AFT Seattle – Local 1789

Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate
North Seattle Community College
Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Call to Order:   2:40 in IB Math/Science/Social Science Conference Room
	
Present:   

Scott Bernhard
Curtis Bonney
Val Donato
Tracy Furutani
Carol Hamilton
Brian Holt
Ralph Jenne
Frank Jump
Pam Lippert
Lydia Minatoya
Dawson Nichols
Trish Root
Karen Stuhldreher

Presiding:	Carol Hamilton, Co-President

Handouts:	Agenda		
March Draft Minutes 
NSCC Faculty List
				
DISCUSSION AND ACTIONS 

1.	March Minutes

March minutes were discussed, amended, and approved as amended.

2.	Tuition Increase

Carol urged senators to sign up to staff the petition table to gather signatures in support of keeping tuition low and course offerings many at the state’s institutions of higher learning.  The official AFT position is in support of a more progressive tax structure for Washington state.  This might be an income tax or the closing of corporate tax breaks, but it certainly doesn’t include cuts to higher education or tuition increases.

3.	Committee Reports

Dawson read Betty Williams’ report from the most recent College Council meeting, which was reportedly frustrating and not very productive.  Ralph reported that the Budget Committee was still working with very little information.  It is hoped that Alan Ward’s return may start things moving, but the work of the committee is terribly behind.  This led into a larger budget discussion.

4.	Budget Discussion

Furloughs were discussed.  Because there is so little information about what cuts are being considered or implemented in non-instructional areas it is difficult to know whether or not furloughs should be considered.  Lynne Dodson has suggested that Faculty should only furlough instructional days, but it was pointed out that this hurts students.  A new budget meeting with Mary Ellen has been called for tomorrow, April 9.  There is some confusion about who is being invited to this meeting, but apparently it is intended to be a brainstorming session about cuts in instruction.  It was pointed out that South faculty are much more gruntled with the present situation because they have been kept informed about and included in the process since October of last year.  The role of the various college presidents was discussed.  The Senate went into executive session.

5.	Faculty Coordinator Release Time

The Senate again discussed the VP of Instruction’s plan to cut expenses by transferring Coordinator reassigned time to stipends.  It appears that this plan is going forward.  After much discussion the Senate passed the following resolution.

Resolution

The following statement will be forwarded to Mary Ellen O’Keeffe:

The Faculty Senate strongly opposes the decision to transfer Faculty Coordinator reassigned time to stipends as a cost cutting measure.  The paltry savings of circa $170,000 is not worth the disruption to programs and students.  Given that there is evidence that the Faculty Coordinator positions strengthen programs and actually bring in revenue, we feel it is irresponsible to proceed with this process.

6.	Other Business

Carol reported that new budget sheets for the district circulated at the Chancellor’s Cabinet are great improvements – much clearer and more informative.  There is great hope that Chancellor Wakefield’s new team will improve communication in all areas but especially with regard to budgetary matters.  Carol has shared information obtained at the AFT conference in Miami with Mary Ellen.  It shows that our contract is better than most and that across the country Community Colleges educate more students for less money than other kinds of higher education.    This Friday the Faculty Learning Community will have a get-together outside the café at 12:30 and senators are encouraged to urge other faculty to attend.

7.	Senate Elections

Senate elections are coming up this quarter and Senators were urged to consider running.  Trish Root will run for Secretary, but no other candidates are certain.  Suggestions were discussed and individuals will be approached.

The Senate adjourned at 4:45.

Submitted by Dawson Nichols, Secretary