IFO Board of Directors Meeting Report

IFO Board of Directors Meeting Report

March 29-30, 2007

Roseville Radisson

PRESENT: Nancy Black, Wayne Alexander, Cindy Phillips, Mary Kesler, Cathy Summa, Valerie Geaither (Thursday only), David Bouchard, Cindy Killion, Mike Ruth, Bruce Svingen, Jayantha Herath, Derek Webb, Elizabeth Dunn, George Seldat, Jan Loft, Annette Schoenberger, Andrew Larkin, Roger Severns, Debra Japp, Patricia Young, Fred Hill, Jauneth Skinner, Mike Ruth, Bruce Svingen,

Also Present: Donna Blake, Cindy Finch. Thursday only: Rod Henry, Russ Stanton, Patrice Arseneault.

Called to order at 6:30 p.m.

Additional Agenda Items:

There were no additional agenda items.

Negotiations/Action Report:

Rod Henry, Chief IFO Negotiator was present to give a report. He indicated that Delegate Assembly resolutions were reviewed by the Team. The Team will be reviewing the contract document for typos and moot language. The opening proposal may be delivered through Interest Based Bargaining (IBB). April 13 will be the IBB training through the Bureau of Mediation Services. MnSCU initiated this style of negotiating for this round. The Team is feeling encouraged by the proposed legislative dollars giving more control to the campuses.

Action letters were sent out. We had a good return rate.

The Health Coalition Bargaining meeting will be held on April 9. Rod, Russ Stanton and Sue Rydell will be attending this meeting.

Board members were encouraged to write letters to their legislators. It’s important to thank them with a positive message.

Equity Advocate Report:

Patrice Arseneault gave a report. MnSCU did schedule their 6^th annual “drive-in” diversity conference which means it will be held mid-day for only a couple of hours on April 2. The IFO Multicultural Issues Committee will meet on April 20, 2007.

The IFO Feminist Issues Committee met on February 9, 2007. The committee will explore whether they can conduct a survey on gender climate on state universities next academic year. They are investigating the possibility of obtaining outside assistance and or guidance for the survey.

The IFO GLBTA Issues Committee will meet on April 20, 2007.

The IFO Benefits Equity Committee met on March 13 and 23, 2007. The committee reviewed Delegate Assembly resolutions that relate to benefits. The top goals are expanding benefits to include members of household and to extend employer paid health insurance to sixteen weeks, in order to cover an entire semester. Committee members will be monitoring the legislative progress, and members will follow-up with negotiators with regard to status of negotiations on benefits.

The MnSCU-IFO Salary Review Committee will conduct a meeting with the consulting firm Sibson Segal on April 2, 2007, to discuss peer institutions for purposes of conducting the external market assessment. The IFO and MnSCU have executed the Memorandum of Agreement to implement the results of the FY06 Annual Review of the 2005-2006 new hires and faculty awarded new terminal degrees by October 1, 2005. The IFO should send a letter to the non-members who benefited from the Salary Review Committee letting them know their union is working for them and we want their membership.

Pat gave a grievance report.

Legislative Report:

Russ Stanton gave a legislative report on the status of: inflation/tuition freeze; competitive compensation; technology; underserved populations; MnSCU central office line item; ACHIEVE II; Dream Act; higher education funding task force; bonding; alternative teacher licensure; domestic partner benefits; retirement bills; Board of Trustees’ selection; faculty lobbying; and, tax increases. The Board reviewed a spreadsheet side-by-side comparison of MnSCU’s request, Governor’s Recommendation, Senate and House bills for funding higher education prepared by Russ.

A Board member asked for an update on the textbook legislation. Russ reported that the language was watered down, but that it was time consuming to track as the student association was frequently submitting changes to the language.

Russ encouraged people to look at the House bill (H.F. 797 included in the packets) for problematic language and why it doesn’t work (page 10 – 120 maximum credits – Board policy says 128 credits). Letters to Rukavina and Pappas would be well advised.

The people on the campuses really appreciate Russ’ legislative updates and the Board recognized his great work.

The Governor is already threatening to veto the Omnibus Higher Education Appropriations Bill because some of his priorities like ACHIEVE II and performance pay aren’t in the bill, and some things he doesn’t like, such as the DREAM Act, are in the bill. Also, the spending levels in the House bills are based upon raising the top income tax rate on the individuals earning more than $266,000 per year and couples earning $400,000 per year from 7.85% to 9%. Without the money from the tax increase, it will be impossible to grant the increases proposed in the higher education bills without cuts to other areas like education and human services and that isn’t going to happen.

Moved/seconded to support raising the top income bracket tax rate from 7.85% to 9% and using the increased revenue to improve funding for education and higher education. Carried

GRC to subsume Budget Committee:

Russ brought this issue to the Board’s attention because many of the committees’ responsibilities overlap, and proposed that the GRC subsume the Budget Committee (many of the same people serve on both committees). It’s a way to save money but not a major issue. Annette felt we should consult with the Budget and GRC Committee (maybe a joint meeting) and possibility creating a sub-committee of the GRC for budgetary issues.

Executive Session:

There was a motion to go into Executive Session. Moved/seconded Carried 8:38 p.m. out at 8:54 p.m. Attorney Connie Howard present – attorney client privilege.

Academic Affairs:
Debra Japp reported that MnSCU had many meetings prior to the last Board meeting. MnSCU has been more respectful of the spring break schedules and no major meetings have taken place since the last Board meeting.

MnSCU is creating an omnibus academic Policy and Procedure in 3.36 and 3.36.1.
She discussed the Associate in Arts degree - one or more emphases in at least 9 credits (on page 6 of the handout). At least one two-year institution is now sending out students who are saying they have an "emphasis in XXX.” Although is not allowed under current policy and procedure, Procedure 3.36.1 would legitimate this practice. Give your feedback to Debra. The procedure defines "emphasis" on page 2 of the handout. MnSCU would like this to go for first and second readings prior to the next academic year.

Some of the issues Board members discussed on the proposed policy and procedure included mission creep, responsibilities to students who have been inactive for a number of years, and doctoral programs. This procedure outlines the process for institutions changing status. Institutions can submit an application to the Chancellor and obtain approval from the BOT to change their institution type and academic awards. How are the HLC, legislature and statutes involved? Fond du Lac is a good example of a two-year institution offering a four-year degree but they had to go through the legislature to do that.

Adjourned 9:35 p.m., Thursday, March 29.

Called to order 8:32 a.m., Friday, March 30.

Approval of the February 8-9, 2007 Minutes:

Alexander/Seldat Carried with corrections as noted below.

Kesler’s name added to the February minutes, reword Southwest’s report to reflect that they are working hard toward getting officers to be involved, seconder of the last motion out of Executive Session - Summa did not second the motion. Substitute with Larkin. St. Cloud is not getting 4-5 new buildings, they are remodeling, and on page 5 under the Winona report, it is a dean in the Colleges not College.

Campus Reports:

Each campus was asked to comment upon whether and how they participate in the hiring process of new faculty?

Bemidji: Talking to the administration about the budget cuts. Proposing some minor reorganization in the colleges. Interim dean search taking place. Issue of ex-officio faculty serving on The Foundation. Should deans be present at meet and confers? 10 feet no-smoking policy is being discussed. Answer: FA participation in the search process is sporadic. Candidates are given a copy of the contract.

Metropolitan: They are in the middle of a strategic planning process. AQUIP electronic portfolio issues. IT Advisory Committee, chaired by David Bouchard, is active at MnSCU this year. Metro isn’t actively discussing a non-smoking policy on their campus. Answer: An IFO rep is designated to speak to the candidates about the IFO.

Southwest: There is no issue finding faculty who are willing to volunteer. There is an issue with announced budget shortfalls that then seem to disappear. All of their buildings are non-smoking. Answer: New hires meet with the FA President to discuss the FA and rights under the contract and how they may want to negotiate their salary during the hiring process. HR gives them a copy of the contract. If the candidate stops by the FA, they are asked if they have a copy of the contract and then they discuss the function of the union.

Mankato: Elections are taking place - ballots are due today. A new president and grievance officer will take office this coming year. All buildings are non-smoking and discussions are taking place to make the campus non-smoking. They are having some issues with the affirmative action office. Answer: Normally the department will have a discussion with candidates (anecdotal data) or candidates walk by the FA office and stop by for an informal discussion. Hard copies of the contract are not given but they are given the web address.

St. Cloud: Their new President will take office on July 1. They now have a 1.B.1 officer. FA elections are taking place. No current non-smoking policy on campus. Answer: Some individual colleges or departments have a very active group of union faculty who make sure candidates understand the contract, while some colleges do not even discuss the union. They’ve addressed this with their affirmative action officer but do not seem to be making any real progress

Winona: New administrator on campus, student use of data, promotion and tenure task force formed by the administration - faculty turned down participation. The faculty senate voted in favor of a constitutional amendment not to have the past negotiator on the Executive Committee, which will be voted on by the entire faculty and defeated a possible constitutional amendment to set term limits on the faculty association president. Winona has been a non-smoking campus in the buildings and people can smoke 25 feet from the buildings. Discussion on the restructuring of the College of Education geared up but because the FA asked them to slow down, they are now studying this closer and may be an issue next year. Answer: Affirmative action gives all candidates a copy of the contract – but doesn’t have a formal process.

Moorhead: Recent HLC visit exit interview was positive. As a result administrators seem to be more relaxed. There remain some tensions around process involved in and communication between the FA and administration. New initiative on making a smoke-free campus (no smoking anywhere except your car with the windows up). Answer: Does not regularly participate in the interview process but the administration provides the contract/website address to the contract. Some departments request to meet with the candidates.

Outside counsel advises that it is the union’s right to inform each candidate of the existence of the union. This is a prime opportunity to recruit for the union – during the interview process. The union should not get involved in salary negotiations with them. We have the right to give candidates information on the grid and promotion/tenure.

Board of Trustees Update:

Nancy Black gave an update on the latest Board of Trustees meeting. FA presidents have been invited to attend these meetings so that the Board members see faculty visibly. Elizabeth Dunn attended the last meeting.

Proposed legislative language on MnSCU Board membership and the process of selection were discussed. Currently there is an Advisory Council, names are submitted to the governor who may or may not choose who they recommended. Last round (2004) Pawlenty picked one of the four recommendations, this time he picked two.

Office Update:

Donna Blake gave a report. The IFO office purchased a new phone system.

At the November Board meeting the Board requested that the EC consider a maximum reimbursement amount for meals and bring a recommendation back. The EC reviewed feedback from all IFO standing committees. The EC concluded that our current meal policy is adequate and that no changes are needed at this time. However, we might want to make the language more clear, as the feedback received suggested that some members were misreading the intent of the policy.

Donna asked the Board to make a motion for the FY07 auditor to be Larson Allen - the same firm we hired last year. Moved/seconded we use Larson Allen for the IFO audit and tax return for the IFO Building Corporation. Carried

The IFO Investment Policy will be brought to the next Board meeting.

Proposed Budget FY08:

A budget for FY08 was proposed to the Board. Moved/seconded we accept the budget as presented. Carried with one abstention

Membership Report:

Cindy Finch gave a membership report. Since the last Board meeting, 80 additional adjunct faculty were added to the database.

Tabled BSU Senate Motion:

At the February 8-9, 2007 Board meeting a motion brought forward by Bemidji was tabled until more information could be brought to the Board. Elizabeth Dunn reported that there is enough evidence that this has happened but no new information was offered. This item is still on the table as follows: “The Bemidji State University Faculty Association reprehends the use of deadly force by government forces against unarmed student protesters at the University of Buea in Cameroon on the 29th of November, 2006, the suppression of funeral observances for the slain, and the near-total silence of international media regarding these events.”

Staff Update:

The subcommittee on staff restructuring made a recommendation based on the changing nature of the Academic Affairs Coordinator (AAC) position. Debra Japp has served for seven years. The general outline was shared with EC and they supported the new job description.

A recommendation from the restructuring committee for the AAC position(s) was reviewed by the Board. We need two people because we are looking for different levels of expertise and most MnSCU meetings are simultaneously scheduled. In the past (at least seven years ago) we had a full-time AAC position at the IFO.

Moved/seconded adoption of the proposal adding in the sentence, all candidates are expected to be knowledgeable of the contract. Carried with one opposed

The EC will bring recommendations to the Board.

Executive Committee Update:

Minutes from the last two EC meetings were reviewed. Moved/seconded the BOD endorse the report “IFO Reimbursement to MnSCU for Reassigned Time” and submits it to the Negotiations Team for negotiations. Carried

IFO M&C Agenda:

The tentative agenda for the April 13 statewide meet and confer was reviewed. We’ll remove the Campus Closing Information item and add Academic Input (CIOs) and the IMS update.

Recessed for lunch at noon. 12:48 called to order

MnSCU Student Affairs Emergency Management Volunteers:

MnSCU is requesting two volunteers. To date we only have one tentative volunteer.

Motion to authorize Nancy to appoint if names come forward. Moved/seconded Carried

Graduate Council Update:

Roger Prestwich from Metro was present to give an update to the Board on the Graduate Council meeting on March 30. Everyone has an eye on the legislative activities. HLC visit at Mankato – good report. Issue of part time students was discussed. St. Cloud has an April HLC visit. Nursing Consortium change of status request is in process (Moorhead, Metro, Mankato, Winona).

Evaluation of Campus Administrators:

Motion that the President be authorized to appoint an ad hoc committee of five IFO members to research and made recommendations regarding evaluation of academic administrators. Moved/seconded Carried

No Smoking Policy:

All of the buildings are smoke free which is a state law for state-owned buildings. A MSU Moorhead committee has met three times and came up with a draft policy to ban smoking anywhere on the campus. This would include a “three strikes and you’re out” policy. This hasn’t come to a meet and confer yet. We could ask Russ to ask the legislators to put it in the smoking bill.

Fall Board Retreat:

We are bouncing this idea around to discuss Board responsibilities with new members. We usually do an orientation and want this to be useful. Please think about this and be prepared to comment at the next meeting.

Adjourn 1:45 p.m. Moved/seconded Carried