Final Copy approved in Senate 9-13-05

 
 
FINAL COPY approved by EC 8-16-05

Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

July 19, 2005

 

Attendance:   (Those present indicated by an underline)

Officers:  President Kilborn, Past President/President-Elect Schoenberger, Secretary Gasparino, Past Treasurer Motin, Treasurer Larkin

IFO Board Members:  Hill, Fisher, Larkin, Herath

Unit Representatives:  COB SubbaNarasimha, COE Hornstein, FAH Condon, COSE Akubue, COSE Representative-Elect Kasi, COSS Representative-Elect Clifford, Ore, SPEC Motin

Negotiator:   Langen

 

1.      Call to order at 3:30 PM.

 

2.      Approval of Minutes – June 21, 2005, EC.

 

3.      Treasurer’s Report

 

Motin gave a Treasurer’s Report.  Her report indicates a discrepancy of about $2,400 in the FA’s favor, and she is looking for the error.  She stated that since the last meeting, the spending included parking permits for Monica Nayenga and Polly Chappell and the transfer of the CD.  Motin explained the accounts/CD and the differences she is coming across for end-of-year report for the IFO.  She stated that she needs the end of 2004 statements to complete the report.  Kilborn asked that the accounts get sorted out so that FA can move forward in completing the report.  Motin stated that she will call Wil Harri at the IFO for information to complete the report and that she would also come to FA office tomorrow to go over the statements.  The report does not need to be approved by the committee; however, the committee will receive a revised copy at the next meeting to review.  Motin answered questions regarding the report/accounts, and she stated that she will double-check the balance.    Schoenberger thanked Motin for all her work this past year.      

     

4.      Negotiations/Action Report

 

      Langen said that the last Negotiations meeting was unproductive.  He stated that         the Negotiating Team did not receive the promised economic package and that there             was no move on an incentive pay scheme.  The tone of the meeting was         summarized in their response when the MnSCU negotiation team added "optional" in       brackets about workload.  The other side made an offer to reduce workload by            shifting 6 credits of load to the summer. Our side rejected that proposal, twice.             Langen stated that the date for the next session was yet to be set in September. 

 

      Kilborn mentioned that there is agreement via the Health Care Coalition on receiving   benefits for split appointments and dual appointments: people working via several    appointments at MnSCU institutions can receive benefits, and these would be paid      for by the various institutions on a pro-rated basis.  Kilborn moved to Action and      stated that Nancy Black from the IFO asked for the SCSU Negotiator and Local     Action Coordinator to accompany her to an Action meeting August 30, 1:45-3:00 PM.      

5.      Announcements

 

a.   FA office hiring – Kilborn announced that Polly Chappell started her position as      Administrative Assistant and Note-taker, and the Executive Committee welcomed     Polly.

             

            b.   Update on budget

 

1.       Budget: Contingent Additions to Base about what adjustments were made (EC 062105 5.h) – Kilborn stated that the list of budget items is the exact same as the last list from the Provost and that no adjustments had been made. 

 

2.      FY05 Revenues – Kilborn stated that Diana Burlison has sent her and the FA Budget Committee these, and she wanted to share them with the Executive Committee.  She passed around a copy and stated that she could email or copy the large document if needed or requested. The documents are also available online on the SCSU web site.

 

c.      information on enrollment for this fall – Kilborn explained the handout in the packet, and the registration goal of students was discussed.  It was noted that a large percentage of transfer students are registering but not attending orientation. 

 

d.      workshops on September 2nd – Kilborn said that she told Provost Spitzer that the FA would go ahead with the workshops in the spirit of flexibility and that the schedule should say “Faculty Preparation Day” for the technology workshops and that “optional” should not be listed. Kilborn expressed to the Provost the Executive Committee’s concerns, such as the expense of the workshops for very little political capital, the going back on something that had already been agreed on at Meet and Confer, and workload issues and rumors of toughening standards, which may be potentially volatile.  Kilborn stated that issues of workload and faculty accountability would be further discussed so that the university and faculty could work together in positive ways, in an effort not to penalize the hard workers.  Kilborn stated that future discussions would include what is appropriate to ask faculty to do, for example posting/keeping office hours. 

 

e.      IFO and compensation question –This issue came to the IFO Executive Committee during its last meeting because various campuses have had requests to have university committees meet during the summer without compensation to faculty.  Kilborn said that it has come up on this campus.  Kilborn summarized the memo from Nancy Black in the packet and stated that the IFO Executive Committee felt strongly about this and that it was an issue of representation.  She said that holding meetings and not compensating faculty could be considered coercion in cases where faculty not tenured are asked to come to meetings during the summer time. Kilborn stated that working without compensation during negotiations was not a good idea, and faculty should be discouraged from this practice.  Motin agreed and added that departments need to act when all faculty are on duty.  Schoenberger asked that Nancy Black put a statement about this in the next newsletter, asking faculty to be sensitive to other faculty on this issue.  Kilborn will follow up with Nancy Black on this.  

 

f.        Retirement workshops for this fall – Kilborn announced that Russ Stanton from the IFO has scheduled retirement workshops at SCSU.  He will send Kilborn an announcement that she will email to faculty.  

 

6.   Call for new agenda items – None

 

7.      Unfinished Business – Kilborn outlined items (7.b., 8.d., 8.f., 8.g., and 8.i.) she wanted to cover in this meeting because they were time sensitive. 

 

Motion to move to item 8.f. and then go in chronological order for remaining items – (Schoenberger/Motin).  Passed

 

8.f.  NCA faculty co-chair

 

Motion to recommend Kurt Helgeson to replace Kate Steffens on the North Central Association Steering Committee – (Schoenberger/Kasi).  Passed

 

  1. Grievance training – Kilborn stated that the details about the training were in the packets and that EC needed to decide who to send to the training.  Kilborn gave the following reasons why the training was in St. Paul and not the SCSU campus: so they could build connections; it was important that everyone have and hear the same training, along with answers and questions; the IFO staff would not have to travel around to each campus; and it would be interesting to hear what other campuses have to say.  IFO Paralegal Tiffany Nelson will be asking for the names of the attendees by August 1st.  Kilborn said that the FA could send four Executive Committee members or grievance officers for the flat fee of $300 and additional faculty for additional pay.  Schoenberger stated that she would like to attend.  Kilborn covered the points of interest in the training.

 

Motion to support the grievance training and to delegate Kilborn to identify 8 people to attend the training and that the Executive Committee would agree to pay up to $2,300 for all 8 to attend – (Schoenberger/Clifford).  Passed

 

c.   Faculty “responsibility” – Not discussed.

 

d.   Higher Education Research Institute: 2004-2005 SCSU Faculty Survey Report      (EC 062105 5.i.) – Not discussed.

 

8.    New Business

 

      a.   Grade Policy (EC 062105 8.d.) – Not discussed.  

 

      b.   Consensual-relationships policy (EC 062105 8.e.) – Not discussed.

 

      c.   Committee for communications policies/processes for Office of Clinical                                   Experiences (OCE) – Not discussed. 

 

      d.   Laptop for FA office – Kilborn explained the handouts in the packet.  There was                             discussion about the age of the computer.

 

      Motion to have Kilborn ask Schoenberger to make a recommendation for a                   new laptop computer for the FA office and purchase it, along with a service         plan – (Langen/Motin).  Passed

 

      e.   terms of office (and constitutional review) – Not discussed. 

 

      g.   Request for FA representation on search committees for MSUAASF positions in                           University Advancement and CIS – Kilborn explained the requests from both                           University Advancement and the Center for International Studies about FA                               representation on search committees.  Schoenberger stated that the requests                                  should be brought to the FA Meet and Confer Committee in the fall. 

 

      h.   Request for FA representation on technology committees – Kilborn explained                                Kristi Tornquist’s committee requests from the handout in the packet.  She                                 discussed the E-Learning Committee, Classroom Resources Committee,                                           Training Committee, Assessment Committee, Instructional Management                                               Committee, and E-Services Committee.  There was discussion that the Dean                                    Tornquist should continue going through and working with TPR.  Executive                                Committee agreed that Kristi should continue what she is doing, going through                  TPR.

 

      i.    Naming of Math/Science building after Bob Wick – Jill Rudnitski has requested                              that the Math and Science building be named after Bob Wick.  It was discussed                             that there was no concrete process set up for naming buildings although the                          policy came to Meet and Confer in April.  Langen suggested that they request the                    university to have a process for naming buildings and Kilborn pulled out a                                          proposed policy from past FA Meet and Confer minutes, which the FA Senate                         had declined to act on and she read the section of the April 14 Meet and Confer                       minutes that applied to this policy.

 

      Motion that the item of naming the Math and Science building after Bob Wick   be brought to Meet and Confer – (Langen/Motin).  Passed  

 

Item 7.a. letter to St. Cloud Times concerning anonymous postings to “Story Chat” was dropped from the agenda since the item was from a while back. 

 

9.         Adjournment at 5:25 PM.