The meeting was called to order by John Nelson at 2:33 P.M.

Members Present: Maria Barillas, Ron Brooker, Tom Butler, Muriel Coil, Renee Cornell, Janet Downey, Kurt Hill, Jane Marks, Scott Massey, Donna Mosher, John Nelson, Nino Pascolati, Roberto Ribas.

Members Absent: Marilyn Cristiano, Hank Mancini.

Guests Present: None.

The agenda was unanimously approved.

The minutes of October 5, 2000 were unanimously approved.

John read a letter of thanks from Steve Platte for all the calls, cards, prayers and visits from fellow faculty during his recuperation.

Treasurer's Report--Ron Brooker

As of October 31, 2000 the balance in the PVCC Faculty Association checking account is $276.70 and the savings account balance is $9,174.49, with a combined balance of $9,451.19. Of the combined balance, the Scholarship Fund balance is $3,859.18.

Ron reported that three more faculty have joined the Association, bringing the total to 67 of 76 eligible faculty (88%).

The Treasurer's Report was unanimously approved, Ron Brooker abstaining.

Tom Butler reported that he does not put a live link to the unapproved Senate meeting minutes on the Faculty Association web site. Only after the minutes are approved does he establish a "public" link to them from the association web site. However, the unapproved minutes can be accessed if you know the URL, which is http://www2.pvc.maricopa.edu/senate/min followed immediately by the date of the meeting (in this case, 11022000).

Retirement Benefits -- Marnie Owens of the Arizona State Retirement System made a presentation to the FEC about faculty's ability to increase their retirement benefits by "buying back" years working as adjunct faculty in MCCD or working for other public service jobs. A number of MCCCD employees have been able to take advantage of pre-tax payroll deductions to help make the buy-back. This opportunity would be most advantageous to younger faculty. Ms. Owens is willing to come speak to any MCCCD employee group that would like to hear the presentation.

AAUP -- Rosemary Kesler has forwarded to the nominating committee names of 7 instructors who would be willing to serve as delegates to the state AAUP association. Representations by MCCCD faculty is significant because we provide a sizable portion of the contributions the state association receives.

Professional Growth subcommittee -- The Meet & Confer subcommittee on Professional Growth will present their proposals to the Governing Board at 6:30, Tues., Nov. 14. The proposals include several items, among which are a 4% base salary increase and additional steps to be added to the pay scale for faculty who have reached the top step of the current scale (Ph.D. level). Faculty were encouraged to show up in support of the proposal.

1. President’s Cabinet

Ken Hart presented significant demographic data he has compiled in booklets which were entitled: "Crossing the Great Divide: Can we Achieve Equity When Generation Y Goes to College?," "The Condition of Education 2000," and student responses from the ". . . Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory Fall 1999." Ken discussed the data and connected this information to PVCC’s Strategic Issues.

A discussion among the cabinet members followed this presentation and several key issues that have dramatic impact on PVCC were identified. These key issues are: Under-prepared students, PVCC’s role–transfer college more occupational programs?–should we focus or try to be "all things to all people?," Advising and Testing, and Diversity.

Several problems regarding growth at PVCC were discussed. Also, the problem of the District’s desire for adding new full-time faculty and the budget reality for these positions.

2. President’s Advisory Council

The President’s Advisory Council is a newly formed group which consists of the President, President of the Faculty Senate, and the policy group leaders, David Gerkin, Sheri Bakunowski, and Fred Reill. We meet on Thursday afternoons on the same week that the President’s Cabinet meets.

The Advisory Council briefly discussed relevant issues from each policy group, and Gina updated this council on relevant happenings in our college and the community.

3. Budget Review Committee

The Budget Review Committee met for the first time on Friday afternoon, October 27^th. Larry Fields gave instructions on the prioritization procedures/criteria for rating the sixty-six budget proposals. Each voting member was to review the proposals, by use of the Automated Planning and Budgeting web site, and submit their ratings by the next meeting on Friday afternoon, November 3^rd.

Faculty Development

no report

Professional Growth

Tom Butler reported that the FPG subcommittee for projects decided not to increase the maximum amount allowable for conference fees. The limit will remain at $1,000.00 per RFP faculty until the funds are expended for the year. The amount of funds available this year for conferences/projects is: Fall 2000: $95,519; Spring 2001: $95,519; Summer I 2001: $30,000. These amounts are less than last year. Summer II Projects will be funded out of the 2001-2002 budget.

Kurt Hill reported that the Sabbaticals committee was almost finished with its review of applications.

Faculty staffing requests for the 2001-02 budget year: In consultation with Dr. Kranitz, the Faculty Staffing Committee recommended the following new faculty hires ranked in the following order:

1.Music
2.English
3.Biology
4.Math
5.Counseling
6.Allied Health/EMT
7.Physics
8.Geography
9.Business/CIS
10.Chemistry
11.Art
12.Library
13.Dance

no report

John Nelson reported that he met with Joann Caufield in Financial Aid to revise the scholarship application procedure. After discussion the Senate unanimously approved three motions relative to the scholarship application form and process:

• The Faculty Association Scholarship application form will include a checklist of three items to insure a complete application is submitted:the scholarship application form itself, the financial aid application and the essay.
• For applications that are disqualified, a letter will be sent explaining the reason for disqualification. For qualified applicants who do not win the scholarship, a letter of notification will be sent thanking them for their participation.
• The Senate reserves the right to withhold the award if no essay is judged acceptable. This wording will be included in the internal Faculty Scholarship Process which indicates that an award may be made only if a qualified application and essay are judged acceptable.

John said the Senate President, with the help of a subcommittee he or she appoints, should handle the duty of the annual advertisement of the scholarship.

The subcommittee of Thomas Butler, Jan Downey and Renee Cornell reviewed the lone essay that was submitted for the scholarship competition and recommended that it not be awarded this semester.

Tabled until the December meeting.

There are two issues that need to be resolved, first, whether the early submission of grades for concurrently enrolled high school seniors compromises the academic integrity of the college course or its final exam, and second, the difficulties of early identification of concurrently enrolled students. John Nelson reported that he had discussed these concerns with Dean Bob Bendotti and it was agreed that Bob would take the issue to the Learning Connections Executive Committee meeting on November 17, 2000 for further discussion. Bob will keep John posted on the outcome of the discussion.

Parking Lot Subcommittee Report--Tom Butler

The committee has reached no recommendation yet, but the following concerns/ideas have been discussed.

The committee is concerned that the idea of a temporary gravel-graded, daytime only 50-space parking lot on the raised ground east of M Building would cost significantly more than the $3,500.00 estimated by Jesse Hernandez. (See a memo, "Temporary Parking Lot," dated 09/12/00 from Paul Dale to Gina Kranitz and Bob Bendotti.) A "quick fix" might cost more than we realize and make a real fix that much more out of financial reach.

Before faculty support any temporary proposal, we need to answer several questions: Where, exactly ,will the P.A.C. be located, and what parking configuration will it include? Where, exactly, would a temporary lot be located? Could it be the beginning of a permanent lot completed with either PAC money or new bond money? If the temporary, unpaved lot is not closer to the M Building entrance, what advantage would it serve, especially in rainy/muddy conditions? And why would there only be 50 spaces in a temporary lot, when there is sufficient space for a lot more?

Another suggestion has been to create a secured employee-only lot out of 50 to 70 existing spaces in the existing lot north of the M Building and the day care center, and to simultaneously reduce the size of the existing employee lot west of the J/K Buildings, in effect trading East lot student spaces for West lot employee spaces.

One possibility: a one, two or three-space lot for temporary delivery-parking very close to the M building entrance, possibly next to the east side of the building, north end.

John Nelson requested that the subcommittee meet with Dr. Kranitz to get more information on possible options.

Nino Pascolati met with Dean of Instruction, Mr . Bob Bendotti,and discussed two main Adjunct Faculty issues: The PVCC Adjunct Faculty Institute, and PVCC's efforts to increase the quality of working life for adjuncts.

The Adjunct Faculty Institute is a new initiative that earmarks funds specifically for stipends or hourly compensation to adjuncts who attend training sessions during our Employee and Organizational Learning week activities. When adjuncts attend these learning opportunities, they connect with other faculty, the institution, and ultimately their students benefit. The proposed funds of about $15,000 await approval by the campus Budget Committee.

The second main issue discussed included some obvious changes that we, as a faculty senate subcommittee, might implement for our PVCC adjuncts. Some necessary changes might include increased access to campus facilities for evening instructors: Media, Duplicating, etc. Also, some divisions could offer adjuncts the flexibility to select their own course textbooks. In conclusion, part-time (rather than adjuncts) faculty deliver almost 50% of the instruction offered at PVCC. Dean Bendotti mentioned that our "institutional integrity" is on the line. Happier adjuncts improves the over-all quality of the campus.

Donna Mosher reported a summary of a conversation with Laura Ruiz-Scott, President, SCC Senate and Chair of the SCC Faculty Hiring Commission:

Faculty Hiring Commission: SCC faculty wanted to increase pay for adjuncts. Apparently, the Chancellor thinks adjuncts are paid adequately; feels many of them don't want to work full time. The Board reportedly said that if adjunct pay was raised then full-time faculty would forego any salary increase since these monies all come from the same "pot". Laura said she hoped the Commission could help with this issue.

All SCC divisions shared in running an ad in the AZ Republic for a variety of adjunct openings. Adjuncts came to SCC for a sort of group information session followed by an opportunity to talk with Division Chairs. Some were hired on the spot. Laura said the, "Grow your own," policy is difficult to implement if we can't pay adjuncts adequately. SCC is considering the incentive of paying off student loans if adjuncts work a certain number of hours.

SCC faculty have split feelings about increasing adjunct faculty pay. Some think if there is a pay raise adjuncts should then keep office hours. Others feel no additional responsibilities should be tied to a salary increase.

Muriel Coil asked Paula Garner, President-elect for the Adjunct Faculty Association, to prioritize the following issues:

1. Salary Issues:

• Increase in pay for adjuncts to bring up to average of major metro area (currently Maricopa pays adjuncts at a rate 25 percent below the average base in the metropolitan area).
• Credit for teaching at MCCCD if hired fulltime.
• Salary ranges with base plus additional pay based on seniority, experience, education level.

2. Benefits Issues:

• Ability to purchase group medical insurance from MCCCD plan.
• Fund to reimburse adjuncts for initial preparation hours for classes that do not make.

3. Inclusion in College Life:

• Representation as an employee group at each campus.
• Representation on the Faculty Senate Committees

Paula mentioned that she would be willing to attend a Senate meeting to discuss these issues

Past activities by PVCC for intra faculty relations: a new faculty tea (not well attended); fall meeting coinciding with first faculty meeting of fall;

What some other CCÕs do to promote communication/faculty relations: pot lucks, fall luncheon at Gateway; Mesa senate hosts a lunch for residential faculty to inform them about Senate activities; other: tee shirts advertising faculty association retreats.

Committee suggestions: In the Perspective: agenda of up-coming senate meeting; By MEMO: a brief update from the Senate President including agenda items covered in the senate meeting with links or references to a website for more detail(i.e., the minutes of the meeting).

Tom butler suggested that, rather than articles in the Perspective there be invitations to brown bag discussions of selected topics--find a means of face-to-face communication.

Roberto reported the Math Department's discussion of the possibility of creating a new PVCC Committee assignment that would require faculty to spend one and a half hours per week tutoring in the Learning Resource Center. This would help alleviate the shortage of qualified math tutors in particular. Other ideas discussed by the Senate included paying high school advanced math students $7.00 an hour as tutors, faculty spending several office hours a week in the LSC, or offering service learning credit to qualified student tutors. It was moved and unanimously approved to recommend the creation of a college committee, the purpose of which would be to provide faculty tutoring in the LSC for 1 1/2 hours per week. John Nelson agreed to meet with Roberto to further refine the details that such a committee would require, after which John will present the proposal to Bob Bendotti for discussion.

Presidential Search Committee:

John Nelson reported that there are now 17 members on this committee. The individual members of the search committee were asked to write a paragraph about our culture at PVCC; those paragraphs will be used to guide the creation of a brochure advertising the opening.

There are now 17 members on this committee. John said that he and Jane Marks will participate in the final interviews of candidates with Dr. Kranitz

Director of Public Relations/Marketing Search Committee:

There are now 5 members on this committee.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 P.M. by unanimous consent.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Thomas Butler, Senate Secretary.

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Paradise Valley Community College.
Faculty Senate Minutes for November 2, 2000
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