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BHE Chair:

Raises the Banner of Confusion

Over the past several months, Board of Higher Education Chair, Mr. James Carlin, has made a number of pronouncements concerning public higher education. First there was the "report card" concluding that public higher education was overpriced and of average quality. Then came the proposal to eliminate tuition and fees. Next was the elimination of tenure, and then he proposed a five-year, post tenure review process. These statements cannot be married; in fact, they cannot even live together. Perhaps we need an interpreter to better understand Mr. Carlin's statements that seem irreconcilable.

Eliminate tuition and fees. This would certainly increase access. But increasing access increases students and costs. Mr. Carlin proposes to shift the entire cost of running the community colleges to the taxpayers.

Eliminate Tenure. Now this is a good way of keeping the best and brightest out of Massachusetts' public higher education system. Why would anyone take a job without possibility of tenure--for the shear enjoyment of being fired over a difference of opinion with a Dean or Trustee? Tenure protects academic freedom. Tenure establish due process. There is a cornucopia of benefits to the students, the faculty, the institutions, and the public which are too numerous to list.

Five-Year Tenure Review. If he can't eliminate tenure, then he proposes that tenured faculty have a five-year review process. All three segments have an evaluation or a performance evaluation process for tenured faculty. Tenured faculty at the university are evaluated every year; tenured faculty at the state and community colleges have performance evaluations every three years with student evaluations every year.

In a recent letter to the colleges' and university' trustees, Mr. Carlin outlines 23 Goals and Objectives for higher education.

These are admirable goals; he would find much support from all higher education segments. A few, however, raise questions of just how much he understands the system. He writes, "Centralize our research activities at the University of Massachusetts and keep the state colleges in the teaching business." Where does the perception exist that the state colleges are research institutions? Everyone knows that they are teaching institutions.

Another goal that Mr. Carlin expresses is to, "Empower and build the authority of the campus presidents and boards of trustees." Why then would Mr. Carlin call a meeting of all trustees and not invite the presidents? Usually empowering and building are achieved through an inclusionary effort.

At the end of August, a number of newspaper articles quoted Mr. Carlin saying that, "The average professor earns $76,000 to $77,000 a year, and they work 29 weeks a year. It isn't a bad deal." About whom does he speak? Certainly not any faculty or professional staff unit member in the community colleges. Their highest salary is $60,000, and then there are only 32 unit members out of nearly 2,000 at that level. But that's OK. It was just a headline grabber anyway. No need to check the facts because Mr. Carlin, public higher education's advocate, is agitating the public against his troops. He seems to think that faculty are underqualified and overpaid. The truth is they are overqualified and underpaid, and they take the job because they love to teach.

But let's be fair. Maybe he doesn't really mean these things; perhaps there is a riddle or a hoax here. Maybe he never wanted us to take these things seriously; maybe there is a tongue firmly planted in his cheek. If this is the case, will he please give us a Rosetta stone.

Hold Tuition Bills

Under the new HOPE Scholarship tax credit--100% tax credit on first $1,000 of tuition and required fees and 50% on the second $1,000--students returning to school in January will be eligible for this tax credit, but only if the tuition bill is paid after January 1, 1998. Since a number of colleges require that students pay the second semester tuition bill in December, arrangements should be made with the college to pay the tuition bill after January 1.

This tax credit would be especially important for those students planning to graduate in June 1998 as this would be their only opportunity to receive the HOPE scholarship tax credit which is applicable only to the first two years of college. Students just entering college or continuing would still get the full tax credit for next year because they would pay a tuition bill prior to September 1998 and prior to January 1998 allowing them to use the full year's deduction in 1998.

The Families' Guide to the 1997 Education Tax Cuts is available from your chapter president or from your Financial Aid Office. The following items are included in the summary:

• HOPE Scholarship up to $1,500 tax credit for students starting college
• The lifetime learning tax credit
• Education IRA's with penalty free withdrawals from other IRA's
• Expanded benefits for qualified state tuition plans
• Tax deduction in interest paid on college loans
• Extends for three years, workers ability to exclude up to $5,250 of employer-provided education benefits from their income
• Community service loan forgiveness

For information on additional student aid programs call 1-800-4FED-AID. For information on getting ready for college early, call 1-800-USA-LEARN.

MTA Grants Available

Professional Development Grants

MTA's Professional Development Grants program can reimburse MCCC chapters up to $750 for the costs incurred by their members in the design and implementation of their own professional development programs and projects.

A major goal of the program administered by MTA's Professional Development Council and Division of Professional Development is to assist MTA members in their continuing professional development.

This is a reimbursement program that will reimburse a chapter for expenditures up to $750 following the completion of an approved project.

To apply, a chapter, a unit member, or unit members must complete a proposal that is well written and clearly describes the project, its goals, and budget. Proposals must be signed by the chapter president.

Examples of Projects:

• Participating in design and implementation of a professional development plan
• Fostering greater use of educational technology within the institution
• Developing and implementing a policy that would enhance the academic environment

Grant money may be used to pay for:

• Presenter fees, study materials, or supplies necessary to support the project
• Fees and related expenses of participants in the project
• Participant stipends
• Meeting expenses, including light refreshments

Grant money may not be used to pay for:

• Projects already completed or whose costs have already been paid Equipment, materials, or supplies used primarily for student instruction
• Costs related to the pursuit of graduate education
• Personal costs of research, travel, tuition, fees, or related costs of individual educational or professional activities
• Meals, travel, or lodging expenses

MTA 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 communication 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 "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 NEA 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:

• 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, products, or clearly visible.

Application deadline is February 1, 1998. To receive an application, call or write: MTA Communications Council c/o Betty-Jo Peterson, 20 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108 (1-800-392-6175).

Deadline for application is November 14, 1997. For further information or an application, contact the MTA Professional Development Division at 1-800-392-6175.

MTA Card Perks

Go shopping at Dalton Booksellers and receive a 20% discount on your purchase (larger discount for volume purchases). Or go to Buck a Book and receive a 5% discount on a purchase of $10 or more. Other bookstores offering discounts with your MTA card are:

• American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, 10%
• Baker Books, Dartmouth, 20% on curriculum books
• Berkshire Book Shop, Pittsfield, 35%
• Book Shop of Beverly Farms, Beverly Farms, 10%
• The Book Vendor, Dracut, 10%
• Books for Peanuts, Cape Cod Mall, Hyannis, 5%
• Dorling-Kindersley Family Learning, Woburn, 15%
• Edwards Books, Springfield, 10%
• Globe Corner Bookstore Books & Maps, Boston, Cambridge, 20%
• Pam's Paperbacks, Haymarket Square, Springfield, 20%
• Red Brick Books, Springfield, 20%
• The Story Teller Felt Visual Aids, Woburn, 10%
• Tatnuck Bookseller & Son Worcester, 10%
• The Village Bookstore, Westfield, 20%

Retirement/PreRetirement Conference

On Saturday, October 18, 1997, the MTA will sponsor the Ninth Annual Retirement/PreRetirement Conference at the Holiday Inn, Route 20 in Marlborough. The Conference runs from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with workshops on "The Retirement System and Your Pension, Social Security, Long Term Care Issues, Financial Planning and Investments, Travel and Intergenerational Activities." The $15 registration fee includes lunch.

Anyone interested in attending should contact Beverly Eisenman at MTA 1-800- 392-6175 by October 14, 1997.

DCE Wages Toward Retirement Denied

The MCCC and the presidents jointly requested from the Retirement Board that DCE wages be included in a full-time employees' earnings. The Retirement Board has responded by denying the request indicating that it would take legislative action to amend the law since it was not a subject of bargaining. The MCCC is now seeking a joint employer/ MCCC effort to submit the necessary legislation to effectuate the change.

Operational Audit Review Committee

When the Daniel Dennis & Co. completed its audit of the MCCC last spring, a number of recommendations were made. As a result an Operational Audit Review Committee was established to go through the report and present recommendations to the Board in the spring of 1998. At the September Board of Directors meeting, the Committee distributed its initial report for informational purposes only. The report outlined the 120 recommendations the Committee is processing. Anyone interested in reading the initial report should contact their chapter director.

Know Your Contract

Oct. 1	Sick Leave Bank open
Oct. 1	Tenure eligibility list distributed
Oct. 3	Course Materials evaluated (E-2)
Oct. 6	New full-and part-time list due MCCC
Oct. 15	Full-time seniority list due chapter
Oct. 15	Letters of reappointment due for employees with four or more years seniority

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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