Faculty Association Board Meeting

February 20, 2003

Actions Pending:

· Focus group data on strategies for improving learning in A.S. degree programs will be distributed through the campus senates.

· Senate officers will gather input at their campus meetings on the possibility of expanding Valencia's non-discrimination policy to explicitly include diversity by sexual orientation.

Actions Taken:

Chris Borglum was selected for the interview team for the two-year special assistant position offered to faculty.

Call to Order

Lisa Armour called the meeting to order at 2:32 p.m.

Members Present

Lisa Armour (presiding), Chris Borglum, Tom Byrnes, Ray Enger, Donna French, Stephanie Freuler, Jean Marie Fuhrman, Ilyse Kusnetz, Maryke Lee, Keith Malmos, Trudy McNair, Maiken Murphy, Louise Pitts, Michael Shugg, Sharon Wyly

Guest

Bob Austin

Approval of January Minutes

The January minutes were approved.

Dialogue with Bob Austin Regarding Health Insurance

Bob Austin presented the findings of Waters Risk Management, engaged by Valencia to evaluate health insurance coverage and premiums. Waters recommended that Valencia continue membership in the Consortium, which bases premiums on past usage and provides a vehicle for self-insurance.

Questions about insurance coverage and options should be directed to Laurie Bennett of Human Resources.

Information Items

Faculty have been asked to volunteer to serve on the screening committee for Chief Financial Officer and on the interview committee for Assistant VP for Facilities.

Michael Shugg presented focus group data on strategies for improving learning in A.S. degree programs. The data will be distributed through campus Senates. Comments should be directed to Michael Shugg or Joan Tiller.

Discussion Items

Results of the first survey on the Faculty Association Constitution were discussed. The majority of respondents supported Association membership for faculty on release time for temporary assignments. As a follow-up, the next survey will include a question to determine whether or not faculty favor a time limit for such temporary assignments. The main topic for the next survey will be campus representation on the Faculty Association Board.

The proposed academic calendar for 2003/2004 was discussed.

Principles for reassigned time, drafted by a team that included the Faculty Senate Presidents (Tom Byrnes, Stephanie Freuler, Jean Marie Fuhrman, Maiken Murphy), Tracy Edwards, and the Provosts, were discussed. The draft principles have been distributed to all faculty for comment.

Faculty members are needed for the work team that will devise an institutional “Learning Indicators Report.” The learning indicators are meant to measure institutional effectiveness in improving learning rather than effectiveness of individuals.

The possibility of expanding Valencia's non-discrimination policy to explicitly include diversity by sexual orientation was discussed. Such a policy change would have to be requested of the District Board of Trustees. Senate officers will gather input on this initiative at their campus meetings.

Reports

Compensation Committee

The Committee is forming several focus groups to meet with the consultant hired by the college to recommend changes to the faculty compensation system. Faculty that have indicated an interest in compensation issues will be included in the focus groups. Faculty will be grouped primarily according to years of service.

The consultant’s work will not be finished in time to influence faculty compensation next year. The Committee has recommended to Dr. Shugart that for next year,

· No faculty should receive less take-home pay than they did this year (assuming they take the same number of deductions, etc.), and

· Faculty with prior experience hired into tenure-track positions should be treated consistently, whether their prior experience is from Valencia or some other college.

Evaluation Committee

The Committee has distributed for comment a draft process for student evaluations of instruction. They have also asked faculty for copies of any midterm assessments that they have used and found helpful. The Committee hopes to collect alternative midterm assessments for consideration and comment by faculty. Midterm assessments would be narrative in form, and would be used by faculty for in-process improvement of instruction.

West Campus

The West Campus Senate is recommending an increase in parking fines for students using faculty/staff parking spaces. Apparently many students view the current minimal fines as reasonable daily parking fees.

East Campus

The East Campus Senate is suggesting that the Valencia Foundation consider publishing the conditions under which Endowed Chair funds will again be awarded.

There is interest on East Campus in reviving the discussion of plus and minus grades.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:36 p.m.