Faculty Senate Minutes
Thursday, March 19, 2009
3:15 PM to 5:00 PM, Chesapeake 105
Attendance: Please check-in on the attendance roster.
In attendance, Senate officers and delegates—Mark Hubley (FO President), Swazette Young (FO Vice
President), Len Sekelick (Liberal Arts), Vince Cipriani (WDCE), Janet Carlson (Developmental Ed), Laura
Ellsworth (Public Safety & Law), Barbara Engh (Nursing), Nicholas Plants (at large), Barbara Sanders
(Student Development Services), Alan Mickelson (Learning Resources), Scott Huxel (STEM), Michelle
Klein (Sciences and Engineering), Eldon Baldwin (at large), Rosanne Benn (Educational Development),
Christy Wright (Learning Resources), Greg Weiss (Accounting and Business Management), and Charles
Thomas (Computer and Engineering Technology). Others in attendance—Jeanette Gerrity-Gomez, Dan
Collins-Cavanaugh, Peter Ezekwenna.
2. Review the Agenda for the 3/19/09 meeting.
The agenda was adopted as written.
3. Review the Minutes of the 3/5/09 meeting.
The minutes were adopted with minor revisions.
Alan Mickelson asked what portion of the Hendricks report would be posted online. The PowerPoint
presentation was already available. Mark Hubley said it was his understanding that the entire report
would be posted. Eldon Baldwin said that at the last Board of Trustees meeting it was mentioned that at
an upcoming meeting the Board would be acting on something related to the Hendricks report, but he
wondered what that would be. Nobody was sure.
4. Calendar
Spring 2009 important dates
A. College closed or no classes
i) Presidents’ Day, college closed, Mon. 2/16
ii) Spring Break, college closed, Mon. 4/6—Sun. 4/12
B. Other important dates
i) Last day to withdraw from 15-week classes, Fri. 4/17
ii) Final exam week, Thu. 5/7—Wed. 5/13
iii) Grades due, Fri. 5/15
iv) Commencement, Thu. 5/21
March/April important dates
E. Senate meetings
i) Thu. 3/5, 3:15—5:00 PM, Chesapeake 105
ii) Thu. 3/19, 3:15—5:00 PM, Chesapeake 105
iii) Thu. 4/2, 3:15—5:00 PM, Chesapeake 105
iv) Thu. 4/16, 3:15—5:00 PM, Chesapeake 105
F. Board of Trustees meetings
i) Thu. 3/12, 7:00 PM, Kent 262
ii) Thu. 4/2, 7:00 PM, Kent 262
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G. College-wide Forum
i) Tue. 3/3, 2:00—3:30 PM, LSC B
ii) Tue. 3/17, 2:00—3:30 PM, LSC B
iii) Tue. 4/21, 2:00—3:30 PM, LSC B
H. Academic Council
i) Thu. 3/12, 3:00—5:00 PM, HTC 133
ii) Thu. 3/26, 3:00—5:00 PM, HTC 133
iii) Thu. 4/23, 3:00—5:00 PM, HTC 133
5. Attachments
A. Minutes from the 3/5 meeting
B. Proposal for short-term disability benefit
6. Reports
A. Senate President
Hubley said that the group that worked on revisions of the faculty evaluation process is now reviewing the
promotion and tenure processes. The plan is to have something to present to the Senate in the Fall ’09
semester. At some point next year there will likely be a meeting of the Faculty Organization to discuss
any proposed revisions.
B. Senate Vice President
Swazette Young reported that the Salary & Benefits Committee will have a proposal for the next meeting.
It will include suggesting different levels of pay for adjunct faculty with different levels of experience. The
proposal will also include recommendations for raising faculty salaries to competitive levels. Hubley said
that Hendricks recommended raising salaries 9% in each of the next two years, but this is unlikely to
happen given the economy. Baldwin said that the County budgets funds for PGCC after doing the big
items, such as the public schools. We get the leftovers. Baldwin suggested it would be beneficial for us
to be placed with the larger education budget. Greg Weiss wondered if Hendricks would speak directly to
the County Council about his report. Hubley was not sure and said he would ask at the upcoming
presentation by Hendricks.
The matter of revisions to the faculty evaluation plan was raised again. Hubley said the revisions still
needed to be discussed with VP Dunnington. There may be discussion of how detailed to make the
descriptions of the performance ratings. Weiss said there must be some flexibility for the ILS and Dean.
Nick Plants noted that when funds for travel/professional development are limited, we must be careful
how we set standards.
Hubley said that as the committee began discussing promotion and tenure, they raised the issue of
whether or not “community service” that is unrelated to a faculty member’s profession should be
considered. Hubley said that the committee will likely suggest deleting the phrase “community service”
from the documents and limit this to “college service.” Service to the community may be considered, but
it must have a clear link to the college. Weiss said that any service we do in the community reflects on
the college. Laura Ellsworth favored keeping the personal separate from the professional, and limiting
evaluations to the professional. Hubley said this was not the time for a lengthy discussion, but the time
for this discussion may come.
C. Academic Council
D. Representative from President’s Leadership Team
E. College-wide Forum
i) Representative from Faculty Organization
ii) Human Resources Committee
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F. Budget Advisory Committee
Alan Mickelson updated the Senate on the budget. The college submitted a $99 million budget to the
county. The county recommended a budget of $89 million, which is $3 million less than the current fiscal
year’s budget. At the committee’s most recent meeting there was talk of making changes to various
benefits, including reductions in benefits to retirees and higher employee payments for health insurance.
Nothing along these lines has been decided. The college also has to put money into GASB. Another
issue mentioned was being more aggressive in cutting classes with low enrollments. Weiss asked what
the minimum enrollment is whereby the college makes money from offering a class. Five students? Six
students? Furloughs may be considered. The college projects that one day of furlough saves the college
$150,000. Hubley expressed a preference for short-term cuts over long-term. For example, furloughs
are probably preferable to cuts in retirement benefits.
Plants questioned whether reorganization would save any significant amount of money. How will
something like reducing the number of chairs by 1/3 save money when the work still needs to get done?
Mickelson pointed out that reorganization did not come up in the Budget Advisory Committee. Plants
added that a well thought out reorganization might save money, but a poorly constructed reorganization
could end up costing us more. More importantly, any reorganization must first and foremost enhance the
mission of the college.
iv) Campus Culture Committee
v) Learning Committee
vi) Technology Steering Committee
vii) Strategic Planning Committee
viii) Assessment Committee
ix) Facilities Committee
F. Chairs’ Council
G. Adjunct Faculty
H. Representative from the Student Governance Board
7. Old Business
A. Short-term disability benefit
Hubley introduced Jeanette Gerrity-Gomez, who was primarily responsible for drafting the proposal to
offer short-term disability benefits. Hubley and Gerrity-Gomez have both spoken with Lark Dobson on the
matter, and HR seems to favor the proposal. One concern is how any short-term disability benefit will be
reconciled with the sick leave bank. Gerrity-Gomez suggested this is not an issue for the provider, as
long as premiums are paid. Hubley asked where the proposal should go next, assuming the Senate
approves. Baldwin suggested sending it to the Executive Council of the CWF with copies to the CSO and
ASO, since they would also be affected.
The Senate voted and approved the proposal by a vote of 16 in favor, none opposed, and no
abstentions.
Gerrity-Gomez asked about moving forward with a proposal to offer domestic partner benefits. Hubley
said that Christopher Hunt had once offered to write such a proposal; Gerrity-Gomez should contact Hunt.
Hubley said the administration had objected in the past because this benefit is not offered to county
employees. Gerrity-Gomez will have to look into this and see what other employers in the area are doing.
B. Other old business?
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8. New Business
A. Discussion with Vice President Dunnington
VP Dunnington was unable to attend. Hubley said she would be invited to an upcoming meeting.
B. Other new business?
9. Agenda Items for Upcoming Meetings
A. Discussion of tenure and promotion processes
B. Other items?
10. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM.
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