Download Minutes: May 6 2008

MCCC Professional Staff Issues Committee
Minutes: May 6, 2008 Meeting
Present: Co-chairs Kathleen McDonough (HCC) and Ned McGuire (MBCC). Gabriela
Adler (BrCC), Matthew Walsh ((MBCC), M. Lou Nesson (Massasoit CC), Lynn Gregory
(MxCC), Nancy Tufo (NSCC), Jim McDonagh (RCC), J. Vincent Grassetti (STCC),
Lynn Kleindienst (STCC), Deborah Levenson (HCC), Diane Gori (NECC). Guest: Katie
D’Urso (MTA)
The meeting was called to order at 12:15 pm.
1. Introductions: Vince Grassetti was introduced as the new member from Springfield
Tech replacing Lynn Kleindienst who will now be STCC’s alternate. Deborah Levenson
was present to represent Holyoke CC as alternate to Andrea Picard..
3. Recent MCCC Honors: Professional staff members Geri Curley, Susan Dole, and Joe
O’Neill were honored at the recent Delegate Assembly for their work for MCCC. Susan
and Joe received the Butler Award, while the board room at Worcester headquarters was
named for Geri.
4. ECLOP: Professional staff are encouraged to attend the ECLOP (Emerging Chapter
Leaders Organizing Program) meeting on Wednesday May 28, from 10-4. The goals of
this program are to increase grass roots initiatives, examine the mission, and sustain and
support leaders. Candidates for mentor positions could also attend.
5. Classification Appeals Update: Katie D’Urso commented that individual appeals are
rolling along, but there is a problem creating new positions. An individual grade 6 Senior
Transfer Counselor was approved, but a grade 7 position was rejected. Gabbie noted that
there has been a shift in concept on the appeals board in creating career models for
professional staff. The term “Career Ladder” appears to no longer be in favor. One board
member insists that if the concept of a career ladder were meant to be, it would have been
negotiated. So, if a professional staff member is making a classification appeal, do not
use the term “career ladder.” Career ladders have not been talked about at the bargaining
table and there is no structure mandated to each college. It was further noted that the
bargaining team needs to look at the classification of professional staff. Even though
some members might have rank levels of I, II, III, or IV, the ranking means nothing and
new hires are not ranked at all. There was discussion about the question of steps. How are
positions graded? Is it based upon experience or responsibilities or a combination of
both? Are supervisory/administrative tasks considered? Are these incorporated into
professional staff positions? Katie said that unlike faculty, there are no opportunities for
professional staff individuals to rise in the career ladder. Lynn K. said that when the
contracts for our 10 cohort states were examined, there were rankings. However, Ned
stated that the professional staff structure like we have does not exist throughout the
cohorts. We need to think about what we would like to have in the bargaining process.
Vince asked if we could be classified as a professional unit, non-teaching faculty, with 10
month positions. Since professional staff work a 12 month contract, Kathleen conceded
that there should be a pay differential between professional staff and faculty, but trying to
get it at the bargaining table would require concessions. As long as the employer is sitting
pretty and feeling no pinch, there is no reason for the employer to give us a pay
differential. Professional staff tend to be younger and with less clout. Part-time
professional staff also need to be considered. These people are like faculty adjuncts. They
are not part of the classification. Should they be? Currently part-time professional staff
are a cheap way to run an area. A final issue discussed was the payment of points. The
current contract has no agreement for re-calculating points as the previous contract had.
Katie said the goal is to bring everyone to the 75th percentile.
6. CAS Petitions: (Certification Accretion Status) The mediator’s report found that 250
positions (list of the kinds of positions might be available on union web site) should be
included in the labor unit. The report has been presented to the community college
presidents. Jim Brown, the attorney for the colleges, is in agreement with the report.
However, at the March meeting, he asked to form a committee to implement the report.
MCCC immediately named its members to the committee. Nothing more has been heard.
If there is no progress, MCCC can file with the Department of Labor.
7. Legislative Actions:
A. Income tax repeal initiative—MTA will conduct an ad campaign this fall. It is also
part of a coalition Committee for Our Communities whose goal is to retain the state
income tax. An MTA survey found that 50% were in favor of repeal; 40% of the general
population will vote for it; 35% will vote against it. If the repeal is enacted, we can’t be
sure that the legislature will overturn it because they want to be re-elected.
B. Defeat of increased health insurance premiums—increase was recently defeated in the
House.
C. ORP (Optional Retirement Plan) buyout—getting a grace period for employees who
chose this option will require a legislative effort. Some of those who enrolled felt they
were overly encouraged by some HR officers to join this plan rather than the “regular”
state retirement plan. MACER might be able to work on HR to do the right thing.
8. Financial Aid Changes: Financial aid is an individual campus issue. For most
community college students, Pell grants, state aid, and other grants help them to meet
their costs for tuition, fees and books. Living expenses are not considered for community
college students. Stafford loans have specific amounts of money available to students
based upon their year in college. Some students have a problem qualifying for need-based
aid because they work. Some community college students are higher loan risks because
of a higher default rate for community college students. The default rate for a school can
affect the student’s ability to get a loan. The current breakdown in the secondary college
loan market might ultimately affect the populations at our state schools as students attend
schools that they can afford. While there are strategies a student seeking to transfer might
use to adjust the cost of attending a school, such as the TAP (Tuition Advantage
Program), and funds added to Mass Grant, the reality is that the pie is the same size; it is
just being divided into smaller pieces.
9. Professional Staff Teaching in Day DCE: Ned polled each member to describe the
current situation at the member’s school regarding professional staff teaching classes
during the day as part of their regular assigned duties or not, and therefore for pay. If the
member teaches during the day, how is the workday configured? The answers varied.
Some professional staff teach as part of their job responsibilities. For example, a
professional staff member might teach a college success class. Others teach outside of
their assigned work hours, such as teaching MWF at 8am if the workday begins at 9am.
The issue of “double-dipping” was discussed as in the case of full-time faculty who get
release time for participating in various activities, yet teach day DCE courses for
additional compensation.
10. Student Behavior and Safety Issues: There was not enough time to discuss this
important topic, so it will be on the agenda for the fall meeting. Members were asked to
consider if their colleges are taking notice of the issues and taking them seriously. Are the
colleges responding in some way? What are the best practices? Does your college have
high school age students attending classes? Please be prepared to summarize what your
college is doing at our fall meeting.
11. Other Issues: Professional staff members were encouraged to keep pay advices,
especially the last one of the year if no others, due to one college’s reporting a
discrepancy between money earned/money paid out and demanding the return of
supposed overpayment. Check your pay advices!
12. Fall 2008 Meeting Date: The committee will resume meetings in the fall, either in
late September (Sept. 30) or early October (Oct. 7). The day will continue to be Tuesday;
the time will probably be 12-2, but 11-1 is also under consideration. Katie will email us.
Meeting adjourned 2:05pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Gori
Writing Center Coordinator
Northern Essex Community College