LET'S TALK ABOUT MID-TERM GRADES

A blogger posted this under an earlier topic: (let's give mid-term grades their own heading)

The effectiveness of mid-term grades might be a good thing to blog about. I know that some people didn’t like that surprise. In general we don’t want to be surprised. We like providing input on all decisions regarding the classroom. Administrators are not in the classroom. Their vision might not be our vision. And we don’t want people in suits seeing visions. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

I’ll tell you what my opinion is of mid-term grades. Students, if they are going to have problems, usually have problems well before the mid-term point. I don’t think publishing mid-term grades increases student achievement. If anything, students get tired near the end of the term and calculate how low they can perform on final exams to still get that B or C they want. I believe that time could be better used.

If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it, and your feet will surely show it, If your happy and you know it clap your hands. We know where I am going next. The beloved does not feel loved when they hear comments that pertain to the unbeloved.

August 22, 2008 4:59 AM

2008-2009 PJCFA LEADERSHIP

2008-2009 PJCFA Leadership

Paige Anderson, 484-2167, pnanderson@pjc.edu
Chief Negotiator; Executive Board
Cindy App, 484-1016, capp@pjc.edu
Membership Chairman; Executive Board; Negotiating Team
Jennifer Brahier, 484-1126, jbrahier@pjc.edu
Sunshine Chairman
Rich Cacace, 484-2052, rcacace@pjc.edu
Executive Board
Michelle Haggard, 484-2209, mhaggard@pjc.edu
Webmaster for www.pjcfa.org
Richard Irvine, 484-2508, rirvine@pjc.edu
Executive Board
Janet Levins, 484-1115, jlevins@pjc.edu
Treasurer
Todd Neuman, 484-1431, tneuman@pjc.edu
Grievance Chairman; Executive Board
Patricia Reppenhagen, 484-2553, preppenhagen@pjc.edu
Negotiating Team
Julie Ruengert, 484-2399, jruengert@pjc.edu
Secretary
Kathleen Shelton, 484-2178, kshelton@pjc.edu Hospitality & Special Events Chairman; Executive Board
Lisa Sims, 484-2535, lhsims@pjc.edu
Senator and UFF Distance Learning Task Force
Carol Stinson, 484-2207, cstinson@pjc.edu
UFF Nursing Task Force
Charlotte Sweeney, 484-2007, csweeney@pjc.edu
President; Negotiating Team
Blaine Wall, 484-1352, kbwall@pjc.edu
Vice President; Negotiating Team

Cindy App is in the process of reorganizing chapter representatives. That listing will be posted soon.

Please do not hesitate to call any of us if we can be of assistance to you.

NEW TERM BEGINS

Was it really mid-June the last time that I posted? Cindy App has made me promise to post twice a week this term and I'll do my best to keep that promise. The blog worked well for keeping the faculty informed last year as we went through the Presidential search so let's hope that it will work well for keeping faculty informed about other news as well.

As you all know, budget cuts have hit every department and the LRC is no exception. My hours on the Reference Desk have increased substantially so if you do not receive a quick response to an email or I don't answer the phone, it's probably because I'm on the Reference Desk. My release time for PJCFA is scheduled as follows: Mondays and Wednesdays 2-3pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11am. If those times are not convenient, get in touch with me and we'll figure something out. Of course, I'm not the only PJCFA memebr who can help you. I'll create a separate posting now to remind you of who's on the Executive Board and serving memebrs in other ways.

Here's to a great term!

ADMINISTRATIVE EVALUATIONS DELIVERED

By now, all provosts and department heads have received the report from the administrative evaluations conducted by faculty. Each department head received his or her own evaluation. Each provost received his or her own evaluation as well as the evaluation for each department head who reports to him or her. Dr. Meadows received the evaluations for each provost.

85 faculty (40%) responded to the provost evaluation and 96 (46%) responded to the department head evaluation. This was the first time in PJCFA’s history that it had conducted administrative evaluations.

PJCFA believes that continual assessment is important in every area of the College. The purpose of faculty evaluation of administrators is to annually provide administrators with valuable faculty feedback regarding administrator internal performance. Regular evaluation encourages open communication, healthy interchange of information, and a shared sense of responsibility for the College’s direction. Evaluation allows faculty to recognize administrators for outstanding achievement as well as identify areas where improvement is needed.

I have heard from one provost and one department head regarding the evaluations. In each case, the response was positive, thanking PJCFA for the opportunity to hear from the faculty about how they were doing their job. That's what the evaluation is about - opening the channels of communication so that working together we can make PJC the best college possible for our students.

Once again, I would like to thank those faculty who worked on developing evaluation questions and particularly Michelle Haggard who was the impetus for this. Job well done!

TODD NEUMAN IS NEW PJCFA GRIEVANCE OFFICER

For several years now, Dr. Tom Grow has served the PJC faculty admirably as the PJCFA Grievance Officer/Contract Enforcement Officer. Dr. Grow had the ability to speak well and forcefully on behalf of faculty. We will always be grateful to him for his sevice.

As next term (Fall 2008) will be Dr. Grow's last term, he has asked to be relieved of his PJCFA duties. Fortunately for PJC faculty, this transition occurs just as Todd Neuman will be returning to full-time faculty status. Mr. Neuman has served the faculty well as a member of PJCFA's Executive Board and Negotiating team and as a past PJCFA Chief Negotiator. His familiarity with the contract will serve the faculty well as he takes on the duties of Grievance/Contract Enforcement Officer.

Mr. Neuman can be reached at TNeumann@pjc.edu and at 484-1431. Here's hoping that you never have the need to contact him, but knowing that he will be a stong advocate on your behalf if you do.

FACULTY AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

From the May 29 issue of the Green & White...

Florida Campus Compact announces five award opportunities recognizing outstanding service and engaged scholarship in Florida:

Engaged Campus Award,
Community Engagement Educator Award,
Service-Learning Faculty Award,
Service-Learning Research Award and the
Graham-Frey Civic Award.

To apply, go to http://floridacompact.org/awards.

The deadline for all completed applications is July 21.

Applicants can apply in more than one award category. Self-nominations are strongly encouraged, and you can nominate individuals for awards.

The second annual Florida Campus Compact Awards Gala &
Dinner is Nov. 18 in Orlando at Universal’s DoubleTree Hotel.

THREE MONTHS FOR FREE

Join the 4,500 Florida faculty and education professionals in the United Faculty of Florida.

* THREE FOR FREE * THREE FOR FREE * THREE FOR FREE * THREE FOR FREE *

If you join right now, you can enjoy the benefits of membership for up to three months for free. Your payroll dues will start being collected in August.

Those who join the United Faculty of Florida this summer will:
• Make our faculty voice stronger
• Strengthen our voice in negotiations with administration
• Immediately be covered for $1,000,000 in professional liability insurance
• Have access to local representation on issues with the administration and board of trustees
• Add your voice to the national and state movement working for the interests of academic professionals
• Receive local, state and national publications on higher education issues.

Become a member now and enjoy the many benefits of membership in the United Faculty of Florida, the Florida Education Association, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers and the AFL-CIO. Our campus works because we do.

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UFF dues are 1% of salary, taken out each pay period your paycheck.
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Today’s Date



Give this form to Kathleen Shelton-Lowe in Secondary Education, Charlotte Sweeney in the Library, fax it to UFF at 850-222-1767 or mail to:
UFF, 306 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301


** Your membership benefits will begin upon joining. Payroll deductions or direct pay to UFF will not begin until fall semester.

FAQ's

1. Does FEA Legal honor 3 for free members? YES

2. AFT member benefits/Liability insurance? YES