Glendale Community College Faculty Senate

Meeting of April 22, 2004

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 2:30 P.M.  Senators present included: President Carmela Arnoldt, Vice-President John Griggs, Treasurer Jim Daugherty and Secretary Pam Nelson, as well as Senators Larry Bohlender, Paula Davis, Dianna Dwyer, Fernando García, Robert Hubbard, Steve Kadel, Connie LaBuhn, Alicia Ottenberg, Robert Reavis and Frank Rivera. Executive Councilor-at-Large Jim Reed was also present as were new Senators Doug Brenner and Carlos Nunez and newly elected Executive Councilor-at-Large David Rodriguez.

 

B.         Introduction of Guests – including, but not limited to, Ruth Callahan and Lyle Walcott.

 

      C.        The proposed meeting agenda was adopted as amended. 

 

      D.        The minutes from the March 25, 2004 meeting were approved unanimously.

 

      E.         Treasurer Daugherty reported a balance of $18,669.49 for all accounts.

 

      F.         President Arnoldt reported:

·        President Arnoldt offered thanks for the vote of confidence in her leadership as evidenced by her re-election.

·        GCC will be getting approximately 23 new or replacement faculty in year 05-06.

·        A Faculty Committees review will take place as planned.  Discussions with the Dean of Instruction and Associate Dean of Student Life will focus on topics such as frequency of committee meetings, whether or not minutes are taken and posted, the value of each committee to GCC and the community, and the connection between the committee and the goal of teaching and learning.

·        Meet and Confer has gone well.  An increased level of respect among participants was noted.  President Arnoldt appreciated the experience of serving on the committee.

 

 

 

 

G.  FEC Report

President Arnoldt, Vice-President Griggs, Councilor Reed and Senate Representative Dwyer reported:

·        FIPP will be funded for one more year (the 4th year of the program); Faculty will be more involved in setting up the program and recruiting potential candidates.  The question was raised as to how many FIPP interns had been obtained an internal faculty position following their internship.  FEC representatives reported that less that 50% of the FIPP interns had taken a faculty position within the District or elsewhere.  Two million dollars has been spent on the project to date.

·        Defensive Driving/DUI/Records reviews will take places as previously described.

·        A fingerprint and background check of new hires is under consideration.

·        FEC will hold a retreat for both retiring and new members, as well as the MCCCD lawyer and Faculty Association lobbyists.  The Chancellor hopes to be present as well.

·        The January 05 Convocation will include a more faculty-driven agenda.

·        The Library Director posting that was proposed without Faculty input has been put on hold.  District Library faculty have filed a grievance against the GWCC College President and DO HR.

·        The DROP program is still under consideration at the Legislature.  The program would allow those who commit to a retirement date within three (3) years to have those years (up to 3) awarded.

·        Dues rebate from the FEC budget may be returned to the Colleges.

·        Language in the faculty transfer policy is under examination. The RFP establishes that RFP Faculty be given first consideration for transfer positions but does not guarantee their hire.

 

H.     Governing Board Report.  President Arnoldt reported:

·        The GB held an afternoon retreat with all members present.

·        The $4 tuition increase is close to approval. 

·        Board Member Crowley visited GCC.  One of the issues he discussed is that proper respect be shown to District employees in all positions.

·        Public Awareness Group from GCC will be visiting Senate at the end of this meeting.  Groups like these have been set up at every campus to help disseminate information about the Bond and how it will be used to help each campus.

·        The Governing Board is expected to vote on whether or not to request the Bond issue at their June 8th meeting.

 

II. Old Business

A.    Recognition/Employee Picnic - Reed

·        Planning is underway and on schedule for the event to be held Friday, May 7th from 11:30-3pm at Ramadas 3 & 4 in Saguaro Park.

·        President Arnoldt reminded Senators to seek Faculty assistance for set-up, serving, and take-down.  Food will include sandwiches and cookies, and a beer permit has been obtained.

B.    Retired Faculty Recognition Plaques - Dwyer

·        In order to update current plaques, a list of faculty who passed away during their service to GCC and an updated list of faculty who have retired since 1989 have been requested from HR.

·        Preliminary permission has been obtained to place the completed plaques in the Administration Building.

 

C.    Appreciation of Retiring Senators - Arnoldt

·        President Arnoldt thanked those Senators whose service has come to an end.  Senator Dwyer was thanked for her service on Senate and FEC and her willingness to complete the above plaque project. 

 

 

 

III. New Business

 

A. Installation of incoming Senators - Arnoldt

·        President Arnoldt again thanked faculty for their vote of confidence in re-electing her President.  She reminded Senate of the change of positions or re-election of several past Senators.  FEC Rep-At-Large Jim Reed has been elected as Senate Vice President.  Senators Paula Davis & Connie LaBuhn have been elected to a full 3-year term after serving a shorter term to replace previous Faculty Senate Members.  Senator Pam Nelson was re-elected for her 2nd Senate term.  David Rodriguez joins Senate as the new FEC Rep-At-Large, and Doug Brenner, Rachelle Hall, and Carlos Nunez join Senate as new Senators.  President Arnoldt thanked all new and returning Senators for their willingness to serve the campus community and Faculty Governance.

 

B.  Establishment of ad hoc Employee Picnic Subcommittee - Reed

·        Senators Paula Davis, Bob Hubbard, Steve Kadel, Connie LaBuhn and Alicia Ottenberg volunteered to help with set up at 11:15am.

·        Senators Carmela Arnoldt, Doug Brenner, Pam Nelson and Robert Reavis agreed to help with take down at 3pm.

 

C.  Election of new officers for Senate 2004-2005

·        Jim Daugherty was re-elected as treasurer.

·        Pam Nelson was re-elected as secretary.

·        A volunteer for the Senate representative to FEC is still being sought. 

 

 

 

 

--- GCC President Comment---

At this point in the meeting GCC President Randolph (who was suffering from laryngitis) brought in a list of points for President Arnoldt to read in lieu of a statement.  He informed Senate that:

  • A reorganization plan for Administrative Assistants is underway such that the grade levels for these positions will be more equitable. 
  • Enrollment has increased by 4% and summer enrollment looks good. 
  • The Commencement Faculty Comment will be delivered by George Wittenberg.
  • The Commencement Speaker is Dennis Green, coach of the Arizona Cardinals. 
  • Tuition increase is expected to be approved by the Governing Board (as above).
  • The Campus Conversation with Board Member Crowley went very well and was well attended.

 

 

IV. Information

 

A.    AAUP Membership - Griggs

·        Vice President Griggs gave Senate an abbreviated history of the relationship between the MCCCD Faculty Association and the national and state AAUP (American Association of University Professors).  He reminded Senate that the Faculty Association had dropped the membership due to cost increases ($100-120K institutional membership) and because FEC members felt that there was little return to the Faculty given these fees. Multiple negotiations with AAUP representatives attempted to reach a mutually beneficial agreement but a satisfactory agreement was never reached.

·        Senators were reminded that although we do not have an institution membership with AAUP at this time, several GCC Faculty and Senators kept their individual membership after the FA dropped its institutional membership.  Individual membership in the AAUP is $125/year.

·        Senate was reminded that an on-campus AAUP chapter is in the process of forming.

·        Senators were reminded that the District Faculty Association, and the college Faculty Senates, is the only group recognized with official bargaining power/communication with the Governing Board and campus administration.

·        As an aside, President Arnoldt informed Senate of information in the recent AAUP ACADEME that showed the average community college faculty salary in MCCCD was in the middle of the national averages at around $66K.  Of the MCCCD colleges, Faculty at Rio Salado are earning the highest average salaries ($67.9K), with faculty at GCC earning an average of $66.4K

 

 

 

 

B.   Public Awareness Campaign – Judy Blake

·        The Bond is expected to be approved by Governing Board at its June 8th meeting.

·        Total of Bond = $951M, $105M of which will come to GCC (land allocation and money for GCC-North is included in this figure).

·        Senators were given pamphlets showing totals for each campus.

·        Discussion is taking place about making sure additional money from other parts of the budget is put aside to support faculty, furniture, technology, etc., that would be required in new buildings funded by the bond.

·        Bond money can be used for Capital expenditures only (e.g., buildings and facilities)

·        The ballot on which the Bond will be considered will be filled with referendums.  Faculty and staff support of the Bond will be important.

·        GCC’s agenda regarding the bond is to have (1) a very aggressive community campaign, including a Presidents Circle (made up of the business leaders meeting with GCC President Randolph) and a Speaker’s Bureau (which includes GCC staff making presentations to the local community regarding the use of the Bond funding), and (2) a Volunteer Citizen’s Committee – made up of Faculty and Staff working to pass the Bond.  All work done by the VCC must take place off campus and not using campus resources.  Senators were asked to provide non-campus E-mails if they wish to participate in the Volunteer Committee.  Other Faculty interested in helping with the Volunteer effort should contact Judy Blake.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 4:20 pm.

 

Next meeting of the GCC Faculty will take place at the All Faculty Meeting on August 16th at 9am.