HCC FACULTY SENATE

February 14, 2020 @ 1:00 pm; Central College FAC 115

  1. Call to Order: Desmond Lewis
    1. The meeting begins at 1:02pm.
  2. Guests:      Bob McCraken, Executive Director of Risk Management; David Cross, Director of EEO and Compliance
    1. McCraken discusses Campus Carry / how this relates to weapons-free zones 
      1. A committee meets every two months—the Faculty Senate President is one of the standing Co-Chairs.
        1. Each year, there is an audit to locate signs for weapons-free zones: volunteers needed to assist with audit.
        1. A sign-up sheet is in the front of the room. 
      1. There are two types of signs—permanent and temporary—that are based on criteria of the spaces. 
        1. Ensuring the correct placement of these signs is important because there are penalties for posting non-approved ones. 
    1. Cross discusses mandatory reporting requirement of TX Senate Bill 212
      1. As of January 1, 2020, higher education employees are required by law to report sexual misconduct (ex. certain incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic / dating violence, or stalking).
        1. Reporting instrument is available at Resources > Title IX:Sexual Misconduct and Reporting. (Scroll all the way down on HCC website.)
          1. Report incidents that occur during scope of work at HCC; if uncertain about specific incidents in relation to TX SB212 requirement, report anyway. 
            1. Report incidents promptly: these should be filed in a reasonable amount of time.
            1. Once filed, reports will go to the Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Institutional Equity for review. 
            1. Penalty for not reporting is termination of employment.
          1. Exempt employees are those recognized as confidential (ex. counselors).
      1. Question
        1. What if a student reports a historical incident that happened before enrollment at HCC?
          1. An employee is not required by law to report the historical incident. If an incident is current, it must be reported.
      1. Question
        1. What if an employee is accused by a student, and the complaint is found false?  Could the employee file a counter-complaint?  
          1. The student’s complaint would be a false one, so action could be taken.
      1. Question
        1. What about pregnancy? Sometime students just bring in medical excuses and expect accommodations. 
          1. Specific accommodations should come from ADA counselors. Medical records are not sufficient.
  3. Approval of January 2020 Minutes
    1. Laurel Lacroix makes a motion to approve. This is seconded on the floor, and the minutes are approved as-is.
  4. Standing Committee Reports:
  5. Compensation, Benefits, & Workload: Tod Bisch
    1. The committee reviewed salary data at the last meeting. Thank you, Gladys Bel.
    1. Recommendations will be made in March. Some highlights from the data:
      1. Adjunct faculty are at market.
      1. Full-time faculty are mostly in 10% range of market; there are some discrepancies, though.
      1. Some faculty are paid at grades 1 and 2; the committee wants to explore this. 
      1. High-demand stipends 
        1. Not included in retirement 
        1. Are these truly competitive?
      1. CE workload 
        1. Progress is steady; Norma Perez has asked for cost estimates to reduce the current 30 contact hours to 24. 
    1. Adjunct Caucus will be part of Charles Lamendola’s report. 
    1. Next meeting: Friday, March 6, 1pm in SJAC 140, Central campus 
  6. Finance & Treasurer’s Report: Mary Lawson
    1. No major changes 
    1. Money has gone out for adjunct professional development and the trustee meet-and-greet.
  7. Professional Development: Mia Taylor 
    1. No report
  8. Educational Affairs: Nikky Boutte-Heiniluoma – Laurel Lacroix reporting 
    1. Still working on faculty morale survey for March 
    1. Looking at language for the grade appeal process 
  9. Policies and Procedures: Laurel Lacroix 
    1. Comprehensive Handbook
      1. Norma Perez has tasked Susan Goll with the handbook.
      1. Laurel Lacroix expects to be on this committee and will send S. Goll the handbook edits to start.
      1. Policies and Procedures will not meet in March.
  10. Student Success: Kathy Najafi – Karen Saenz reporting 
    1. Creating Canvas training for students
      1. The HCC librarians, Dorsetta Williams, and Lorah Gough are all  involved. 
      1. Potential pilot for Summer 2020 with a rollout for the fall semester 
  11. Graduation: Darin Baskin
    1. Graduation is May 15. Registration will open at the end of March / beginning of April. Those who did not attend the December graduation are required to attend this one. 
    1. Two graduation ceremonies will continue.
    1. Updates
      1. Faculty mace
        1. Images presented on screen and materials discussed. 
      1. Faculty stole 
        1. More information will be presented in March.
    1. Darin Baskin will confirm that faculty teaching or giving finals on May 15 will be excused from graduation. 
    1. A few volunteers may be needed for VAST graduation. D. Baskin will confirm this. 
    1. Discussion about not wearing regalia to December ceremony 
      1. D. Baskin is looking at policies about this and will have more information soon. 
  12. Instructional Technology: Stacey Higdon 
    1. 1000 projectors to replace across the system
      1. Because of extra money, 250 AV units will be installed this fiscal year. After that, 131 per year.
      1. Projectors will have a 10-year life. 
      1. Some document cameras will be installed. 
    1. Copiers
      1. New vendor approved at the February 5 Board meeting
        1. Some of the machines are still on existing contracts. These will be replaced last.  
        1. Replacement on campus-by-campus level—possibly even floor-by-floor
        1. Possible Papercut upgrade would connect to users’ OneDrive accounts. 
      1. Charles Cordaro is the lead on this project. No exact timeline given, but replacements will happen as soon as possible. 
    1. Single Sign-on 
      1. There are larger discussions about this. More information will be shared when available. 
    1. Next meeting: Monday, March 9 from 3-4pm in SJAC 243, Central campus
  13. Diversity and Inclusion: Helen Graham
    1. Working on Safe Zone manual in order to formalize across the colleges 
    1. Non-gendered options are now on faculty registration forms. Thank you,  Stacey Higdon.  
      1. Faculty can choose from neutral job titles like Dr and Prof. /
        1. The option of Professor was added.
      1. Faculty can choose from gendered options or the gender-neutral Mx.
        1. The option of Mx. was added. 
      1. Faculty can also leave the salutation blank. 
        1. Before, the salutation choice was required. 
      1. The plan is to create a similar revision for student registration forms. 
    1. Men Who Champion Women 
      1. March 27 at Northforest campus
    1. Webinar event 
      1. April 9 from 11:30am-12:30pm 
    1. Working with Betty Fortune and others to streamline Diversity and Inclusion initiatives 
    1. OUT for Health 
      1. Saturday, March 14 at UTMB-Galveston 
    1. Working to streamline the Eagle Pantries 
      1. Darin Baskin comments about 6 new hires that will only work in the pantries. This should also help the process. 
    1. Next meeting: Monday, March 2 at 2pm in SJAC243, Central campus 
  • Special Reports, Committees and Caucuses:        
  • Past Presidents: Darin Baskin
    • Successful Meet-and-Greet with the trustees: as these events allow trustees to see the power of faculty, they will continue. 
      • 7 of 9 trustees / 48 faculty / 2 staff attended
    • Question
      • Could there be something like a cheat sheet: who the trustees are / questions to ask?
        • Yes. 
    • 3 of 9 members of the Board have committed to Bedichek-Orman. The current chair is donating an exclusive dinner for the auction. 
    • Next meeting of Past Presidents – before Spring Break 
  • Chair Caucus: Nikky Boutte-Heiniluoma – Laurel Lacroix reporting
    • Maxient revisions are positive. But reporting is still essential: there needs to be documentation for SACSCOC. Reporting is also helpful for security purposes.
      • There are multiple discussions across the floor about security issues. Desmond Lewis tables these.
        • Those concerned about security should contact faculty liaisons Jaime Hernandez or Bryant Evans who will work with HCC Police. There will be a meeting soon.
  • Adjunct Caucus: Charles LaMendola
    • Charles LaMendola discusses the findings of the focus groups and overviews the challenges and recommendations. He will work with the Compensation committee on further recommendations. 
      • Today’s report will be sent out by Desmond Lewis. 
  • Bedichek-Orman Auction: Linda Graham and Sheryl Ballard
    • Hillard Williams will also be working with Linda Graham. 
    •  The next meeting will be March 6 in SJAC 243, Central campus.
  • Faculty Conference: Debra Schultz and Keitha Robinson
    • Registration is still open / proposals are still accepted. Proposals will be reviewed the week of February 24. 
  • All-Faculty Retreat: Helen Graham
    • Dates will be May 19-21, and the cost will be approximately $765.
  • HCC Foundation: Antrece Baggett & Mary Lawson
    • No report
  • President’s Report: Desmond Lewis
    • Recent resolution was presented to the Board at the February 5 meeting; look at the video feed on the website for what happened.
    • Some full-time faculty still do not have offices.
      • Desmond Lewis is working with IT to check on phone numbers. This will better assist in developing a more equitable way to assign spaces for FT and PT faculty.
      • Antrece Baggett comments faculty work area at Gay Hall has computers, but no phones. 
    • Recently met with Chief Cunningham. There will be a further meeting with the faculty liaisons to convey questions and concerns.
  • Old (unfinished) Business: 
    • Jaime Hernandez asks about the status of the ORP resolution. Desmond Lewis says there has been no progress at this point. 
    • The policy barring financial aid outside of student degree plans has a large impact on certain departments. 
      • Are there discussions about this?  Would it be appropriate for a committee to work on this? 
        • Desmond Lewis: there is a larger committee that is currently looking at how to better assist students in funding. 
        • This is more than an HCC policy; it’s a federal mandate, so more information will go out about this. 
    • The policy about one class needed / graduation requirements is still unclear. 
      • This new policy relates to the two graduation ceremonies. Before, there was only one.
      • More information will go out about this. 
  • New Business:
    • Friday, February 21 is the first HCC Rigor Summit.
      • Laurel Lacroix points out that certain people in administration will not be at the Rigor Summit but will instead be at a different conference.
        • The concern is that this conveys an unfavorable impression to faculty who have been told by administration that summit attendance is mandatory. 
        • Another concern is that administration is passing down mandates. Desmond Lewis will ask that future communications seem less controlling. 
      • Norma Perez will most likely be at the Rigor Summit. 
  • Announcements:
    • Digital Humanities and Composition Colloquium 
      • Saturday, February 29, 9am-2pm at Northline campus 
      • An email with registration / call for proposals was sent out by Desmond Lewis. 
    • Reading Cultures Celebration of Japan 
      • Thursday, March 5 at Spring Branch campus
    • Black Women and Radicalism presentation 
      • Monday, February 24, 2-3pm in LHSB 100, Central campus 
    • Walk to Vote
      • Faculty Senate is partnering with SGA for this. 
    • Mental Health First Aid 
      • Wednesday, March 4 , 8:30am-4:30pm at 3100 Main
      • Email Melissa Miller Waters for more information. 
    • Healing Racism conference 
      • Last Friday and Saturday of October
  • Adjournment (no “second” required)
    • The meeting is adjourned at 2:49pm.

NEXT MEETING: March 13, 2020

1PM at Central’s Learning Hub, Room 100