Bargaining Update!

Well--what a crazy round of bargaining (if you can call it that!) we have been experiencing this year.It seems that for every two steps forward, the administration backs us up three! It has been frustrating for all. Anyway, after the ridiculous articles presented by the administration on October 10th, we really thought that our willingness to try to come to terms with a possible temporary full-time faculty track had caused the administrative side to back off their draconian positions. We really (and possibly foolishly) thought that the positions (which show a complete lack of respect towards faculty) were meant to scare us into allowing the temporary full-time faculty track (TFF). Once we presented a comprehensive article which allowed for a respectful and judicious use of TFF, the admin team seemed pleased with us and seemed willing to back off their harsh positions and promised to come back to bargaining on October 17th with new articles reflecting mutual ground. You can only imagine our shock and dismay when ,on October 17th, the administration presented to us the EXACT articles they had presented on October 10th. So some progress made -The admin did agree to back off striking all references to starting salaries for newly hired faculty -They agreed to a pot of $100,000 for us to start repairing market inequity among some of our members -Surpise, surprise--they are willing to give us a 2% raise Please, please take the time to read the proposals and mark your calendars for the next bargaining session at 2:30 PM on November 14th. But before then we've got some work to do. We need to be at the next Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd at 5:30 PM--they need to know that we are UNITED and won't sit still while they try to negativeley impact our work conditions, and subsequently our ability to maintain high academic standards for our students. Also, keep an eye out for an anouncement for a faculty meeting for us to share concerns and strategy with each other. And last but not least, please post all comments and concerns on this blog instead of through work email--we would not want anyone to suffer any repercussions for using work email. And please remember that we cannot fight among ourselves--we all need to offer the support and respect to our fellow faculty members that we are NOT recieving from our administrators!

Bargaining Update: October 17

Although administration's reps indicated that they were working diligently toward compromise on the open articles, what they presented Thursday didn't indicate much "compromise."  Instead Articles 9 and 17 were essentially re-presented with minor changes---changes which actually moved further away from the middle.

It seems that the administration believes that throwing some money at the faculty will make us agree to draconian changes to load points, continuing contract language, involvement in decision-making, non-tenure track faculty and more. What the administration did offer was the following:

• a flat 2% raise to base salary
• the starting salary and experience pay schedules to remain in the contract
• $100,000 to be allocated among all faculty who did not receive full experience pay upon hire, the method of distribution to be determined by PSCFA
• 5% for each raise, with a minimum of 5 years in rank to be eligible for promotion

What administration is still holding out for would substantially increase the workload for Collegiate High and ABE, health occupations, seat-hour classes:

                                             Current Points                        Proposed Points

Collegiate High:                              50                                             36

PSAV lecture:                                60                                             36

PSAV lab:                                      40                                            36 

ABE lecture/lab:                             40                                             36

Clinical w/student supervision:         50                                             30  

Externship:                                     20                                             15    

In addition, the administration wants the ability to hire non-tenure-track faculty teaching 1260 load points per semester up to 25% of the number of tenure-track faculty. These temporary faculty would do no departmental or college service or professional development. The administration also wants to be able to hire these faculty with NO hiring committee, NO advertising of positions, and NO faculty input into the process. 

The full text of administration's proposals can be found in Jennifer Brahier's e-mail of October 17. 

The next bargaining meeting will be November 14 in the Atwell Room of the library.                                                    

Meet: Mitzie Sowell

Department: Biological Sciences

How you came into this subject matter/profession: It took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. As an Exercise Physiologist in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab, I conducted a great deal of patient education. The more I taught, the more I loved it and realized that was my calling.

Favorite class to teach: That is a tough decision because I love teaching Anatomy and Physiology because I am fascinated that our body functions considering what we put into it and how we treat it. I guess I have come to love Non-Majors Biology - it is applicable to every student and it is a challenge to get non-majors interested in Biology!

How long you’ve been at PSC: That is complicated – since 2003 in some capacity.

Hobbies: Running, gardening/yard work, water sports, traveling

Favorite book/movie: The Old Man and the Sea/Steel Magnolias

Favorite place on campus: The brand new labs at the South Santa Rosa Center.

Why you joined the Union: I joined to be a part of an association that supports my profession.

Meet: Bobby "Doc" Roberson

Department:  Physical Sciences

How you came into this subject matter/profession:  When I was an undergraduate at Auburn University I participated in a National Science Foundation Summer Research Program for Undergraduates by working in a biochemistry laboratory.  After completing my B.S. degree and returning from Vietnam, I decided to apply to graduate school to work with the professor who directed my NSF project.  In graduate school, I was training to become a research biochemist.  When I was within 3 months of completing my Ph.D., my plans changed due to the sudden death of my father.  I had accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at Purdue University but decided to stay closer to home for a while.  I was hired at a junior college in northwest Alabama and fell in love with teaching.  I taught and served as a Division Chair and as Distance Learning Administrator for a 4-campus college for 25 years.  I retired from that position and accepted the position of Administrative Director of Academic Programs at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis for a few years.  And even though I thoroughly enjoyed the position and the challenge, I always felt that something was missing.  Even my former students continued to encourage me to come back to the classroom.

How long you’ve been at PSC:  When I learned about the opening for a chemistry faculty member at Pensacola State College for the fall of 2006, I decided to apply.  I was fortunate to get the position and feel that I am once again home.  I work with some wonderful people in this department.  I was selected to be the Outstanding New Faculty member in 2006-2007 and was selected to be inducted into the Academy of Teaching Excellence in 2009-2010.

Hobbies:  I enjoy photography, physical fitness and astronomy.  In addition, I read a lot.

Favorite book/movie:  My favorite book is “The Prophet.”  My favorite movie is “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Favorite place on campus:  My favorite place on campus is definitely in front of my chalkboard.

Why you joined the Union:  I feel that the Union provides opportunities for professional development and interaction with other faculty members.  And it also presents faculty issues and concerns to the administration.

April 2013 communicator

Meet: Deborah McClintock

Department:  Collegiate High School

How you came into this subject matter/profession: History has always interested me.  Even as a child, I preferred to watch Daniel Boone rather than Looney Tunes.  Fortunately, my parents feed my interest by taking family vacations every summer that included visiting historical sites throughout the United States.  So it was no surprise that I wanted to major in history when I went to college, but what did I want to do with all of this accumulated knowledge and excitement about history?  Share it!  So I became a teacher.

Favorite class to teach:  United States Government is probably my favorite class to teach because so many Americans know so little about our government.  My goal is for each of my students to know how our government works, to be responsible citizens and active participants in our democratic processes.  I want them to feel empowered to make a difference and prepared to assume their role in our country’s future.

 

How long you’ve been at PSC: I was an adjunct from 2005 to 2007, and have been a full time faculty member since 2007.

Hobbies: I enjoy cooking and spending time with my family, and traveling any time I can.

Favorite book/movie: I don’t have any recent favorite books or movies because my grad school classes take up so much of my time.  But way back when . . . I enjoyed books by Patricia Cornwell and Robert B. Parker, and my all-time favorite movies are The Sound of Music, The Ten Commandments, and Gone With the Wind.

Favorite place on campus: My classroom, whether in class or out, is my favorite place to be when I am on campus because of our great technology and the constant flow of students.

Why you joined the Union: As a historian and a “yankee,” the role and power of unions is very important to me.  I acknowledge and am grateful that unions strive for the advancement of all workers everywhere, but as a recipient of union gains, I believe it is my responsibility to support our union and I am proud to be a member.    

Meet: Rodney Whatley

Department: Music & Theatre

How I got into this profession: My first play was in the 7th Grade, I was the “Ghost of Christmas Future,” and the screams and cries of horror stricken children in the audience hooked me with the sheer power of live theatre.  I auditioned for scholarships first at Jefferson Davis over in Brewton, then at the University of Montevallo, and was successful both times.  University of Montevallo changed my life and made me the artist I am today, but it was when I taught my first class at FSU as a graduate teaching assistant that I decided I wanted to be in the college classroom for life.  Working as a professional actor has its ups and downs, and the constant search for the next gig is exhausting.  Even when working, you feel as though you are unemployed because each gig is a limited run engagement.  That’s not easy, but I really enjoyed it.  While at my master’s program at Lindenwood University, I handled various duties but the most rewarding was taking new/transfer students and directing them in a studio production to integrate them into our department’s practices and policies. While it was not officially a class, it was my first real teaching experience, and led me to apply to FSU’s Ph.D. program. I love theatre and I love education, so I’m here to stay. I used to say that when I die I’d like to come back as a squirrel on a college campus, but now I just want to come back as another educator.

Favorite Class: Directing I. Watching actors transform themselves into directors and apply the philosophies and practices to their real lives is a most rewarding experience.

How long at PSC: I started as an adjunct in 2002, and became Director of Theatre in 2005.  I’ve been promoted to Asst. Professor and granted tenure, so once again, here to stay!

Favorite book/movie: Favorite book is “The Color of Light” by William Goldman, and favorite movie is “Forrest Gump.”

Favorite place on campus: Ashmore Auditorium

Why joined the union: Because Stan Dean told me to.  Administrators are fine and dandy, heck, I’m half administrator (Program Coordinator) and half teacher, so I love administration. However, teachers and their relationships with students, what happens in the classroom is what college is really about. We deserve whatever we get the leaders to give us.