April 22, 2015 Meeting

Agenda

Taft College Faculty Association Agenda

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

 

  1. Welcome and Lunch

 

  1. Approval of Minutes from March meeting

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report
    1. Cash balance

 

  1. TCFCBC Update
    1. Club Advisor Compensation
    2. Division Chair Compensation
    3. Retiree Health Benefits for new employees

 

  1. Officer Nominations for 2015-16

 

  1. TCFA Scholarships for 2014-15

 

  1. Other

 

  1. Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 20, 2015, 12:10pm, Location: Cougar Room (Lunch will be provided)

Minutes

Call to Order

President Diane Jones called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m.

 

Approval of Minutes

Michelle Oja motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by Mike Mayfield. The motion was unanimously approved.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Cash Balance

Treasurer Ruby Payne reported a balance of $10,081.45 before lunch, the retirement chair, plaque, and scholarships.

 

TCFCBC Bargain Update

A). Club Advisor Compensation:

President Diane Jones reported that the bargaining team reached consensus and is awaiting the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before the May board meeting.

 

B). Division Chair Compensation:

President Jones reported that while the bargaining team did not reach consensus, it offered options based on Full Time Equivalent Faculty (FTEF), and the Administration caucused and countered with another option. The bargaining team caucused and countered with an option as well. These options are represented below and will be discussed at the May meeting:

FTEF Faculty Association Compensation Option FTEF Administration Compensation Option
0-10 Step 3 Stipend x 2.25 + 20% Release Time 0-10 Step 3 Stipend x 1.25 + 20% Release Time
>10-20 Step 3 Stipend x 2.5 + 20% Release Time >10-20 Step 3 Stipend x 1.5 + 20% Release Time
>20-30 Step 3 Stipend x 2.75 + 20% Release Time >20+ Step 3 Stipend x1.75 + 20% Release Time
>30-40 Step 3 Stipend x 3+ 20% Release Time  
FTEF Faculty Association Compensation Option  
0-10 Step 3 Stipend x1.75 + 20% Release Time  
>10-20 Step 3 Stipend x 2.0 + 20% Release Time  
>20+ Step 3 Stipend x 2.25 + 20% Release Time  

 

Discussion followed with these points and questions raised:

Question(s)/Comment(s) Responses
Balancing compensation based on FTEFs may not adequately account for the workload division chairs still have with smaller divisions since the type of work and the amount may be greater and disproportionate to those in larger divisions. Finding a common denominator for compensating workload balance among disparate sized divisions has been ongoing for three years.
Does the FTEF calculation include adjunct faculty? The FTEF calculation includes adjuncts as well as non-teaching faculty.
How does balancing workload produce unequal pay? Balance is reached based on the size and workload but that parity is based on approximations that will inherently include some disparity, hence the bargaining team’s effort to use a measurement that reduces inequities.
Could the data regarding compensation also include the amount of degrees awarded so that divisions with more degrees but fewer faculty be fairly represented? Vice President Mark Williams’s data reviewed sections, degrees, certificates, and other data that indicated imbalance depending on which criteria was emphasized; however, the FTEFs were more equivalent and consistent despite some imbalance. FTEFs have been used at other schools.
Is there an understanding of the workload? Is there a consensus about workload between chairs and administration? A list of duties, which indicates an increase in workload, was produced by Don Bandy and Sharyn Eveland three years ago, although compensation hasn’t changed since 2000. These duties remain fluid and dependent on changes within the state.
Was there a discussion to reduce the workload? The Office of Instruction mentioned taking back duties but that further discussion on this point has not occurred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Jones also updated the Association on the bargaining team reaching consensus on the language clarifying the selection of division chairs. Some discussion ensued on whether adjuncts should be allowed to vote. Points raised were that including adjuncts as voting members is a trend supported by the Academic Senate and that including adjuncts as partial voting members makes sense since they are affected by decisions, and thus, they should be involved even if they are not fully aware of all the issues. President Jones mentioned that while contingent faculty are appreciated, many of them have full-time jobs elsewhere and that the Academic Senate’s recommendation is a separate issue from the Association. Additionally, the point was made that part-time faculty are usually unaware of full-time faculty because of different schedules, so their vote would be somewhat invalidated.

 

C). Retiree Health Benefits:

President Jones updated the Association with the following report: this issue was not addressed but is on the next agenda, pending the division chair compensation issue. The bargaining team’s position is to ask the District to provide options why the status quo should be changed.

 

President Jones also added that while compensation was not on the April agenda, she expects it to be on the May bargaining agenda. As of January 2015, Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) was 1.58%. In the past, the District has passed it on; however, the budget is not signed until June 30, 2015. If the team can reach consensus on COLA, the Board needs two meetings to approve it. Therefore, President Jones may ask for ratification via email in the summer.

 

Officer Nominations for 2015-2016

The Association agreed to confirm all of the officers’ positions for the next academic year and to renew Greg Golling’s three-year term. Craig Johnson nominated Adam Bledsoe for the open bargaining position, which was seconded by Tony Thompson, and unanimously approved. Several commended Craig Johnson for his outstanding service on the bargaining team in advancing the Association’s interests with his analytical research and for being a reservoir of knowledge.

 

TCFA Scholarships 2014-2015

President Jones thanked the scholarship committee for selecting recipients and indicated that she has the list of students who received 3,800 (Sonja Swenson and Linda West each selected a student for $400/each) if anyone wants to see it.

 

Other

Mike Mayfield presented a commemoration plaque for Sonja Swenson’s retirement.

 

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 12:44 p.m..

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