January 2021 Minutes

HCC FACULTY SENATE 

 

January 15, 2021 @ 1 pm; Virtual Meeting 

 

1. Call to Order: Daniel Dylla 

 

1. Meeting begins at 1:02pm.   

 

2. Approval of December 2020 Minutes 

 

1. Tod Bisch makes a motion to accept the minutes; Donald Parker seconds. 

 

2. Daniel Dylla asks for any discussion about the minutes: there is none. Therefore, T. Bisch makes a motion to accept the minutes as presented.  Mary Lawson seconds.   

 

3. The minutes are accepted as presented. 

 

3. Standing Committee Reports: 

 

1. Compensation, Benefits, & Workload: Tod Bisch 

 

1. Met on January 7.  

 

1. Compensation Update – Sophie Haci  

 

1. Based on budget, no previous recommendations from the committee were implemented by the Board // re: Steps, Grades, Adjunct Pay, TCTTA data. 

 

1. Create 37 steps / properly redistribute Step 31 Faculty over steps 32-37.  

 

2. Make Grade 3 the lowest grade for current and future Workforce Faculty vs. Grades 1 and 2.  

 

3. Make Grade 12 the new grade for current and future MFA faculty.  

 

4. Adjunct Faculty salary: no recent changes. 

 

5. Full-time faculty salary: no changes / there was actually a decrease (-2.4%) when looking at the bigger picture.  

 

1. Possibly due to retirements from the top of the pay scale. 

 

2. Letters of Reasonable Assurance  

 

1. Revision will be sent to Janet May and Rodney Nathan. 

 

3. MFA Compensation (Pay as Terminal Degree) 

 

1. Work with Dean Colleen Reilly. 

 

2. Convene workgroup within Compensation committee. 

 

4. Hiring Numbers – Rodney Nathan 

 

1. 2020-2021 data for 48 FT positions.  

 

1. 1982 applicants applied. 450 (23%) were HCC adjuncts.  

 

1. Of the applicants, 952 were released to screening committee. 330 (35%) of those were HCC adjuncts.  

 

1. 117 recommended to Dean for consideration. 72 (62%) were HCC adjuncts.  

 

1. 45 candidates identified and hired. 33 of the 45 (73%) were internal HCC adjuncts.  

 

2.  2019-2020 process – 77% hired were adjuncts.  

 

3. In 2018-2019 process – 60% 

 

4. In 2017-2018 process – 83%  

 

5. CE workload issue  

 

1. Ongoing  

 

6. Working on goals 

 

7. Next meeting on February 5 

 

8. Questions from Sairah Saeed 

 

1. (1) Question about the top-most steps and steps in general (2) Where can we get more information about the steps/grades?  

 

1. (1) The steps ensure that faculty at the top of the scale are where they need to be. (2) Tod Bisch requests that S. Saeed email him: from there, information will be compiled and sent out.  

 

1. There may already be some data on the HR (TE) pages on MyHCC. 

 

2. T. Bisch will add anyone interested to the committee OneDrive.  

 

9. Comment from Daniel Dylla 

 

1. Workload / Overload Advisory Group is meeting on February 25. 

 

2. Finance & Treasurer’s Report: Mary Lawson 

 

1. After Bedichek-Orman auction, we are up in revenue since last meeting. Some of this is also from the Faculty/Staff Campaign. 

 

1. $12, 647 available for spending. Interest is also included in this figure.  

 

2. This money can be used for more than just traditional professional development—things like honorariums for speakers. 

 

1. Request for more information about the funds for speakers. 

 

1. Such an award would need to be approved through the Bedichek-Orman Grants and Awards committee.  

 

2. Adjunct Emergency fund  

 

1. Working with IT to set an application procedure (to keep it confidential and to have a record). 

 

2. Working with TE for effective money placement. 

 

3. Finalizing fund agreement with HCC Foundation. 

 

4. Potential date for rollout: February 15 (possibly February 1)  

 

1. Comment from Carlos Bohorquez of Adjunct Caucus 

 

1. Communicate with C. Bohoquez / Charles LaMendola about the fund and its rollout. 

 

1. M. Lawson agrees to do so and to provide the Caucus with the links; however, she notes that she has already spoken with C. LaMendola about the fund.  

 

3. Professional Development: Jennifer Vacca 

 

1. No report; however, as a reminder: the All-Faculty Retreat has been cancelled.  

 

4. Educational Affairs: Nikky Boutte-Heiniluoma 

 

1. No report 

 

5. Policies and Procedures: Laurel Lacroix 

 

1. No report 

 

6. Student Success: Kathy Najafi 

 

1. Working on two documents for faculty: one a self-reflection tool about equity in the classroom and the other about resources.  

 

2. Wanting to work closely with the upcoming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. 

 

3. Meetings on the second Friday of the month from 11am-12pm.  

 

7. Graduation: Darin Baskin 

 

1. No report 

 

8. Instructional Technology: Stacey Higdon 

 

1. No report 

 

9. Diversity and Inclusion: Mary Lawson 

 

1. No report 

 

4. Special Reports, Committees and Caucuses:  

 

1. Past Presidents Caucus: David White 

 

1. More will come up in Old Business (Revision of Bylaws)  

 

2. Chair Caucus: Nikky Boutte-Heiniluoma 

 

1. No report 

 

3. Adjunct Caucus: Charles LaMendola 

 

1. Met at 11pm today 

 

1. Encouraged by the Overload discussion. 

 

2. Moving forward with the revision of the Letters of Reasonable Assurance 

 

3. Ongoing concerns about Canvas training and no compensation.  

 

1. Discussion that the training is too tedious. 

 

4. Spring 2021 Adjunct Appreciation event 

 

5. Thanks to the Finance Committee for the work on emergency fund. 

 

4. Bedichek-Orman Auction: Erica Stevens  

 

1. Next meeting is on February 4 at 4pm.   

 

1. Email [email protected] if you would like to join or attend. 

 

2. If interested in applying for a grant, go to https://hccsfacultysenate.com/grants/  

 

1. All faculty are eligible; adjuncts are especially encouraged to apply.  

 

5. Faculty Senate Micro-Conference: Keitha Robinson and Debra Schultz 

 

1. 2021 Virtual Faculty Senate Micro-Conference 

 

1. March 1-4, 2021 – 7-8pm each night 

 

1. Each date will have its own workshop / registration link with event descriptions coming soon that will have descriptions.  

 

2. Session Topics: Equity and Inclusion, Learning, Self-Care, and TCCTA  

 

2. Question, Marjorie Brown 

 

1. Will the content overlap with that of the Rigor Summit on February 26? 

 

1. No  

 

3. Question from the floor 

 

1. Will the sessions be recorded? 

 

1. Yes 

 

6. HCC Foundation: Antrece Baggett & Mary Lawson 

 

1. Remind students to apply for HCC Foundation scholarships—the window is open until June 15. 

 

1. After completing one application, students will be matched, as needed. The scholarships are divided into two categories: needs-based and academic.  

 

2. https://www.hccsfoundation.org/Scholarships 

 

7. Concourse (Syllabus) Update: Karen Saenz 

 

1. Working with IT with a plan to have it to Instructional Leaders by early February. 

 

1. This timeline will allows leaders to add the departmental parts and have it ready for faculty to pilot in F8B. 

 

2. Planning team is working on the idea of training.  

 

3. The new template will not change the existing headings.  

 

4. Email questions to [email protected] 

 

5. President’s Report: Daniel Dylla 

 

1. Instructional Services Updates 

 

1. Forthcoming answers from Instructional Services about Recording, Attendance, Requiring student cameras, and FlexCampus options  

 

1. This will be distributed to Deans and Chairs and will go out accordingly. While these may not be the answers we want, they are forthcoming. We can discuss them after they go out.   

 

2. AVC for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer 

 

1. Janet Wormack has left HCC.  

 

1. Her departure was not a result of the college’s finances; she had a better offer elsewhere.  

 

2. Marshall Heins is Interim Chief Financial Officer. 

 

3. Marshall Trest is Interim Chief Facilities Officer. 

 

3. FlexCampus and Labs remain remote until Spring Break. 

 

1. Refer to the email from yesterday at 11:42am: Changes to Instructional and Support Services Plan for Spring 2021 Semester. 

 

2. Administration will reassess by February 22. 

 

4. Questions and Comments  

 

1. (1) Carlos Bohorquez questions the delay in the recording announcement. (2) Unclear about recording policy. 

 

1. (1) Daniel Dylla is uncertain for the reason about the delay from Administration. (2) Last semester, faculty should have been recording classes and keeping those within the course shell.   

 

2. Dylla is sharing this information with the Senate in the spirit of transparency. A formal statement will come about from Administration soon.  

 

2. Nathan Smith: In the Senate resolution about face-to-face instruction, one of the key parts was that decisions for moving forward and that those criteria would be transparent. 

 

1. What were the reasons behind the decision to remain virtual? What “changed” [for Administration]? 

 

1. Dylla: while looking at a recent risk management report, it was clear that this was the correct decision—that going forward with all on-campus plans would be difficult but that there were still some things that would be offered on campus. 

 

1. N. Smith and D. Dylla both recognize that this decision moved quickly but was the best one based on the available data. 

 

1. Smith asks D. Dylla to remind Administration about its commitment to transparency, though.  

 

2. Dylla agrees to do this and recognizes that Administration may need a reminder.  

 

3. Kathy Najafi asks for written directions for the recording policy—what we can and cannot do.  

 

1. Educational Affairs was working on this, but it is not ready for presentation. Still an unofficial document in process.  

 

1. Steve Levey: Clarity is needed on the dual credit recordings, too.  

 

2. Juanna Shin: What about professors who use non-HCC licensed platforms like Zoom or Twitch to conduct their instruction? 

 

1. Answers and guidelines are in process and / or forthcoming.  

 

6. Old (unfinished) Business: 

 

1. Amendment to the Bylaws 

 

1. Article I, Proposed Section 3: Senate Meetings 

 

1. The Senate shall meet once a month at a time and place designated by the President of the Senate and announced to the Senate membership in a timely manner;  

 

2. If a physical meeting is impossible, the President shall preside over a virtual meeting via an online meeting platform available to all Senate members and HCC faculty;  

 

3. Any recorded votes on motions or procedures will be carried out via a program designated by the President, under the supervision of those in the Senate already authorized to conduct such votes.  

 

4. All arrangements for virtual meeting and voting shall be subject to the oversight by the Faculty Senate via the appropriate Senate committees or by motions made during the New Business portion of monthly meetings.  

 

1. Discussion about what this means for hybrid meeting options.  

 

2. Alan Ainsworth comments that meeting information is already in Article X of the Senate Constitution.   

 

1. The proposed addition of Section 3 to Article I of the Bylaws is tabled.  

 

2. Amendment of Article II, Section 1 (Instructional Divisions)  

 

1. Originally, these were based on was based on original Centers of Excellence and Transformation.  

 

2. These revisions will better align with instructional divisions that currently exist.  

 

3. There is no discussion from the floor.  

 

3. Amendment of Article II, Section 3, Clause 3, Subsection C  

 

1. This details who should assist the Vice-President with elections. 

 

2. There is no discussion from the floor.  

 

4. Amendment of Article IV, Section 1 

 

1. Updates to some committee descriptions: each committee chair overviews changes. 

 

2. There is no discussion from the floor.   

 

5. Amendment of Article V, Section 3: Past Presidents Caucus 

 

1. Alan Ainsworth discusses proposed changes to be in line with the Constitution and to include Past Presidents that are retired or have gone onto administration.  

 

1. Members of the Past Presidents Caucus are in disagreement about the changes.  

 

2. After a prolonged discussion, Mandy Palmer makes a motion to table the amendment. Mary Lawson seconds. It is tabled.   

 

6. Electronic Voting 

 

1. All motions (except the two that were pulled) carry.  

 

1. The other two will go back to Policies and Procedures.  

 

7. New Business: 

 

1. Class Recordings 

 

1. Ruth Dunn wants to revisit the recording stance for classes. 

 

2. Tod Bisch notes that without something formal from Administration, there is nothing for Senate to discuss.  

 

3. Daniel Dylla comments that such a statement will come out soon.  

 

1. Therefore, there is no New Business. 

 

8. Announcements 

 

1. Keitha Robinson (re: TCCTA) 

 

1. Sessions on February 5, 12, 19, and 26. 

 

2. Full-time faculty fees are covered (with a Concur request). Adjunct faculty are not covered but can apply for a Bedichek-Orman grant. 

 

1. Helen Graham notes that department chairs may also be able to help with finding.  

 

3. Daniel Dylla will send out more information about the conference.  

 

4. David Ross and Tod Bisch remind those present that Linda Comte is the current TCCTA President.   

 

2. Mary Lawson (re: Eagle Eyes Reflection Group and Reading Culture)  

 

1. Spread the word about these to faculty and students.  

 

1. Reading Culture 

 

1. Focus this semester is Nigeria. Will be reading Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo. Students who read can participate for one of three scholarships.  

 

2. Go to Spring 2021 – Nigeria – Reading Culture – Libraries at Houston Community College (hccs.edu) for more information.  

 

2. Eagle Eyes Reflection Group 

 

1. Book for this semester is Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson.  

 

2. First meeting is February 8 and the group will discuss parts 1 and 2. You do not have to read the book to participate. 

 

3. Email Mary Lawson for the Zoom link to attend.  

 

3. Alex Almestica (re: Library Lifesaver Events)  

 

1. Events for faculty for the first week of class: https://library.hccs.edu/lifesaver 

 

4. David White (re: standing Senate after-meeting) 

 

1. The first Advanced Colloquium of 2021 will be held at 7pm. The Zoom link is available in the Chat.   

 

9. Adjournment (no “second” required) 

 

1. Tod Bisch makes a motion to adjourn. 

 

2. The meeting ends at 2:59pm. 

 

NEXT MEETING: February 12, 2021 

 

1 pm – Virtual