FAEC minutes, June 17th, 2020

FAEC 6/17/2020 DRAFT

Attendance: Roark Atkinson (HGS), Naseem Choudhury (President), Katie Cohen (Library, incoming), Christina Connor (Library), Donna Flynn (Councilor-at-Large under 11), Scott Frees (TAS), Thierry Rakotbe-Joel (ASB), Stephen Rice (HGS), Mihaela Serban (SSHS), Ashwani Vasishth (Councilor-at-Large over 11),  

Secretary: Kim Lorber

Guests: Martha Ecker (AFT-President), Tim Judge (AFT Adjunct Representative

Minutes approved for 5/27/2020 meeting. 

FAEC President’s Report

FAEC President Summary with President Mercer: 

No news; zero allocations for new FY and nothing was received for the last quarter. We have an approximate $31 million deficit. Depending on the Governor’s actions, dorms will or will not be opened. There are 800 dorm bathrooms, which means a maximum occupancy of 800 students based on current CDC guidelines of one per student. This is 25% occupancy, staff would have to come back and we would run at a deficit. $1800 would be 1 student per unit sharing a bathroom. That would be little over 50% capacity and would be a break even amount for staff and services, we would still have a deficit. We are looking at furloughs, layoffs and deficits. The Secretary of Higher Education has changed positions; the junior person is now running things and has less influence. It is unlikely we will have money coming from the state to help this.

Budget /Impact on Faculty: Naseem asked President Mercer to include a faculty member on the budget process; he declined. She will continue to ask. We should know more about what will impact our salary/furlough costs. Two were asked to serve; Jason Hecht has agreed to serve if needed.

Costs and Information Asked of Faculty: We have been asked to estimate costs for delivering some of our courses face to face. It is unclear what to address. There is an estimate of $6,000 to retrofit classrooms for Hyflex teaching. We do not have this information to share. Faculty cannot cost out these things as we don’t have the parameters facilities is supposed to use (tendering etc). Subcommittee Meeting: Katie Cohen said there is no information about costing guidelines for each department/convening group. The numbers are due by June 22^nd. We can only do our best. We need to know which courses are coming back to campus.

Fall Models Approved and Decisions Needed: Stephen Rice reported two have been approved by the Board of Trustees (BoT). One is fully remote and the other is a hybrid. The working group has asked Provost Gaulden for the committee to keep working past June 22^nd. Nursing is considering alternating weeks for groups: one week on campus, one remote. Is it our role to consider how classes will be delivered? We need a universal policy. Scott noted conveners should have been reached out to or will be regarding course prioritization. Other committees have additional information. CA and TAS have the most courses preferred to be taught in a face-to-face format. Most of HGS and SSHS courses can be done remotely; some convening groups/units will be more impacted than others regarding in-person teaching. There are concerns about untenured faculty teaching face-to-face feeling they may not have a choice. Martha Ecker noted there is no central information source in the state; we do not have insight. 

Tim Judge noted the challenges posed for adjuncts who need to prep and may have their courses cancelled within the two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Naseem has advocated for a decision before July 15^th; this has been declined. Communication about the approved two models should be shared with the entire faculty. Fully virtual or hybrid curriculum formats should be made known to the faculty. 

A memo noting course development funding is confusing. There will be no compensation for faculty to be paid to convert courses; course development information was confusing as Thierry noted. Naseem asked for money for adjuncts and there isn’t any funding available. Naseem will seek clarification for the course development funding note. Scott Frees noted first it is necessary to identify how courses must be taught and then who will teach them. Naseem noted we may be in the same place in the spring so it might be helpful to swap courses if one has prepped 3 for fall, try to teach these again in the spring. Provost Gaulden told Katie she will send a memo this week, possibly to let everyone know. The four models proposed will be confusing to faculty who should be informed about the Cabinet approved 2 models, which is more clear. 

FYS, SSI, CRW courses require a delivery decision. In person? 

Liability for everyone is of concern; the universities are seeking limited liability. Stockton created a thoughtful white paper. Martha will ask if she can share it with Naseem. Can faculty be held liable if masks are not made required in class? It is unlikely the requirements to follow school rules and being penalized for this, will be enforced. We can only manage so much in a classroom: phones, texting, etc. How can we monitor mask wearing? 

Martha noted no one can be made to retire; some have offered to take a furlough if medical care and pension contributions continue until they become Medicare eligible. The Cabinet salaries were about $2 million a few years ago; they will have to make some cuts. They have to look at debt services, mortgages, etc. Much is based on state revenue and the virus. The $31 million does not include state loss; this is just dorms, meals and parking. It could be higher if we go 100% virtual. How can we make up $31 million?

AFT President Martha Ecker:

There have been ongoing negotiations regarding furloughs. We have a contract to avoid layoffs using furloughs instead. There will be details this afternoon which cannot be shared per the established rules. Neither Kirsten Loewrigkeit nor President Mercer have shared much information. Provost Gaulden communicates with the union regularly.

● Other Issues:

o Promotion/Tenure: This calendar is not published for next year as they are trying to address what did not happen this semester. Martha said they will try to scan folders to send to the committee members to act quickly. 

o Stepping in To Finish Another Class: Martha discussed this with Provost Gaulden. Historically, if someone has fallen ill, someone else has stepped in without payment. A new system will made requiring the sick individual to use sick leave and the covering professor will be paid on a pro-rated basis.

o Stipends: These should have been negotiated with the union to have a uniform rate. The union wants it to be equitable and transparent. All faculty should be able to apply. This is up to Provost Gaulden; they are not being suspended as some fear. There is a widespread issue with those with course release time picking up an additional course resulting in an overload; this is in violation of the contract. This will not be allowed any longer.

o Handbook: Naseem and Martha have been told the  handbook revision committee is working on the handbook; the Stockton handbook is still the model. At some point the committee will receive an email. Perhaps Donna and Mia can encourage the committee of which they are members to keep moving forward.

o Summer Forum: one was held for students re: racism; faculty is not required to attend. Students were concerned about academic affairs not being involved. There were classrooms issues. Naseem has discussed this with Provost Gaulden. 

o Faculty: 15-25% of the faculty are not US born; not clear about immigration status of visas. There are some faculty who are in limbo and cannot get their visas renewed. Another issue is speeding up that process; the College said they will not pay the extra money to make sure our faculty’s visas are processed in time leaving people in very difficult situations.   AFT is mindful that visas and furloughs are linked and this is an issue. It is part of the AFT proposal for international faculty to not be furloughed. While full-time faculty teach regardless of being furloughed, they are still teaching so is this an issue? Naseem will follow up with Nikhil and Raj. 

o Clarification of Expenses: In-person costs for the library, for example, will require many masks and gloves, barriers, etc. Who will decide what we really need when we create our lists?

o Options to Teach Remotely: We do not have the promised documentation from Provost Gaulden to not have to teach face-to-face if we do not feel safe. There are many decisions that have to be made. No one is compelling anyone to have to come back to campus. Deans on the subcommittee asked how to manage this. They cannot ask of the intentions/needs of faculty. An anonymous survey may be coming from Virginia. Martha noted the decision is up to the Governor about coming back to campus; age is not protected by the ADA, and it is up to OSHA (health and safety). It is murkier than we would hope. There are also possible ripple effects. If someone says “I am not coming” and the faculty member has job security, will adjuncts be asked? They may have less flexibility. Swap now for the spring. We do not know which courses are coming back to campus. If we knew which classes were coming, we could swap now. Thus we are in limbo. The Cabinet makes the decision. 

o Questions: If we go remote, will we have interlibrary loans? Are we losing sight of the pedagogy? asked Roark. Katie spoke with Leigh Keller, the Library Coordinator/Director, and it is complicated to arrange the loans. Do they mail resources? An $11 bill for an interlibrary loan was questioned; the College did not want to pay. Do they require pick up times? How can the budget be calculated? Will the College still be a college? Talk to Deans about pedagogy. 

o Question regarding what do adjuncts know? (ASB) Are they included in memos and surveys regarding the frequent updates with what is happening now?

o Unit FAEC Updates: Be conservative. Keep it factual and evidenced based. If there are timelines, share.  

July 22nd FAEC Meeting: We can schedule a faculty forum. We may have more information from Peter.

Categories: FAEC MEETING MINUTES 2020, RAMAPO FAEC