Concerns Aired during Convocation Meeting

Below is the text of the email to Dr. Spicer addressing issues raised by faculty during the convocation meeting. Her responses are in blue.

We are continuing to address number 3, which violates a past practice, and number 5, which appears to say that the Board can simply make a policy affecting contractual matters without bargaining the impact.

From: Anderson, Paige N.
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2014 1:35 PM
To: Spicer, Erin
Subject: Possible CBA Violations

Erin,

During the first two days of the semester, several possible violations of the CBA have emerged from department meetings and communications. Some of these may be misinterpretations by either department heads or faculty. In all cases, though, we need clarification:

11)      Collegiate High faculty have been told that they are allowed NO electronics in their classrooms, to include phones, e-readers, tablets, and laptops. Such a requirement has not been bargained and would seem to impinge on the faculty members’ rights to determine how to deliver instruction in their classrooms.

If a faculty member wants to use a device other than the instructional technology that is provided in the classroom, he or she may request approval from Mr. Kyle.

22)      College High faculty have also been informed that each is allowed only 6 reams of paper per semester. Article 8.09 states that “Faculty members shall be supplied, without cost, adequate equipment, computer hardware and software, materials, access to copies, supplies, books, and clerical

assistance as necessary to fulfill their responsibilities. Immediate supervisors and faculty members will work together to ensure that the needs of students are met in a timely manner.” No faculty were consulted, yet have been told that they will not be given extra supplies if they should need them.

                College High School faculty will be supplied with necessary paper.

33)      Faculty at Collegiate High have been told which course will be their overload. This is not contractual and goes against well-established past practice at Collegiate High.

The Administration is responsible for the course schedule, for assigning courses to faculty, and for the calculation of the workload.  While a faculty member may request that a specific course be in the overload, it is the department head’s decision as to which courses constitute a faculty member’s normal load and which courses are overload.

44)      Biological Sciences faculty are being required to complete a form listing their outside employment. Such a requirement violates Article 6.08, which states

“The College recognizes that faculty members may engage in outside employment and consultant activities, including being employed by another institution. The College will not interfere with faculty members engaging in such activities unless it can clearly determine that such activities have an adverse effect on the faculty member's performance of his or her college duties as specified in this Collective Bargaining Agreement. Such determination shall not be made in an arbitrary and capricious manner. No outside employment or consultant activities shall occur during scheduled working hours as defined in Section 9.01.B. College resources shall not be used for outside employment or consultant activities. It is understood and agreed that all compensation earned from such activities are the property of the faculty member who earns it.

If the faculty member is employed by another institution to teach a course which is the same as one in the College course file, the faculty member shall inform his or her immediate supervisor of those activities in writing, in advance when possible.”

Yes, the CBA requires that a faculty member employed by another institution to teach a course that is the same as one in the College course file notify his or her immediate supervisor.  However, Board Policy requires that a full-time employee inform his or her supervisor of any employment outside of the College.  We will enforce Board Policy.

55)      Some department heads have informed the faculty that the department head will assign faculty to committees. Today’s email from Juanita Scott, telling faculty to work through their department heads to schedule committee members supports this. No such requirement exists in the contract.

The Administration has assigned committee membership in the past and will continue to do so.  Your suggestion to faculty that they not volunteer for committee membership only means that those faculty who follow your suggestion will be assigned to committees without giving their preferences.

66)      Another department head has informed her faculty not only that OPA must be scheduled on Fridays, but that faculty must meet that OPA in their offices. While requiring faculty to be on campus five days a week is contractual, where on campus the faculty must be during that OPA is not.

Ms. Morgan is aware that a faculty member may choose to be somewhere other than his or her office during OPA hours on Friday.

Thank you for your attention to these issues. I look forward to hearing from you,