Harper College Faculty Senate
Professional … pragmatic … principled … progressive
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Executive Board: Tom Dowd, President; Sean Noonan, Vice President; Anne Abasolo, Secretary; Linda Campbell, Treasurer; Dave Richmond, Grievance Officer; Michael Harkins, Past President |
Present: Andy Kidwell, Dave Braunschweig, Jim Edstrom, Carole Bomba, Lynn Altfeld, Chad Taylor, Kim Fournier, Caryn Levington, Patti Ferguson, Pat Hamlen, Sam Giordano, Kathi Nevels, John Garcia, Sue Bajt, Wendy Mertes, Sunil Koswatta, Tom Dowd, Sean Noonan, Linda Campbell, Dave Richmond, Anne Abasolo
Absent: Sue Overland, Kris Piepenburg, Michael Harkins
Guests: Joan Fiske
The meeting was called to order by President Tom Dowd at 12:24 PM.
II. Officers’ Reports
President’s Report
President Tom Dowd mentioned that this was the last meeting for the current slate of Senators. Tom also shared that the Senate Exec and first year faculty would be attending the President’s Council at Entourage tomorrow. The topic is Building Trusting Relationships. Furthermore, next Tuesday April 28th Tom Dowd, Dave Richmond and Andy Kidwell will be attending Lobby Day in Springfield. Dr. Pickelman and Phil Burdick will also be there.
Grievance Officer Dave Richmond informed the Senate that the Exec was asked to recommend five faculty to be part of the core Achieving the Dream Team. The Exec gave their recommendations to Dr. Pickelman this week. The core team will be attending a workshop in Austin, Texas in June.
Vice President Sean Noonan informed the Senate that the SURS issue was brought up a couple of times during Governor Quinn’s visit. Sean summarized that the new pension system would be a two tier system; one for current faculty and one for new faculty.
Dave Richmond gave the Treasurers Report for Linda Campbell. Memorial donations have recently been sent to a Board of Trustees member and two other faculty. A gift was also sent to a faculty member who had an addition to the family.
III. Consent Agenda
The minutes of March 19, 2009 were reviewed. Carole Bomba motioned to accept them; John Garcia seconded. The minutes were approved with minor changes.
IV. Old Business
§ Dual Credit
Tom Dowd read House Bill 1079 titled “Dual Credit Quality”. This bill is asking for Dual Credit policies to be made. The bill passed the House 116-0. Tom stated that this was an issue all over the state and that faculty have to ensure quality.
Kathi Nevels stated that Academic Standards has decided not to convene a sub-committee pertaining to this issue at this time. The committee would like to get a sense of what dual credit consists of. Academic Standards will invite Sally Griffith to a meeting to explain how the program operates at Harper College. Kathi would like to have faculty invited to this meeting as well. She asks that the Senate sub-committee move forward because Academic Standards is on hold at this time. The current Dual Credit Committee consisting of Wendy Mertes, Sam Giordano, Sunil Koswatta and Dave Braunschweig are on the agenda for the next Chairs and Coordinators meeting. The committee would like to see what the issues are, how others have resolved them and what their understanding of the policies and guidelines are.
The question was asked; who developed dual credit guidelines? It was reported that some of it is state law, not just Harper policy. May 15th is the next Academic Standards meeting from 1:15-3:30pm in Y-106.
V. New Business
§ Green Sub-Committee
This committee request is from the Facilities Committee. A question about where is it going to fit into Shared Governance was asked. It was requested that someone from the Senate be on it. Lynn Altfeld and Kim Fournier both volunteered.
A question started a side conversation about faculty concerns that Administration is creating a “green” curriculum with no faculty involvement. Courses are being included and faculty have not been contacted. Faculty are finding out through others and emails. The “green” curriculum will go before the Curriculum Committee May 7th. Dave Richmond suggested the Senate draft a resolution and take it to Dean’s Council. Lynn Altfeld motioned to have a statement created saying that programs should not be approved without faculty consent. Dave Braunschweig suggested to have the language created first and bring it back to the Senate for approval. Tom Dowd suggested a sub-committee be formed to write the draft. John Garcia, Lynn Altfield, Caryn Levington and Wendy Mertes volunteered to be the sub-committee. The sub-committee will create the language and send it to the Senate Exec for approval then to Curriculum and Dean’s Council. Tom Dowd motioned, John Garcia seconded; motion approved.
§ Professional Development
Dave Richmond informed the Senate that Tammy Rust asked that professional expenses be turned in asap. An example given was not to hold October expenses till May. Jim Edstrom stated that Accounting is overwhelmed and understaffed.
John Garcia motioned that someone on the Exec. write a document and send to all faculty about this .
Other professional development concerns were whether a Dean could tell a faculty member what conferences could and could not be attended.
Chad Taylor also inquired whether or not a system could be put in place to share unused professional development monies.
§ Green Envelope Campaign
Sean Noonan explained this campaign on behalf of Linda Campbell. It was created to deal with the SURS crisis. Envelopes are purchased with a message on the outside about the SURS issue. Faculty would then mail them to the Governor, Senators, State Representatives etc. The envelopes can be handed out at the Faculty Recognition Luncheon. Linda is requesting a motion of support. Kim Fournier motioned, Kathi Nevels seconded; motion approved.
Dave Braunschweig motioned to adjourn the meeting at 1:31pm, Sue Bajt seconded. The motion was approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne Abasolo