On behalf of the Lethbridge College Students' Association.
Please click the link below for further details.
ACIFA Awards Application
WANT TO PROMOTE YOUR COLLEAGUES!
Did you know that ACIFA Awards Application deadline is January 4, 2019?
Do you have colleagues who are innovative and/or committed to teaching and learning? Wouldn't it be great to give them some recognition for all their hard work! Nominate them for the Distinguished Instructor Award or the Innovation in Teaching Award.
Are you working on a research project? Did you know that ACIFA has a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award? It's really easy to apply for this award if your project has already been approved by your institute or ethics review board.
This year we are introducing our new online application for each award.
If you require further information please email acifaawards@gmail.com.
Thank you.
Janice Kirchner
VP Finance & Records
Alberta Colleges & Institutes Faculties Association
218, 11010 142 ST NW
Phone: (780) 423-4440
Fax: (780) 423-4515
http://www.acifa.ca
Dec 2018 - News Letter
December 2018
Lethbridge College Faculty Association Newsletter
*Faculty Forum on International Students
*Collective agreement article explained
*100 Days survey results
*Ron MacDonald Fundraiser
*Negotiations
*Labor Board Complaint
*Finance
*General meeting
In response to faculty concerns International Services has agreed to hold a Faculty Forum on International Students. The forum will take place in the Fredrick’s Theater, Tuesday the 18th of December between 9 and 10:30 am. The reactions we are hearing in the Faculty Association offices indicate many faculty in their frustration are not aware of the supports being developed by International Services, and International Services needs to hear directly from faculty about their concerns. Please make a point of attending and speak up on the issues.
There was recently a notice from scheduling that in the New Year they will be scheduling blocked classes at the same time in the same classroom where possible. This is an improvement faculty have been seeking for some time. However providing enough space in appropriate classrooms means they will have to schedule classes from 8 am to 6 pm.
Scheduling is preparing for the creation of the 2019-20 academic timetable and there will be an important change to note that will impact some faculty. We will be scheduling between 8 AM - 6 PM and using fixed patterns for the next schedule cycle. This means that courses that are scheduled twice a week in 1.5, 2, or 2.5-hour deliveries will be scheduled at the same time and in the same room. The fixed patterns will be used for programs that do not have compressed schedules to accommodate practicums, specific space requirements, or courses that are scheduled for more than 5 hours per week. There will be no institutional block off on Fridays from 2-4 PM which will allow us schedule Friday’s more effectively. We will consult with service areas and plan that an appropriate level of services are available to students to cover the 8-6 scheduling.
Your Faculty Executive felt it was important to point out that according to the current collective agreement article 13.9, unless voluntarily agreed by the Faculty Member, no Faculty shall be assigned a teaching schedule spanning more than nine (9) hours in a day. This means you need to work with your associate dean to ensure you’re scheduled appropriately. It does not mean it can’t happen but you should be consulted and you need to approve the circumstances as they apply to you.
The 100 day survey on the distributed leadership model has been concluded. Our effort to test a new survey tool have not been very successful. The tool has been very restrictive and the reports generated are very general. As faculty have pointed out there are some inconsistencies in the way our questions where presented.
The results of the survey are not dramatically conclusive. The empirical evidence does seem to support the general feeling that centers where people have moved up from inside have had an easier transition than those areas where the management team is new to the college. Specifically numbers were highest in the center for Business Trades and Apprenticeship and the Center for Justice and Human Services. The Executive Leadership Team are currently working on those areas.
Some comments were personal and very critical of individuals, which was not our intent in developing the survey. The survey was intended to provide insight into the faculty perception of the distributed leadership model. There is a great deal of value in the majority of the comments and we will follow up with ELT on those issues. Thank You for your participation in the survey.
The Ron MacDonald Emergency fund has received a welcome injection thanks to Leslie McCoy and all who contributed time, energy and books to the book sale. Thanks to everyone who participated. Watch for news of a Taco in a bag coming up in the New Year.
Negotiations have been long and a great deal of work. As usual we hesitate to share incomplete details but suffice it to say the negotiations committee have been putting in lots of time and effort to defend the most appreciated components of the collective agreement. The college is also working hard to meet board and government mandates. Other colleges in the province who have settled have seen settlements of 0% and a second year at 0% with a potential wage reopener. It is a tough climate for all of us at the negotiating table.
The labor board complaint is moving to a resolution conference February 19th unless a settlement on the issue is achieved at the negotiating table. Talks are progressing to find a suitable resolution.
Cheryl continues to be the bearer of good news on the financial front. The first installment on our defense fund has been invested! Cheryl continues to encourage fiscal responsibility and the association financial position is improving. Cheryl will have more to report at the general meeting in January.
While you are busy marking and preparing for the upcoming classes as well as Christmas, please keep these guidelines in mind.
How long do I need to be absent from my usual work place before I send formal notice through My Horizons?
Greater than ½ day (>4 hours).
As a courtesy to your students and your colleagues, email your Administrative Support team member with CC to your supervisor prior to your absence if possible, including contact information in case of emergency.
What if I’m occasionally off campus for less than ½ day (<4 hours)?
You need not necessarily submit an online leave request but you must communicate with your supervisor and Administrative Support team member, making sure they have your contact information in case of emergency or in the event you are needed for participation in department activities (meetings, student issues/inquiries, tours, etc).
What about occasionally working from home?
We understand the need sometimes for working off campus (ie. marking, research, or other college-related work). Your supervisor needs to know about it and how to reach you. Time worked from home is still considered working hours and, as such, you need to be available by email and/or phone to handle inquiries, questions, etc.
Please add our next General Meeting to your calendars. January 28th at 4:15 in the IB Theater.
As the fall semester winds to a close your executive council would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Kevin Wiber
Lethbridge College Faculty Association President
Instructor Automotive Service Technician / Heavy Equipment Technician
Ph. 403-320-3202 ext. 3264
3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6
Leadership and transformation
Ron MacDonald Emergency Fund Book Sale - Thank You
Thank you for Supporting the Ron MacDonald Emergency Fund Book Sale
The team of faculty and staff from the Centre for Health and Wellness is grateful for the generous support of the college community for donating books to last Thursday’s book sale and for shopping the sale as well.
The event raised $634 for the Ron MacDonald Emergency Fund, and provided a great opportunity for us to gather as colleagues and friends.
Thank you for your support of this important fund for our students
Faculty Forum on International Students
Faculty Forum on International Students
In response to concerns arising around the enormous increase in international student enrollment, International Services will facilitate a
Faculty Forum on International Students
Tuesday December 18th
from 9 to 10:30 am
Fredrick’s Theater
Please attend, especially if you have international students in your class. Be prepared to discuss any pertinent issues and suggest solutions.
Kevin Wiber
Lethbridge College Faculty Association President
Instructor Automotive Service Technician / Heavy Equipment Technician
Ph. 403-320-3202 ext. 3264
3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6
Leadership and transformation
Nov 2018 - By-Election Results
Novemeber 2018 By-Election Results.
On Behalf of Donna Kalau
Hello everyone.
Thank you to those who came forward to let their name stand for Constituency #6 rep, Academic Council Alternate and Student Appeal Alternate. Elected or affirmed into those positions are:
Wendy Weninger: Academic Council Alternate
Lorraine Leishman: Constituency #6 Representative
Cindy Wilmore: Student Appeal Alternate
The vacancy on the Bylaw Committee starting January and running until April will remain vacant as no names were put forward. That vacancy also comes up for re-election at the next AGM. Thank you to those who came out to vote in this by-election.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me as your elections officer for this by-election.
Donna Kalau, CCYC, BSW, M.Ed
Instructor
Child and Youth Care Program
Ph. 403-320-3202 ext 5546 Fax 1-888-981-3924
3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6
Mo Chili Day
It's Mo Chili Day
There are faculty members working hard on our behalf, Thank you to all involved!
Mo Chili Day
Just a reminder that today is Mo Chili Day. There will be 20 pots of chili for your selective tastes to raise funds for Movember and awareness of men’s health issues. $5 gets a bowl (vegetarian, turkey, ground beef, steak, ground venison are all choices, and you can get it from mild to wild (1 alarm heat to 5 alarm heat). Please join The Hairy Cousin Gang Movember team in Centre Core from 11:30 – 2 or until we sell out.
If you can’t make it but would like to support our cause, please give to the team at: https://moteam.co/the-hairy-cousins-gang?mc=1– no donation is too small. You can give equally to all fourteen team members, or you can select one team member to get it all (https://mobro.co/13901732).
Used Book Sale
There will be a used book sale in the Cave on December 6th at the pub night. Funds raised will support the Ron MacDonald Emergency fund. They are still looking for more gently used books, you can donate in the library or the Faculty office.
Look for a Taco in bag coming up soon to support the Ron MacDonald fund as well.
Please remember to stop by the faculty office to vote in the By-election. Voting hours are 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, and 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Voting will close Friday Nov 30th, 2018 at 4:00 pm.
Ron MacDonald Used Book Sale Reminder
Ron MacDonald Used Book Sale - Reminder
Nov 2018 - News Letter
A message from your LCFA President.
Faculty Newsletter November 2018
Your faculty association has been working quietly behind the scenes. Here are some highlights.
Faculty executive have been meeting with members of the Executive Leadership team. We have discussed many topics including improving the phone access from outside the college.
We have talked at length about the impact of the dramatic increase in foreign students. ELT recognizes the challenges for students, faculty and staff of the college. They are working hard to provide the infrastructure and support required for student success.
There has been some discussion around Canvas. Some faculty have asked that Canvas be closed in order to restrict student access until faculty have prepared the course materials. Others feel quite restricted waiting for the shell to open. It appears the solution is to open the shells earlier and ask faculty to close their own until they are ready. We would appreciate any feedback you may have on this.
There has been a lot of work on scheduling in an effort to provide fixed days for classes that suit that model. We will keep you updated as that process unfolds.
There has been a great deal of discussion around the new Code of conductpolicy. We distributed a joint statement in an attempt to answer questions that have arisen. A FAQ statement will also be distributed. The faculty office continues to work with members of the executive leadership team to understand this policy, representatives of ELT are prepared to answer questions at the general meeting in January if required.
The distributed leadership model is close to half a year old now. The faculty association will be sending out a very short survey to ask your impression of the results so far.
The ACIFA survey has been circulated. So far about 65% of faculty have responded, while that is better than most other institutions we can do better. Please take a moment to fill out the survey.
I attended ACIFA president’s council October 22nd in Calgary. There was a great deal of discussion around the negotiating process across the province. Many institutions are dealing with administrations who are handcuffed by government policy and political uncertainty. Settlements across the province generally offer 0% increases, many are taking three year contracts with wage reopeners built in. LCFA is participating in the development of the ACIFA defense fund which will provide some financial support to our members in the event a job action develops in the future. The president of Norquest College, Leslie Sayer, has produced a very good video which provides some historical context and related information. Visit their web site NCFA.ca and watch the video Building a Capacity for Bargaining.
There was some discussion around the Local Authorities Pension Plan. Most important the plan is strong financially. Now they are discussing a change to joint governance. This would limit involvement by the minister and make employers and employees the stewards of the plan.
Johnson Insurance did a presentation, they offer an insurance alternative to ACIFA members.
The ACIFA conference is scheduled for April 28th to 30th 2019 in Lake Louis. For more information see the ACIFA web site, ACIFAweb.com.
You will have a notice from Mike Mayo and Donna Kalau about a by-election. We have openings for a representative for Constituency 6 on the executive council, A member of the Student appeal committee, an alternate for academic council and a member of the by-law committee. We have some good candidates who have allowed their name to stand but we are always looking to get members involved. If you are interested in one of the elected positions or you have someone in mind please get nominations to Mike in the office by Tuesday November 27th. The election will take place November 28th, 29th and 30th by paper ballot in the faculty office.
We also have an opening for a faculty member to serve on the Convocation advisory committee. If this sounds interesting please contact Mike or myself.
The board of governors meet November 27th in the exhibition board offices. The open portion of the meeting starts at 4:30 in the Saddle Room for anyone who might wish to attend.
Cheryl has provided the following financial update;
The Lifeboats Have Landed
Further to my report at the last general meeting, where I compared our financial situation to a sinking ship, I am happy to report the lifeboats have found their way to solid ground. I am grateful that you supported the re-establishment of steadfast LCFA finances and by working together we have accomplished some pretty significant things. First, the amount you committed to founding the internal defense fund has been fully allocated and locked into an 2.75% interest bearing GIC for 18 months. This fund is protected with a new LCFA policy on internally restricted funds and their acceptable use. Second, the ACIFA defense fund has been accepted by all member colleges and went into effect this year. With collective contributions we will be fully funded to support job action in a way that would otherwise not be possible in such a short timeframe. Third, our financial house is in order and enjoying a strong phase of rebuilding.
Everyone on executive council has been mindful of our finances and the combination of less spending and more saving has landed us in a good place. I look forward to giving you a full financial report at our next general meeting January 28, 2019.
Thank You to Cheryl for her diligence and devotion to getting our financial house together.
Negotiations are ongoing. The faculty association has directed our ACIFA representative to initiate a complaint with the labor board concerning the reduction in casual contracts. If you have been personally affected we would be interested in your story for the labor board package. We will provide more information once the formal portion is resolved. We have 2 days scheduled November 21st and 22nd and a further 2 scheduled for December 5th and 6th. Kerry will update you where he can.
Dic Charge is once again trying to grow a moustache in support of men’s health. He and his team will be offering a bowl of chili and corn muffin with cheese and sour cream for $5, Wednesday November 28th from 11:30 to 2.
I don’t know the quantities or varieties just yet, but Mo Chili Day will be Wednesday, November 28, from 11:30-2:00 (or until the last bowl sells). $5 for a bowl of chili and a corn muffin, with cheese and sour cream. All proceeds to Movember – Do you know a man? Are you one? Encourage them to better health through exercise, good nutrition, and regular medical visits to their/your doctor. AND – when mental health issues crop up, be a man and get the help you need.
Leslie McCoy will be heading up a book sale December 7th in support of the Ronald MacDonald Emergency fund. For those who may not be aware, Ron MacDonald was a respected Faculty member who passed away too young, Linda Sprinkle offers the following description of the fund;
It evolved in 2003, when the Faculty Association voted in favour or renaming the “LCC Faculty Association Emergency Grant Fund” to the Ron MacDonald Emergency Fund.
The intention was to recognized financial need – a departure from the purely academic based scholarships they had been limited to previously. (Though there is the expectation that students who receive the fund are likely to graduate so if there are no grades in Colleague I look up instructors and ask via email what their opinion of the student’s likely success it. The response rate has been great.
At that time (2003) it was also determined that the Financial Aid lead be the person to administer and track – I send a report with numbers and basic demographics to the FA office each year – as that person would also be able to advise around loans and awards and general financial management. I require a budget and meet with each person who is identified by my staff as needing more than an emergency loan, or who would be in an even worse position if they were granted an emergency loan by the College. It can be pretty intense though I am friendly enough.
While I don’t give a lot of these away I do hit it every year (I also have access to an endowed fund for nursing students so I always take from that one if dealing with NESA or PNG students). Usually the amounts are not very high and the average number of hits is around 4-7 though this past year I only accessed it twice.
I have directed students at risk to Linda personally and have been very pleased with the assistance they received. If you have gently used books you could donate please drop them off in the library, and be sure to support the book sale.
Dic and his crew will also be raising funds for the Ronald MacDonald emergency fund through a taco in a bag sale. Dic hopes to have things ready for the end of classes, watch for more information.
The new LCFA website is updated regularly, the latest Board of Governors report from the association is included there.
Code of Conduct Information
On Behalf of Kevin Wiber, President of the LCFA.
There have been many questions around the “Code of Conduct” policy. Faculty executives met with members of the executive leadership team to ask those questions.
The policy has been mandated by the Alberta office of the Ethics Commissioner. Lethbridge College took the initiative to comply with the new Conflict of interest act as quickly as possible. The timelines for compliance were also mandated by the Office of the Ethics Commissioner. Once the policy was approved the College had 60 days to implement it, which is the reason for the strict timelines.
The College will be performing the primary assessments, which will allow the College to respond to situations that may fall outside the guidelines.
Disclosure is not conflict. Having a second job is not outside the guidelines, using college resources to do that job, or for personal benefit, is.
Faculty have questioned the information being gathered, the information being requested is necessary to confidently declare compliance. When a situation or behavior falls outside the guidelines the College will meet with the individual, discuss the issue, determine the correct actions to take and develop a plan to correct the issue. The faculty association may provide a representative at those discussions. The college policy is in place to protect the individual and the college in light of the new Provincial Ethics policy.
Please take the time to read through the information provided by Coreen Roth related to these issues. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Faculty Association office or Human Resources.
Please click the link below for Administrations statement regarding the Code of Conduct Policy.
Nov 2018 By-Election Notice
Faculty Association Nov 2018
By-Elections
On behalf of Donna Kalau.
Hello Everyone.
We will be having a by-election in order to fill some vacancies that were left open after our last AGM elections and because of current staffing changes at LC.
The vacancies include:
Constituency #6 representative: Remainder of a 2-year term ending April 2020.
Nominations currently put forward: Lorraine Leishman
Academic Alternate: Remainder of a 1-year term ending April 2019.
Nominations currently put forward: Wendy Weninger
Bylaw Committee: Remainder of a two-year term starting January 2019 and ending April 2019
Student Appeal Alternate: Remainder of a two year term ending April 2019
There were people who identified interest in the vacancies since the last elections and I have confirmed with them that they are still interested in letting their name stand and that accounts for the two names currently put forward.
We will take nominations for the vacancies until Tuesday November 27 at noon.
Please send nominations to Mike Mayo and cc Donna Kalau. Any person nominated must accept that nomination in writing and Mike will contact nominees for that confirmation.
The by-election voting will commence next week and run November 28, 29 and 30th. Voting will be done by paper ballot at the LCFA office during office hours.
Voting will close November 30 at 4:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thanks
Donna Kalau, CCYC, BSW, M.Ed
Instructor
Child and Youth Care Program
Ph. 403-320-3202 ext 5546 Fax 1-888-981-3924
3000 College Drive South, Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6
Board Report - Nov 2018
Nov 14th, 2018
Faculty report to the board of governors – November 27th 2018
Faculty are concerned about the implementation and implications of new policies.
The Code of conduct policy has generated a great deal of conversation and unrest around the interpretation of “perceived conflict of interest, or personal benefit”. Many faculty are concerned that the policy intrudes too far into their personal life, asking them to reveal aspects of their personal business or risk very severe sanctions. Another difficult aspect of the policy is the responsibility to disclose the perceived actions of others and the potential damage to workplace relationships. Many faculty are concerned that the policy could lead to disciplinary actions without representation.
There is unease among faculty concerning the rapid rise in foreign student enrollment. The College administration seems to be aware of many concerns and is working to provide support for both students and faculty.
The shared management system continues to have growing pains in the eyes of faculty. As the implementation develops, faculty are still asking who is responsible for what. The problem seems to be most severe where people new to the college have moved into leadership roles and the roles are less well defined.
Faculty continue to be restless concerning the on-going negotiations process. The negotiating team felt the reduction in pay for casual employees was an item that should be brought to the bargaining table, when we were unable to agree on that point we felt compelled to seek a ruling from the labor board.
Communication between the College administration and Faculty is strong. Our direct contacts are approachable and our discussions are frank and productive. We have confidence that together we can work to solve issues as they arise to the benefit of the broad college community.
Sincerely,
Kevin Wiber
ACIFA Instructor Awards
Instructor Awards
The LCFA would like to invite faculty to participate in nominating their peers for the following ACIFA awards.
Distinguished Instructor Award Application
Innovation in Teaching Award Application
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award Application
The awards will be handed out at the ACIFA Annual Spring Conference on April 28-30, 2019 hosted by Red Deer College. It will be held at Chateau Lake Louise. Please click here for details.
Labour Board Complaint
Labour Board Complaint
The LCFA would like to provide some information about a recent development.
During the current semester some of you have been aware that administration has decided to alter compensation for casual contracts. This was not agreed too, nor bargained by the LCFA.
The decision to change how casual contracts are compensated has negatively affected some of our members, and after numerous attempts by the LCFA to have this brought to the bargaining table, management has not agreed to halt these changes.
As a result of their decision to press forward with these changes the LCFA felt the need to file a Labor Board Complaint under section 147 which dictates no changes to conditions of employment can be implemented while bargaining. There is an opportunity for faculty to provide independent information to the labor board, please contact the faculty office if you feel you have pertinent input.
We are hoping for a positive outcome from the Labour Board, and will continue to work to ensure your rights are protected.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the LCFA offices at ext. 3217.
Thank you,
Kevin Wiber, President
Kerry Edwards, Vice President of Welfare and Negotiations
Ron McDonald Fundraiser - Used Book Sale
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
In support of the Ron McDonald fund, faculty from the Center of Health & Wellness are working with Employee Engagement to host a Used Book Sale in conjunction with the December 6th Pub Night.
All faculty are invited to donate gently used fiction and non-fiction books (NO textbooks please) for the sale.
Please drop your donations off at the Buchanen Library. You have until Dec. 3rd.
Thank-you for supporting this fundraiser.
ACIFA Climate Survey
On Behalf of ACIFA
Dear Faculty Member:
Welcome to the 25th annual ACIFA Climate Survey.
The Climate Survey is a highly valuable tool for your Association:
It enables your local FA to hear members’ views concerning working conditions and attitudes within your institution.
This knowledge provides your FA with a strong foundation to assist them in discussions with administration regarding key areas of concern.
The continuity from year to year of the 13 core questions allows associations to track changes.
A comparative, cross-institutional score chart shows system-wide results from across the province.
The survey is SECURE:
Utilizing SurveyMonkey.com, leading survey tool on the Web.
The survey is completely anonymous. IP addresses are NOT being logged nor are any personal identifiers.
The survey is SSL protected so that data is collected in a totally encrypted environment.
To operate the survey form:
Cookies should be enabled on your web browser. This is usually automatically set up on your computer. If not, and you are unsure how to do this, please visit http://www.google.com/cookies.html
The survey works with either the Internet Explorer or Firefox web browsers.
You can complete the survey only once.
Once you have begun the survey you must complete all questions, including any local association questions, in order for your responses to be counted.
Deadline:
The survey is open only until Friday, December 7th, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact your faculty association office or the ACIFA office at 780-423-4440.
Thank you for participating.
Borrow a Text Book project by LCSA - Reminder
Borrow a Text Book project by LCSA - Reminder
The general idea of the project: This pilot project called Borrow a Textbook, will be implemented January 2019 (winter semester). These textbook will be a selection from our various required course textbooks. These textbooks will be on library shelves and monitored by the librarian. The student will be required to present an up to date college ID which will give three hours with the book on loan free to students.
The project goal: This Borrow a Textbook project in our library on campus will help students who are struggling financially and cannot afford to buy their required textbook(s). This will help the student to gain confidence in getting better grades due to availability of such resource. This will also help to better our student's mental health not having to worry or stress about their affordability or resources while on campus.
If you are interested in assisting with this project please drop off any textbooks you may have to the Student Association by October 31st, 2018.
If you would like further details about the Borrow a Textbook project please contact Nicholas Coley (nicholas.coley@lethbridgecollege.ca) the LCSA President.
Please click the link below for full details.
A request from the Students Association.
The Lethbridge College Students' Association is launching a new project, and asking for your help.
At the last LCFA General Meeting, the LCSA did a presentation on their new project centered around assisting students facing financial hardship by lending them textbooks. The project is called "Borrow a Textbook".
The LCSA has stated the following:
The general idea of the project: This pilot project called Borrow a Textbook, will be implemented January 2019 (winter semester). These textbook will be a selection from our various required course textbooks. These textbooks will be on library shelves and monitored by the librarian. The student will be required to present an up to date college ID which will give three hours with the book on loan free to students.
The project goal: This Borrow a Textbook project in our library on campus will help students who are struggling financially and cannot afford to buy their required textbook(s). This will help the student to gain confidence in getting better grades due to availability of such resource. This will also help to better our student's mental health not having to worry or stress about their affordability or resources while on campus.
If you are interested in assisting with this project please drop off any textbooks you may have listed in the link below; to the Student Association, by October 31st, 2018. If you would like further details about the Borrow a Textbook program please contact Nicholas Coley (nicholas.coley@lethbridgecollege.ca) the LCSA President, and/or click the link below.
General Meeting Recap
On behalf of Kevin Wiber
General Meeting Notes September 24, 2018
I was asked at the general meeting last night if I could send out a recap of the events at the general meeting last night, here goes.
We called the meeting to order at 4:15.
There were two guests invited to speak to us.
Nicholas Coley, president of the Students association introduced two initiatives he is working on. The first initiative is to put a copy or two of text books in the library to ensure students can have access to those text books. He is asking for support of faculty to determine which text books should be included and even for support by helping acquire the books. The second, which is in the early stages is an Open Educational Resource project, Nicholas will communicate more as that develops. Please contact Nicholas through the student association for more information or to offer help.
The second guest was Bonnie Farries, accompanied by Line Gagne, who provided a very informative presentation on the new Code of conduct. The code is available on the college web site and I would encourage you to read through the policy. Any questions should be directed to Line or Bonnie.
Thanks to our guests for the information.
Cheryl presented three motions. The first confirmed the appointment of the President, Vice president Finance, Vice president negotiations/welfare and VP administrative. Since the election occurred after the last general meeting there was no official record suitable for the bank who required minutes indicating the results. The second motion confirmed our banking institution and the third identified executive members as signing authority on LCFA accounts.
The president’s report included a brief update on the Faculty Professional Development Committee, indicating we are working on reworking the handbook to clean up the language and simplify the procedures. The procedure for purchase of electronics and software has been simplified. I reported that communication with the executive leadership team has been open and productive. Jennifer Davies could not attend but provided the following board report;
There is not much to report from the Board. I have attended two meetings so far.
A couple of background details that I thought might be worth mentioning for those who don’t know:
One thing the LDFA membership should be aware of it that while I am the faculty representative on the Board of Governors, it is not my mandate to represent the LCFA on the Board. That role is Kevin’s. Just to be clear, any issues membership has that they wish to bring forward need to go through Kevin.
Another thing to be aware of is that the mandate of the Board of Governors is to focus on policy and strategic planning, and explicitly not an operations. This means that the Board will generally not attend to complaints or issues brought before it that are operational in nature.
Other than that , there isn’t much to say at the moment. We are still awaiting Provincial appointments for three vacant seats. We have a retreat scheduled for the end of October. I should have more to say after those things are accomplished.
Cheers,
Jennifer
We discussed the Ron MacDonald emergency fund which is getting low. Thanks to Dic Charge and a dedicated group of volunteers who agreed to hold a Taco-in-a-bag in support of the fund. Watch for details to follow.
Ryan discussed new training requirements for members of the safety committee. He then discussed a search for a new law firm to represent the association.
Cheryl presented a yearend report from last year and a very positive first step toward our current budget. The review of our books has been completed and it was also very positive.
Kerry provided a report on negotiations. Negotiations took place for two days in June, while the first day was not encouraging the second day was much more cordial. Negotiations are set to resume the next two days (September 26thand 27th).
On the welfare front Kerry reported it has been quiet but there have been issues. Faculty will notice casual contracts are now based on 15 weeks rather than the accepted practice. Discussions are ongoing.
Dic reported the progress of the by-law committee who continue to work through revising the bylaws. It was reported that we will call a special meeting to approve changes to the by-laws in order to keep the meetings to a reasonable time.
There are three vacancies that will require a by-election. Constituency 6 (child and youth care, therapeutic recreation, massage therapy etc,) requires a representative on the executive council. Academic council requires an alternate and the student appeal committee has an opening for an alternate.
The meeting adjourned about 6:15
Please do not consider these as official minutes, simply an effort to provide a concise recap of the events for your information. Hope to see you at the next meeting January 29th
Board Report - Sept 11th, 2018
Faculty Report to the Board of Governors September 11th 2018
Faculty have returned to find new faces, new processes and new procedures. With change comes nervous uncertainty. Faculty has concerns about workload and the implementation of the new shared management system. We have reminded faculty that these are developing as the process unfolds. There will be some extra work, and patience required on the part of members, as new people in strategic positions learn the college and develop the new management system.
Faculty have noticed increasing class sizes indicating progress toward the 4500 by 2020 initiative. It is also encouraging to see added seats in programs such as CIT, and the renewed retention efforts adding to our student numbers.
Negotiations have paused through the summer but the atmosphere seems to be collegial and cooperative. Our negotiating team is looking forward to getting back to the table.
The new faculty executive has had very good communication with the senior management team and we look forward to working together to face the challenges of the upcoming year.
Kevin Wiber
President
Lethbridge College Faculty Association