Thursday, January 24, 2008

AMENDMENT ONE

Tom Auxter, president of UFF, has asked that this message be shared with PJCFA members:


Dear Colleague:
I am writing to urge you to vote against Amendment One on January 29.

To explain why United Faculty of Florida makes this recommendation, it is necessary to outline the deepening budget crisis in Florida higher education and how Amendment One will add to the damage.

The news on funding for higher education in Florida is grim. We already lost 80% of recurring funds in two rounds of cuts this budget year. A continuing decline in tax revenue will bring at least another 4% in cuts, bringing the total to 12% in the next budget year.

If the Amendment One property tax cut passes, counties will not be able to cover all the expenses for schools, fire, and police. Because the Governor has already pledged to cover out of the State budget the loss of property tax revenue for schools, higher education will again be targeted for cuts when the State covers these new expenses for schools.

With the economy worsening and with Amendment One passing, we could face a total of as much as a 15% cut from our budgets next fiscal year.

Campus administrators around the state are now talking about faculty lay-offs, eliminating programs, and cancelling summer sessions as possibilities. Students face a dramatic reduction in classes offered and increased difficulty in graduating on time.

This comes at a time that Florida is already at the bottom (49th) in national rankings of faculty/student ratio. (Only Louisiana- - after Katrina- - is worse.) For a decade Florida has been at the bottom in rankings of per capita funding for higher education.

Join us in efforts to save higher education from the worst possible effects of what is now on the horizon. Join us in sending messages to legislators this spring when the calls go out. And join us in defeating Amendment One on January 29!

Sincerely,
Tom Auxter
President, United Faculty of Florida

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

MEET PJCFA'S UFF LIASION

Candi Churchill, UFF, will be on the Pensacola campus tomorrow, January 24th. If you'd like to meet Ms. Churchill, please get in touch with me at 484-2007 or csweeney@pjc.edu to schedule a meeting time.

She will be meeting with the Executive Board and Negotiating Team tomorrow from 12:30-2:00 in the PJCFA Office and all PJCFA members are welcome to attend that meeting.

LAST NIGHT'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

Last night's Board of Trustee's meeting was business as usual.

During the recognition part of the agenda, Mrs. Dona Usry was very generous in her praise of Bill Clover, Visual Arts, who was a tremendous help to Manna Food Pantry and their recent fund raisers "Throw a Bowl for Manna' and "Fill a Bowl for Manna." More than 400 bowls were purchased and the event raised about $15,000.

Dr. Delaino announced that enrollment was up by 6.1%. Because PJC had planned for 0% increase in enrollment, PJC's budget will not be as severely hurt in the next anticipated round of state budget cuts. Of course, the greater concern is for the 2008-2009 budget which the Legislature will be approving during the next regular session beginning in March.

Mr. O'Connor reported to the Board on the Presidential Screening Committee's meeting with Dr. Hockaday. (See previous posting.) I cannot begin to say how impressed I am with the seriousness that the BOT is showing in regard to the hiring of PJC's next president. The Board was very concerned that they have every opportunity to get as much input from the Screening Committee as possible. They also wanted sufficient time to review the applications of those recommended by the Screening Committee before they meet to determine which of the applicants will be asked to PJC for interviews. Kudos to all Board members and particulary Ms. Usry, Ms. Young, Ms. Norris, Mr. Moore and Mr. O'Connor.

The Board will hold a special meeting on February 29 to hear the report from the February 28 Screening Committee and to meet with Dr. Hockaday. The BOT will then be given the applications and other relevant materials for each of the 4-8 candidates recommended by the Screening Committee. On March 11 the Board will meet to determine which of the candidates will be asked on campus for interviews.

The Board has already submitted possible interview questions to Dr. Brigham for consideration.

Monday, January 14, 2008

LATEST ON PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH

Thanks to all of you who posted during the holiday break. I've taken the time to read your posts and appreciate your willingness to comment.

Last Thursday, January 10th, the Presidential Screening Committee met with Dr. Jeff Hockaday who will be assisting the Committee and the PJC Board of Trustees as we continue the search for the next president of PJC.

My impression of Dr. Hockaday was a favorable one. This is either his 100th or 101st presidential search so he definitely has the experience. He seemed willing to ask questions of the committee and listen to our responses.

Dr. Hockaday had reviewed the applications of the 13 candidates whose names had been to given to the Board of Trustees by the Screening Committe on December 3rd. He felt as though there were 2 or 3 good candidates and 1 very good candidate. Obviously, at this point he did not name names.

PJC has also received 18 new applications that the Screening Committee has not yet reviewed. The position has been readvertised in major national and local journals and newspapers with a closing date of January 31st. There is an expectation that there may be an additional 12 or so applications submitted because of the readvertisement.

Dr. Hockaday will be "head hunting" among sitting community college presidents and other high level college administrators and will bring another 8 (minimum) applications to the pool.

From this group (the 18 applications which have already been received, the expected 12 more applications, the 8 that Dr. Hockaday is to locate as well as 12 of the 13 original applicants who made the short list*), Dr. Hockaday will review applications and then send a list of 10-12 to the committee by February 15.

From February 15 - February 27, the committee will review the 10-12 applications for the applicants Dr. Hockaday recommends. If a committee member feels strongly in favor of a candidate that has not been recommended by Dr. Hockaday, the committee member has until February 25th to contact Dr. Hockaday about placing that candidate on the consideration list.

On February 28th, the Screening Committee will meet with Dr. Hockaday to discuss the knowledge, skills, and abilities of each applicant. At the conclusion of that meeting, the Screening Committee will submit a list of 4-8 candidates for consideration by the Board of Trustees.

As has been the policy all along, the Screening Committee and any interested parties may review any or all of the applications at any time. The applications are kept on file in the Office of Institutional Advancement or in Human Resources.

*Dr. Cantor has withdrawn his application.