HCC FACULTY SENATE

 

April 17, 2020 @ 1:00 pm; Virtual Meeting

 

  1. Call to Order: Desmond Lewis
    1. The WebEx meeting begins at 1pm.
    2. Kyle Cooper will assist as Moderator; committee chairs have Presenter roles. Everyone else will need to use the chat function for questions

 

  1. Guests:      Hina Naik, Executive Director, Talent Technology & Total Rewards; Janet Wormack, Senior VC of Finance & Administration and CFO; Norma Perez, VC of Instructional Services and CAO
    1. Naik is in attendance for Wormack; however, Wormack does log in a little after Naik begins. 
      1. Naik begins by presenting Wormack’s compensation presentation from the  4/15 Board special meeting 

 

  1. Discussion of HCC’s overall compensation philosophy and principles
    1. Market-driven: ranges defined by labor market (primary and secondary)
    1. The majority of HCC’s positions are already highly competitive in terms of market values. 
    1. Of the 8 urban community colleges (often referred to a TUCC8), we are now ranked #4 in faculty pay. Last year, it was #3. 
    1. Wormack jumps into the conversation: the budget recommendations are contingent on enrollment.
    1. Naik discusses the Faculty Excellence Awards – a larger plan is anticipated by 2022.
    1. Wormack refers to the 3-year plan budget – she reminds us that she will continue to advocate for faculty support 
      1. Currently working with Fheryl Prestage, Interim VC of Information Technology, to provide additional technology support for faculty
      1. There was Board approval on 4/15 to allow for additional funding from student technology fee increase. 
    1. Questions and Answers asked of all three guests // questions are populated in the chat window so not all are read aloud before answering.
      1. Naik answers a question about Lone Star’s past 4.7% salary increase for adjuncts. 
        1. While we are still behind Lone Star, we are ahead of San Jacinto and at market for the adjunct rate. 
      1. Perez answers a question about MFA status. 
        1. Repeats what we already knew about stipends for certain faculty in art and design fields / faculty grandfathered into Grade 12 status. Comments that they have not revisited the issue further
        1. Note for clarity: this question was asked by Higdon and was intended to inquire about the approved March Senate recommendation within the proposed budget.
      1. A question about document cameras is directed to / asked by Wormack, but no answer is provided. 
      1. Wormack answers a question about the Board’s response to the Compensation presentation.
        1. Uncertain times // at this point, they were only inclined to inclined to increase the lowest-paid staff positions ($11/hr to $15/hr). We just need more numbers; they will get data in administrative brief prior to the 5/3 meeting. 
          1. Perez recommends faculty watch the 4/15 meeting for budget context.  
          1. Wormack comments on the Board’s concerns for the economy and its impact on HCC. Perez comments that, right now, all increases hinge on enrollment.
          1. Wormack fields a question about the $15 figure. 
            1. Naik refers to Houston recommendations that minimum wage increase to $15.
        1. Wormack discusses an anticipated federal aid package of $28 million—$14 million of that has to go to emergency assistance with students.
        1. The money is not here yet, so this information should not be disclosed to students.
      1. Will students be refunded lab fees for summer? 
        1. Wormack is unsure of what’s being asked, but there will be no distance education fees for the summer.
      1. Has minimum wage been raised in Texas? 
        1. No – but Houston is trying to do that for its employees.
      1. Would a 2% salary increase be in addition to a step?
        1. No – the 2% is the step. 
      1. Wormack discusses additional resources from the HCC Foundation for international students and how HCC is working on getting clarity from the Department of Education about other options. 
      1. Faculty contracts. 
        1. In process – will be posted to PeopleSoft  
      1. Rolled over vacation days.
        1. Naik will follow up with Wormack on this. 
      1. Can the $2000 professional development funds be used for devices?
        1. No. Wormack will look into this. 
      1. Does the release of emergency funds affect summer financial aid / financial aid, in general?
        1. No. We are working on clarification for international students, too.
      1. All other questions from the chat will go on a list to Wormack and Perez. 
    1. Perez thanks faculty for all the necessary efforts for March 30 start back date.
    1. Perez discusses the P/F grading policy.
      1. Allows faculty to provide a grade as usual. Asking for the P/F is up to the student (deadline of 5/22, 5pm)   
    1. New questions (different from those in the previous Q&A) develop.
      1. Will adjuncts be compensated for online training? 
        1. She will discuss this with Wormack.
      1. International students and eligibility for computers, assistance, technology, etc.
        1. Wormack is still on the WebEx and comments that she will know more about assistance options soon. 
        1. HCC is not purchasing the technology for international students. Students purchase items though normal means and can be reimbursed / refunded.
      1. Has the maximum number of allowable online courses for international students been waived for now?
        1. Yes. Wormack will confirm.
      1. Could emergency funds be used to purchase food? 
        1. Yes. Also looking at partnerships for food. 
      1. Could there be a separate adjunct website for a directory?
        1. Why would it be necessary? Applicable information for PT faculty is already available online. More context is needed.
      1. What is the timeline to reopen HCC? 
        1. There is not one. Just now entering into discussions about this.
      1. How does the P/F option relate to dual credit?  
        1. Main concern is the college grade, but there will need to be a discussion with the high school. Ex. will P/F work on the high school transcript?
      1. Question about grade change process for appeals
        1. No different than usual / in this instance, the student has until May 22, 5pm to take pass/fail 
      1. Suspending the EGLS3 
        1. The survey is not suspended, but it will function more for information-gathering about the overall semester experience.
        1. Perez stresses EGLS3 results will not be used against faculty. 
      1. Timeline for completion of canvas certification 
        1. What is the adjunct timeline? 
          1. Encourage them to do it during the same timeframe as full-time faculty (i.e. before the Spring semester ends)
      1. What is HCC doing to ensure the safe return of employees? 
        1. Working on this plan: some employees are in high-risk groups. We are not offering skills labs this summer; academic labs were converted to a virtual component.  
      1. Question to Wormack about the $28 million aid package 
        1. Kyle Cooper comments she left the WebEx. No answer given.
      1. Student orientation
        1. Working on the process
      1. Should faculty calculate grades without the ones that were left in the buildings?
        1. That is the faculty member’s call; Perez asks faculty who need to get into buildings to talk to deans. While there is no plan in place for reopening buildings, a list of faculty names will be helpful.
      1. Model of instruction for the future 
        1. Thinking about a hybrid model 
      1. All other unanswered questions for Perez should be sent to Desmond Lewis. 

 

  • Approval of March 2020 Minutes. 
    • Tod Bisch makes a motion to approve the minutes. Mia Taylor and Antrece Baggett second. Stacey Higdon shares her screen to show the minutes from MS Teams. 
    • The minutes pass as-is through spoken (for committee chairs) / written (for attendees) vote. 

 

  • Standing Committee Reports:
  • Compensation, Benefits, & Workload: Tod Bisch
    • Committee did not meet in April.
      • Have not met with Chancellor or Perez 
      • Will schedule meeting with committee and bring forward that for next month
  • Finance & Treasurer’s Report: Mary Lawson
    • No major changes, but our B-O operating account has gone up slightly. Refer to the report in MS Teams files for more information. 
  • Professional Development: Mia Taylor 
    • Discusses the Canvas Training schedule. Faculty will not get credit for the shortened option the week of March 30 or prior // Must be the full course.
  • Educational Affairs: Nikky Boutte-Heiniluoma
    • Grades posted in the usual way by May 11 // students have from May 11-22 to make the decision for P/F.
    • Canvas training / DE certification 
    • Online and hybrid formats proposed for fall 
  • Policies and Procedures: Laurel Lacroix 
    • No report
  • Student Success: Kathy Najafi
    • Online training for students – agreed that this should be done prior to the start of each semester
    • Idea for Canvas videos on HCC website to be cross-posted to library’s video website
      • Faculty could record their own videos inside Canvas courses to assist students, if desired.
  • Graduation: Darin Baskin
    • Virtual ceremony through Marching Order 
      • Our part: 5-8 seconds video of words of encouragement 
        • Interested participants should email Darin Baskin.  
      • As of 4/16, 580 students had applied to graduation.
        • There is also an option for graduates to walk in December 2020. 
  • Instructional Technology: Stacey Higdon
    • Committee met via Webex on Monday, April 13 at 3pm. 
    • 700+ laptops and devices have been issued to full-time and adjunct faculty. 
      • Distribution will stop April 17 but can resume after a new shipment (April 28 or 29) and imaging: estimate – first week of May. 
      • Student device distribution is separate. 
    • CLI representatives are still available. 
      • If you need one-on-one assistance, email [email protected] (Regional Manager, CLI East) and she can help direct you to one of the representatives. 
    • Re-assessment of Canvas training
      • Our recommendation is for this committee to be involved in its re-development.  
    • Next meeting on Monday, May 11 at 3pm – MS Teams or WebEx 
      • If you’d like to attend and are not currently on the committee, email [email protected]
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Helen Graham
    • No report

 

  • Special Reports, Committees and Caucuses:        
  • Past Presidents: Darin Baskin
    • Met today – good conversation 
  • Chair Caucus: Nikky Boutte-Heiniluoma
    • Zoom subscription in Canvas 
      • More information could be forthcoming
    • Canvas mentors 
      • no update about compensation 
    • Next meeting on April 27 
  • Adjunct Caucus: Charles LaMendola
    • Unemployment compensation concerns   
    • Stipends for adjuncts that worked over spring break
    • Recommendation for department chairs to hold off on assigning full-time overloads until all adjuncts have classes 
    • Idea for a virtual adjunct appreciation event
  • Bedichek-Orman Auction: Linda Graham 
    • No report 
  • Faculty Conference: Debra Schultz and Keitha Robinson
    • No report 
  • All-Faculty Retreat: Helen Graham
    • This event has been cancelled. 
  • HCC Foundation: Antrece Baggett & Mary Lawson
    • Consider donating to Swoop to the Rescue fund if you have not done so. 
  • President’s Report: Desmond Lewis
    • The information about the three internal positions went out earlier via email (Weekend College, Honors College, Adjunct Academy) 
    • EGLS3 comes out soon
      • A reminder that it is not to be used punitively against faculty. If it appears in your PEP, contact Desmond Lewis right away. 
    • No timeline for when campuses will reopen 
    • Recognizes Richard Gosselin, Mia Taylor, and the Canvas mentors
    • Discussing the application of the 60/40 rule: how would this look with all online?
    • Faculty mentors will be there as long as is needed 
    • Graduation
      • Please reach out if you want to participate.
    • Please go back and watch the 4/15 board meeting if you have not done so.
      • This helps: as we ask for things, it must be strategic and it must be in alignment.
    • Recognizes that it’s not ideal to have the questions filtered through a facilitator for the WebEx, but we have to maintain order somehow.

 

  • Old (unfinished) Business: 
    • None
  • New Business:
    • 2020-2021 Senate Elections 
      • Discussion of overall timeline and procedure – see MS Teams files for the report. 
  • Announcements:
    • Richard Gosselin needs more instructors for classes, so if you are interested, please see an email that went out with the form. 
    • David White will post a Zoom invitation in MS Teams for the standard after-senate party.
  • Adjournment (no “second” required)
    • The meeting is adjourned at 3:13pm. 

 

NEXT MEETING: May 8, 2020

 

1PM Virtual Meeting