Faculty Association Committee Minutes

Faculty Association	March 4, 2004

FACULTY ASSOCIATION MEETING
Minutes of Meeting
February 5, 2004

CALL TO ORDER

President Judy Solano called the meeting to order at 12:17 PM.

II.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The minutes of the January meeting were approved as published on the web.

III.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Caring Award - Hugh Jones
Hugh Jones announced that nominations are being accepted for the annual caring award for a student who gives.

Inauguration - Pierre Allaire
Pierre Allaire said a committee of about 30 is planning the inauguration. Events begin February 16, and the schedule is on the web. On February 19, faculty are invited to a meeting with the President at 11 AM, and at 5 PM a dedication of a plaque is planned with former President Carpenter at Daniel Hall. The Governor will attend the inauguration on the 20th. If faculty responded to Connie Corker that they wanted regalia, but did not respond to the formal invitation they received, they need to call Ext. 2100 in order to RSVP and receive instructions. The processional will leave the Arena at 9:15 AM. The program is scheduled to run from 10 AM until 11:30. A reception will be held with food in a tent on the Green and in the Robinson Center.

Homecoming - Jean Middleton
Jean Middleton invited faculty to join the homecoming events February 20-28, including a picnic and 5k run. A luncheon is scheduled Tuesday with alumni. The number to call for information is 4723.

IV.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS

Academic Programs Committee - Len Roberson

No report.

Academic Standards Committee - Chip Klostermeyer

No report.

Adjunct Affairs Committee - Barbara Tuck

No report.

Budget Advisory Committee - Joyce Jones

No report.

Campus Technology Committee - Katharine Brown

Kathy Brown said the committee meets February 5.

Faculty Affairs Committee - Elinor Scheirer

Ellie Scheirer said the committee met on January 15, and meets next on February 12. The committee reviewed guidelines for implementation of the TEACH act, which are interpretive guidelines. The guidelines will be distributed when they are approved. Another issue before the committee is faculty who apply for teaching awards who are not attached to colleges. They will be asked to select the college to which they are most closely related. The committee is also talking about the online pilot of the ISQ, and the alignment of CIRT and OFE. An email has been sent with the link to use to volunteer for the pilot.

Faculty Enhancement Committee - Reza Vaghefi

Reza Vaghefi said President Delaney will meet with the committee on February 6.

Nominations and Elections Committee - Yemisi Bolumole

The committee has two information items on the agenda.
Judy Solano asked for additional nominees for Faculty Association officers. None were submitted and nominations were closed.

Promotion and Tenure Committee - Elizabeth Furdell

Kathy Bloom reported that the committee has finished its work, and meets with the Provost February 12.

Research Committee - David Lambert

David Lambert said the committee meets on February 11, and seeks input about the review process for summer scholarship applications. David thanked David Kline for his input on the role of Academic Affairs.

Strategic Planning Committee - Steven Williamson

No report.

Support Services Committee-Robert Schupp

Robert Schupp reported that the Center for Student Success and Retention is implementing a program for technology skills for students.

Executive Committee - Steve Shapiro

Steve Shapiro reported that the committee's next meeting is scheduled for February 17, at 12:15 PM. The committee has one item on the agenda.

SPECIAL REPORTS

President - John Delaney

John Delaney said the inaugural will be funded by outside funds, and scholarships will be created with some of the funds. The proposed state budget is being reviewed, and it includes about 6% or a $6 million increase for UNF. On the PECO list UNF was allocated the second highest amount of any university, and construction on Building 11 will begin in the summer. Planning for the student union is being completed.

Legislative Liaison Report - Janet Owen

No report.

United Faculty of Florida - Bruce Fortado

Bruce Fortado said today the union vice president, Cheryl Frohlich, will speak.
Cheryl Frohlich shared the union's thinking about the contract negotiation process. She is not on the negotiating team, but is involved in developing the language. The union protects faculty rights and increases them, by working with administration on a good working environment and satisfied faculty. The union represents faculty who have issues. The contract work involves crafting language to protect faculty from unfair treatment, and adds to a harmonious environment. The bargaining team includes Bruce Fortado, Shira Schwam-Baird, and Chris Snodgrass, a negotiator from the state level. Contract language comes from surveys of faculty and from meetings that were advertised. A larger negotiation committee assists. Negotiation team members provide information to faculty via email. The team may not have been as responsive as it could have been, but it did not want to appear to be trying to sway the process. Shira's updates in email have offered news to faculty. The basis of negotiation is the expired contract, with language added to reflect UNF's unique needs. An issue is whether excerpts from the Faculty Handbook should be added to the contract. Email from administrators said terms and conditions of employment (P&T) should be enforceable. The Faculty Handbook in the interim between contracts will be used as a contract, and the expired contract will be grievable. In the past, only the contract was grievable, not the handbook. Three faculty members were lost in the past because the handbook process was breached, and there was no recourse. Only the contract is grievable. All bylaws must be approved by the administration. Some have been in the approval process over five years. Other universities have discussed eliminating the Faculty Association. The union's purpose is not to interfere with the Faculty Association, but to return power to the faculty and eliminate the possibility that changes can happen without faculty input.

Library Advisory Committee - David Courtwright

David Courtwright gave a library update. He serves as chair of the library advisory committee. The library construction project has experienced a major decline of resources in the budget compared to 2000-2001. The new building plans originally included 120,000 square feet, and now the plans are down to 80,000. There will be some classroom space in the current plans: three seminar rooms. The circulation desk will be on the first floor, and the project is scheduled to be completed by early 2006.

Parking Committee - Steve Shapiro

Steve Shapiro gave a parking committee update. He said decals may be sold in April, and the committee is working on a priority list. The second and third floors of the garages will be set at a different price.

VI.

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES

A question was addressed to student affairs. With a portion of the parking lot fenced off for construction, the entrance to the parking garage is backed up. Could campus police direct traffic during heavy times?

VII.

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

# FA 04-05 Resolution. Submitted by the Executive Committee.

Judy Solano passed the gavel to Kathy Cohen while Judy discussed the resolution.
Judy Solano said the effect of the resolution is not to compel the union to change their work, but to offer feedback to the union about faculty feelings on the issue, and to communicate to administrators the faculty position. Judy urged faculty to communicate directly with the union team. The resolution has two parts, involving Faculty Association and promotion and tenure. The Faculty Association functions independently of collective bargaining, but it has been pulled into the contract language. The intentions are good in protecting faculty rights. An unintended consequence may be to make the Association more vulnerable and weaker, because we will not be independent of bargaining. There has been no past indication that administration wanted to pull funding for the Association; they have been generous. If we become part of the contract, then administrators may suggest that the union should support our activities. We need two strong faculty bodies to represent us.
Promotion and tenure procedures have been developed by the Faculty Association over the years, and that is one example of a procedure developed to implement rights and programs won by the union. Colleges and departments have also developed specific policies related to terms of employment. The union speaks on our behalf on terms and conditions of employment, and the tradition has been that the Faculty Association not interfere.
As a consequence Judy moved to strike part B of the resolution, and the motion was seconded.

Steve Shapiro said the contract language related to promotion and tenure is different from the policies decided by faculty in the past.

Tayeb Giuma said the union never intended to weaken the role of the Faculty Association. In the past, grievances could not touch handbook issues.

Pat Plumlee asked what we are voting on.

Steve Shapiro said we are voting on the amended resolution.

Kathy Brown moved that we strike "neither."

Chip Klostermeyer said if promotion and tenure is part of the contract, and the Faculty Association wishes to change the process, will we only be able to do it via the union on its schedule?

Cheryl Frohlich said yes, changes will have to be voted by two-thirds of the faculty to make a change in the contract. The Faculty Association would still begin the process of change, without administration approval as it is written now.

Shira Schwam-Baird said the department and college criteria will not be changed, and bylaws can't be inconsistent with the contract. Changes would be added to the contract after two-thirds of the faculty approved. The current language is vague. The promotion and tenure process should be faculty driven. The union wants to protect the language and make it grievable.

Henry Thomas asked what two-thirds of the faculty means.

Cheryl Frohlich said two-thirds of the permanent faculty would need to vote to approve a change and make it enforceable.

Stan Swart said the promotion and tenure processes in the contract would become enforceable.

A motion was made to extend time, it was seconded and passed.

Pat Plumlee asked whether we will vote first on the amendment, and then on the resolution.

A.J. Adewale asked whether inclusion in the contract precludes grievance.

Judy Solano said we are deciding whether to include promotion and tenure in the resolution, since we have not interfered in negotiating over terms and conditions of employment.

Ellie Schierer said "not" needs to be added.

Stan Swart asked for a vote on the amendment.
The motion to call the question was passed. The amendment passed.

Stan Swart said the Faculty Association is an administrative agency, funded by administration, and inclusion in the contract gives it different status. In the past the administration has not taken action against the Faculty Association, as has happened at other places.

Shira Schwam-Baird said the union protects faculty rights whether or not they are under assault. We have collegial shared governance, and the union wants to make sure the Faculty Association cannot be dissolved by administration. The Faculty Association does not become a bargaining chip.

Joyce Jones said she doesn't know that insertion of the Faculty Association into the contract protects us. It could still be abolished by administration during negotiations.

Shira Schwam-Baird said that would be a breach of contract, and the article says the Faculty Association shall not be abolished.

Cheryl Frohlich said the team is working well together and wants to protect the good working relationships here. The Faculty Association could be abolished by faculty under the new article.

Wanda Hedrick asked for Judy to list her cautions on the article.

Judy Solano said the Faculty Association is not an agent of the administration. There is a good relationship. Her concern is that if we become part of the contract then a less friendly administration will say the Faculty Association is no longer in the discussion but faculty issues will be dealt with via the union only. The devolution of university governance at the state level has brought about talking in the state about the union acting as spokesman for faculty, and Faculty Association has no voice.

Kathy Cohen asked for the vote. The motion passed, as amended.

Resolution

Be it hereby resolved. The Faculty Association takes the position that ~~neither a)~~ the existence or role of the Faculty Association (proposed Article 5) ~~nor b) the promotion and tenure guidelines (proposed Article 14)~~ should not be included in the University of North Florida United Faculty of Florida contract.

VIII.

INFORMATION ITEMS

1.	Faculty Association Officers. Submitted by the Nominations and Elections Committee

2.	Faculty Association standing Committees and University Committees. Submitted by the Nominations and Elections Committee

IX.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________
Catherine Cavanaugh, Secretary

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