Glendale Community College Faculty Senate

Meeting of September 27th, 2001

approved Minutes

 

 

I.          General

 

A.        Call to Order: A quorum being present President Jim Reed called the meeting to order at 2:30 PM.  Senators 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, Dianna Dwyer, Bob Hubbard, Kirt Shineman, Bruce Thomas, Pamela Nelson, Carl Samuels, Paul DePippo, Bill Stewart and David Raffaelle.

 

B.         Guests included: Lyle Walcott, Susan High, Frank Gonzalez, David Rodriquez, Gay Garesche, Bill Lamkin, Jane Camp, Charlotte Howey, Hannes Kvaran, Jim Daugherty and Chuck Jeffery.

 

C.             The proposed agenda was modified and adopted.

 

D.        The minutes of the August 23rd, 2001 meeting were adopted without modification.

 

E.             The Treasurer’s report was approved and showed a balance of $12,247.30.

 

F.             President Reed’s report included the following:

 

·        A list of issues likely to be discussed during the Meet & Confer process.

·        The Group Legal Plan for members of MCCD District Faculty Association that provides substantial legal representation for its members on matters pertaining to faculty issues now provides for consultation and some legal services concerning personal issues. This includes the preparation of wills, domestic issues and personal injury representation at a greatly reduced cost.

·        Intellectual property is the subject of a proposed Administrative Regulation requiring Board action.  This topic is likely to be an issue in the upcoming Meet & Confer cycle.

·        Circulated the proposed agenda for the September 28th, 2001 meeting of the GCC President’s Advisory Committee meeting (formerly PEC).

·        The District Faculty Association is now studying the feasibility of hiring a legislative lobbyist.

 

 

 

 

 

II.        Old Business

 

A.        President Reed solicited input regarding Dr. Pollack’s question concerning the best time and format for continuing open dialogue with the Senate.  The Senate adopted a motion made by Senator Paul DePippo allowing the Senate President to schedule a “fifteen (15) minute interim” during regularly scheduled meetings for dialogue with Administrators. (Passed, 1 abstained, 1 nay vote)

 

B.         President Reed is seeking more nominees for members to sit on the Instruction/Facilities Committee before submitting his selections to the Senate.

 

C.        Counselor-at-large Linda Smith reported that the “Climate Survey” is at the printers and will soon be distributed via campus mailboxes.  Replies will go from each respondent directly to the ASU Research Lab.

 

D.        Associate Dean of Instruction Chuck Jeffery presented guidelines developed for publication of “The Traveler.” The guidelines were developed with the assistance of both art and literature faculty. The guidelines describe the rules for submission, selection, judging, design, production, time schedules, revision and distribution. Copies of the document are available on request.

 

E.         President Reed reminded Senators that they should have received a listing of assigned faculty constituents.  He encouraged each senator to keep those on their list informed and to recruit those not already members of the association.

 

F.         David Rodriquez explained that the name of the group being established to advise staff regarding library/media holdings would be known as the Library/Media Committee. (The Senate had previously voted support for this concept.)

 

G.        President Reed introduced the topic of “18 hours of accountability.”  He has submitted a question regarding this matter to Dr. Pollack.  Dr. Pollack is researching the issue*. Discussion indicated that the practice known as “18 hour of accountability” is inconsistently enforced or not even expected at GCC.  The Senate unanimously adopted this resolution offered by Senator Paul DePippo; “Be it resolved that it in the opinion of the Senate the practice known as “18 hours of accountability” while randomly enforced in some departments is not a part of the RFP and therefore should no longer be required.” (*)

 

 

 

H.        Vice President Carmela Arnoldt explained that more study needs to be made regarding District decisions about medical insurance costs, particularly those assessed retirees.  She urged everyone to get involved in the collection of data and information about how other educational entities provide continuing medical coverage for retirees.  This information is being collected for Treasurer Diana Abel, who also serves as a GCC representative to the District Faculty Executive Council.

 

III.                 New Business

 

A.                Senator Carl Samuels expressed grave concern over the District Faculty Association’s decision severing its long-standing relationship with the State AAUP.  The rationale for that decision was explained. MCCD Faculty Association has continued its affiliation with the National AAUP. Senators and guests added comments and suggestions.  The Senate adopted a motion offered by Senator Paul DePippo instructing GCC Senate representatives to the Faculty Executive Council to have the relationship with the State AAUP put back on the agenda for re-examination. (Approved, 2 abstained).

B.                 The Senate reviewed a concern over complaints about the harassment of students following the September 11th terrorist attacks.  No specific incidents were identified.  The Senate was resolute in its support of a policy of non-tolerance against harassment, but noting that the student handbook already provides direction for the adjudication of such matters, tabled the matter for future action if necessary.

C.                Senator Pam Nelson addressed the concern faculty has with the current language in the RFP regarding five required office hours per week.  Some departments interpret that to mean nothing less than one hour, five days and no flexibility is granted.  It was pointed out that many new situations and teaching formats have developed that make it impractical to, in all instances, schedule an office hour on five consecutive days. Some have a lengthy unbroken teaching load some days that would necessitate scheduling an office hour at an extremely early or late hour.  During the discussion it was discovered that the issue is already scheduled for meet-and-confer.

D.                The next meeting dates were established as Thursday October 26th and Thursday November 29th.

E.                 Faculty guests Jane Camp and Charlotte Howey asked the Association to once again show its support for the READFEST by funding the rental of popcorn machines and by encouraging faculty to donate children’s books.  Five thousand elementary students are expected to attend and the goal is to have at least one book for each child to take home.  The Senate approved a motion made by Vice President Carmela Arnoldt donating $500.00 towards the rental of the popcorn machines.  (Approved unanimously.)

 

 

F.                 The unauthorized posting of notices and circulars at inappropriate locations on campus was discussed. President Reed indicated he would speak with the appropriate staff and no further action was taken.

 

IV.                Information

 

A.        Faculty guest Hannes Kvaran explained an issue that has important implications for faculty that contract with outside providers for services costing more than one thousand dollars.  MCCD Risk Management now requires proof that those providers carry minimum indemnity insurance of one million dollars.

 

B.         Vice President Carmela Arnoldt announced the scheduled date for the next Faculty Forum is October 11th, 2001 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in the Faculty Dining Room.

 

C.        Continuing concerns about the Faculty In-Progress Pilot (FIPP) were aired.  Those concerns include appearances that FIPP circumvents established selection and hiring practices, may be susceptible to patronage and is already expanding beyond the original pilot goal of three positions. The cost is now $500,000.00 with eleven interns on ten campuses.

 

D.        Some dissatisfaction was expressed over recent response to bomb threats.  The perception was that notice of the threat was not thoroughly shared and attempts to search appeared to be superficial.

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:35 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

_________________________

Senator Jack Rose, Secretary

 

 

 *See email 10/3/01 from Dr. Pollack approving Senate’s proposal to dissolve the 18-  hour requirement of accountability.