IFO Board of Directors Report

Bloomington Sheraton                                              

March 24-25, 2005

 

Present:  Nancy Black, Dave Larkin, Richard Gendreau, Carol Milowski, Steve Bohnenblust, Gwen Griffin, Barbara Keating, Sonja Meiers (part of Friday only – participating in AAC meeting), Becky Omdahl, Ruth Zietlow, Cindy Phillips, Wayne Alexander, Wade Swenson, Annette Schoenberger, Judy Kilborn (part of Friday only – participating in Action meeting), Fred Hill, George Seldat, Gerald Toland, Mary Kesler, Cathy Summa, David Bratt

 

Also Present:  Russ Stanton (Friday only), Pat Arseneault (Friday only), Wil Harri (Friday only), Frank Conroy (Friday only), Debra Japp (Friday only), Cindy Webber (note taker)

 

Not Present:  Rose Weaver, Theresia Fisher

 

Guests:  Rod Henry (IFO Lead Negotiator), Linda Baer (MnSCU Sr. Vice Chancellor)

 

Called to order at 6:40 p.m.

 

Additional Agenda Items:

ü      Faculty search failures data

ü      Delegate Assembly discussion regarding vote of no confidence

 

Approval of January Board Minutes:

The minutes from the January 27-28, 2005 Board of Directors meeting were approved.  Carried

 

Board of Trustees Update:

The Chancellor’s draft work plan was reviewed.  The BOT is concerned about the budget and line items (i.e. MN Online).  An IFO Board member requested that Nancy forward a transcript of her testimony before the Trustees.  Nancy had forwarded this information to the FA Presidents.

 

MnSCU Marketing and Communications Plan:

A newspaper advertisement produced by MnSCU was favorably reviewed.

 

Publications Request:

The Office of the Chancellor emailed the IFO office requesting books and articles published by the state university faculty.  The publications are prominently displayed at MnSCU.  If you send MnSCU a copy of your published work, include a copy of the publisher’s invoice.

 

Temporary Change in Office Hours:

From now until the first week in June, the IFO office hours will be 8:30 – 5:00.

 

MN Online: Special Guest, Sr. Vice Chancellor Linda Baer:

The Board invited Baer to attend our meeting to answer questions they had developed at the January Board meeting.  Gary Langer was unable to attend. 

 

Baer:  MN Online is different from any online platform we’ve had to date.  There are services provided.  MN Online is not a new university or degree granting university.  We have a taskforce with a collaborative nature.  A PowerPoint handout was reviewed.  The handout gave a brief history and purpose. 

 

Board:  What kind of assessment are you using for the completion rates?

 

Baer:  (The question was not directly answered.)  We screen all of our online students, not everyone is cut out for this kind of instruction.  People have lost a lot of money and we intentionally are keeping this close to the campuses.

 

Board:  The MN Online Council has 27 members but only 3 are faculty.  Curriculum is a faculty matter.  This make-up looks really bad.  When Pat Rogers, the IFO rep serving on this council, talked to our Board, it sounded like MN Online is taking a lot of time and effort.

 

Baer:  At this point we haven’t locked into anything.

 

Board:  What kind of security will we have with MN Online?  This is a great opportunity for cheaters.

 

Baer:  This is an issue everyone is working on.  The Board is tremendously concerned about security.

 

Board:  Pat Rogers said MN Online is open for any faculty courses.  What kind of information is going out to the campuses?  It seems like a secret.  We hear that faculty are being given $500 to develop master courses.

 

Baer:  Our number one priority is marketing.  We want things to be right.

 

Board:  How are you explaining MN Online on the campuses?

 

Baer:  Whenever you have an online program you need HLC (Higher Learning Commission) accreditation and we decided we want to do these ourselves.

 

Board:  We’re concerned over you having a centralized MnSCU location.

 

Baer:  Originally it was Metro State, but our example of centralization was a bad one.

 

Negotiations Update:

Rod Henry, IFO Chief Negotiator, was present to give a report on negotiations to the Board.

 

Update Newsletter:

A reminder was given to the Board that the Update Newsletter is distributed on the 15th of each month.  If you have an article you’d like to contribute, please send that to us by the 10th of each month.

 

Statewide Meet and Confer:

The next statewide meet and confer is scheduled for Friday, April 8.  We had 28 items on our meet and confer log of agenda items some of which we were unable to address at our February 18 meet and confer.

 

J-Term Bemidji Grievance:

A status report was given on the J-Term grievance at Bemidji.  Currently it is on “hold”.  We also heard this is happening at the Winona campus (College of Education is doing May-Terms).

 

Salary Competitiveness Taskforce:

The taskforce is making good progress.  MnSCU has agreed to the peer institutions used to compare.  Russ Stanton serves on this committee and commented that some of our representatives appointed to this taskforce have not been attending the meetings. This is an important taskforce and we need to be represented.  A motion was made to replace Joann Segovia with Dennis Jacobs from the Moorhead campus.  Carried

 

Costing Workload Taskforce:

A motion was made to appoint Michael Connaughton from the St. Cloud campus.  Carried  Ruth Zietlow gave a brief update on the status of the taskforce.  A draft of the taskforce report should be ready by the next Board meeting on April 21-22.

 

Treasurer’s Report:

Currently we are 67% through the year, and the budget is going well.  A motion was made to accept the report.  Carried

 

At the next Board meeting we will need to discuss dues.

 

Recess 9:30 p.m.

Reconvened 8:30 a.m.

 

Executive Session:

A motion was made to move into Executive Session.  8:45 a.m. Carried

 

HRA:

Wil Harri was present to answer Board questions about the HRA accounts.  All faculty will be receiving a letter from Eide Bailley.  The Board reviewed the MnSCU HRA plan document. 

 

Forms will be available by April 1st.  Questions from the campuses should be directed to Wil Harri.  Spend down your flexible benefit account first.  People within five or six years of retirement may not want to spend this money, but rather save it for retirement instead.  A question was raised about the “rollover” amount.  After $999.00 dollars, the funds rollover into an account (sick leave) that can only be used after retirement.  There needs to be a follow up on this matter.

 

Wil Harri reported on “fair share” and asked that a letter provided on behalf of the president be distributed on each campus.  There are less than 60 probationary “fair share” people in the system.  Metropolitan State has 100% membership in the IFO, the only campus able to make this claim.

 

Wil presented a draft document titled Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Plan.  This document will be posted on the web when it is considered to be in final form.   There is no carry over of money for people who have left the system.  In other words, people who leave the system without retiring (and not qualifying for severance pay) lose the associated dollars.  Another way to say this was expressed as “get your glasses before you leave.”  Money for the administration of this system has been a matter of some debate.  There will be a small fee on each reimbursement form that is submitted.  This cost will probably come to approximately $25 per year.  This item will be addressed in negotiations.  Beyond these two items, Wil reported that we have achieved the items we sought.  Wil reiterated the notion that individuals within five years of retirement would be well advised to save these funds as an additional source of dollars in retirement.  Money in this account accrues interest to the individual and there is no explicit managing fee.  Wil cautioned members of the Board noting that the HRA is still a “work in progress,” suggesting that additional changes are possible and final answers are not available with any certainty.

 

A motion was made to formally approve the HRA Plan as presented.  Discussion focused on the service fee associated with these funds.  Amended to continue to negotiate any and all associated fees to be paid by the employer.  Motion carried.

 

Frank’s Grievance Report:

Frank Conroy gave a grievance report to the Board.  We need to pressure MnSCU to handle grievances in a more timelier manner at the campus and state levels.

 

Fair Share Fees/Challenge:

Frank distributed a letter to the Board pertaining to areas that would be addressed at a fair share hearing conducted by the Bureau of Mediation Services:  salary percentage for officers and professional staff for non-chargeable activities; committees with non-chargeable activities; non-chargeable political activities; non-chargeable charities; and, other non-chargeable activities.

 

Equity Report:

Pat Arseneault gave an equity report.  The issue of a system-wide analysis is still lingering.  The IFO members of the Salary Review committee are always bringing this to MnSCU’s attention.  This could be a meet and confer item if need be. 

 

The Benefits Equity Taskforce met on March 14, 2005 and created the following recommendations for the Board:

 

BET Recommendation 1.

With respect to DA Resolution 361 [re-evaluate the participation of the IFO with other collective bargaining unions in coalition bargaining for health insurance], the Taskforce recommends that the BET be given time to explore what our alternatives are before the Board takes a position on whether to support a legislative change in participation in the Coalition for health care insurance bargaining.

 

A motion was made to approve the BET Recommendation #1.  Carried

 

BET Recommendation 2.

With respect DA Resolution 394 [seek contract language which allows faculty members on sabbatical leave to withdraw from the state provided health insurance plan and be reimbursed for this amount so that they can purchase their own health insurance contract]; and DA Resolution 382 [support the following change regarding sabbatical leaves (Article 17, Section F, Subdivision 7):  If a faculty member is at an out-of-state sabbatical site, he or she will be given the option of receiving a cash payment equal to the amount of the premium necessary to purchase comparable health coverage at their sabbatical leave location], the Taskforce does not recommend seeking either DA Resolution 394 or 382 at this point because the language negotiated should be broader than covering just “sabbaticals.” Instead, the out-of-state coverage problem should be addressed for all faculty needing health insurance coverage for business and other travel.

 

A motion was made to refer BET Recommendation #2 to the Executive Committee/Negotiations Team.  Carried

 

BET Recommendation 3.

The Taskforce recommends to the IFO Board that they direct the IFO coalition bargaining representatives to explore a change in how out of state coverage is triggered, i.e., broaden or define an “emergency” to include the need for “urgent care.”

 

A motion was made to support BET Recommendation #3.  Carried

 

BET Recommendation 4.

With respect to Resolution 406 [require that MnSCU, in cooperation and with the consent of the IFO, adopt a written Policy regarding the application process and use of Family and Medical Leave], the Taskforce recommends to the IFO Board that it direct the BET to determine whether DA Resolution 406 has been accomplished, and report back to the Board.

 

A motion was made to approve BET recommendation #4. Carried

 

BET Recommendation 5. 

The Taskforce recommends that the Board adopt a legislative goal for a change in the law that a faculty member can change their retirement plan when their appointment status changes from Fixed Term to Probationary, as a back up proposal if we are unable to achieve changing the law to allow a longer period of time (up to 10 years) for a person to choose a retirement plan.

 

A motion was made to refer BET Recommendation #5 to the GRC.  Carried

 

BET Recommendation 6. 

The Taskforce recommends that the IFO Board direct the IFO negotiations team to seek making the tuition benefit under Article 27 Section G a transferable benefit, so that a faculty member may designate any person, or a scholarship fund, to be the recipient of the benefit of tuition reimbursement (even if this means a “life-time” limit in the amount of credits available to each faculty member for reimbursement).

 

A motion was made to refer BET Recommendation #6 to the Executive Committee/Negotiating Team.  Carried

 

BET Recommendation 7. 

The Taskforce recommends that the IFO Board direct the IFO negotiations team seek inclusion of a “member of the household” for all benefits to a “spouse” in the contract by changing all references to “spouse” in the contract to “a member of the household.”

 

A motion was made to refer BET Recommendation #7 to the Executive Committee/Negotiating Team.  Carried

 

Academic Affairs Committee Report:

Debra Japp gave a report.  The Taskforce on Graduate Education is implementing a survey of state university faculty.  It is being administered by BSU and will go online the first week of April.  The IFO’s cost will not exceed $500.  A motion was made to support the online survey at $500.  Carried

 

A motion was made to carry forward any unexpected funds this year for the AAC in order to meet via conference calls as well as 3 or 4 more face-to-face meetings.  Carried

 

GRC Recommendations for Goals:

Russ Stanton presented three goals for the Board’s approval based on the GRC recommendations:

 

  1. The IFO supports maintaining the current arrangements at the Rochester Center.  The IFO opposes a separate governing board for Rochester.  The IFO supports continuing WSU’s current mission in Rochester.  The IFO supports expanded higher education offerings in Rochester.  If the state decides to make Rochester a new entity, IFO supports legislative guarantees that all accumulated rights under the IFO contract carry forward to the new employer.

 

A motion was made to approve Goal #1.  Carried

 

  1. Support sweeping the proposed appropriations for centers of excellence and competitive salaries into the general appropriations for MnSCU, to be allocated directly out to the universities by means of the allocation formula to cover inflation and enrollment.  The legislature should allow each college and university to design its own centers) of excellence based to fit their region and/or mission, and they should fund the centers through internal reallocation of resources.  Compensation issues should be handled through the established collective bargaining process.

 

A motion was made to approve Goal #2.  Carried

 

  1. IFO supports a proposal by the pension funds to cap post retirement cost of living adjustments at 5% per year.

 

A motion was made to approve Goal #3.  Carried

 

Action Report:

Judy Kilborn, IFO Action Chair, was present along with the Action Committee to give an update on the activities and plans of the committee.  The Stop the Slide buttons and posters were distributed to each Action rep.  An action person is still needed at Moorhead.  Please help support the action efforts.

 

IFO Budget Committee:

The IFO Budget Committee reviewed the Governor’s budget recommendations in detail, and made the following recommendations on the IFO positions for Board review:

 

  1. The IFO does not support the line items approach to funding taken in the governor’s budget.  The IFO believes the statutory funding formula should be followed, and the money should be allocated to the campuses.
  2. IFO’s highest priority in the budget is funding the $72 million base adjustment for enrollment growth.  IFO’s second highest priority is base funding of inflation ($63 million).  IFO’s third highest priority is the $58 million one-time catch-up funding for enrollment growth.  IFO does not believe that funds for competitive salaries should be linked to the “Centers of Excellence”.  The funds should be distributed to all faculty members, and the collective bargaining process should be respected.
  3. The IFO believes in distinct programs of excellence but believes the approach taken by the governor leads us in the wrong direction.  Over-reliance on centralized planning presupposes the governor and the MnSCU central office can pick winners and losers.  Supplemental appropriations should flow directly to the campuses, and the campuses should determine priorities within their markets.

 

The Budget Committee is concerned about the MN Online approach taken by MnSCU.  The $7 million line item in the Online request (by far the largest component of the request) suggests an investment in buying content from faculty at the system level.  Faculty members own all intellectual property and must have the right to collectively bargain this issue.  The Budget Committee requests that the IFO Board take actions to ensure intellectual property rights of all faculty.  A motion was made to refer this matter to the Executive Committee/Negotiating Team.  Carried

 

Future Board Meetings:

A motion was made that 50% of the Board meetings be held at the Bloomington Sheraton.  Bratt/no second failed

 

The budget for the board meetings is the reason why we are not using the Bloomington Sheraton for our 05-06 meetings.  A motion was made that the Office Administrator bring to the next Board meeting the budget summaries of the Board meetings based on location comparing establishments.  Carried

 

Arbitration Letter Notifications:

A motion was made to notify via certified letter the grievant(s) about arbitration dates and times.  Carried

 

Agenda Items:

We were unable to address article 22/29, we will add it to the next Board agenda.  Barbara Keating requested data from MnSCU on retention and recruitment figures.

 

Adjourn  Schoenberger/Alexander  12:15 p.m.  Carried