MCC Faculty Senate Minutes

 

                                                 CTL Conference Room

 

                                                DATE:  February 20, 2oo3

 

                             Senate Web Site: http://www.mesacc.edu/organizations/employee/facultysenate/

Members Present:

Barry Vaughan, President

Charles Lewis, President-elect

Naomi Story, Secretary

John Zikopoulos, Treasurer

Lyn Dutson, Zone 1

Phil Waclawski, Zone 2

Sam Martinez, Zone 3

Harold Cranswick, Zone 5

Jack Hinze, Zone 6

Naomi Story, Zone 7

John Zikopoulos, Zone 8

Philip Carrillo (Member at Large)

Mona Scott (Member at Large)

Greg Pratt (Member at Large)

Erin Rawson (Member at Large)

Ann Stine (Member at Large)

Mehrzad Khorsandi (Member at Large)

 

Members Absent:

Danene Richardson, Zone 4

David Nachman (Member at Large)

Chuck Horn (49% Representative)

 

I. Call to Order:  President Vaughan called the meeting to order at 3:02 PM.

II. Additions and Deletions to Agenda:

Staffing was deleted from Old Business.  Proposed regular meetings with administration/DCA and New Staffing Resolution were deleted from President-electıs report.  Under New Business, the following were added:  Sympathy gift, ITAC subcommittee, District-FIPP, and District-Program Review.

Motion was passed unanimously to accept the agenda.

III. Approval of Minutes:  Wording changes in minutes were noted.  Motion was passed unanimously to approve the minutes with wording changes.

IV.  Guest Presentation:  None 

V. Treasurer's Report (John Zikopoulos):  John spoke with the Prudential

Rep. who consults on our money market account.  In light of the down turn of our economy, the rep. suggested moving our money to other types of funds.  John will ask for a lay-oriented prospectus for us to review on possible changes. 

VI. Committee and Project Reports:  None

VII. Old Business:

    1. FIPP Petition (Barry) Barry stated that he was still missing two petitions and encouraged outstanding ones be turned in so that he could take the petition to FEC.
    2. Resolution to President on hiring (Barry) Barry restated his conversation with the college president about IA and their search process for staff members.  He also reviewed Dean Ron Etterıs moving forward with a recommendation for a staffing process for non-faculty similar to our staffing committee process.

 

Senators clarified other concerns about the Presidentıs hiring and IA.   Issues included

           

*  Results of non-faculty hiring impact the total number of

faculty lines and the large number of OYOs and OSOs

                                    *  Presidentıs choosing to put money into IA positions           

                                        instead of faculty lines

                                    *  IA full-time graphics artist vs. part-time one in CTL--

                                        causing duplication of service and stiff requires

                                        departments to have a budget to pay for printing

*  Personnel Office, which serves faculty as well as entire

                                        college is understaffed; growing demands, in that DO

                                        HR keeps pushing more responsibilities to the college

                                    *  Inequity of staffing‹do we need the large number of

                                        people in IA versus more faculty or staff in other critical

                                        areas such as HR and ORP

*  Lack of balance in staffing across the college; IA staff 

is huge and primarily serves the President and college          publicity

                                    *  Other employee groups may feel threatened about

                                        speaking up on staffing imbalance

                        Harold and Lyn will bring forth a resolution.

 

    1. Occupational Program Directors (Harold) Harold stated that 14-15 program directors, interested chairs and faculty met on the occupational program compensation proposal.  They will meet once more before their meeting with the Dean of Instruction.

Basic phases of the proposal are

            Phase one:  base compensation based on counterpart in

                                    MCCCD colleges; 3 hours reassigned or

                                    overload hours.

            Phase two:  supervisory compensation according to the

                                    RFP

            Phase three:  7-item checklist of additional responsibilities,

                                    i.e. year-around classes, maintenance of labs

                                    and equipment, etc.  weighted at .25 load hr.

                                    Program director and appropriate Dean would

                                    agree on special considerations.

Definition of program director is still being examined.  Harold stated that there has been a lot of participation by faculty and data were collected from other colleges.  It is important that something be done soon because program directors are not being compensated at present.

Issues:  Reassigned time versus overload

              Distinction between chair and coordinator/director

                        responsibilities and related compensation

              Faculty who are hired without knowing that they will be

                        assigned as a program director

               One-person area where faculty serve as OPD and Dept.

                        Chair simultaneously

 

    1. Administrationıs evaluation research (Greg):  Greg suggested that

Faculty senators who voted to move forward on the administration evaluation shepherd this.

 

                  E.  Red Mountain Parking (See New Business A.)   It was moved and

                        Seconded that Faculty Senate strongly recommends that

                        parking for employees be designated at Red Mountain campus and

                        the number of handicapped parking be increased in employee and

                        general parking lots near Acacia Village and that a committee of

Red Mountain employees be formed to propose the specific location for the designated Red Mountain employee parking lot.

Motion was passed with 1 nay and 14 ayes.          

VIII. New Business:

A.     Red Mountain Parking (Sam Martinez):  Faculty want designated parking.  There is also not enough handicapped parking. 

Issues and concerns:

            Never enough parking designated for faculty, especially

                        Adjunct faculty who do not have office space and

                        must cart materials

            Time and physical well being of faculty member has to get to class,

especially those who must travel between Red Mountain and Southern/Dobson

It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to move this topic to Old Business so we can pass a resolution.  See above.

B.     Theatre Outback Speed Bumps (Harold Cranswick) Harold stated the issue of speeding and lack of speed bumps by the Theatre Outback.  Jack stated that he was invited to the last Safety Committee meeting.  Jack will raise the speed bump issue at the next meeting.

C.     Sympathy gift:  Naomi asked about a sympathy gift to St. Vincent DePaul in Pinetop in memory of Bill Young a long-time faculty and administrator at MCC who recently passed away.  Motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to designate $100 for this purpose.

D.    ITAC:  The question brought forth:  What would it entail to make ITAC as recommended by the Sims final report, not the current version of ITAC, a formal senate committee which would be more responsive to faculty technology issues and directions.  Discussion ensued.  All senators were asked to review the Sims (green) Final Report and to familiarize themselves with the report and its recommendations.  Zone Reps are asked to take this discussion to their zones.

E.     District-FIPP:  Charles stated his proposal to FEC to put FIPP on hiatus for 2003-04 year and to study the program for other options.  The program would be examined and changed to be one more acceptable to faculty.  There was a general consensus to have Charles take the proposal to FEC.  A question was asked about our college recommendation, which we passed earlier during this school year.  Barry stated that he sent a formal memo to the administration and Dean Mee said that it was formally accepted as part of MCCıs selection procedure.

F.     District-Program Review:  Charles shared a proposal he would like presented at FEC to ask the District Office to implement a program review process conducted by an independent, external, and credentialed review authority and not one that is managed or conducted by our own people.  The current situation on reviewing MCLI with internal groups even if faculty are part of shaping the review is still not appropriate.  Issues that were discussed:

The original purpose for establishing a program review of district offices has changed.

MCLI services and assists faculty and serves as a clearinghouse; it doesnıt make sense to have Dr. Solley and MCLI conduct their own evaluation.

District will not pay for the review process.

This is not like a self-study process.

            There was a general consensus for Charles to take this proposal to FEC.

IX. Information and Announcements:

A. President's Report:

1.     Zone representativesı election-April 20 Barry reminded senators, especially Zone reps. about the due date for nominations.  He will send out ballots.  He suggested that if current Zone reps are interested in continuing they should start their campaigning.

2.     Faculty Recruitment Commission/FIPP subcommittee:  Barry no longer sits on this commission because he is teaching a class.  Charles is sitting in for him.  Barry reminded the senators that this commission is the one which originated FIPP.  At one of the last meetings he attended it was recommended that this program be a national post-graduate fellowship at whatever level for a particular field, which would be in line with affirmative action and address the issue of underutilization within a specific area.  Basically, this was Dr. Maria Chaviraıs concept.  It was sent to subcommittee.   However, because of having only two months to put in place it was deemed that the old process would continue one more year while the new one could be designed. 

It was clarified further that at the next commission meeting faculty members asked about putting the program on hold for a year to make the change.  However, they were told this was not possible or negotiable. 

3.     Faculty Social planning:  Naomi and Janice Reilly are planning the Faculty Social.  We are looking at the Mesa Hilton Pavilions  (across Fiesta Mall) on March 28 from 4-7 PM.

4.    Downtown campus:  There is an on-going feasibility study for a 3rd MCC campus near the Mesa Sheraton downtown.  The City of Mesa has 30 acres theyıd like to give the district if we commit to a 3rd campus.  It is within the heart of the city and the City wants to bring more business downtown.  A new fine arts center, swimming complex and theatre are being built near the proposed site.  On the first Monday in March there will be a follow up on deciding the next level of the feasibility study, then it will go to the district.  Several discussion and questions included:

 

What about staffing and operational funding?

If you look at the enrollment data, the number has not

                                    grown on Southern/Dobson campus.

                        No one asked‹do we need a 3rd campus

                        Legislative committee stated that there was actually a lack of

                                    growth.

                        Do we know how much our enrollment has shifted RM?

                        Why can they say we have no money and now we have money?

                                    to grow another campus?

                        We are struggling to staff existing classes.  When the President

says he will staff the afternoon college, he doesnıt necessarily state he will create new faculty lines.  Itıs just a choice of words.

                        RM is scrambling for classroom space and donıt have faculty there.

                        Not too thrilled about a Downtown campus.

                        What happens to Brown and Country Club? 

B. President-Elect's Report:

1.     FEC Update:  1) Anna Solley with the MCLI Director and appointed faculty at MCLI met with the FEC to discuss MCLIıs program review.  2) FEC discussed the Spring Convocation.  Members were going to ask faculty developers to take back the convocation from the District Office administration.  3) There was discussion on the Chancellorıs visit to FEC to discuss issues of importance and his abrupt behavior with FEC members.

2.     SOP Manual:  The intent was to compile the SOP manual this spring, make changes, and have it ready for the new members the first week of accountability.

C. Chair Liaison Report (Harold Cranswick/Charles Lewis):  Harold shared two

            Handouts:  one was the Faculty Involvement Spreadsheet and a proposed

            Final Exam Schedule. 

            For the first, he stated that the names and college committee activities

were ones he got from department chairs.  He asked the senators to review for any additions or revisions.  Some people may be left off.  Except for one department, each chair submitted the information.  He will be happy to modify the list.

            On the second DCA Issue paper:  Harold suggested that senators discuss

            the proposed Final Exam Schedule.  In essence, this proposed schedule

            would allow exams to be given the same time as the class with evening

            classes scheduling their exams a half hour after scheduled time.  Please

            review with constituents.

A comment was made that for those who met after 5 PM, this would help because people who worked were impacted if Final was scheduled before 4 PM.

            The proposed scheduled would be implemented next year because

            we have already printed this yearıs schedule.

            There was a question about evening classes meeting during Finals

            Week.  The response was that by the RFP contract, we are required to

            meet.  Apparently, some faculty are not.                 

D. Board Report (Barry Vaughan): None

E. 49% Representative Report (Chuck Horn):  None.  However, John stated

speaking with Chuck who said he was getting out invitations to 49%ers to join the Faculty Assn.

F.  Legislative Liaison Report (Phil Carrillo or Erin Rawson):  Erin reported the

            following:

1.     Doyle Burke is the chair and is an excellent advocate for faculty.

2.     We need to get people involved and informed about issues.

3.     The Lobbyist is very good.

4.    We cannot advocate action, but we can inform people.

5.     They would like to compile home emails to let people know of alerts; this list will not be sold or given to anyone.

6.    There are 3 major cuts:  a) dream pressure bill which affects illegal immigrants‹this would mean we would have to report illegal immigrants! b) dual enrollment c)  adult basic training programs

Dual enrollment issue could impact a raise from the Board if FTSE drops.

7.     She encourages faculty to keep abreast of potential Legislative Bills and contact their legislators.

8.    For example, there is a Senate bill now that all public school teachers do not have to take Arizona and U.S. Constitution classes, which would affect our political science faculty.

Phil said he would provide us with names of people in the Senate and House with contact information.  He also stated that the Legislative Committee was a watchdog committee and directly impacts the Legislature on our behalf.

X. Senator Reports:

Members at Large

     A.  Phil Carrillo (Member at Large):  None

     B.  Mona Scott (Member at Large):  None

     C.  Erin Rawson (Member at Large):  None

D.   Ann Stine (Member at Large):  None

E.    Mehrzad Khorsandi (Member at Large):  None    

F.    David Nachman (Member at Large):  Absent

G.    Greg Pratt (Member at Large):  None

 Zone Representatives

      A. Zone 1: Art/Foreign Languages/Reading/Speech Communication/Theatre Arts (Lyn Dutson):  Lyn reported a concern at Red Mountain campus, in that there is a lack of continuity in administration.  There appears to be:  a dean for the day, no communication among deans, and arbitrariness of decisions.   The public is not aware of changes, i.e., office locations.  Barry mentioned that the DI is supposed to present an administration plan to the President at the end of the year.  This, however, was pointed out as a critical issue now.      

 

      B. Zone 2: Business (Phil Waclawski):  Phil asked the status of Meet and Confer.  Barry reported that a proposal has been presented for a 6.38% plus salary increase which is what the Board gave the chancellor.  This also makes up for the stagnation of our salaries the last few years and is tied to the standard inflationary index.  Phil also asked about spreading out our paycheck over 12 months.  Barry stated Phil should request this through HR because it was

brought up at FEC as a non-issue.

     C. Zone 3: English/Philosophy (Sam Martinez):  None  

     D. Zone 4: Math/Music (Danene Richardson): Absent

     E. Zone 5: Cultural, Social Science/Psychology (Harold Cranswick): None    

    

     F. Zone 6: Technology & Design/Family/Consumer Science/Mortuary Science/Phys. Ed. (Jack Hinze):  Jack reported on the Safety Committee Meeting.  1) Parking lot signs are out for bid 2) camera system would cost about $400,000   3) District did a safety survey and the #1 and #2 needs were lighting for parking lots and video surveillance.  It was reported that when you look at the actual statistics, the top security issues were car thefts and car break ins.   It was discussed that we need parking lot cameras.  A question was asked about the criteria for camera placement:  where and why.  There was a privacy concern.  Jack was asked to inquire whether this was based on insurance concerns.  He was also asked to bring up the speed bump issue.  It was recommended that we invite Steve and Ron to our meeting.  Barry also added that there was some discussion about a new electronic sign for each college as part of the districtıs branding.  These signs cost $100,000 each; thatıs $1 MIL for branding Maricopaıs name.  We may want to discuss this further next time.

 

     G. Zone 7: CTL/Counseling/Library/Nursing (Naomi Story):  Naomi reported meeting with the Nursing department about their issue on hiring and recruitment.   Because their program was part of a district-wide one perhaps they could get an exception to have a district pool rather than individual colleges.     

     H. Zone 8: Life, Physical Science (John Zikopoulos):  None

XI. Adjournment:  Meeting was adjourned at 5:34 PM

 

Respectfully submitted,

Naomi Story

MCC Faculty Senate Secretary