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Welcome to the Hartnell College Faculty Association Site
The Hartnell College Faculty Association is committed to the support of all faculty members in the district through the support and defense of our rights under the contractual agreements that this association negotiated with the Board of Trustees of this District. The Faculty Association is committed to a fair and equitable work environment for both our Full-time and Associated Faculty members by providing freedom to accomplish our primary goal: providing the very best in education to our students. We endeavor to work with the Board of Trustees, both local college administrations, our campus communities, fellow district associations, and the general community of the Hartnell College Community College District. | |
Faculty,
In the last few years, we have learned the importance of having an
engaged, responsive and faculty-friendly Board of Trustees, and decided
to take responsibility to assemble such a Board. The HCFA formed a PAC,
and we were instrumental in the re-election of one incumbent and the
election of two new trustees last year. So…what is the evidence of the
change in the Board’s relationship with the faculty and the college?
• The Board revised its policy on shared governance to “rely
primarily upon the advice and judgment of the Academic Senate” on
academic and professional matters; previously, the policy called for
mutual agreement and gave the Board the right to ignore the Senate’s
recommendations.
• The Board generally has worked aggressively to address the
shortcomings described in the accreditation report: developing an ethics
statement, participating in educational opportunities, and reviewing and
revising its policies. Last year the Board approved expenditures for
faculty to serve as Curriculum Leaders and as SLO Leaders. This was an
important recognition of the extra work that faculty would be required
to do in addressing the curriculum and student learning outcome issues
of the accreditation recommendations. Recently the Board invited a
faculty member, Ron Waddy, to draft language regarding Board policy on
campus safety.
• While the reorganization is very much a work in progress, the
Board’s approval of this action signaled its recognition that a change
was needed in college management.
• During the presidential selection process, the Board accepted
the faculty’s recommendation that the President be hired on a one-year
contract. In fact, they went further and made the contract subject to
90 day notice.
• The Board approved the 2008-2009 academic calendar, developed
with extensive survey data from the faculty. This new calendar
eliminates convocation, includes the Cesar Chavez holiday and results in
a reduction of the work year to 175 (from 176) days. It should be noted
that the calendar was implemented this year even though the contract has
not yet been ratified.
• The Board approved a budget that assumes a health benefit cap of
$1,400.00 per unit member. This has also been implemented even though
the contract has not yet been ratified. (Otherwise, we would be having
$132.91 deducted from our paychecks instead of $32.91. We are still
working on the final $32.91, however!)
To those of us who have been attending Board meetings, it is apparent
that the Board members are working hard to treat each other, and the
public, in a more professional and courteous manner. I and other faculty
members have found individual Board members to be very accessible and
active in events on campus. Perusal of the Hartnell web site shows that
the Board packets and meeting minutes are now accessible to all.
In short, the Board members that the PAC recommended, the Rep Council
endorsed, and you helped to elect last year have been supportive of
faculty. Recent email comments indicating that Board members “have
supported the president and her policies without regards to faculty
recommendations” are not based on the complete record of the board’s
actions.
In the special election in March, the Rep Council hopes to elect a
union-endorsed candidate. Four candidates were interviewed by the Board
for the position in August, and two or three of them are expected to
contest the seat. The PAC has made a recommendation and provided
interview audio files for Rep Council review. The Rep Council, as the
representatives of union members, will consider the information provided
by the PAC and vote on an endorsement of a candidate supportive of
faculty, as provided in PAC bylaws.
The PAC is recommending action now because of the short turnaround time
for the election as well as the short time remaining this semester in
which the Rep Council can act. In addition, advice about political
action recommends supporting a candidate at the time of filing when
possible rather than waiting until all candidates have filed.
Fortunately, records of the candidates’ public interviews regarding
service on the Board were available. In order to make a timely
endorsement, the Rep Council is reviewing the interviews and will be
voting on the PAC’s recommendation for endorsement on Thursday.
We need to ensure that the Board continues to develop by supporting
candidates who are receptive to faculty, dedicated to serving Hartnell,
and who will work together with us as we navigate these difficult times.
Respectfully,
Ann Wright
President, HCFA |
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Hello all,
In the previous e-mail I said the rep council would be meeting Thursday to consider an endorsement for the Trustee 5 position. We have obtained audio tapes of the interviews that were held in August, when the appointment was made. These were distributed to the rep council for review, but other faculty members have asked to hear them as well. Here is the link (must be copied and pasted):
http://web.mac.com/cjchristensen/iWeb/hartnell
The tracks are listed in the order in which they took place. Thanks, Carl!
Ann
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Hello all,
You may recall that on Oct. 13, I sent an e-mail describing that the rep council had voted to endorse the Board's appointment of Celia Martinez to the District 5 seat vacated by Kari Valdes. The letter also stated that an election has been called, and that we would keep you informed of further developments. The election will be held in March; and this seat, as well as two others, will be up for election the following November.
The rep council is currently considering a motion to endorse Celia Martinez for election to the seat, and is reviewing interview materials from the August Board meeting at which the selection was made. We will vote on the motion at our next meeting on Nov. 13, at 3:00 in CAB 215. Please contact rep council members, and/or attend the meeting, if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Ann |
This section of the HCFA is set aside for current union members.
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