At Long Last...

Classification Study Begins

The Classification Study is finally under way with David M. Griffith & Associates, Ltd. (DMG). The Board of Higher Education (BHE) presented an Action Plan to the MCCC Board on January 23, 1998. Though there needs to be some adjustments in dates, the plan calls for a 26-week study to be completed on July 10, 1998, with a "drop-dead" date of July 30, 1998. Once Griffiths is finished, then the MCCC and the BHE must bargain over any changes in working conditions resulting from the recommendations of the study.

Each campus will have "working committees" to ensure that the information needed from unit members is complete and getting forwarded to Griffiths on time. Delays from the campuses definitely means delays in the study. The biggest component of the study, obviously, is the collection of data. All unit members should make sure their files are in order. Once the information has been collected, it will first be verified by a supervisor and then verified again by management. The information in the survey will include:

Academic Credentials. All course work towards advanced degrees should be substantiated with a certified copy of the college transcript. Just listing courses and colleges without verification may not be acceptable.

Seniority. Check your college seniority list to make sure it is correct.

Experience. For full-time faculty and professional staff, prior experience should be noted especially part-time teaching or part-time related experience. Only experience prior to your appointment as a full- time employee will be acceptable. Resumes at time of application should reflect prior experience. Since the MCCC does not know as yet exactly how prior experience will be counted, it is a good idea to be as thorough as possible by listing, for example and if possible, all the part-time classes taught prior to full-time employment. The more thorough and best documented information you can provide will help speed up the process.

Responsibilities. This area applies only to full- and part-time professional staff and this information should be outlined in the E-7's.

This study cannot move forward until the data has been received by DMG. Consequently the MCCC will be working closely with the BHE and the campuses to keep information flowing. The MCCC Classification Team has a number of questions concerning the survey forms and the work plan that need to be answered. The Work Plan will be updated and revised, if necessary, every six week. Also, the BHE will produce a newsletter to all unit members concerning the study's progress. At the end of the this study, Peter Tsfarras, the Project Director from the BHE, stated that the expectations are to:

• Develop a new classification schedule for full- and part-time day and professional staff
• Develop guidelines for new hires
• Address internal inequities on a system wide basis
• Address compensation vis-a-vis comparably situated states
• Develop criteria to maintain classification system once established

The monetary results from the study, once implemented, will be retroactive to January, 1997. Those unit members who subsequently retired or who plan on retiring before the completion of the study will be included.

Contract Ratification Date Scheduled

On February 11 and 12, 1998, the MCCC will vote on the ratification of the contract extension agreement signed on December 24, 1997. Elections will be held on each campus for four hours each day with polls to close no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 1998.

All full-time and part-time day unit members are eligible to vote provided they are members in good standing--their dues have been paid. The Agreement calls for a one-year extension to the 1995-1998 contract with a three (3%) raise scheduled for July 1998 for all day unit employees. Part- time professional salaries will also be increased by the three percent.

All materials and copies of the Agreement will be mailed to chapter presidents. The entire text of the Agreement was printed in the December issue of the MCCC Newsletter that was mailed to all unit members' homes. In addition to the three percent increase, the Agreement establishes a Joint Study Committee to "study carefully, completely, and with serious intent and report their findings and recommendations, no later than January 1, 1999," on six issues: tenure, workload, full-time faculty vis-a- vis part-time faculty, evaluation, role of faculty in student advising and counseling, and productivity. Also, the parties will discuss the impact of the implementation of the new payroll system (paperless) scheduled for startup in 1999.

DCE
Know Your Contract

The following is a brief overview of DCE contract rights for your information:

You earn reappointment rights after teaching five courses over three consecutive fiscal years at the college. Faculty with reappointment rights will be provided a course interest and availability form.

Two or more courses per year in a work area at the college earns one year seniority. One course in one area and one course in another area in a year provides one year seniority in each work area. Loss of accrued seniority results after a two-year break in service. Canceled courses do not count toward a break in service.

independent of the calculations of seniority rights, you will move from the Step One salary to the Step Two salary upon teaching your sixth class and move to Step Three upon teaching your eleventh class. New faculty start at Step One but may start higher based on degrees, qualifications, and experience.

Effective Spring 1998 Semester:

Step 1 $635/credit

Step 2 $684/credit

Step 3 $735/credit

Lab component to be paid at the rate of 1.51 (lab hour: per credit salary) ratio.

Also, a 4.25% salary increase for DCE faculty who are paid at an hourly rate.

A tentative appointment for one course shall be assigned first to those unit members with the longest seniority. You should, under normal circumstances, be notified of your tentative assignment five weeks prior to the beginning of classes. At that time, the college should provide you with an MCCC packet.

If you need a copy of the collective bargaining contract, check the appropriate box contained in the union materials provided when you were given your tentative assignment. Return it to the MCCC Treasurer with the other documents.

You should be given a contract indicating the course(s) and salary to which you have been assigned.

Turn in your course syllabus within one week of the beginning of classes. This should include the items appearing one the course material checklist contained in the collective bargaining agreement. Note, however, that faculty enjoy academic freedom which provides for professional latitude in fulfilling your contractual obligations.

You have the right to choose your textbooks(s). The only exception is when it is a departmental selection and you are given an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.

Student evaluations are to be conducted during the second or third to the last week of classes.

A classroom observation must be conducted on faculty who have not yet met the threshold to attain reappointment rights. A classroom observation may be conducted on other faculty for stated written reasons that are consistent with the purposes of evaluation as provided for in the contract.

If you have any questions on DCE concerns, call DCE Grievance Coordinator Joe Rizzo.

Operational Audit Committee Report Finalized

Last year the MCCC went through a operational audit with the Daniel Dennis Company. It made a number of suggestions, and the MCCC established an Operational Audit Review Committee (OARC) to make a report with recommendations to the Board. The completed report was distributed at the MCCC Board meeting on January 23, 1998. A special Board meeting will be held on February: 21, 1998, to discuss, in detail, the recommendations from this committee. Carolyn Tetrault, Springfield Technical Community College, an MCCC Executive Committee and Board member chaired the Committee. Other members were: Maria Estela Carrion, Secretary, Quinsigamond; Susan Dole, MCCC President, John Hughes, Mt. Wachusett, Philip Mahler MCCC Vice President, Kathleen McDonough, Holyoke, Stephanie Small- Prasher, Massasoit, and Gall Stuart, No. Essex. Also assisting were Dan Donahue and Michelle Gallagher, MTA Consultants.

If you are interested in reviewing the report, contact your chapter president or your MCCC Board member.

Governor's Budget - No Surprises

Acting Governor Cellucci's proposed budget for public higher education falls in step with budgets Governor Weld' has submitted over the years. Last year, Weld proposed a 1.5% increase; this year, Cellucci proposes a 1.7% overall increase for the system with a whopping 0.3% increase in campus funding.

The budget supports a tuition decrease at all three segments. Though this has no direct impact on the colleges' budgets since that money reverts back to the state, if there is a commensurate reduction in fees, the governor's proposed budget is really a deficit budget since that reduction would dramatically reduce income for the campuses. It appears, however, that Cellucci is not providing even a cost-of-living increase because he expects the legislature to continue its pattern of recommending the increases.

In addition, there is no collective bargaining money in the appropriation.

It is either in a reserve in Administration and Finance or will need to be funded through a supplemental. The reason the 3% was not included is because the contract has not been ratified.

Highlights of the budget are:

• Increase insurance contributions from 15% to 25%
• Increase BHE central accounts administered by Board by 11.1%
• Decrease BHE line item by 5.3% consistent with BHE's request
• $8 million increase funding for General Scholarship Program
• $2 million increase for Campus Performance Improvement Program
• $2 million in new money for community colleges only for "Adult Workforce Training"
• Outside section for BHE to "develop a rational and equitable statewide tuition and fee plan for state and community colleges." This was also in last year's budget.

Health and Welfare accounts:

State colleges increase over FY98 by 12.9% to $1,475,999

Community colleges - no increase over FY98 - $1,388,317

House 1 Fiscal 1999

*The base figures are the Fiscal 1998 Conference Committee figures and do not reflect additional monies received by the colleges through supplemental or deficiency budgets.

MCCC Elections

Nominations are now open for MCCC elections for officers and delegates to the MTA Annual Meeting and the NEA Representative Assembly. Attached to this Newsletter is the nominating sheeting. If you are running for office, it is necessary to collect at least 50 signatures of active members in support of your candidacy. The schedule for the election is as follows:

• Nominations close February 10, 1998, at 4 p.m.
• Ballots will be mailed March 6
• Deadline for ballot return is April 1
• Results of MCCC election of officers announced on April 3
• Results of MTA and NEA delegates announced April 10

Ballots can also be faxed to Allan Peck at Springfield Technical Community College.

Public Relations Grants Available from MTA

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 "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 the locals' costs, up to a maximum of $500 for ANY ONE PROJECT with a limit of $1,000 per chapter-local 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 has been extended beyond February 1, 1998. To receive an application, call or write: MTA Communications Council c/o Betty-Jo Peterson.

Report your Blue Cross Dental Woes? Anyone having a complaint or concern about the Blue Cross Dental plan and coverage should direct his or her comments to Abe Sherf, North Shore Community College. He is the community college representative on the Health and Welfare Trust Fund.

MCCC Web Page Address www.tiac.net/users/mccc

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Know Your Contract

Jan. 30	Faculty summary evaluation due
Jan. 30	Course materials submitted
Feb. 2	First year professional staff and part-time faculty summary evaluations
Feb. 2	Sabbatical recommendations due to Board
Feb. 11	Summary evaluations rebuttals due
Feb. 13	First year professional staff evaluation conference
Feb. 16	Reappointments due for first through third year faculty
Feb. 20	Course materials returned
Feb. 27	New full- and part-time hire list due MCCC

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.