Official Minutes of the

Executive Board/Central Committee

October 6, 2006

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College Eye Room, Maucker Union
October 6, 2006
3:30-5:00 P.M.

•  Call to order

•  Call to Order/Announcements (Frank Thompson)

The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. Thompson made the following announcements:

•  Roger Bowen, General Secretary of the National AAUP, will be the featured speaker Saturday at the Fall Iowa AAUP Conference Meeting at Loras College .

•  President Allen has announced movement toward a two-level parking garage of two levels to be built and funded by the federal government.

•  Membership Report (Chuck Quirk)

UF has three new members: Rick Traw, Kristin Mack, and John Hines.

The newsletter is set to go with one additional article by Kessler.

Quirk also announced the October 23 Smooth Tenure Track event is to be led by Thompson with help from Cutter and Beall.

•  Presentation and Approval of the Minutes (Canning)

Motion by Isakson with second by Campbell to accept the May minutes. Motion carried.

Motion by Isakson with second by Campbell to accept the September minutes. Motion carried.

•  Treasurer's Report (Hans Isakson)

Isakson distributed a Balance Sheet and Profits & Loss reports as of September 30, 2006 .

Isakson noted that the UBS Financial Money Market Account is new. It will be for moneys which are not needed to cover monthly and expected expenses. It will earn 4.5% interest and funds can be transferred out of this fund if needed with a phone call.

Motion by Funderburk with second by Campbell to accept the Treasurer's Report. Motion carried.

Motion by Isakson with second by Zeman to authorize the Treasurer to deposit excel capital in the UBS Money Market account.

Discussion: Swan asked that the UNI Credit Union be used; Isakson reported that the UNI Credit Union does not have a money market account, and the UBS interest in more that the 1.5% interest on the Credit Union savings account. There is currently a three-year CD with $10,000 a year; it now earns 5% interest and matures in December. Isakson will assess rates and make a recommendation at that time. Isakson suggested putting $20,000 in the UBS Money Market account.

Motion carried.

•  Grievance Reports (Funderburk)

No grievances.

•  Old Business

1. Collective Bargaining

The following dates have been set:

UF Proposal Presentation: October 26 (Thursday), 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. , Board Room in Seerley; meeting open to the public.

Board return proposal presentation: November 14, 3:30-4:30 p.m. , Board Room in Seerley; meeting open to the public.

Subsequent meetings are set for December 4 and 14 and are not open to the public.

There was some discussion of a proposal for one-third of the A lot spaces to be designated for “faculty only.” UF would not agree to this if there would be a higher fee for these permits.

1. Government Relations

The UF survey will get feedback from candidates so UF can get information out to faculty on the candidates' positions, especially those related to higher education. The Regents support this effort.

1. Proposal RE “Clinical Faculty”

Linda Adkins presented and read a memorandum requesting UF to negotiate the implementation of clinical faculty a the University of Northern Iowa .

Discussion: Isakson noted that there has been an erosion of funding for instruction with an increase in hiring adjuncts to replace tenured faculty who leave or retire. Neuhaus noted this has happened with regard to the Library. Isakson noted that UNI now ranks next to the bottom in terms of the percentage of the total budget allocated for instruction.

It was noted that the attachment to Adkins' memo (6.14 Clinical Track Faculty) was prepared by Aaron Podelsky and was previously rejected by UF.

Adkins stated that her concerns were for job security and pay which is commensurate with the work done. Swan noted that Appendix J addresses these concerns.

Motion by Power with second by VanWormer to refer the memo from Adkins to the Collective Bargaining Committee for follow-up. Motion carried.

•  New Business

1. Newly Enacted Iowa Code—9.7 Violence Free Workplace Polity (Zeman)

Zeman reviewed activity which prompted the surfacing of the policy presented. Concern is with harassment that is less serious than a grievance but still problematic.

Motion by Funderburk with second by Swan that the UF officers meet with officers of the other organizations on campus (Merit Union and P&S Council) to draft a joint communiqué expressing a concern with the current situation with regard to the handling of complaints having to do with a “violence free” workplace.

1. Academic Freedom and Tenure Forum (Thompson)

Thompson reported that Pat Shaw, legal attorney and organizer for the National AAUP, is willing to come here to present a session for faculty and students on academic freedom and the importance of tenure. It was agreed there is a need for better education of this issue, especially for students.

1. Post Tenure Review

Funderburk reported that the Faculty Senate has referred the matter of post-tenure review to a Task Force. He noted that the Master Agreement does have provision for post-tenure review and that tenure is not a guarantee for a job for life but a guarantee for due process. The Task Force will develop a forum for a discussion of this issue. This is a hot issue for students, who feel tenured faculty are not necessarily accountable for good teaching.

With regard to merit pay, there was a concern by the Faculty Senate that department heads explain on what basis they determine merit pay.

•  Adjournment

Respectfully submitted,

Christine Canning, Secretary