Harper College Faculty Senate

Professional … pragmatic … principled … progressive

Summary Minutes for May 1, 2008

(Approved May 15, 2008)

Executive Board:  Tom Dowd, President; Sean Noonan, Vice President; Anne Abasolo, Secretary; Linda Campbell, Treasurer; Dave Richmond, Grievance Officer; Michael Harkins, Past President

Actions Taken

·                     No actions taken.

 

I.          Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by President Tom Dowd at PM. 

 

II.        President’s Report

Having come back from Old Business, Tom reported that he and Dave Richmond traveled to Springfield as part of Local 1600’s lobbying effort.  They spoke to all of the legislators representing our district.

 

Dave Braunschweig will be the Senate’s new Webmaster.

 

III.       Officers’ Reports

·                   Dave Richmond prefaced his remarks by noting that our contract operates within the framework of state law; in any conflicts between the two, state law predominates.  He reported that Dr. Breuder received an anonymous complaint about a faculty member recently; under state law, the College is required to investigate such complaints.  Dave and Tom met with the administration to discuss such situations, and they agreed that whenever such complaints are received, the appropriate Dean will notify the faculty member.  If the complaint has substance, the administration will meet with the Senate Exec to decide what can or cannot happen.  In this particular case:

1.      The Exec helped to devise questions.

2.      The Exec helped to choose which students would be questioned about the complaint.

3.      It was agreed that the department chair/coordinator will be present at the interviews.

·         Jim Edstrom reported that he is working diligently with Anne Abasolo to ensure a smooth transition as she assumes the Secretary’s responsibilities.

 

IV.       Consent Agenda

In the interest of time, the minutes from the meeting of April 17th will be examined for approval at the next Senate meeting.

 

V.        Informational

Tom welcomed the new Senators to the meeting.  Those who were present introduced themselves:  Pat Hamlen from BUS/SS, Andy Kidwell from MS, Patti Ferguson from LIB ARTS, and Jim Edstrom (at-large).

 

VI.       Old Business

Michael Babb left the meeting at 1:07 PM.  The Senate went back to the President’s report.

 

The Senate returned to considering Old Business with a discussion of the Senate retreat this summer.  This will be held on Friday, June 13th from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM at Harper.

 

The Board Liaison Committee was discussed.  Dave Richmond reviewed its history.  The Board has expressed a desire to meet directly with the Senate Exec.  The point was made that the Liaison Committee would still be able to make presentations at Board meetings.  Tom expressed the Senate’s thanks to the members of the committee for their past work—Cathy Albergo, Dave Braunschweig, Rich Johnson, Kathi Nevels, Andrew Wilson, and Travaris Harris.

 

VII.     New Business

·         The Senate survey was discussed.  Sean Noonan reported that Sheila Quirk-Bailey and Laura Crane are asking to set up future College-wide surveys to incorporate the Senate’s questions.  Sean believes that this is a positive direction for us to follow.

·         The issue of the moving of the International Student Office was discussed.

 

VIII.    Adjournment

In the absence of a quorum, the meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Anne Abasolo