IFO Board of Directors Minutes
October 12-13, 2006 APPROVED
Attending: Nancy Black, Elizabeth Dunn, Derek Webb, Jauneth Skinner, Steve Bohnenblust, Roger Severns, Patricia Young, David Bouchard, Valerie Geaither, Cindy Phillips, Wayne Alexander, Mike Ruth, Annette Schoenberger, Fred Hill, Andrew Larkin, Jayantha Herath, George Seldat, Vicky Brockman, Mary Kesler, Kerry Williams, Bruce Svingen (substitute for Cindy Killion).
Not Present: Georgia Holmes, Cindy Killion
Also Present: Rod Henry (Thursday only), Cindy Finch, Russ Stanton (Thursday only), Debra Japp (Friday only), Patrice Arseneault (Friday only), Donna Blake (Friday only)
Called to order at 6:37 p.m.
Additional Agenda Items:
Wayne Alexander stated that according to the September Board minutes we said we would study the campus allocations per the March 2006 Delegate Assembly resolution. Nancy reported that we still need to form a committee. Roger Severns would like to talk about changing the meeting location from St. Paul to St. Cloud.
Approval of the September 14-15 Minutes:
Moved, Seconded Carried
MnSCU BOT Update:
Nancy gave a verbal report. The Board had their first meeting in September for one day. President Saigo is retiring and there will be a search. The length of tenure of the presidents is important in terms of influence. They talked about their budget and their strategic plans, private fundraising (advancement) – Katherine McGlinich was asked by the BOT how much time she has spent on this – 40% system 60% campuses. Trustee David Olson, who is the President of the MN Chamber of Commerce, wants to meet with Nancy. He is the chair this year of the HR Committee of the Board of Trustees. Nancy spoke with Larry Oveson, President MSCF, this week, who met with Trustee Olson yesterday. Larry informed Nancy that at one of MSCF’s community colleges a nursing student failed the course and the administration trumped the faculty member’s decision and issued a passing grade. MSCF is taking this to arbitration. MnSCU feels the state owns the grade and has the right to make changes. Roger Severns recalls we may have arbitrated a similar issue and lost (Mankato aviation). Phillips said there is a grade appeal policy where the president has the authority to change a grade. This rang true for many of the other campuses. Oveson saw this meeting as a way of bringing some of MSCF’s issues to Olson’s attention.
The Board of Trustees reported that at the state university level there were 82 sabbatical leaves granted. A Board member asked how many sabbaticals were denied. This data was from fiscal year 2005.
At the BOT a big presentation was given on IT. Their new initiative is called the “IT Enterprise” and emphasizes critical architecture.
Biennial Budget Hearing:
The IFO Board set its priorities last spring. MnSCU paid duty days for two IFO people to participate in their biennial budget work groups last summer. The IFO made budget recommendations at the BOT meeting as well. After the Board presented the budget they announced they would hold public hearings to get community comments but unlike previous years did not ask the Trustees to vote at this time. At the budget hearings MnSCU said they were changing their format and wanted people’s input at the hearings. Nancy went to Hutchinson public hearing and again put forward what the IFO Board approved.
Recent Increases in MN State University Tuition:
A handout was reviewed illustrating recent increases in Minnesota State University tuition. In the last four years there’s been a 44% increase in student tuition.
Action Plan/Targets of the Board of Trustees:
Targets from the Office of the Chancellor are used to build the budget. MnSCU’s Office of the Chancellor is asking that these targets be measured by the state university presidents. A PowerPoint Presentation from the BOT on September 20, 2006 was reviewed by the IFO Board.
Where is the cost benefit analysis? There is none. They are not distinguishing between the colleges and universities and how much this will cost. We have been asking about on-line learning vs. classroom teaching and its effectiveness. They are pushing the presidents to do fundraising at their individual universities.
The fundraising they are doing is for MnSCU and not the individual campuses. This information was given by St. Cloud State University President Saigo to Annette Schoenberger, SCSU’s FA President.
We need to convince MnSCU that we have expertise to assist them in setting some of these measures. It would be appropriate for us to align our measures.
Russ spoke on the Biennial Budget (a handout was reviewed). As background, last spring the IFO Budget Committee met to make a recommendation. The budget, as adopted by the IFO Board of Directors, asked for inflation and additional money for things like expanding teaching in nursing, and quality initiatives - we pushed hard for this throughout the taskforce process. We constantly remind MnSCU that we have to keep the system funded before we can add in/fund new initiatives.
The taskforce recommended we seek a state appropriation to cover inflation at 3.5% for the next year. This would cost $140 million.
The four system strategic plans outlined in areas for new initiatives were: increased access and opportunity; promote high quality learning; provide programs and services integral economic needs; and, innovate to meet current and future needs. Russ pointed out the vague references made to performance pay under Key Measures in the Academic section.
Rod Henry, IFO Chief Negotiator, Report:
Rod gave a report on the status of negotiations. He has been very involved in IFO and MnSCU meetings keeping abreast of the issues. He is going to the Joint Health Coalition and the Graduate Council tomorrow. The Team has not met in person since the last Board meeting. They presented LOUs at that meeting and thought they had an agreement with MnSCU but didn’t. The LOU on salary equity may have some thing to do with merit pay. The Team is meeting next week to discuss the LOUs and some other matters as well as changes in the Operating Procedures. Rod gave some background on the expenses and the nature of negotiation meetings. Rod noted that flexible calendars (“floating academic year”) have been offered by administration (MnSCU) in negotiations – this disadvantages many faculty.
Executive Committee Update from September 21-22:
It was reported that at the last Executive Committee the Personnel Committee (EC) discussed Pat Arsenault’s workload. The following motion was reported out: A motion was made that Nancy Black and Cindy Phillips have a discussion with Connie Howard’s firm and bring back a proposal to the Executive Committee. Seconded Carried [See later Board motion reported out from Executive Session.]
Meet and Confer Update from September 22:
The Board was given an update on the issues of Applied Doctorates and tuition waivers. Steve Bohnenblust, FA President Mankato, said in a meeting with State University President Davenport, it was proposed that if a student takes a class from one institution at another institution then the institution that the person came from would pay/reimburse the other institution. Six of the seven State University Presidents were in favor. It was also discussed that according to the current contract if faculty teaching graduate courses with one undergraduate in the classroom would receive undergraduate pay.
We are working on a master calendar of all the meetings in the system. We should be bringing this to you at the next Board meeting.
Meet and Confer November 17 Tentative Agenda:
The Board reviewed a tentative agenda. The MnSCU Foundation (FANS) and infrastructure plans with D2L (Bouchard will send Nancy some language) will be added to the agenda.
Board Liaisons and Action Chair:
Valerie Geaither volunteered to serve as the GRC liaison.
Jauneth Skinner volunteered to serve as the FIC liaison.
During the summer the EC appointed John Tesch as the interim state action chair and it was to be brought to the Board to make this as a permanent position. The Operating Procedures were reviewed over the break.
Moved we appoint John Tesch as the IFO Action Chair. Seconded Carried
MnSCU Committee Appointments:
Bioscience Education Work Group:
Motion to accept Biosciences Education Work Group volunteers: Fu-Hsian Chang from Bemidji and Lakshmaiah Sreerama from St. Cloud. Seconded Carried
Assessment for College Readiness:
No volunteers came forward. We still need two people. This is part of the K-16 initiative.
Credit for Prior Learning:
Susan Rydell from Metro and Dan Lintin from Winona volunteered. Moved we appoint. Seconded Carried
Academic and Student Affairs Council:
Three volunteers came forward. A ballot vote was taken. William Brauer (Bemidji) won by a vote of 16, Peter Henderson (Winona) 6 votes, and Katherine Johnson (St. Cloud) 2 votes.
Operating Procedures:
IFOSA terms and conditions were an issue as it pertains to staff members coordinating IFO standing committee meetings and the proposed alcohol policy. Nancy stated that when we made recent changes to the Operating Procedures we didn’t realize that we had not taken into consideration the staff contract and Russ called to Nancy’s attention the oversight. Russ explained why this issue is important to him and provided a handout for the Board. What wasn’t clear is if this policy on reimbursement (namely alcohol) applies to the staff or faculty members who participate as committee members. Russ thinks it would be helpful to have a clear statement if this applies to the staff and prefers that this not apply to the staff (expense reimbursement should be governed by the staff IFO contract which says IRS determinations). Phillips felt we need some legal advice. It is unclear if this pertains to the IFOSA. Schoenberger suggested the IFO negotiators discuss this.
A question was raised if terms and conditions of employment are bound by the Operating Procedures. We don’t really know yet if there is an issue. This will be discussed at the October 26 Executive Committee.
Motion we commence the mileage reimbursement policy effective July 1, 2007 per the EC motion. Seconded Carried with opposition
At the September Board meeting we took two stands on the IFO position of alcohol. We didn’t specifically discuss whether or not alcohol could be purchased using IFO funds. Should IFO funds be used to purchase alcohol, are there limitations, should campuses have their own policies?
Originally the Executive Committee brought a recommendation limiting alcohol reimbursement to $10 per day per person.
Andy Larkin said the motion was out of order because we voted this out at the last Board meeting. Moved we reconsider the EC motion to limit alcohol reimbursement to $10 per day as stated in the EC recommendation. Seconded
Seldat wondered about the local issue (letting the local associations have their own policy), the separate issue related to the purchase of alcohol (i.e. Board receptions and meetings), and the separate issue for reimbursement of expenses.
Moved that the IFO will spend a max of $10 per day per person for alcohol. Seconded
Moved to postpone this subject until the next BM while the EC works on bringing a motion. Seconded
Nancy ruled that the current practice will stand until clarification is given.
Legislative Report:
The issue of the MnSCU Foundation doing fund raisers was discussed. We are not supportive of this initiative Friends Action Network (FAN) that advances the cause of MnSCU central at the expense of the local state universities. Russ will discuss this later in his report.
The Government Relations Committee has not met since the last IFO Board meeting. The committee plans to wait until after the election to hold another meeting. At that time they will know who got elected, and thus have a clearer idea of what is possible in terms of the higher education budget and other legislative goals.
IFO Political Activities:
At its meeting in early September the GRC recommended approximately $30,000 in contributions from the IFO Lobby Fund to candidates for the House and Senate and to Mike Hatch and the House and Senate caucuses. This amount was supplemented by additional contributions from local political action funds. This money has been sent to the candidates. In some cases the candidates had reached their spending limits and returned the contributions, and in those cases we then contributed funds to either the caucuses or to a local party unit for the area from which the contributions had been returned.
Several campuses are sponsoring campus based candidate forums (Mankato has already held theirs). Russ developed background information and suggested questions for the candidates regarding higher education funding, tuition proposals, contract ratification commitments, etc.
On a couple of campuses, faculty members have been involved in door knocking for candidates. Russ strongly urged more of this activity—it builds valuable relationships with candidates that are helpful during the legislative session.
A refreshing theme of the campaigns this year is a focus on the affordability of higher education. Candidates have told Russ that this is an issue that now resonates with middle class voters—who worry that they cannot afford higher education for their children. While it is good to finally see higher education get attention, we also need to make sure that politicians don’t just promise “free tuition” or “tuition rollbacks” without explaining where they plan to get the money to replace the lost tuition revenue. Also, some conservatives try to imply the cause of tuition increasing is somehow related to faculty (and administrative) salary increases. Don’t let such claims go unchallenged. In the last four years state university tuition increased over 44%--faculty salaries only increased about 9% during the same period. The real reason tuition has increased is because Governor Pawlenty cut $189 million from MnSCU’s base when he took office, and the state has not recognized inflation for the last four years (inflation increased about 12%). The resulting shortfalls where made up through tuition increases.
Poll after poll shows the race for governor is a statistical dead heat, with an ever so slight indication that Hatch is gaining ground. Democrats seem to have the momentum in the legislative races at the present time. It is likely to come down to turnout. Republicans seem demoralized at the present time by President Bush’s low support level and the continuing scandals in Congress. However, the Republicans are very well organized and financed, and they will probably have a very good effort to turn out their supporters on Election Day.
During the next few weeks Russ will be sending out materials to encourage turnout on Election Day. He will also be putting out links to our web page showing how incumbents stood on higher education issues.
MnSCU “Friends Action Network” (FAN):
Russ alerted faculty that MnSCU is developing a network called “Friends Action Network” (FAN). Their purpose is to develop a mailing list of people they can call upon to write to legislators in support of the MnSCU budget. MnSCU lobbyists have already gone to some campuses to enlist faculty support. Russ sees this as an effort by MnSCU to circumvent the faculty and student organizations. The fact is, there are likely to be parts of the MnSCU budget proposal we support and parts we oppose. Russ thinks it is to our interest to interpret the MnSCU budget proposals to the membership, and to have our members support the IFO’s positions on the budget. Russ urged caution in working with the FAN project. It is fine if MnSCU wants to develop an alumni and community support network unless it affects contributions to the individual state universities—but IFO is the official voice of the faculty.
MnSCU Budget Developments:
At the Higher Education Legislative Lobbyist (HELL) meeting today, the MnSCU lobbyists gave the student and faculty groups a vague outline of the legislative appropriations request being put together by MnSCU. It is terrible. While they claim to be asking for inflation increases—most of the inflation increase would be covered by a 4% increase per year in student tuition and “internal reallocation,” meaning cut spending on current programs to cover the cost of inflation. Much of the inflation money would be used to cover new initiatives rather than cover inflationary costs on current programs (meaning it really isn’t inflation funding—it is new initiative funding). MnSCU is following the same failed strategy on the budget that they have followed in the last two bienniums. The student and faculty groups for both the state universities and the two year institutions were very outspoken in their criticism of the draft budget request.
Retirement Workshops and Meetings:
During late August and throughout September Russ visited each of the campuses and put on retirement workshops and met with individual faculty members on retirement issues. Russ conducted general workshops during orientation for new faculty members on four campuses to help them chose a basic pension plan and decide on an investment strategy. Russ conducted similar workshops on the other three campuses where he didn’t speak during orientation.
For faculty nearing retirement, Russ put on workshops explaining retirement related benefits in the contract and how to take advantage of the programs. In addition, Russ explained the retirement programs and phased retirement options. Russ conducted seventeen workshops for faculty nearing retirement.
Individual faculty members (both new and those nearing retirement) can sign up for a half hour meeting with Russ on retirement issues. Russ had 201 individual meetings this fall. If time permits, Russ will revisit campuses after the election.
Bemidji offered a special early separation for several departments this year. Under the contract, a university can designate departments wherein the faculty members are entitled to a special early separation incentive of a full year of salary and a year of employer paid health insurance premium. This is the first time in about a decade that departments have been designated for the special ESI. It looked like quite a few faculty members would accept the special offer and retire.
Bemidji also began restricting use of the phased retirement and annuitant employment programs. While it has been standard practice in recent years to offer phased retirement and the Annuitant Employment Program (AEP) for up to three years, Bemidji is only offering the program for a year—with the possibility of annual renewal by mutual agreement for one or two more years. The new restrictions seem to have killed interest in the program because it just isn’t lucrative enough. As a result, BSU will lose a lot of potential savings from the program, since high cost faculty will just continue to work full time.
Motion to recess at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, October 12.
Reconvened at 8:33 a.m. Friday, October 13.
Newspaper Article:
Nancy reported that in today’s Star Tribune there was an article on MnSCU’s biennial budget release to the public. It is exactly what was presented at yesterday’s HELL meeting. The students are now paying 50% of their tuition and the faculty is hovering below the 60th percentile of salary among peer institutions nationally.
Campus Reports:
Metro Campus Report: Co-location agreement has been made between the two presidents. The proposal for implementation has been accepted as well. The DNP (doctorate in nursing practice) proposal is working well so far.
Winona Campus Report: The local graduate council is deciding what is a full graduate faculty member and what is an associate professor. The DNP program is also an important topic.
Moorhead Campus Report: The primary issue has been IPESL. There was a crisis in confidence with their state university President Barden as a result of MnSCU making unilateral changes and not communicating them with the faculty. This is an accreditation year and discussion is taking place on the campus.
Bemidji Campus Report: a handout was given. The administration announced $5 million in permanent budget cuts by 2010. Nepotism and 1.B.1 continue to cause concerns. IPESL grant applications (5 received to date) are now in the hands of an ad hoc faculty committee and those recommended will be forwarded to the Provost on October 13. The local Liberal Education Taskforce is discussing upper division curriculum in a campus-wide meeting on October 13.
Mankato Campus Report: A problem is letters of expectation and they are not considered disciplinary so it makes it impossible to grieve (Phillips says they are being grieved on the Moorhead campus). Another issue with shared governance process is non-academic mid-level individuals. MSUAASF person is writing policy with the bookstore on how faculty can order books. Doctoral program process is moving along slower than expected; there are issues being worked out (workload, money). On IPESL, faculty has gone through the process and is submitting a proposal to MnSCU next week.
Southwest Campus Report: George stated that State University President Danahar will not be running for president at SCSU, contrary to rumors. On the IPESL process Deb Buerkley, a SW faculty member, was hired by MnSCU. She will be handling the paper processing for the grants. She is very supportive of faculty and the union. If you need info on IPESL, contact her. A PDP workshop was conducted this week by Pat Arseneault. Many issues were discussed by the more than 20 attendees. There is also a “Presidential File” similar to a personnel file that seems to be playing a role in the decision making process at SW. Pat will email this PDP information to the Board. The IFO is currently following up on the presidential file issue.
St. Cloud: SCSU should have a new president next year. The timeline is tight. They are still working on doctoral programs and it appears a big issue is money. There is an issue on the research on the number of expected students they will have in this program. HLC/NCA (Higher Learning Commission accreditation) is gearing upon the St. Cloud campus. There is a person on campus who has an issue with fair share starting their own group.
Election Method:
Per the DA resolution MS.2006.2, the IFO will use Ranked-Choice Voting or at least Approval Voting for all single-seat elections in the IFO for which there are more than two candidates, and that the IFO ascertain that all seven (7) campuses use one of these accurate forms of voting in FA elections. Andy Larkin said he didn’t think the motion was to be intended for the local level. We are currently using this method (rank choice voting) at the state level. Annette Schoenberger said this method applies to Board of Directors’ seats. The resolution clearly says this applies to faculty associations and just because we don’t all agree with this doesn’t mean we don’t have to follow it. The language is clear; whether or not it represents the true intent, this is the language we adopted. We are obligated in good faith to follow this resolution. There was disagreement on the ambiguity of the verbiage.
Condo Update:
We closed on the condo and were very happy with the whole process. After July 1 we should move to dissolve the IFO Building Corporation.
Donna Blake’s Report:
Donna reported that she has been conducting an equipment inventory of the IFO office and the campus faculty association offices.
Audit Update:
Donna reported that we received a preliminary draft of the financials from the auditors a few weeks ago. When we reviewed them, we found several items included that were from the October 2005 audit. Since these items had been corrected after this audit, we asked the auditors to review their report and eliminate these items. We received the new revised financials from the auditors late last week and are finishing our review of them and arranging to have the auditors attend the October Executive Committee meeting to go over the revised audit report.
Ad Hoc Treasury Committee Update:
At the last meeting on September 15-16, we narrowed down the list of financial institutions we were reviewing to three: Affinity Plus, Bremer, and Merrill Lynch. These three organizations were then given a bank scenario to complete. We will be meeting with the three organizations today (October 13), starting at 4:00 p.m., at the St. Paul IFO office, to review their response to the bank scenario. After our analysis is complete, we will be making a recommendation to the Board.
September Financials:
Donna noted the following unusual transactions that took place in September:
Nancy thanked Annette for her prior work as the IFO Treasurer.
Cathy Summa Treasurer’s Report:
The Lobby Fund is higher this year because it’s an election year. The Ad Hoc Treasury Committee will hopefully complete their work today to develop an investment strategy. The Treasury Ad Hoc Committee, meeting Friday, October 13, will report at the next Board meeting.
Academic Affairs Report:
Debra Japp gave a report. When asked about broad field, we think we put in enough protections that would require a system wide articulation agreement. This has never been brought up before - this language “just appeared.” Have people on your campuses review this information is critical – your local academic affairs committee or the general education committee (Metro).
The technical colleges (Pine Tech) want to offer AAs for financial reasons. The big push is on-line education. There was a discussion on polytechnic education and what it means. Phillips pointed out that we had a faculty members serving on a MnSCU committee on Polytechnic Education in the past.
IFO Academic Affairs Committee:
Met at the IFO office on October 6, 2006. The committee reviewed/discussed the process for the institutional self-audit of their MnTC. A general discussion also included definitions for “lab” and “lab-like experience.”
In addition the committee reviewed the proposed amendment to Policy 3.21 (title name change proposed from Undergraduate Credit Transfer to Course Credit Transfer; will include policy/procedure on graduate credit transfer) and new proposed language in Procedure 3.21.1. We raised questions about new language proposed on credit limit (p. 2, Part 4, of new proposed procedure includes a statement about no limit to the number of credits transferred) and a statement on the completion of the entire MnTC in proposed Procedure 3.21.1 (page 4, subpart 8, A.i). This procedure states: “Completion of the entire Minnesota Transfer Curriculum at any system college or university shall signify that the lower-division general education Minnesota Transfer Curriculum has been met....” Some members of the MnTC Steering Committee contend that this means that while an institution may have additional institutional graduation requirements in areas not included in the MnTC (e.g., PE, upper-division writing requirement), it cannot have additional graduation requirements in areas that are already included in the MnTC (e.g., lower division courses in areas such as history, etc.; see discussion below).
The committee continued its discussion of the transfer of D grades. At the MnSCU level this issue in the context of the discussion of treating transfer students in a manner “comparable” to non-transfer students (in 1991 Transfer Agreement between MnSCU and UM; also in current Policy 3.21, Part 3, subpart 1a; also relevant to financial aid issues/policy). Does “comparable” mean “equivalent” as is asserted/assumed by some?
The idea of “comparable” treatment of transfer to non-transfer students is also relevant to the discussion about additional institutional graduation requirements. For example, if an institution requires all students to have completed a particular set of courses for a graduation requirement, and if those courses are also included as courses in the MnTC, and if students who transfer into that institution already having completed the MnTC are they required to take those courses (while non-transfer students were allowed to “double count” courses to partially complete both a MnTC goal area and the institution graduation requirement), then some assert that the transfer student is being disadvantaged and his/her treatment is not “comparable” to the non-transfer student, and this would be in violation of Procedure 3.21.1.
Present at the AAC meeting on October 6, were: Ruthe Thompson (SMSU), Pat Paulson (for Charla Miertschin; WSU), Ellen Birsch (MSU Moorhead), Karen Willette-Murphy (MSU Mankato), Annette Schoenberger (IFO Board Liaison), Debra Japp (IFO AAC), and Nancy Black (IFO President).
MnSCU’s CTL Steering Committee:
Met on Friday, September 15. Agenda included a report on current expenditures of IPESL money (primarily at 2 year institutions). Time was spent reviewing a proposed on-line final report form for IPESL grant money.
MnTC Transfer Oversight Committee:
Met on Friday, September 22. The web-site developed to support the institutional self-review of the MnTC was introduced (see http://www.transfer.project.mnscu.edu)
Discussion included a definition of an “occupational” course (the term is used as one “filter” in the institutional self-review of MnTC courses), and the following definition was proposed: “An occupational course has as a course objective the development of skills, expertise, or knowledge relative to a single occupation or career cluster. It uses course material, exercises, and examples that are for the most part aimed at or derived from that occupational area.”
We were informed that the U of MN has been reviewing courses in the MnTC. This year they will begin review of their liberal education requirements with recommendations made by spring or fall 2007.
The committee began discussion of Proposed Revision of Policy 3.21 Undergraduate Credit Transfer and Procedure 3.21.1 (current policy can be found at: http://www.mnscu.edu/board/policy/3-21.pdf). The transfer of D grades was again discussed.
MnSCU Academic and Student Policy Council:
Met on Tuesday, September 26. Proposed Revision of Policy 3.21 Undergraduate Credit Transfer and Procedure 3.21.1 was introduced and discussed.
It was noted during an overview of the committee’s work plan that they hoped to have Proposed Policy 3.5 on PSEO go to the Board in March or April 2007, although the committee charged to develop such a policy has not yet met.
The following policies were discussed: Policy 2.3 Student Involvement and Policy 2.10 Student Housing.
We did a partial first review of a working draft of a proposed new “omnibus” policy to consolidate and replace Policy 3.2 (Academic Program Inventory), Policy 3.10 (Academic Program Review), 3.12 (Academic Program Suspension and Reinstatement and Closure), Policy 3.14 (Academic Program Approval), Procedure 3.14.1 (Addressing Transfer in Approval of New Programs), Policy 3.17 and Procedure 3.17.1 (Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates), Policy 3.18 (Academic Program Redesign), Policy 3.20 (Academic Program Replication or Relocation, Policy 3.24 and Procedure 3.24.1 (System and Institutional Missions), Policy 3.25 (Degree Granting Authority) and Policy 3.30. We were informed that those working on this new policy “started from scratch” rather than trying to modify existing language. The introduction highlighted “notable changes,” including: specification of college types, addition of new type of AS—broad field, modification to doctorate policy, addition of general education into diplomas over 44 credits, addition of definitions, expansion of procedures, credit lengths and exceptions, insertion of MnTC as a required program review criterion, and “…to be continued…”. Because the policy is being completely rewritten, it is difficult to track changes because there is no legislative version.
IFO Academic Affairs Coordinator/MnSCU Future Meetings:
CTL: Nov.16, Jan. 24, March 30, May 3, June 6
Transfer: Nov. 3, Feb. 3, April 6
Academic and Student Policy Council: Nov. 8 (moved from 11/9), Feb. 7, April 5
Graduate Council: October 13 (added), November 17 (I cannot attend this meeting and it is also a Meet and Confer)
COPE: October 20, Dec. 8, Feb. 2, April 6
Membership Report:
Cindy Finch gave a membership report.
Break 9:46 a.m.
Executive Session:
Moved Seconded 9:57 Carried
Out of Executive Session at 10:26 and reported out the following motion: Moved that President Black be authorized to contract with Metcalf, Kaspari, Howard, Engdahl, & Lazarus law firm at $XXX/hr for 40 hours/month from November 2006 through June 2007.
IPESL:
The subject of merit pay continues to be an area of concern. We heard during
the campus reports that on some campuses this is working while others are not.
A draft of reporting guidelines for the grant is still in progress. Suggestions
were made by the IFO on the guidelines. IPESL was discussed at the last
statewide meet and confer. There are a lot of measurements and
accountabilities. Not all of the revisions we suggested were incorporated and a
final draft was not provided at the meet and confer. Later that day a draft was
sent to our office by the Center for Teaching and Learning and it was the same
version as the one presented at the meet and confer. Linda Baer and Lynda Milne
contacted Nancy and they had a one hour conversation. MnSCU wants the IFO to
approve/endorse a FAQ on IPESL. Nancy said they went around the faculty on this
and we do not want to be associated with the FAQs. Linda said the decisions are
made on the campus level. Does this mean that MnSCU will rubber stamp anything
that comes in from the campus? Yes, according to MnSCU they won’t deny grants
if they improve student learning. Nancy asked for that in writing and Linda
Baer said it wasn’t necessary. But yet Lynda Milne said this is competitive and
there is a possibility for denial. Nancy warned them about possible
implications. Currently we don’t know the status of the final draft on the
reporting guidelines. It is our understanding that the state university
presidents are now reviewing this information.
Equity and Labor Relations Report:
Patrice Arseneault gave a report.
FIC:
The Feminist Issues Committee is to scheduled to meet on November 17, 2006, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the IFO office.
MIC:
The Multicultural Issues Committee is scheduled to meet on November 3, 2006, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Radisson Roseville.
Salary Equity:
The joint MnSCU IFO Salary Review Committee (SRC) met on October 6, 2006 to discuss the proposals received in response to the RFP for conducting the next salary study on 2006 data. The SRC decided to interview 2 consultant groups at the next meeting on October 20, 2006.
Also at our SRC meeting on October 6, 2006, the joint MnSCU IFO SRC continued review of salaries of faculty hired in academic year 2005-2006. Look for SRC activity status reports in the upcoming IFO Updates.
The SRC will be working with the Negotiating Team. We want to make sure lines of communication are open so we are more on track and aren’t being set-up in the IFO/MnSCU Joint Salary Review Committee meetings and Negotiations. Members from MnSCU serving on the Joint Salary Review Committee are also on the MnSCU negotiating team.
GLBTA:
The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Allies Issues Committee met on October 6, 2006 on St. Cloud’s campus. The committee is interested in exploring conducting future meetings for the 2006-2007 academic year by ITV. The committee intends to hold their winter meeting in January 2007, and if possible, by ITV.
For 2006-2007, the committee will continue with its work on advocating for a safe zone on each of the campuses, and will continue to track the issues surrounding MnSCU’s Nepotism Procedure and the new 1B.1.1 draft procedure.
One additional goal for this academic year is to plan a GLBT conference for faculty for the 2007-2008 academic year.
The GLBTA committee expressed concern over MnSCU’s recent request for faculty participation in the next Diversity Conference planning committee. The committee is appalled by MnSCU’s complete lack of regard for faculty, faculty governance and the academic calendar, in its late notification to the IFO concerning participation on a “planning committee” that is already in progress. Before the IFO has an opportunity to seek faculty representatives to serve on the committee, details that have already been agreed upon include the date, place, schedule, key note speaker and agenda “core topics” to be addressed by the conference. In addition, planning committee representatives will not be reimbursed for travel expenses. The GLBTA committee questions MnSCU’s true commitment to diversity goals.
MnSCU’s 2007 Spring Diversity Conference:
MnSCU systemwide diversity conference planning committee - On October 3, 2006, the Office of the Chancellor’s Diversity and Multiculturalism Office provided the IFO with a Charge for the Systemwide Diversity Conference Planning Committee, including the “invitation” to IFO to appoint two representatives to the planning committee for the March 15, 2007 systemwide diversity conference. (Copy of Committee’s Charge, Attachment A (note the Charge incorrectly states that the committee will consist of 1 IFO representative, however Diversity Program Director Ka Vang has requested 2 IFO reps).
MIC member from St. Cloud Debra Leigh from St. Cloud served as an Interim representative to the Planning Committee. She attended the meetings on September 19 and October 4, 2006, and is interested and willing to continue to serve as an IFO representative to the committee.
Pat Arseneault reported that by the time we learned about the planning conference committee and received their request for representation there had been several meetings. We have now learned that the conference date has been chosen, there’s a schedule, core topics, and break-out sessions. Pat wonders what is left for the planning committee. Moved we decline to participate and notify MnSCU because they did not make a timely request in that we were not involved in the early phases of the planning or a timely request to appoint people and the refusal to pay expenses is contrary to the practice. Seconded Carried The GLBTA committee was extremely outraged that they were not consulted and it seemed their conclusion was to boycott the committee and conference. Because they are not reimbursing our faculty, MnSCU must feel that diversity is not important enough.
Benefits Equity Committee:
The 2006 Delegate Assembly resolved that the IFO Board will establish a Benefits Equity Committee to be comprised of 1 Board member, 1 representative from each of the FIC, MIC and GLBTA Issues standing committees, and to include 2 at-large representatives. The committee is to be given a budget to enable up to 2 meetings each academic year.
The GLBTA has selected Metropolitan member Ria Newhouse as the GLTBA committee representative. It is anticipated that a representative from the MIC will be selected at the meeting on November 3 and a representative from the FIC will be selected at the November 17 meeting.
I request that the IFO Board be prepared to establish the BEC and to appoint a Board representative and the two members at large at its meeting on November 30-December 1, so that the BEC will be able to schedule a meeting during 2007 spring semester.
MnSCU Board Procedure 1B.1.1:
MnSCU provided a revised draft of the MnSCU Board Procedure 1B.1.1 dated October 3, 2006, (a handout was provided). Renee Hogoboom, Office of Diversity and Multiculturalism, is requesting responses to the draft by October 27, 2006.
Grievance Log:
Two handouts were given. LOUs voted on at the last Board meeting were discussed. After the Board voted, Pat went back to MnSCU and there was further discussion on the LOUs (our request to pull the names listed in the LOUS and put them in a separate MOA). MnSCU did do that. The second change that MnSCU is insisting upon is the implementation date of when promoted faculty get reviewed. Our LOU said July 1, 2006 and they changed it to July 1, 2007. This delays implementation.
The second handout is the MOA in which the grievants were named who would not meet the special eligibility. When Rod was here last night he stated that our Operating Procedures say LOUs have to be examined by the Negotiating Team and they approved of the LOUs. However when we went back to MnSCU ready to sign they wanted to make changes. The Negotiating Team is meeting again to look at these issues. One concern is in the Salary Review process with promotions and the ability to grieve. Exclusive remedy and severance are not subject to the grievance procedure. Pat specifically asked Chris Dale if we can grieve this and he said yes. The Negotiating Team is concerned that this is not in writing so we are asking for this to be in writing. The Board was asked to review these LOUs/MOA while the Negotiating Team meets next week. Since the Board doesn’t meet again for another month we will do an e-vote. Once the Negotiating Team meets next week they should have a recommendation for the Board and will be sent out via electronic ballot. We passed both A and B at the last Board meeting but now changes have been made.
Move that an electronic vote be conducted by the Board on handout version A. Seconded Carried
Moved we approve handout version B. Seconded (where we removed the two individual names but we already voted on the substance of this LOU). Carried MnSCU won’t sign the MOA unless we sign both A & B. The current impact is for promoted faculty included in the review. The new language offered by MnSCU causes a delay and the IFO SRC reps have been trying to get promoted faculty included as part of the annual salary reviews. Promoted faculty will be part of the 06 study. Faculty promoted this year or next year will not be reviewed as a promoted faculty until the next study.
Arbitration Awards:
Pat and Tiffany worked really hard to compile IFO arbitration date which may be helpful for the Negotiating Team and future grievances/arbitrations.
A few observations were noted. The IFO has arbitrated 80 cases from 1975 to 2006. Seventeen (17) of those were handled in-house by Frank Conroy while 46 were handled by outside attorneys. This may explain the legal expenses we’ve incurred in the past. This calls to question if we have better results by using outside legal services. It was pointed out that the arbitration on Mankato aviation where the administration overrode the faculty-issued grade was denied. The Negotiating Team may want to address this in the future (administration telling faculty which grade to submit).
There was a Delegate Assembly resolution to form the Benefits Equity Committee and this is in Pat’s report. We’ve been having some trouble convening the committees. The BOD wanted a status update. Pat said, per her report, she is asking that the BOD establish this committee at their next meeting on November 30 after all of the standing committees involved have had a chance to meet. Cindy Finch will ask for a member at-large to the FA Presidents. The OP says that for each statewide committee there needs to be the same committee locally. Annette Schoenberger asked the EC to take a look at this and see which committees need to also be on the local campuses.
Changing the Location of the Board Meetings:
All of the hotel contracts have been signed for all of the Board meetings this year. Roger Severns stated a majority of the campuses could get to St. Cloud easier than Minneapolis and if we would consider having a meeting or two in St. Cloud next year. Nancy stated her concerns with how this would affect office participation and keeping the office staffed.
A motion was made to adjourn. 11:30 Carried