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Volume XIV |
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Number One |
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In This Issue: |
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This September, we will start the new school year without contract negotiations being a focus. This is not to say there are no outstanding contract issues; there are. But, political action and the upcoming elections are something unit members should be watching closely.
Though all full-time and part-time unit members should have received their retroactive and new pay increases, the educational needs money distribution and classification study remain incomplete (See articles elsewhere in Newsletter).
This fall, it becomes important for unit members to keep actively informed about the upcoming elections. Apart from the senate race and congress races, the Massachusetts legislature is going through another major change. A number of legislators are not running for re-election, and as a result, we need to become involved in those races so as to establish a relationship with the new representatives and senators. No one has to be reminded that if it was not for the legislature, our college budgets would not be as good as they are. The Board of Higher Education and the governor have consistently put forth budgets that run far below what is needed. They are intent on cutting higher education. It has been the legislators' support for our institutions and public higher education that has kept our heads above water.
There are over twenty targeted races where candidates who support public education need help. This is how you can help.
The Political Action Strategy Committee (PASC) will be working on targeted campaigns. This group is a coalition of unit members from all segments of higher education and is a good place to inquire if anyone is willing to help on a campaign. The next PASC meeting is the afternoon of September 10 at the Holiday Inn in Marlborough. Contact MCCC President Susan Dole (617-623-8091) for any information you may need.
In addition to political action, the colleges will be affected by:
The money for the educational needs was finally approved in the last deficiency budget. Before any agency is going to deal with the educational needs money, all salary adjustments must be completed for the higher education personnel. Though the MCCC members' salaries have been completed, the AFSCME and nonunit salary adjustments were delayed until the beginning of September. As are result, the Budget Bureau and the Board of Higher Education (formerly HECC) will not be dealing with getting the educational needs money to the campuses until the end of September. Though the outline and application appeared in the June edition of the MCCC Newsletter, and anyone can begin submitting applications, it is urged that unit members planning to make purchases over the next month or so wait to do so until all the details are finalized.
Once the money is moved to the colleges, and once the MCCC gets the total number of employees (needed to determine amount everyone gets since the pool is equally divided among the eligible members), an account will be established at each college. The unit members can then spend down their accounts until February, 1998. After that time, the remaining money will be redistributed to those who submitted receipts in excess of the initial amount.
The new DCE contract provides for a joint labor/management committee to study counting DCE earnings into the salary calculation used for state employee retirement benefits. Several years ago, a retirement plan was established by law for DCE faculty who were not Massachusetts state employees. This plan, unfortunately, only required the employees to contribute while the state was not required to make any contribution.
For state employees, such as full-time community college faculty and professional staff who also teach in DCE, only their full- time salary is counted for purposes of retirement. If someone retired, even at the maximum percentage of day income, the pension does not reflect what they actually earned since DCE wages are not included in pension calculation. In addition, state employees have limited access to social security benefits upon retirement under the prohibition of being able to collect a state pension and a social security pension.
The MCCC/MTA has already begun studying the feasibility of utilizing DCE earnings toward retirement as well as the potential impact on unit members if, in fact, DCE monies can be applied to retirement.
Although the benefit of such a change appears on its fact to be obvious, every possible variable must be studied so as to avoid any unanticipated harm that may result. Management has expressed a willingness to ask the state retirement board to respond to the feasibility of such a plan relative to state laws and policies. The MCCC/MTA will work with them on that component of this undertaking as a cost-benefit analysis continues.
The new DCE contract contains a revised grievance procedure. The new process was designed to promote the settlement of disputes at the college level. The new procedure is outlined on this page; however, one should consult the contract for more specific information. Feel free to contact Joe Rizzo, MCCC DCE Grievance Coordinator at 603-898-6309. It is also important to note that strict adherence to time lines is essential in order to maintain contractual rights. Time lines can be extended verbally by mutual agreement, but this should be confirmed in writing.
The goals of the MTA Public Relations Grant program is to assist locals financially in publicizing the success of public education, students, and MTA members. The program is also designed to expand public awareness of and support of public education, and to enhance the image of all members in education.
This is a Two Tier program with primary consideration given to Tier One.
Tier One projects are those that demonstrably underscore and communicate the success of public education.
Tier Two projects are those that may previously have qualified for a PR grant, but which do not directly achieve the objective of promoting the success of public education.
Any chapter may participate, but all projects must have the approval of the chapter leadership, and all grants must be signed by the chapter president.
The program is a "costs shared" basis.
Once a project is completed, and all proof of expenditures is received by the MTA Division of Communications, reimbursement of 50% of net costs, up to a maximum of $500 for any one project with a limit of $ 1 ,000 per chapter regardless of number of projects submitted.
Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The criteria for approval:
Application deadline is February 1, 1997. To receive an application, call or write: MTA Communications Division, c/o Stephen Wollmer, Director of Communications, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108 (1-800-392-6175).
The evaluation process has been slightly modified under the new contract. In addition to evaluations moving to once every three years for tenured members, the evaluation of specific components will be conducted on the summary evaluation form only.
The process for establishing which tenured unit members will be evaluated this year is as follows:
The seniority list of each division (faculty) and work area/department (professional staff) must be broken out into thirds in order to establish the new sequence of evaluation.
If last tenure evaluation was Fall, 1994, then next evaluation should have been due this Fall.
If your last tenure evaluation was Fall, 1995, and your next evaluation would have been scheduled in Fall, 1997, then:
If an evaluation is due while on a leave of absence, then the tenured unit member is evaluated during the year of return.
Course materials, a list of college service, and a log of student advisees are submitted in each semester, but only evaluated in an evaluation year.
The following is an outline of the new evaluation process.
1. Student evaluations will be done for all faculty, but for those in a nonevaluation year, the faculty member will be the only person to receive the data. There will be no record anywhere of this evaluation. The form has also been changed (See page 80 of new contract.).
2. Instead of receiving each form back, unit members will receive their summary evaluation prior to February 1, 1997, with all the components evaluated on one form. All course materials must be returned to unit members by the end of the fifth week of classes (October 4, 1996). The one exception is the classroom observation. The unit member will receive a copy of the classroom evaluation within 14 days of the observation, and a copy shall be attached to the summary evaluation.
The major change in the professional staff area is not the process of evaluation but rather the fact that the college must schedule a meeting with a professional staff member if there are proposed changes to the unit member's position description, duties, and/or responsibilities, and/or objectives. Also there is no separate Work Performance evaluation; it is incorporated in the summary evaluation only.
Evaluation. Part-time professional staff members are evaluated on work performance and student advisement and college service. By the end of the second week of a part-time professional staff's appointment, he or she shall receive one job description that specifies a list of duties and responsibilities. The supervisor must complete the work performance evaluation as part of the summary evaluation no later than one month prior to the completion of the unit member' s appointment.
Reappointment & Unit Status. Part- time professional staff immediately obtain unit status upon appointment. A part-time professional staff who has been employed for any part of the last three consecutive fiscal years or who is currently employed in his or her third consecutive fiscal year and has received a satisfactory evaluation shall be eligible for a reappointment in that work area. Seniority is determined as follows: 0-224 hours worked in a fiscal year, no seniority credited. 225-900 hours during a fiscal year will receive one-half year of seniority. Anyone working over 900 hours in a fiscal year will receive one year of seniority.
Student evaluations, once a semester, course materials for each course are due, classroom observation once every three appointments, and summary evaluation every third appointment.
Every full-time and part-time MCCC member should have received a check for the 2.5% retroactive money from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996 (The only exception would be a full-time person on a grant and the college determined the grant could not support the increase.). In addition, the July payroll should reflect the 3.0% increase for this year and the July paycheck should be 5.5% higher.
If any full-time or part-time member did not get a salary adjustment, he or she should notify the college and his or her chapter president immediately.
The Classification Committee has met twice to develop the RFP (Request for Proposal). A consultant has been hired who will put the RFP together. Because of bureaucratic delays, the study is one month behind schedule.
A major component of this study includes the part-time day employees. For over four years and arbitration and court wins, the MCCC has yet to receive complete information concerning part-time day employees. To date, only six colleges (Cape Cod, Greenfield, Mass. Bay, No. Shore, Quinsigamond, and Roxbury) have provided names and seniority to the MCCC.
Even though the study has fallen behind and regardless of when it is completed, all money will be retroactive to January, 1997.
The vacancies within the community colleges are easily accessible on the MTA Bulletin Board System (BBS) (1-800-523- 8883) You can read, download, and/or print these vacancies at your terminal. If you do not have access to a modem, a printout can be faxed to you. Fax your request to the Communications Coordinator at 617- 236-0448. You must include the name of the college(s) where you work.
For the first time user. When you call into the BBS, you will need to provide some information to the systems operator. You can get on the BBS immediately and choose your password. Once you get on the BBS, follow these steps to get to the vacancy area. Enter your name and password, Select F(ile); 6(Vacancies in community colleges); (F)files in this area; (V)iew and type in the first two numbers of the last dated entry e.g., 42-11-1996 (You would type 42).
Only questions specific to the MTA BBS should be directed to the systems Operator (SYSop) Ron Miller (1-508-653-7244), preferably through the BBS. If you have specific questions about a vacancy, call the college.
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Aug. 31 |
Dean's leave of absence recommendations due |
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Aug. 31 |
Sabbatical recommendations due to Board of Trustees |
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Sept. 1 |
Earliest classes can begin |
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Sept. 1 |
Office hours submitted |
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Sept. 6 |
Office hours posted |
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Sept. 6 |
Full-time schedule changes due to chapter president |
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Sept. 13 |
Course materials due |
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Sept. 15 |
College notifies members of sick day accumulation. |
N.B. Dates may vary depending on first day of classes. Also, most of these dates are "last date" standards. In many instances, the action can he accomplished before the date indicated.
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Catherine A. Boudreau MCCC/MTA Newsletter |
The MCCC Newsletter is a publication of the Massachusetts Community College Council. The Newsletter is intended to be an information source for the members of the MCCC and for other interested parties. The material in this publication may be reprinted with the acknowledgment of its source. For further information on issues discussed in this publication, contact Catherine Boudreau, Massasoit Community College, Brockton, MA 02402. |
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