed implementing the next hiring process earlier in the academic year.

· He has investigated the proposed on-campus fire science “burn building” and he will invite Director Doug DeSanti to provide the Senate more information at a future meeting.

· Described a concept under consideration at the District to develop a “test bank institute” that could develop into a “national assessment institute.” The concept calls for creation of a data bank of test questions voluntarily submitted by faculty. The test bank would allow others to borrow questions from the bank, and perhaps contribute their own, so that the assessment process would become more universal. Discussion followed; no vote taken, idea to be monitored and the Senate updated in the future.

F. Vice President Arnoldt reported on issues discussed at recent District Board meetings particularly concerns about employee safety and potential liabilities.

II. Old Business

A. Senator Hofer expressed concern over the current position the District has taken regarding the provision of health care benefits to retirees. She pointed out that the Districts policy of excluding retirees from the general employee group health plan and forcing them instead to accept the plan offered by the Arizona State Retirement System is inconsistent with the position and practice of other public sector employers. (Information only, no action taken.)

B. Guest faculty Betty Hufford (English) and Dean Terasaki (Art) co-facilitated explanation of publication status known as public forums, limited public forums and non-public forums. The most important distinctions are:

· Public forums provide broad free-speech protections. The community has editorial control and both faculty and students are protected as free speech is protected.

· Limited public forums also enjoy broad free-speech protections. The institution and the community (students) have editorial control. This is the status that describes the status of “The Traveler” in the past. Both faculty and students are protected as free speech is protected.

· Non-public forum status does not enjoy free speech protection. The institution has full editorial control. Faculty must make editorial judgement based on community standards and individual faculty are vulnerable to external factors.

It was pointed out that “The Traveler” is an award winning publication that has hosted the first publication of several notable individuals. Allowing students to publish often excites their future academic and personal growth. This presentation was made in response to criticism made by outside parties regarding some of the student art included in the last edition of “The Traveler.” The Senate voted unanimously to approve a motion (offered by Senator Bohlender) supporting the development of guidelines for all student publications consistent with the limited public forum status.

C. Guest Kristin Bennes provided the Senate with information regarding two programs to be piloted during the academic year and asked for support from faculty in the form of recruiting students for the “Student Leadership Experience” and the proposed “MCCD Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF).

D. President Reed asked the Senate what the preferred venue would be for continuing the dialogue initiated last year with Dr. Pollack. The Senate approved by a vote of 13 to 1(1 nay) a motion (offered by Vice Pres. Arnoldt) to invite Dr. Pollack and other administrative staff to attend two special sessions during the Fall 2001 semester.

E. President Reed explained emeritus status and the District policy that leaves implementation of that program up to the faculty at each campus. Discussion indicated little support for this concept and there was no motion offered for action at this time.

F. President Reed assigned Carnela Hardin and Senate Treasurer Abel to represent GCC on the District Faculty Executive Council.

G. President Reed noted that a replacement was needed for Senator Bohlender on the Travel Committee. No action taken.

H. Guest Jim Daugherty (Faculty/Meet&Confer) reported on the results of the last meet and confer process. There will likely be another attempt to include the “Ph. D. + 24” salary step in the next proposal. That step was included in the final accord, ratified by faculty vote and then sent to the Board. The Board removed that item before approving the remaining package. Ph. D. + 24 will be reintroduced as a topic for meet and confer this year.

I. Counselor-at-large Smith provided an update on the progress of the Climate Survey. The Senate expressed grave disappointment at the fact that the Survey was still not ready for distribution and voted unanimous approval of a resolution urging the Climate Survey Committee to promptly complete its work and to distribute the Survey by September 15^th, 2001 at the latest.

J. President Reed noted that the cut off date for Faculty Association membership is November 15^th, 2001 and he urged Senators to help with the recruitment. Towards that end he will soon distribute a membership list along with a listing of the constituents each Senator should make a special effort to stay in contact with.

III. New Business

A. President Reed reported on an issue that has arisen out of broken service on campus (but continuous within the District) as it relates to graduation line seniority. The Senate voted unanimously to approve a resolution (offered by Senator Nelson) supporting the award of seniority and appropriate placement in the graduation line to the individual with the earliest employment date as MCCD faculty.

B. Guest David Rodriquez (Library/Media) asked the Senate to endorse the creation of a Library Media Council. The Council would seek to have representation from each teaching department and would work with Library staff to develop services that create an environment that supports instructional goals. The Senate voted unanimously in favor of a motion (offered by Senator Saint-Amour) to petition for the reinstatement of the Library Media Council as a standing committee.

C. Guest Jim Daugherty noted that the Curriculum Committee membership currently calls for the assignment of 6 members from an academic teaching area and 4 from and occupational area. Because occupational areas generate much of the Committee’s business the Chairs have referred the issue to the Senate for review and recommendation. The Senate voted 12 to 2 (1 nay, 1 abstention) in favor of a motion (made by Senator Barstack) to recommend a change to 5 representatives from each of the two instructional areas.

D. President Reed called for a volunteer to represent GCC on a new District Faculty Association committee being formed to study safety in the workplace. Susan High (Faculty/Counseling) agreed to serve.

IV. Information: Senators shared information and views concerning the following issues which may be brought forward for discussion and action at a later date:

· FIPP: Faculty In Progress Pilot

· Intellectual Property Rights

· District Strategic Plan

The meeting adjourned at 5:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________

John E. “Jack” Rose, Secretary