Specifically, the bill calls for the establishment of a fund, subject to the annual Budget Act, to hire more full-time counselors, improve student services by restoring proven programs like EOPS, increase the percentage of full-time faculty, and support professionalization of part-time faculty beginning with office hours.

In short, the bill would require that these system priorities be considered as part of any funded plan to improve student success, but it would not require that the State necessarily increase funding for these priorities.

The full-text of the bill is available here:  ab_1741_bill.

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Resolution No. 76-B April 25, 2012

WHEREAS, California should be known for great schools, affordable communities, well- managed natural resources, and a vibrant, growing economy that creates good jobs; and

WHEREAS, today, California is better known for a failing fiscal system, a dysfunctional public sector, and political gridlock; and

WHEREAS, public trust and confidence In California government are at record lows after several years of abysmally poor government performance; and

WHEREAS, government at all levels has a responsibility to achieve at least the following overall goals: increasing employment, improving education, decreasing poverty, decreasing crime and improving health;

WHEREAS, it has become painfully clear that government will not – and perhaps cannot – change course without stronger leadership directly from Californians; and

WHEREAS, California Forward, a non-partisan, non-profit corporation was established in 2008 by five major California Foundations to involve interested Californians in developing reform recommendations to improve government performance and move government closer to the people; and

WHEREAS, the California Forward Action Fund proposes to place on the November 2012 ballot a constitutional amendment, The Government Performance and Accountability Act, to reengineer from the ground up how government budgets and major policy are enacted, implemented and kept accountable over time, based upon recommendations made by California Forward; and

WHEREAS, The Government Performance and Accountability Act will position both the State and local governments to manage California’s fiscal affairs to promote concrete results Californians want and value for their tax dollars, by requiring the following:

1.                  Performance-based Budgeting. Require state and local government budgets to deliver results and accountability by establishing clear goals to focus spending decisions on priorities, desired results, and the changes needed to improve performance.

2                  Legislative Transparency and Oversight Make all bills available to the public three days before a vote to preclude the practice of late night “gutting and amending” to bypass public scrutiny. Limit the period during which bills can be passed (except in emergencies), and require a portion of the second year of the two-year session be dedicated to rigorous performance reviews to improve program efficiency and results or shift resources to more effective programs, with all programs to be reviewed at least once every 5 years.

3.                  Pay-As-You-Go. Require major new programs, program expansions and tax cuts costing $25 million or more to have a clearly identified funding source before they are enacted.

4.            Community-driven Problem Solving. Through “Community Strategic Action Plans,” give local governments more authority to design programs that meet local needs and improve results. Allow cities, counties, school districts and special districts to agree on publicly desired outcomes, plan how to achieve them, by when, and annually report progress. In exchange, participating local governments will be granted (a) relief from categorical funding requirements and regulations for which they can meet intended objectives in other ways; (b) the ability to reallocate local sales and property taxes (other than those allocated to schools); and (c) incentive-funding from the state.

5.                  Multi-year Budgets with greater Accountability. Require the state to enact two- year budgets; prepare and make public five-year forecasts before approving the budget; act quickly when the budget falls out of balance; and move the budget bill to a joint committee 45 days before the deadline for final action to increase access by the full Legislature and the public; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED. that the Governing Board of the Contra Costa Community College District hereby approves, ratifies, and confirms its endorsement of The Government Performance and Accountability Act this 25111 day of April 2012.

There are now 15 separate guidebooks, each devoted to a specific faculty group (part-time; probationary; full-time; classroom; librarian; counselor; etc.).  Each book contains all the relevant forms and procedures for each group.

There should be a hard-copy of each guidebook at every Division Office in the District.  There are electronic versions of each book (PDFs) below as well.

x1.1 part-time classroom

x1.2 probationary classroom

x1.3 tenured classroom

x2.1 part-time on-line classroom

x2.2 probationary on-line classroom

x2.3 tenured on-line classroom

x3.1 part-time counselors

x3.2 probationary counselors

x3.3 tenured counselors

x4.1 part-time librarians

x4.2 probationary librarians

x4.3 tenured librarians

x5.1 part-time learning disabilities specialists

x5.2 probationary learning disabilities specialists

x5.3 tenured learning disabilities specialists

The full Appendix X with strikeouts and bold type so you can see exactly what changed from the old version to the new is here as a PDF (warning: it’s a big file!).

Complete APPENDIX X Revised

If you have questions or comments about the new forms and procedures or the ratification vote, please email UF President Jeff Michels at ufjeffmichels@gmail.com.  THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the process of revising Appendix X!  We will be making corrections throughout 2010/2011, as needed, and we will re-0pen Appendix X in spring of 2011 to discuss any substantial adjustments.  Your feedback is always welcome!

The forms are available two ways, as PDF files that faculty may download to print out and complete by hand, or as electronic files (Word documents) that you may download and then complete on computer.  Do note that electronic forms that require a signature (like the Summary Evaluation Form) still need to printed so they can be signed before being submitted.

If you have questions or find bugs in the new system, please email Jeff at ufjeffmichels@gmail.com.

Here are ELECTRONIC VERSIONS of the forms that you may download and then complete on computer.

Optional Checklists for Evaluators and Evaluation Committees (electronic versions):

Part Time Evaluation Checklist_E

PRC Checklist_E (for evaluation of tenured faculty)

TRC Checklist_E (for evaluation of probationary faculty)

Forms for Classroom Faculty (electronic versions)

Classroom Observation Form_E (each evaluator completes one)

Classroom Observation Plan_E (for evaluatee to complete and give to evaluator prior to observation)

Self-Evaluation Classroom_E (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form_E (for evaluators or evaluation committees)

Improvement Plan Form_E (use only if needed)

Forms for On-Line Classroom Faculty (electronic versions)

On-line Observation Form_E (each evaluator completes one)

On-Line Observation Plan_E (for evaluatee to complete and give to evaluator prior to observation)

Self Evaluation Classroom_E (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form_E (for evaluators and evaluation committees)

Improvement Plan Form_E (use only if needed)

Forms for Counselors (electronic versions)

Counselor Observation Form_E (each evaluator completes one)

Self Evaluation for Counselors_E (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form_E (for evaluators or evaluation committees)

Improvement Plan Form_E (use only if needed)

Forms for Librarians (electronic versions)

Librarian Reference Observation Form_E (each evaluator completes one)

*NOTE: for Library Workshops, use the Classroom Observation Form.  There is a different Student Eval form for library workshops, but not a different Observation Form.

Self Evaluation Librarians (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form_E (for evaluators and evaluation committees)

Improvement Plan Form_E (use only if needed)

Forms for Learning Disabilities Specialists (electronic versions)

LDS Workplace-Observation Form_E (each evaluator completes one)

LDS Self Evaluation E (for evaluatees to complete)

Summary Report Form_E (for evaluators and evaluation committees)

Improvement Plan Form_E (use only if needed)

Here are the FORMS for PRINTING (PDFs):

Optional Checklists for Evaluators and Evaluation Committees

Part-Time Faculty Evaluation Checklist

Peer Review Committee Checklist (for evaluation of tenured faculty)

Tenure Review Committee Checklist (for evaluation of probationary faculty)

Forms for Classroom Faculty

Classroom Observation Form (each evaluator fills one out)

Classroom Observation Plan (for evaluatee to fill out and give to evaluator before observation)

Self-Evaluation Classroom (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form (for evaluator or evaluation committee)

Improvement Plan Form (print only if needed)

Forms for On-Line Classroom Faculty

On-line Observation Form (each evaluator completes one)

On-Line Observation Plan (for evaluatee to fill out and give to evaluator prior to observation)

Self-Evaluation Classroom (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form (for evaluator or evaluation committee)

Improvement Plan Form (print only if needed)

Forms for Counselors

Counselor Observation Form (each evaluator fills one out)

Self-Evaluation Counselors (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form (for evaluator or evaluation committee)

Improvement Plan Form (print only if needed)

Forms for Librarians

Librarian Reference Observation Form (each evaluator fills one out)

*NOTE: for Library Workshops, use the Classroom Observation Form.  (There is a different Student Eval Form for Library Workshops but not a different Observation Form.)

Self-Evaluation Library (for evaluatee to complete)

Summary Report Form (for evaluators and evaluation committees)

Improvement Plan Form (print only as needed)

Forms for Learning Disabilities Specialists

LDS Workplace Observation Form (each evaluator completes one)

LDS Self-Evaluation Form (for evaluatee)

Summary Report Form (for evaluator or evaluation committee)

Improvement Plan Form (print only if needed)

This year, we have 12 workshops from which you may choose, with topics ranging from home finances, investment strategies and estate planning to retirement check-ups, Social Security and Medicare to health benefits and leaves.  Our keynote speaker, Ed Derman, Deputy CEO of CalSTRS, will speak on “CalSTRS and Public Pension Reform.  Is Your Retirement Secure?”  We’ll also have a State-of-the-State Budget Update, vendors from all sorts of investment brokers and health care providers, even a massage booth!

To register, go to : http://fs18.formsite.com/FACCC/UF-HealthBR_Conf/index.html.  Or click here and the link will open in a new window: Register Here.

Space is limited so register soon!

The schedule for the event here: CONFERENCE SCHEDULE.

Last year’s Benefits/Retirement Conference was a big success.  This year is looking even better!  We have scheduled something useful for everyone, from new hires to almost-retirees.  I hope to see you there!  (Oh, and by the way, the event counts as a 5-hour flex activity at CCC and DVC as well.)

Here is a copy of a recent letter sent to the California Community College Governing Board by the Council of Faculty Organizations (CoFO) CoFoSSTFLetter.

The 73-page “Draft Recommendations of the Student Success Task Force,” published September 30, 2011, have provoked substantial responses from nearly every statewide faculty organization.  Some of these have been published; many are still in the works.

The UF strongly suggests that all faculty members review the recommendations (click here to download the PDF) and share your thoughts and concerns with the Task Force and the State Chancellor’s Office by logging onto their blog at http://studentsuccess.ideascale.com.  Since the process began, in response to feedback, the SSTF has made some changes to their recommendations.  Here is the letter detailing those changes: SSTF_taskforcememo_14nov2011.

You may also review some of the public responses here:

FACCC_SSTF_Response_Ltr  (from the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

Resolution from the California Community College Independents (CCCI) [endorsed by the Statewide Academic Senate]

CTA/CCA Feedback Regarding CCC Student Success Taskforce Recommendations

Initial Response from Statewide Academic Senate

CCC EOPS Association SSTF Position

California Part-Time Faculty Association_SSTF_Response

Campaign for College Opportunity Letter Endorsing the Recommendations

Table Talk

The Newsletter of the United Faculty of Contra Costa Community College District

February 15, 2012

News at a Glance

  •  Budget Outlook Remains Grim as Colleges Plan for More Cuts

•  UF Seeks “Institutional Commitment” to Adding FT Faculty

•  100+ Attend UF-Hosted FACCC Policy Forum at DVC

•  2nd Annual Benefits/Retirement Conference March 16 at DVC

•  UF Supports March in March; Co-Hosts Breakfast for Paul Fong

•  Know Your Contract: On-Line Office Hour FAQs

•  UF to Host House-Party Fundraiser for Nancy Skinner

•  SRC Wins UF Food Drive Competition; Party Feb. 16 at SRC

•  Donna Wapner to Serve as Interim UF VP from DVC

•  ACCJC Continues to Dole out Sanctions Around the State

•  District Welcomes New CFO John Al-Amin

•  President’s Message: Student Success Task Force Responses

Budget Outlook Grim as Colleges Plan for More Cuts

With more deficit funding likely and no growth or COLA funding in the Governor’s proposed 2012/13 budget, community colleges are looking at another bad year.  There may be some long-range relief in sight, with the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) seeking to qualify its “Millionaires Tax” for the November ballot ($6-9 billion, mostly for education, by raising taxes on millionaires) and the Governor’s tax plan promising a 4% bump in college funding in 2013/14.  But in the short run, even with healthy District reserves, we are facing another year of likely schedule reductions, especially at DVC where the College built a schedule for this spring as if the 2011/12 “trigger cuts” would not be realized (in order to capture FTES that might have been funded). Now that the triggers have been pulled, as it were, due to State revenue shortfalls, DVC will have to cut that much deeper to come under our current funding cap.  We’ll have a complete UF analysis of the Budget picture, including proposed cuts at our colleges, in the next issue of Table Talk.  We’ll also review the coming tax measures and other developing legislation of interest.

UF Seeks “Institutional Commitment” to More Full-Timers

Statewide debates over ways to improve “student success” and to close so-called equity, opportunity or achievement gaps have highlighted several weaknesses of our community college system, but none is so glaring as our shortage of full-time faculty.  In a recent letter responding to the Student Success Task Force (SSTF) recommendations, California Federation of Teachers Community College Council President Carl Freidlander summed up the situation clearly:

“The primary cause of the ‘student success problem’ that the Task Force sought to address is the budget-induced staffing crisis in the California Community Colleges. Our system’s main strategy for managing underfunding has been to dramatically downsize the full-time faculty and rely increasingly on underpaid and often unbenefited part-time contingent faculty. There is ample evidence that this staffing structure, despite the best efforts of our talented and committed part-time faculty, negatively impacts student success.”

A recent study published in the Journal of Higher Education confirms that the key element in improving student outcomes is increased full-time faculty.  While there is little hard evidence to suggest that more accountability or standardized assessment tools bolster student success, data consistently shows that “institutions with higher percentages of full-time faculty members have higher completion rates.”

The study’s author, David Jacoby, himself a former part-timer, stresses that part-time instructors were not any less effective in the classroom than their full-time counterparts. But contingent faculty “aren’t on campus when they aren’t teaching, and don’t have the consistent involvement in departments that makes them able to fully help students,” he said.  According to Jacoby, even at institutions with demonstrably excellent part-time staffs, the fact remains that colleges that have “a lot of part-timers,” are overall “less effective.”

In a letter to the CA Community College Board of Governors, (former) Academic Senate President Jane Patton suggests that especially in this economic climate, each district must individually commit to hiring full-time faculty.  Because of the “strong correlation between institutional commitment to full-time faculty and student success,” districts that are serious about improving outcomes must find ways, even amid budget cuts, to add full-time faculty positions.

This is why the UF is asking the District for a long-term plan to hire more full-timers, even while budgets are tight.  As Patton sums up, “simply put, colleges which fail to commit adequately to full-time faculty fail to commit to their students.”

100+ Discuss Student Success at FACCC Policy Forum

More than 100 faculty from around the State joined the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC) Board of Governors at DVC last Jan. 27 for a forum on recent recommendations by the Student Success Task Force (SSTF).  UF President Jeff Michels joined task-force member and California Community College Independents (CCCI) President Rich Hansen along with Statewide Vice Chancellor for Government Relations Marlene Garcia in discussing the SSTF report and next steps for implementation.  DVC President Peter Garcia and Vice President of Instruction Susan Lamb also attended, as did District Trustee John Nejedly and several community leaders.

UF to Host Benefits/Retirement Conference March 16

For the second year in a row, the UF is partnering with FACCC and with District HR to host a full-day Benefits and Retirement Conference at DVC on March 16.  The Conference will include breakfast and lunch, a keynote speaker on the subject of public pensions and pension reform (we have invited STRS Deputy CEO Ed Derman), and breakout sessions on a wide range of topics from investment strategies and estate planning to health benefits and leave options.  We are planning four different tracks with breakout sessions: one on health and welfare; a second on PT benefits and retirement planning; a third on FT retirement planning and STRS; and a fourth on estate planning, social security, PERS, and retirement planning for classified staff and managers.

The UF has also met recently with representatives from TIAA Cref and STRS Pension2, along with District management, to explore some new investment options we’re hoping to make available for all District employees.  These include a Pension2 403B, Roth 403B and 457 plan, as well as a 529 plan for saving towards college tuition (for children of employees).  If we can work out the details in time (and if, as we hope and expect, we can offer these plans at no cost and little or no administrative burden to the District), we hope to have workshops on these new investment options at the March 16 conference.

Look for publicity coming soon with all the details about workshops and registration.  The conference will be free to our members.  Last year, we had more than a hundred faculty attend, and the reviews were excellent.  This year is shaping up to be even better.

UF Supports Student March in March

This year’s student-organized “March in March” in Sacramento on Monday, March 5, starting from Raley Field at 10am and culminating in a rally on the capitol steps at 11am, may well turn out to be the biggest demonstration ever held in support of community colleges.   Student leaders are seeking to send a loud message to Sacramento that it’s time to re-invest and stop cutting college funding.  For complete details about the march, look at the website: www.iwillmarch.com.

As we have in past years, the UF is partnering with student governments on each campus to send as many students to Sacramento for this event as possible.  The UF has agreed to help fund buses to transport the students, and we’re arranging afternoon visits to meet with our legislators as well.  Faculty members who would like to join our UF team at the march and/or visiting legislators should call the UF office at 925-680-1771.  Also, let Terri know if you need transportation.

This year, the March is being held in coordination with FACCC’s annual Advocacy and Policy Conference, and several UF Executive Board members will attend the conference. The UF will also be co-sponsoring a breakfast March 5 for Assemblyman Paul Fong, who will be receiving FACCC’s legislator of the year award. UF President Jeff Michels will be speaking on a pre-conference panel regarding the Student Success Task Force Report, Sunday March 4, at 10am, with CA Vice Chancellor Erik Skinner.  Call the UF Office for details.

Know Your Contract: On-Line Office Hour FAQs

Q:  Is it true that anyone may now hold an “on-line office hour,” even if one does not teach on line?

A: Yes.  All faculty may now designate up to one hour as an on-line office hour.  (Designating half an hour would be OK too.)

Q: How exactly does one hold an office hour on-line?

A: The key to the on-line office hour is that you designate a regular time every week when you will be available electronically to students.  This might be as simple as telling students that you will be at your computer every Tuesday night from 7-8pm, and will answer emails within a couple of minutes during that hour.  Or you could set up a chat room using blackboard, WebCT, or any system.  You could also make yourself available via Skype.  Give your students the best access to you during that hour that you can.  If you need training or technical help, check with the staff development office at your college or call the UF.  But remember: it needs to be a regularly scheduled hour.  Responding to student emails at other times, as all faculty do, does not count as an on-line office hour.

Q: Can I hold my on-line office hour on the same day that I hold an on-campus office hour?

A: No, not if you want the hour to count officially.  The contractual rule that says you may hold no more than 1.5 office hours on any given day still applies.

Q: Does this mean I no longer need to be on campus four days a week if I have a three-day teaching schedule?

A:            Yes.  The rule that says we can hold no more than 1.5 office hours on any given day used to mean that full-timers needed to be physically on-campus at least four days a week.  With the on-line office hour, a faculty member might be on campus Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (holding 1 or 1.5 office hours on each day) and home grading papers Tuesdays and Fridays (holding an on-line office hour one of those days).  Of course, our professional obligations may draw faculty to campus on many non-teaching days, but the on-line office hour does allow for increased flexibility.

UF to Host House-Party Fundraiser for Nancy Skinner

Following our terrific event last semester for Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, the UF is now planning a house-party to support Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner.  Long a favorite of UF advocates, Skinner has been a leading voice supporting education in Sacramento.  The fundraiser will be Thursday, March 22, from 6-8pm, in Orinda, and will include live music, a Mediterranean buffet, and signature UF mojitos.  Look for more details coming soon.

SRC Wins UF Food Drive Competition: Party 2/16

Of the nearly 1000 pounds of food collected for the Food Bank during last November’s UF food drive, San Ramon Center collected nearly half (by weight).  Either those folks were donating some really heavy food, or that’s one generous and community-spirited group of faculty and staff!  As promised, the UF Executive Board will be hosting a party for all SRC employees on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 12:30pm in W-204 to show our appreciation.  All are welcome to join us for fancy non-alcoholic drinks, gourmet snacks, and good fellowship!  The UF E-Board will also be meeting at SRC this Thursday after the party at 2:15pm (our first-ever E-Board meeting in San Ramon).

Donna Wapner Becomes Interim UF VP from DVC

With UF Vice President from DVC Glenn Appell away this semester on sabbatical, Donna Wapner has stepped up as our Interim VP.  A Professor of Health Science and Addiction Studies, Wapner has served for years as an E-Board member and Faculty Advocate.  She will replace Appell on our negotiating team this spring.  Wapner has also served on DVC’s Academic Senate.

ACCJC Continues to Dole Out Sanctions

In January, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) announced another heavy-handed round of sanctions throughout California.  On “warning”: Columbia College; Fresno City College; College of Marin; Evergreen Valley College; San Diego Miramar College; Reedley College; and Solano Community College.  On “probation”: Modesto Junior College; Shasta College; Moorpark College; Oxnard College; Ventura College; Northern Marianas College; and San Jose City College.  On “show cause”: College of the Redwoods; and Cuesta College.  The “show cause” rulings are particularly troubling in light of all the efforts faculty have made statewide to convince the ACCJC not to jump so quickly to impose sanctions when the quality of education is not an issue.  As one faculty leader wrote recently, “clearly, our accrediting commission is hyper-focused on punishment, with students suffering as a result.” This will continue to be a centerpiece of UF advocacy at the State level.

UF Welcomes John Al-Amin as District CFO

The UF joins the District in welcoming John Al-Amin, Ph.D. as our new Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer.  Al-Amin, an Oakland native, was selected by a committee with strong faculty representation, and comes to CCCCD via Oxnard College, Grossmont College and Laney College.  He replaces Kindred Murillo, who left the post last year to become President of Lake Tahoe CC.  John brings a lot of expertise, and the UF team looks forward to working with him.

President’s Message

I have spent more time than usual in Sacramento over the past few weeks, meeting with faculty leaders at the Council of Faculty Organizations (CoFO), meeting with legislators and representatives from the Community College Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office, helping to frame a response to the Student Success Task Force (SSTF) report, and the legislation and implementation plans that will follow.

On Feb. 1, I testified at a joint hearing of the Senate and Assembly Higher Education Committees convened to consider the SSTF recommendations.  The setting was a bit unnerving, and I wound up deviating slightly from my prepared speech.  (If you search my name on Youtube, you can watch my actual testimony.)  But I thought our UF members might appreciate knowing what I said.  Here is the statement I had prepared:

The Legislature must not ignore the fact that these recommendations were endorsed by the Community College Board of Governors despite overwhelming opposition from students and faculty, and I’m not just talking about the official groups, all of which submitted detailed critiques outlining concerns that have largely been ignored throughout this process.  I’m talking too about thousands of faculty members throughout CA who participated in blogs and came to meetings to express concerns about unintended but predictable consequences of these proposals.

We know that education reform without investment is a bad recipe.  We know that new restrictions and requirements without first putting in place the infrastructure necessary to meet those requirements is a bad recipe.  We know that education reform without buy-in from your educators is a recipe for failure.

As faculty, we are deeply concerned about the success of our students.  But you can pad your student-success statistics by denying access to community college for those students who seem least likely to succeed.  That’s not going to be good for California. It’s not going to be good for our students. And it’s going to make your scorecards meaningless.  [Senator Lonnie Hancock said at the hearing: without new investment, your scorecards are just going to tell us which colleges are in rich neighborhoods and which are in poor ones.]

I urge you not to require new education plans and orientations until we figure out how to afford more counselors, not to begin restricting financial aid until we have the infrastructure in place to help students meet the new restrictions so as not to be disqualified from financial aid.

Political priorities should not outweigh our educational priorities, and these recommendations must be balanced against other needs.  If you brought educators together and asked what they need to do better for our students, this is not the list they would produce.  They would say we need more full-time faculty and to professionalize our part-time faculty. I urge you to proceed slowly and in consultation with faculty.  Keep in mind: we are starving more than we are broken.

The full text of the issue is also reprinted below to make it easier for our web site’s search engine to find specific articles.

Table Talk

The Newsletter of the United Faculty of Contra Costa Community College District

November 16, 2011

News at a Glance

•  District Stops $100/Month FT Deductions, Will Return Money

•  UF Presses for More Full-Time Hires, Seeks Long-Term Plan

•  FACCC to Hold Annual Policy Forum at DVC in January

•  2011/2012 UF Budget Sent to Members for Ratification

•  Open E-Board Spots for FT Faculty from All Three Colleges

•  Symposium: UF Adds More Full-Time & Part-Time Roundtables

•  UF Food Drive Extended through November 30

•  President’s Message: Occupy Education Reform

District to Stop & Return $100/Month Full-Time Deductions

Reacting to a projected ending fund balance that is higher than expected, the District and employee groups are announcing a plan to cancel all furloughs for staff and managers in 2011-12 and return full-time faculty’s $100-per-month benefits co-pay concession from last year’s agreement.  The District will stop taking the $100/month deduction beginning immediately (with the November paycheck), and will return the money that has already been deducted, retroactive to July 1, 2011.  The District will also continue to fund UF release time per Article 3.4 and not stop funding for one year as last year’s agreement would have allowed.

As Table Talk goes to press, we are not yet sure when faculty will receive the retroactive portion of this adjustment.  Most likely, faculty will see the returned money in their November paychecks (as a negative $400 deduction for benefits).  Failing that, the District might use a special Dec. payroll run.  At the latest, the money will be in the Jan. 1, 2012 paycheck.  The District’s goal is to return the money in a way that does not require any special or complicated tax reporting for faculty.  The UF will send an update via email as soon as the plan is set.

This adjustment to last year’s agreement comes after months of analysis and discussion, in light of changing budget realities.  But the UF and CCCCD have not reopened contract articles and will not begin collective bargaining again until spring, 2012.  Rather, the District and UF have agreed to changing the implementation plan with a memo of understanding to return some concessions, with the District electing to spend from reserves rather than see employees lose pay in 2011/12.

Not all of the faculty’s concessions from last year are being returned at this time.  Part-time lecturers and part-time English Composition professors took a one-semester pay cut when no parity was paid in spring of 2010, and the current adjustment does not make them whole, nor has the District returned the two years of sabbaticals faculty gave up in last year’s agreement.  But the UF will certainly bring these issues to the table when formal negotiations begin again in the spring.

It is important to note that while CCCCD’s ending fund balance has grown significantly since last year (mostly the result of over-cutting and conservative planning, or so it seems), the financial crisis that prompted schedule reductions and layoffs of staff, managers and part-time faculty, as well as concessions in negotiations last year, is far from over.  Recent financial news from the State is disappointing; mid-year cuts seem likely, and in the current environment, we cannot count on new money in 2012/13 (growth or COLA) to help the District address its structural deficit, which is projected to grow from $6 million to more than $8 million over the next couple of years.  We still face difficult challenges ahead, but in the short run, the District’s decision to mitigate the financial impact on faculty and staff in 2011-12 by spending one-time money, reflects the spirit of last year’s agreement, wherein both the UF and District understood that adjustments might be appropriate as budget realities changed and became clearer.

UF Presses for More Full-Time Hires, Seeks Long-Term Plan

At our October Contract-Review Committee meeting with Chancellor Benjamin, and then again at last week’s District Staffing and Education Planning meeting, the UF presented statistics illustrating CCCCD’s low full-time/part-time faculty ratio, compared to other Bay Area districts. Vice Chancellor Gene Huff also provided data showing that although the District has continued to meet its State-mandated “Faculty Obligation Number,” we have suffered a nearly 11% decline in full-time faculty since 2002.

Recognizing the current financial constraints, the UF is seeking a long-term plan to improve our full-time/part-time ratios.  Several recent studies have demonstrated a clear link between student success and access to full-time faculty.  A lack of investment in part-time faculty also correlates to lower student outcomes.  Thus parity progress and more full-time hires will be at the top of the UF’s agenda this year.

FACCC to Hold Annual Policy Forum at DVC in January

The Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC) will hold its annual Policy Forum at Diablo Valley College on Friday, January 27, 2012.  The meeting will bring faculty leaders from throughout California to DVC for open discussions on the Draft Recommendations of the Student Success Task Force (SSTF) and faculty responses.  UF President Jeff Michels is chairing the FACCC Policy Committee this year, and he helped draft FACCC’s official response to the initial SSTF recommendations (available on the UF website at www.uf4cd.org or the FACCC website at www.faccc.org).  All CCCCD faculty will be welcome to attend the Policy Forum, a morning meeting that will culminate with lunch in the DVC cafeteria.  The UF will send an email  reminder with more details once classes begin in the spring.

2011/2012 UF Budget Sent to Members for Ratification

The UF’s 2011/2012 budget is being delivered to faculty mailboxes along with a ratification ballot.  As in prior years, the E-Board is asking members to confirm the UF’s adopted budget by voting yes.  Ballots are due in the office by 12noon on Thursday, Dec. 1.  To vote by phone, email or fax, please contact Terri in the UF Office at 925-680-1771.  You will need the number located on the green dot of your paper ballot.

If you have questions about the budget, contact UF Treasurer Katrina Keating at Ext. 2813 or email: kkeating@dvc.edu, or UF President Jeff Michels at 923-330-2125 or ufjeffmichels@gmail.com.

Again, this year, we are mostly rolling over last year’s budget, while addressing a few key areas of need.  Revenues are projected based on the District’s adopted budget (since our funds depend on the number of District faculty) and are expected to drop next year as a result of downsizing.  Expenses will rise in just a few categories.  For example, our copy-machine lease has expired, and the E-Board decided to buy the machine along with a service contract (which will be a one-time “capital expense” but will be less expensive overall than leasing a new machine).  We also will be making a one-time adjustment to the UF’s contribution to our Office Administrator’s retirement plan, to correct a mistake we discovered from prior years.  We have also added to the conferences and workshops budget since we plan to offer the spring UF Benefits/Retirement Conference again (listed under “miscellaneous” last year), as well as other workshops potentially connected to pension reform and benefits.

We are projecting ongoing savings in several areas: insurance (where we consolidated coverage to save money) and storage of records (where we are closing an off-site facility).  We have also reduced overall expenses for personnel by eliminating two paid positions (Benefits Chair and Faculty Advocate), although we have added a bit to the negotiation line-item, so we can continue to pay for extra help, especially from subject-area specialists, on an hourly basis).  Overall, the UF is in solid financial shape, continuing to build reserves for maximum flexibility in the future.

Open E-Board Spots for Full-Time Faculty

A number of UF Executive Board members are serving terms that expire this year, so nominations are now open for full-time E-Board spots from all three colleges.  We also have an opening for a part-time representative from LMC.  We expect that our current E-Board members will be willing to continue on the Board, and our only true vacancy at the moment is for one full-time representative from LMC.  But as we always do when two-year terms expire, we are putting out the call for nominations.  The form is on the back of this issue of Table Talk.  If you would like to serve on our UF E-Board, your completed form must be received in the UF Office by noon Dec. 1, 2011.  If we have more candidates than we have spots on the Board, we will hold elections.  The UF E-Board meets on Thursdays, about every two weeks, from 2:15-5pm, usually at DVC.  For details, call the UF.

Symposium Continues with More Faculty Roundtables

In order to help the UF develop local strategies on issues related to working conditions, salaries and benefits, this year all faculty are being invited to participate in a Symposium on the State of Our Profession.  We started with full-time faculty roundtables at DVC and LMC in October.  The LMC meeting was sparsely attended, but the discussion was productive, focused mainly on increasing paperwork demands.  At DVC, nearly 60 full-time faculty attended to discuss a wide variety of issues, most notably the declining number of full-time faculty in our district.  CCC’s full-time roundtable was postponed until December (see below).

We are currently planning part-time faculty roundtables at all three colleges in December, as well as a follow-up meeting for full-time faculty at DVC.

Each meeting will include general discussion as well as time to develop action plans for making improvements in working conditions.  We have started our symposium series meeting with FT and PT faculty separately in order to better focus on the core interests and concerns of each group.  In the spring, we plan to bring faculty together for follow-up events.

Meetings will take place as follows:

Full-Time Faculty Roundtables

DVC:  Tuesday, Nov. 29, 3:30-5pm, BFL Conference Room

CCC:  Monday, December 5, 3-5pm, Fireside Room

Part-Time Faculty Roundtables

LMC:  Monday, Dec. 5, 12noon-1:30pm, Room SC-132

DVC:  Monday, Dec. 5, 6-7:30pm, Room L-151

CCC:  Tuesday, Dec. 6, 12noon-1:30pm, Room PS-101

UF Food Drive Extended Through November 30

So far, San Ramon Center leads the competition for an E-Board-thrown party for the most food donated (per FTEF) to the Food Bank, but we’ve extended our food drive through November 30, and there still time to fill your barrels!  You can also donate through our “virtual food drive” by going to: http://bit.ly/ufdrive.  Choose from 10 different food staples, select a quantity and “checkout” to donate.  The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has been serving the community for 35 years.  They provide food to more than 132,000 hungry people in need every month directly at community sites and through a network of 180 charitable agencies.  They distributed 12.6 million pounds of food last year!  Your donations are tax deductible.

Please help us spread the word and fill the barrels before our food drive ends!

Update on Benefits Changes / Blue Cross Bid

There have been no significant developments where benefits are concerned since the last issue of Table Talk.  The UF and District have not yet met to discuss the Blue Cross bid, nor have we had a chance to consider other proposals and options.  We will plan some open meetings in the spring so faculty can review and discuss a range of options, including wellness programs.  In the mean time, there are no immediate changes being considered.

President’s Message

There is an old cliché in politics that says, “Decisions are made by those who show up.”  Recently, it has too often felt like showing up doesn’t matter, as if decisions are made by a few guys in a back room somewhere, while the rest of us show up to waste our time.  That’s how many faculty see the so-called “Draft Recommendations of the Student Success Task Force.”  That’s how UF leaders have sometimes felt about district hiring policies (we show up yearly to a District staffing meeting where decisions about how many full-time faculty to hire are not so much made as announced).  Certainly the fate of our State and National economies, and what funding for higher education may or may not be coming seem entirely out of our hands.  And yet, I feel curiously upbeat and optimistic.  Let me explain.  First, the 99% are on the move.  Maybe there’s hope for raising taxes on the 1%!  Second, faculty have shown up in such force to respond to the SSTF recommendations, that we’re bound to have an effect!  Check out all the responses on the UF website.  Faculty have mobilized! Third, our district leadership keeps working with us in partnership. If we make full-time hires a top priority now, if we continue to lead with our values, I know we can make progress.