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Cape Cod Community College

First Telecourse Agreement Reached

A watershed agreement was reached between Cape Cod Community College and the MCCC-DCE unit concerning telecourses that are developed at the college.

Many colleges purchase or otherwise pay a user fee in order to offer telecourses. These courses are aired on television or provided to students on videotape. Additionally, video programming vendors usually provide sample accompanying course materials. Once a student registers for the course, a member of the faculty is assigned to develop new materials or integrate pre-existing materials into the appropriate form, assist students as needed, and assess the students' performance. Telecourses are offered both in the format of a class and as a directed study.

Several years ago, Cape Cod Community College began an ambitious project to produce its own telecourses. There were a number of faculty, staff, and administrators, including the college president, who were enthusiastic about this new educational medium as well as the creative opportunity to design, produce, and deliver these courses. As one might expect, however, there were questions that emerged concerning ownership, use, production schedules, and contractual ramifications of such an undertaking. In the fall of 1994, a grievance on unresolved issues was filed by one of the faculty who was involved in a telecourse project. Other faculty, the MCCC, and the Cape Cod chapter had concerns as well.

To resolve the issues such as proprietary interests, structure, salary, and workload, the college administration worked collaboratively with the telecourse faculty, chapter, and MCCC/MTA representatives. A fair and equitable agreement was reached that addressed the concerns of the college administration and also protected faculty interests. Highlights of the agreement are:

• Faculty will be paid a stipend of $500 to develop and design a script and course materials and to appear in the telecourse This stipend will be adjusted by the percent age increases in the present and successor DCE contracts.
• The faculty who perform the functions described above will be offered that course assignment each time that telecourse is offered and paid at the regular DCE rate
• If the faculty who develop and appear in the telecourses no longer wish to be given that assignment, another qualified unit member will be assigned, and the original faculty member will be paid 10 percent of the appropriate DCE salary as a royalty
• Faculty proprietary interests as well as the college's managerial right to the use of this material are secured.
• A production schedule and related matters have been agreed upon.
• The same mechanisms to ensure academic integrity apply to these course offerings that exist for other courses.
• Telecourses can be offered as whole classes (with a class size limit of 25), as an independent study, or as a prorated, under eiri ll2a' i :'6ui- se:`Th efa c`iilfy' ii;ilrb'e compensated at the rate so indicated by the DCE contract except as modified when the developing faculty no longer teach the course.
• This agreement pertains solely to the live broadcast or videotape presentation. It is agreed that other forms of presentation will be negotiated concerning implementation and impact.

The chapter leadership, especially Gail Guarino the chapter grievance coordinator, Louise Deutsch, the faculty member whose telecourse instigated this two-year discussion and resolution, and the college administration along with Joe Rizzo MCCC/ DCE Coordinator and Michelle Gallagher MTA Consultant are to be commended for their collaboration and for bringing to fruition an agreement that is a harbinger of long-distant learning models.

On the Political Trail

Marlborough. On Friday, September 27, over 50 MCCC leaders gathered at the Radisson Hotel for a Leadership Conference. The former majority leader Representative Joan Menard(D. Somerset) spoke to the group about the importance of political involvement. She reminded the group that working with legislators is a two-way street. People cannot keep on asking for things they want without giving something back in return. A "thank you" is a start, but helping out on a campaign, even for a few hours, is very important to a candidate.

Legislators needs to talk with members and to be educated on bills. There are hundreds of bills that come through the legislature, and it is impossible for everyone to understand every bill. Work as partners, she implored, not as adversaries.

Fall River. There was disappointment on the Bristol Community College campus when faculty and staff learned that President Clinton would be appearing at Kennedy Park instead of the College. Though logistics became the deciding factor in the move, the College got the next best thing.

Sheila Levesque, an honor graduate of Bristol Community College's nursing program, was chosen to introduce President Clinton. Levesque just told her story, and it was a story very often repeated among students and graduates of the community colleges.

A divorced mother of a two-year old son, Levesque realized she "needed more education and marketable skills" in order to provide a secure future for her son. Thanks to a Pell grant and a student loan, she enrolled in the nursing program at Bristol. She graduated in June with honors, passed her national boards, and got a "wonderful" full-time job at Mediplex Rehabilitation Hospital.

According to the New Bedford Standard Times, this "ex-welfare mom stole the spotlight." All the dignitaries who spoke--Clinton, Kerry, and Kennedy-- mentioned the importance of the role of the community colleges in American education. "They are an integral part of the national public higher education system."

Charlestown. At Bunker Hill Community College on October 14, 1996, the MTA endorsed the candidacy of John Kerry for U.S. Senate. At the press conference, one of the speakers was Geri Curley, a counselor and a member of the MCCC Board, who, as a Bunker Hill employee and an alumna, spoke about John Kerry's support of and commitment to public education.

MCCC. With the help and coordination of MCCC Vice President Phil Mahler, a number of members are actively involved in numerous national, state, and local political campaigns. Any help on campaigns is greatly appreciated even if it is only an hour. If you are interested in volunteering some time, contact your chapter president or political action coordinator.

MTA Legislative Agenda

Higher Education Bills

The following are the new bills on MTA's 1997 Legislative Program that concern higher education:

1. A new bill would give welfare recipients credit for education and training towards their work requirements.
2. A new bill would allow a buy-back of retirement benefits for people who were previously paid out of the 03 account.
3. A new bill would permit the Board of Higher Education and UMass. Trustees to submit employee contracts directly to the legislature for funding.
4. A new bill would allow part-time higher education faculty to be eligible to take part in the optional retirement program
5. A new bill would allow retirement credit for nursing faculty who taught in diploma schools prior to 1975.

In addition, the following are refiles in this Legislative Program that directly impact higher education.

1. Refile (1995). Create a voting positron on each community college board of trustees for an MCCC union member from that college. The University of Massachusetts has requested that they be added to this bill as well.
2. Refile (1988). Group health insurance coverage would extend to regular part-time faculty who teach at least two courses per semester.
3. Refile (1995). Optional retirement plan (OPR) would extend to professional staff, not just faculty and presidents. This bill allows people to join other pension systems besides the state's.
4. Refile (1993). This bill would allow credible service for any sabbatical leave, whether granted with full or partial compensation. This bill would be retroactive as well as prospective.
5. Refile (1994). Early retirement bill for all higher education employees.

Charles (Les) Adie, a math professor at No. Essex Community College and a member of the MTA Board of Directors representing the MCCC is a candidate for the State Retirement Board. He is the only teacher on the ballot. As members of the state retirement board, all higher education employees are eligible to vote. Everyone should receive a ballot around November 4. Please vote. Do not throw away your ballot. Charles Adie, State Retirement Board.

MCCC Annual Plan

As reported in the September Newsletter, the MCCC Board passed an Annual Plan. This plan has been put on a bookmark-style card stock for easy reference. If you have not received one, please contact your chapter president.

ED. Needs: Money is Here

The Educational Needs money reached all campuses on October 24. As a reminder, educational needs money was based on the salary pool of all full-time unit members (excluding grants people) as of July 1995 for the fiscal 1996 year (July, 1995-June, 1996), and the money was to be equally divided among all the full-time unit members at the 15 campuses. Members on grants eligible for ed needs, though, were not included in the legislative calculation as it used the maintenance account as the base. The colleges, however, are responsible for funding the ed needs requests from those grant employees. Eligibility for ed needs money is based on all full-time unit members who were on the July 2, 1995, payroll. They receive 100% of the ed needs allocation. For those employees hired after September 1995, the team bargained a provision that will give them 50% of what a full-time employee would receive. Since ed needs money was for one year, but could be spent over a period of two and one half years (deadline for submission of receipts is January, 1998), anyone employed after June 30, 1996, is not eligible for ed needs money.

By the time this reaches you, information will be out concerning the specific details, and members should begin to receive reimbursement checks by the middle of November.

Classification Study

The Classification Committee met on October 21, 1995, to review the second draft. They met again on October 25, 1996, to review yet another draft of the RFP (Request for Proposal). Once the RFP is final, it will be sent out and the bidding process will begin. Once bidding has concluded the committee will begin interviewing the bidders and will recommend a vendor.

Public Relations Grants Available

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 format is a "cost shared" basis. Once a project is completed and all proof of expenditures is received by the MTA Division of Communications, reimbursement will be based on 50% of the chapters' costs, up to a maximum of $500 for any project.

There is a limit of $1,000 per chapter regard less of number of projects submitted.

Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The criteria for approval:

• Significant numbers of people "External Audiences" must effectively be reached.
• The name or names of sponsoring MTA local affiliates must be permanently affixed on all written or promotional materials and products, and be clearly visible.

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).

CORRECTION

The September issue of the Newsletter featured the Labor Relations Commission decision regarding Molly Flannery at Roxbury. Joe Rizzo, DCE Grievance Coordinator should have been included in the list of MCCC and MTA staff who worked on behalf of Flannery for this victory.

Know Your Contract

Oct. 30	Preferred schedules and courses submitted
Oct. 31	Leave of absence and sabbatical decisions due
Nov. 21	Unit Personnel Practices Committee (UPPC) elected
Nov. 30	Full time spring schedules to chapter
Nov. 30	Tentative faculty assignments due

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.

MCCC Newsletter Editor: Catherine A. Boudreau MCCC/MTA Newsletter 20 Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108

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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