Salem Chapter MSCA Meeting
Executive Board Meeting
21 October 2003
03-04: 2
Approved 26 January 2004
ATTENDANCE:
Members: Aiyeku, Buchanan, Burchsted, Cullen, George, Gould, Jacobson,
Johnston, McAndrews, McGee (President), Sweeney, Vaughan.
Guest: Diane Lapkin, VP Academic Affairs
1. Meeting Called to Order
The meeting was called to order by Paul McGee, the President, at 2:00 p.m. in
the Essex County Room, Ellison Center.
2. Guest Speaker - Diane Lapkin, VP Academic Affairs
Clarification regarding the General Studies Committee:
The Bachelor's in Liberal Studies is an IDS major. Students in this major may
have a concentration in General Studies. The IDS General Studies Committee is
to help students in this major/concentration who wish to have flexibility in
creating their majors and help them create academic programs of study. The General
Studies Committee should not be overseeing (for example) the American Studies
or Women's Studies Programs. Programs such as these should be going through
college governance, not a committee made up of only IDS faculty members. After
much discussion, Diane Lapkin stated she would speak with the chair of the IDS
Department, Pamela Shaw-George about this situation and report back to the MSCA
Salem Chapter.
As a result of further discussion, Diane Lapkin stated she would find out what IDS does with an IDS proposal for a program. She stated it is a serious situation if it just goes to IDS and not college governance.
She also stated that she would find out what the role of the coordinator of minor programs in IDS plays in the IDS Department.
The Executive Board requested that the General Studies Committee articulate their committee make up in writing.
Other topics for Diane Lapkin:
College Budget:
FY2005 will be a difficult year, financially, for the college.
Faculty Positions:
A small number of faculty positions were approved. 13 tenure track and 2 temporary.
If more money is available, additional MSCA positions may be approved. When
making decisions regarding positions, she was careful to examine the make-up
of each department, trying to push positions through that would invigorate departments
that haven't had any new-hires in some time. The number of faculty/librarian
positions a couple of years ago was 328; for 03-04 the number is 293.
BHE Evaluations of State Colleges:
BHE produced a linear trend document comparing us against other schools. Comparisons
were based on such things as graduation rates. They seem to be eager for an
extreme amount of data.There's nothing wrong with data; however, we can't be
compared to other schools without the context.
Faculty Housing:
There was some discussion regarding the Central Campus' dorm's faculty housing.
Two apartments may be available to faculty members in exchange for a modest
rental fee and serving as the faculty presence to students living in those dorms.
Institutional Research Position:
The position may be approved, but it may not be found under Academic Affairs.
She supplied President Harrington with a position description.
3. Approval of the Minutes
It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of 03-04:1.The motion carried.
4. President's Report
Bargaining:
Day and DGCE bargaining are going poorly. DGCE: Management offered the MSCA
.5% for three years and language changes that were in administration's favor.
Day: Management offered the MSCA a 0% increase. Regarding the DGCE bargaining,
a mediator has been called in to help with the bargaining crisis. Paul also
mentioned there are problems with contract courses (contracting outside of existing
faculty to teach courses).
College Salaries:
College full-time employee salaries are available in the MSCA Salem Chapter
office.
5. Committee Appointments
It was moved and seconded to go into Executive Session to discuss committee
appointments. The motion carried.
It was moved and seconded to leave Executive Session. The motion carried.
Committee Appointment:
Contract Committees - One Year Appointments, Full-Time Unit Members Only:
Curriculum Committee - 16 Unit Members
4 Members from each Area
1 Vacancy in Area A
Area A
Silveria, Jeramie, OCT
3. Grievance Report:
The Grievance Officer submitted her report to the Executive Board.
4. Treasurer's Report:
The Treasurer submitted her report to the Executive Board. It was noted that
the Salem Chapter is still waiting to receive $5,000 from Member Dues and MTA
Support (Fourth Quarter local dues and Fall/Spring part-time dues). The chapter
office's computer will be paid for by Academic Affairs, since the college provides
office equipment as part of the space; thus, the chapter will not have to pay
for a new computer.
5. Other Business:
Paul McGee will invite President Nancy Harrington to the next meeting to discuss
the Backfill project and other topics of interest to the Executive Board.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:42 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nancy George