September 26, 2002 Minutes

Glendale Community College Faculty Senate

Meeting of September 26, 2002

Approved Minutes

(Please note: General interest issues or meetings & notifications are listed below in bold to allow them to be located more easily.)

I. General

A. Call to Order: A quorum being present, President Carmela Arnoldt called the meeting to order at 2:35 P.M. Senators present included: President Carmela Arnoldt, Vice President John Griggs, Treasurer Diana Abel, Secretary Pamela Nelson as well as Larry Bohlender, Jim Daugherty, Amanda Dunnagan, Dianna Dwyer, Robert Hubbard, Gary Marrer, Cate McNamara, Alicia Ottenberg, Robert Reavis, Carl Samuels, Kurt Shineman, Bill Stewart, and Bruce Thomas. FEC Representative-at-Large Linda Smith and Senate-selected FEC Representative Jim Reed were also present.

B. Introduction of Guests – including, but not limited to, James Abraham, Larry Backs, Joseph Bednorz, Ruth Callahan, Jane Camp, Richard Cary, Bob Christian, Doug Dawson, Rene Díaz-Lefèbvre, Gay Garesche, Frank Gonzalez, Mary Jane Onnen, Jim Sanders, Sarah South, and Lyle Walcott. President Randolph also joined us for a few minutes at 4pm (see below).

C. The proposed meeting agenda was adopted as amended.

D. The minutes of the April 25^th, 2002 meeting were approved.

E. Diana Abel (Treasurer) reported a balance of $13,239.10 for all accounts. Treasurer’s report was approved.

F. President Arnoldt reported:

· Karen Williams was remembered; program from services was available from President Arnoldt for viewing as is a “thank you” for Senate’s recognition of Karen’s passing.

· President Arnoldt stated that paper copies of information following are available by request.

· A Faculty Funding Formula, which describes the way District allocates faculty positions, is under review. FEC supported the current allocation to allow those hired this Fall to begin work.

· FAC (Financial Advisory Council) warns of potential 10% funding/budget cut to all campuses in the future (for GCC this would be ~$500,000).

· Forum held on 9/12/02 – Topic: Arming of Certified Officers on Campus; campus discussion begun by Jim Reed over MEMO.

· State Board has been reduced in membership and scope.

· Dual Enrollment Policy (AZ Statute) states that no more than 25% of the student population in a dual-enrollment course may get a waiver. Currently, GCC is at 42% because enrollment took place prior to adoption of the Statues.

G. FEC Report - Vice-President John Griggs reported:

· Board Member Eastin visited FEC to show support for faculty initiatives and was available to answer questions.

· FEC plans to prioritize strategies for the year at its October 8^th mtg..

H. Governing Board report. Vice-President Griggs and President Arnoldt reported:

· Alan Haffa (FEC President-Elect & co-chair Meet & Confer) addressed the Governing Board and encouraged future communication occur without imposed barriers to open, free environment.

· Community Listening Sessions have begun in order to facilitate communication between the Board and its constituents.

· Teachers Education Participations Commission established. Purpose: to explore teacher’s education issues and how MCCCD can fit into them.

· “Blue Book” has been published – Essential Guide for Maricopans The Blue Book is a resource manual containing select policies and regulations of the Maricopa County Community College District. Copies of The Blue Book are being distributed through inter-campus mail. Please keep it for future reference. For additional copies, call 480-731-8877. In addition, a comprehensive manual for all approved policies and regulations is available on-line at: http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/gvpolicy/

· FEC received copies of “Guiding Principles” which were adopted by District. (See FEC Minutes of 9/24 when published for further details.)

II. Old Business

A. Health Insurance

1. District Rate Increase for Current Employees – Linda Smith

· Representative Smith reported: Meeting on 9/10/02 held at District with EBAC representatives revealed an upcoming 16-23% increase in costs for health insurance for current employees (~ $23 million total cost for MCCCD).

· BCBS says they are losing money on MCCCD. EBAC representatives have requested an independent audit of BCBS to determine the legitimacy of BCBS’s complaints.

· Representative Smith reported that she had been told that BCBS was the only bidder for the MCCCD health pool.

· FEC has encouraged the District lobbyist to pursue legislation to regulate health care costs.

· Question was raised whether increases in health premiums might affect salary increases.

2. Health Insurance for Retirees – Doug Dawson

· Doug Dawson gave Senate a thorough history of the current question about retirees’ benefits. Dawson and others are seeking to get MCCCD to keep retirees in the District health insurance plan rather than forcing retirees to obtain individual or ASRS insurance, which can be up to $23,000/year to cover the retiree and one dependent.

· History: Started at Coffee Forums in past semesters à Dawson and others formed committee to explore current health insurance choices and compare benefits for our retirees to other state agencies à Survey was completed and sent to all District employees à Results have been tabulated and correlated by Dawson [copies of the results are available from Dawson and are on-line: (A more thorough history of actions and results is provided by Dawson and sent as a separate attachment to these minutes!-“Ret&HealthIns.doc”)

· Summary of results: 80% of all respondents want to see the current policy changed; positive correlations exist throughout data to show over-whelming support for altering the current retirement/health care structure.

· Dawson requested action from Senate leadership to push this item into the forefront of faculty discussions so that appropriate and decisive action can be taken.

· Dawson suggested that the Glendale Faculty Senate make Retirement Health Care a standing agenda item. Senate agreed by consensus.

· A motion was made and seconded for Carmela Arnoldt to request that the Faculty Senates of other campuses also make Retirement Health Care a standing agenda item. Motion passed with unanimous approval.

· A motion was made and seconded to forward a request to the FEC that Retirement Health Care also be made a standing agenda item on the FEC agenda. Motion passed by unanimous approval.

· Discussion continued and included information such as: Other employee groups support the actions taken by faculty on this subject and also wish to see health care policies changed, but they may feel it is too risky to voice their opinions; past examination of financial records of District has revealed “fluff” – changing benefits for retirement group will not strongly or adversely affect the over-all financial standing of the District.

· Dawson requested a committed and consistent group of representatives to be present at all future meetings of retirement subcommittee, especially to include members of Faculty Senates across the District and FEC representation. Senate agreed to consider a rotating appointment of a Faculty Senator to sit on the retirement subcommittee – discussion of this will continue at the next Senate meeting. Meanwhile, Jim Reed and others will attend the next meeting.

· Next Meeting of Retirement Health Care Subcommittee – Wednesday, October 16, 2002 @ 2:30pm, District Office, 6^th Floor

B. Parking – John Griggs & Others

· Dispelling rumor – Adjunct faculty are still issued employee parking stickers.

· SE Lot much more crowded in employee spaces; possibly moving some employee spaces from NW to SE area.

· New options are being considered to accommodate 30% increase in student population over next 20 years ~ 200-700 space increase. Cost of parking garage ($10K per space) FAR exceeds cost of ground parking ($750 per space).

· All faculty are encouraged to attend Master Planning Meeting: 10/4/02 2-4pm for GCC Campus Community; 7-9pm for general community.

C. President’s Advisory Committee - Arnoldt

· Scheduled to meet @ 3X/semester.

· Senate recommended additional faculty: Charlotte Cohen, Ray Esparza, Joe Kersting, and Nancy Siefer.

· PAC First meeting: 10/11/02.

· (Aside: Final committee assignments need official approval.)

D. Presidential Search - Arnoldt

· Official Job Posting by 9/30/02.

· Questions for potential candidates are being developed, beginning with those used in other recent presidential searches. Questions should be finalized by 10/28/02.

· Suggestions for questions to be used in presidential search should be forwarded to President Arnoldt.

(Aside: Kristen Bennes was welcomed in order for Senate to thank her for years of commitment to students and wish her good luck on her new OYO assignment at PC.)

E. Meet & Confer and All-Faculty Meeting – Jim Reed

1. Meet & Confer

· Reed has agreed to serve on Meet & Confer.

· M&C committee is focused on wages and salary as this year’s priority.

· M&C is proposing a 7% increase.

· M&C will review existing District programs and departments to examine their expenses.

· M&C will request an audit of D.O. expenses.

· Because salaries are not keeping up with COLA, MCCCD is longer the “best paid community college District” it once was.

2. All-Faculty Meeting

· Meeting to be held 9/27/02 at GCC for all 1200 District faculty. Allows faculty to meet FEC and M&C representatives and ask questions, share information.

· President Arnoldt encouraged Senators to attend. She reported that fewer than 100 faculty had RSVPed.

F. Witholding Pay – Arnoldt

Examination of AZ Statutes confirms that District can legally hold up to 3 weeks (2 weeks + 5 days) pay (re: delay at beginning of semester/ accountability).

G. Emeritus List - Griggs

Emeritus standing has been accepted and approved District-wide. Dr. Randolph brought an extensive list of retirees who were recommended for Emeritus status to the 9/24 Board meeting.

*** Presidential Introduction & Questions – 4pm ****

Agenda items were paused as GCC President Phil Randolph joined the Senate for introductions and discussion.
President Randolph stated that is was a “pleasure to be back on campus.” President Randolph told the senators and guests that he believes the community holds the college in very high regard.
Dr. Randolph also discussed a recent visit to GCC North where he spoke with instructors and students regarding their experiences at the North campus.
A budget is in the process of being established; a focus of this budget will be to establish and support a clear vision for the college’s future. The BDC (Budget Development Committee) includes more faculty (including a faculty co-chair)
Marketing is continuing through George Martinez, with quality the focus of ~~our~~ PR.
Dr. Randolph stated that GCC is at a “cross-roads”; he discussed the importance of examining our committees and processes and to establish and maintain the necessities to make our campus operate smoothly and efficiently.
Dr. Randolph has re-structured the PAC to include more PSA, more FAC and to make the committee a conduit and link to the campus as a whole in order to put the decisions in the hands of the “stake-holders” of the institution.
Dr. Randolph will convene an ad hoc Memorial Policy Committee to draft a long-term plan for honoring GCC employees.
President Randolph requested invitations to dept. meetings in order to continue to familiarize himself with the GCC campus.
Senate President Carmela Arnoldt & Vice President Griggs thanked President Randolph for his support of faculty and his commitment to teaching and learning. Additional thanks for Dr. Randolph’s graceful re-entry into the GCC community and for the structured handling of construction around campus were shared.

At this point, Senate re-joined the agenda.

III. New Business

A. Ad Hoc Campus Memorials Policy Committee – Arnoldt

· Faculty Senate will be asked to recommend members for a committee whose purpose will be to determine a general policy for placement and recognition of Memorials.

B. Contribution to Bonnie Nelson plaque – Hubbard

· Decision was made to postpone discussion of memorial for Bonnie Nelson until committee (as above) has decided how to handle future and current memorials.

· A brief discussion of who merited “significant contribution” status with a memorial followed.

C. Copyright Issues - Dwyer

· New blue book outlines policy for copyright compliance.

· FEC is evaluating a form that faculty members must read and sign stating that they understand the District copyright policy.

· Discussion of possible budget line item for copyright clearance center to be housed in library.

· Jim Daugherty and Dianna Dwyer to supply links to copyright information for minutes – SEE BELOW.

http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/cprtindx.htm

Russ Sears has prepared an LMC Guide, which lists some answers to copyright questions, and has links to Internet sites. It is available at http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/LMC/copyrightguide.html. (The Internet sites are located at the bottom of the guide.)

The English Department also has links to Internet copyright sites on its web page at http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/English/writing.html. Scroll down to the middle of the page under the Source Based Writing header to find a section for copyright.

D. Membership – Nelson and Reed

· Faculty Association membership drive is underway.

· All renewing and non-members have been sent a Faculty Association enrollment form.

· Forms are due back to Nelson by 11/10/02.

· Increased membership may allow GCC to obtain additional FEC seat if our membership increases in proportion to other campuses.

· Senators were given list of 14-20 specific people whom they will be representing throughout the year. Senators were encouraged to introduce themselves to their direct constituents and to encourage their membership. Senators discussed previous ways contact has been maintained between senators & constituents – including E-mail contact that lists the “high points” of Senate meetings or points that necessitate action on the part of the campus.

E. Campus Master Planning – Arnoldt & Abel

· Attendance is encouraged for Master Planning Meeting to be held on10/4/02: 2-4pm in which campus Master Plan will be outlined and questions/ discussions will be solicited.

· As programs grow and change, adding or changing departments in accordance with the College Plan and the RFP may become necessary.

· Opinions about the campus Master Plan will be a future Campus Forum topic.

IV. Information

A. ReadFest - Griggs

· Scholastic Book Fair to be held 10/2/02 from 9-2pm.

· Benefits will go directly to ReadFest and Jingle Books.

· Question was raised as to whether the ReadFest committee would need to re-apply annually for funds donated by the Senate. It was determined that a ReadFest representative would need to be present to request funding for this year.

B. AAUP - Arnoldt

· AAUP representatives visited FEC to ask them to reconsider affiliation with the AAUP; a two-year pilot project might offset some of the dues paid by the District.

· Council continues to question the value of the AAUP membership, especially with regard to a possible increase in charges for the District Lobbyist as well.

C. Year-round Curriculum

· District considered year-round curriculum committee meetings.

· Few faculty are around in the summer to make decisions.

· Committee and Dr. Solley withdrew proposal.

D. Administrative Services Group (ASG) – Arnoldt

· New group organized by the President.

· Includes all three deans, all assistant deans, Institutional Effectiveness Director, Marketing Director & Senate President Arnoldt (Griggs serves as alternate).

· Faculty voice within executive decisions… serves as major decision group from campus.

· Voices of other campus groups for broader campus groups are more appropriate in PAC.

E. Testing Center – Gay Garesché

· Garesché shared a historical look at how the Testing Center has been used, beginning in the LAC (Learning Assistance Center, now Center for Learning) and moving to GCC Testing Center. Most departments were asked to move their make-up testing to the Testing Center and several faculty members have encountered problems with cheating, space, noise, etc.

· The current Testing Center has limited space and personnel. Faculty have been asked to limit the number of students they send for make-ups.

· Point was made that faculty input had not been involved in making decisions regarding the Testing Center.

· Point was made that the Testing Center and availability of testing falls under “methods of instruction” which is directly under faculty control as listed in the RFP.

· Garesché was asked by Senate to collect data from around the campus regarding usage, changes in usage, problems, kudos, etc. re: Testing Center. She accepted this request. Forward comments about the Testing Center directly to Garesché.

· A suggestion was made to add Testing Center issues as the topics for the next GCC Senate Forum to be held on 10/10/02 at 2pm.

F. Fac-DL List Moderator

· On 9/25, President Arnoldt was informed that she is responsible to maintain the faculty distribution list; thus, some new faculty may not received faculty announcements since the beginning of the semester.

· For the time being, Martha Gail Richmond has volunteered to update the distribution list with names provided by HR. Senate agreed by consensus. An improved method will be investigated.

· (Aside: Faculty Senate web page - Larry Bohlender is maintaining page and would like Senators to provide digital photo for use on the page as links to Senators.)

The meeting adjourned at 5:00pm.