AFT Seattle – Local 1789

Approved Minutes of the Faculty Senate
North Seattle Community College
Wednesday, March 4, 2009

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

Dave Eberhardt
Tracy Furutani
Brian Holt
Ralph Jenne
Lydia Minatoya
Dawson Nichols
Rick Olguin
Christina Purdy
Trish Root
Karen Stuhldreher

Presiding:	Ralph Jenne, Co-President

Handouts:	Agenda		
February Draft Minutes 
Joint SCCD-AFT Seattle Workload Task Force Interim Report
				
DISCUSSION AND ACTIONS 

1.	February Minutes

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

2.	Safety Committee Report

Rick reported that a recent gas leak exercise at the Arts and Sciences building was largely successful but that two faculty members did not participate.  The Senate discussed the importance of campus safety and the role faculty has, in organizing, participating and in setting a good example.  Several people present made the point that those who do not participate in safety drills not only place themselves in jeopardy in the event of a real emergency, they also risk placing others in danger due to inappropriate responses.

The Senate approved the following statement:

The Senate supports the administration’s efforts to provide a safe and healthy working environment for everyone on campus.  One of the functions of the Union is to keep its members safe.  We therefore encourage all faculty to become familiar with emergency procedures and to participate in all emergency drills.

The Senate then discussed a recent incident in which a teacher sent a student with measles out of class.  The Senate considered whether there ought to be a policy beyond that already in place regarding communicable diseases on campus.  It was decided that this is not a Senate issue.  A common sense approach on a case-by-case basis was recommended.  It was also suggested that College Council should look at this issue.

3.	Grievance Reports

Dave Eberhardt was back from a protracted illness (to applause and congratulations) to give the grievance report.  Because he is still unwell, the Senate heard his report early.  The Senate went into executive session to hear his report.

4.	Other Committee Reports

Dawson reported that the College Council, having been frustrated by the president’s initial requests to investigate only those cutbacks that would directly affect instruction, sent a memo to the president expressing this frustration.  The CC also asked to be involved in considering cuts to other college areas.  At the last CC meeting (March 3) President LaFayette clarified the question to the CC and said that at the following meeting the CC would be involved in considering cuts to other areas.  More information from the Budget Committee would be given to the CC at that meeting.  After the president left the CC was able to productively discuss cuts to different FTE areas.

Ralph reported that the Budget Committee has also had difficulty and frustration with the lack of clarity from the president’s office.  He also reported that there continues to be an unofficial subcommittee of the Budget Committee that meets without the rest of the committee and seems to have more information and influence.

Carol was absent from the Senate, but Ralph reported that she had attended the district-wide Budget Committee, which had finally met.  Ralph reported that Carol did not feel that the meeting was productive but that Lynne Dodson felt more positive.

Ralph reported that the Capital Steering Committee had met on Monday.  The committee is still considering Skybridge removal and the architects are preparing yet another presentation.  As soon as the date for this meeting is set Ralph will distribute it to all faculty.

5.	Coordinator Stipends

The Senate discussed the VP of Instruction’s plan to cut expenses by transferring reassigned time to stipends.  The unanimous response to this plan was negative.  It is unfair to coordinators and will have destructive repercussions for instruction. Among the arguments against:
•	The plan was first discussed when it was believed that the college would need to cut 20%.  The current projections are for cuts less than ½ this amount, and so these draconian measures are no longer needed.
•	Changing reassigned time to stipends adds substantially to the work load of coordinators.  Under this model all coordinators would have full teaching loads in addition to their coordinating duties.  This effectively forces coordinators to do overload work.  This will not only add stress to the coordinators themselves, it will undoubtedly add stress to the departments, other instructors, and students.
•	Currently the Coordinator stipend is paid at a rate which hasn’t changed since 1990: $25/hour.  Given that coordinators already work many hours beyond those for which they are compensated, this rate is entirely inadequate.
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution to send the following statement to the VP of Instruction:

The Faculty Senate supports the office of instruction’s efforts to correct inequities in reassigned time and stipends.  However, the Senate is opposed to transferring reassigned time to stipends as a cost-cutting measure.

The Senate Secretary was instructed to forward this statement to the VP of Instruction next Monday, March 9, with an explanation.

6.	Unfilled Positions

While NSCC is hiring for the two vacant positions in Nursing, the administration seems to be letting several other FT positions drop.  Phoebe Jewell’s and Marilyn Smith’s positions are examples. There is a contractual obligation for the administration to keep faculty within affected departments appraised of plans regarding these positions (6.5.a.6).  The Senate discussed whether this ought to be grieved, but decided to confer with Carol Hamilton and Dave Eberhardt first.  (Note: since the time of this meeting an English positions has been announced and a search committee has been formed for a math position.  4/8/09)

7.	Textbooks

The Senate discussed the increasing costs of textbooks and the NSCC bookstore’s (run by Barnes and Noble) pricing policies.  Lack of access to online versions of texts was discussed and it was suggested that our bookstore look into incorporating this less-expensive service.

The Senate adjourned at 4:20.

Submitted by Dawson Nichols, Secretary