Harper College Faculty Senate

Professional … pragmatic … principled … progressive

Summary Minutes for March 20, 2008

(Approved April 3, 2008)

Executive Board:  Michael Harkins, President; Tom Dowd, Vice President; Jim Edstrom, Secretary; Linda Campbell, Treasurer; Dave Richmond, Grievance Officer; Julie Fleenor, Past President

Actions Taken

· The Senate voted to support and approve survey results from the Instructional Technology Committee representing faculty interest of new technology.

· The Senate voted to honor Joyce Grattoni at the Senate Spring Luncheon.

I.          Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Vice President Tom Dowd at 12:28 PM. 

II.        President’s Report

Tom presented the President’s report in Michael’s absence. Michael was “subbing” for an adjunct faculty member’s class, and wanted to wish the Senate a happy Spring Break.

• The Faculty Senate Spring Luncheon will be moved to a slightly later time this spring to accommodate & encourage the attendance of faculty members with late morning class assignments.
• 30 or so faculty received an invitation to attend a retreat hosted by Dr.Breuder and the President’s Council. The retreat is scheduled for 4/4/08.
• The thefts discussed at the last Senate meeting were addressed by the Harper Police. Faculty received reimbursement for personal items stolen from their offices. The individual responsible for the thefts is no longer working at the College
• A discussion regarding faculty access to software and the use of specialized software at Harper is scheduled for the next Senate meeting.
• Some Human Resources issues, including hiring and diversity, were discussed at the joint Senate Exec/President’s Council meeting.
• David, Sean, Linda, and Tom will be attending a Union leadership conference in April.
• Tom noted that the Harper Foundation has established a scholarship to honor Patrick Botterman. Linda Campbell motioned, and Sam Giordano seconded that the Faculty Senate donate $250.00 to the scholarship. The motion passed unanimously.
• Tom extended his thanks to the Board Liaison Committee for their excellent work. Communication with the Board has been positively impacted through their diligent efforts.

III.       Officers’ Reports

• Grievance Chair: David highlighted the new Local 1600 website (http://il.aft.org/local1600/) and encouraged faculty to visit the website and register as Union members. If the website has sufficient “traffic” and Union members register “prolifically”, AFT will pick up the cost of the website. This would be great for Local 1600.
• Treasurer’s Report: Linda reports that Harper has received a reimbursement check from Local 1600.

IV.       Old Business

• Distance Learning Survey: The distance learning survey was distributed as an informational item to the Senate. Faculty members teaching these courses have the option to use or decline the use of this instrument.
• With respect to the work requirement issues facing the day shift workers of the Custodians Union (IEA/NEA), it appears that these are issues that stemmed from the negotiations of the Union with the Harper Administration. The Union made the case that day-shift workers should be paid at a higher rate as they work a different job and have different job descriptions than custodians on other shifts. Harper administration concurred. Consequently, there are different work requirements for 1^st shift workers.
• The Instructional Technology Committee requested the Senate’s support and approval of survey results representing faculty interest of new technology. David Braunschweig moved and Kim Fournier seconded a motion to approve. The motion passed unanimously.
• The Senate will host a “sweets table” on April 1 from 2 – 3:30 in A242a&b. Faculty are encouraged to attend, and can gain further information about this event from an email distributed to all faculty the week of 3/17/08.

V.        New Business

• The Exec has requested input, and will continue to request input, in the hire of the new College President in 2009.
• Tom noted that there will be a one day workshop held in summer for Senators and Department Chairs/Coordinators to establish the Senate goals for next year. Perry Buckley plans to attend the workshop.
• Kim Fournier made a motion that riffed faculty member Joyce Grattoni be honored at the Senate Spring Luncheon. Caryn Levington seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at about 1:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Caryn Levington for Jim Edstrom