Category: Minutes

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were ten people in attendance, including nine of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum of the Council.

Agenda & Minutes.
The Agenda and the minutes for January 22 were approved.

Standing Rules.
Standing rules adapted from those of the UFF Senate were proposed.

• Motion made and seconded: to adapt the following standing rules for chapter meetings:
  1. All motions shall be submitted to the Secretary or presiding officer in writing at the time the motion is presented on the floor.
  2. Each speaker during debate will be permitted two minutes of floor time.
  3. No one may speak twice on the debate item unless all who wish to speak have spoken at least once.
  4. At the close of debate on the item, if only one side has been heard, if a person wishes to speak on the other side, he/she will be recognized by the chair.

  Motion to amend made and seconded: to strike items # 2, 3, 4. Motion to amend defeated. Then main motion approved.

In discussion the President observed that with unanimous consent, the standing rules can be waived, and lacking unanimous consent – with or without support of the chair – a participant can request a vote on a waive by the body.

Membership.
Report on membership.

Elections.
At the next meeting, we will be stuffing envelopes

Report on Grievances.
Discussion of outstanding grievances. Also a discussion of USF’s feral cat policy.

Report on Bargaining.
We are waiting on the BOT team.

Report on Treasury.
We are solvent.

Report on Communications.
We are working on the site.

Report on Political Action.
Discussion.

Report of the Chapter President.
Discussion.

Good of the Order.
Discussion of the tenure clock.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on February 6, 2010.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were fifteen people in attendance, including ten of the Chapter Council, insufficient for a quorum of the Council.

Agenda & Minutes.
The Agenda and the minutes for January 8 were approved.

Scheduling of meetings.
Possible meeting days for the Chapter were discussed.

• Motion made and seconded to hold Chapter meetings at noon. Motion approved.

The following schedule was determined: the Chapter will meet at Tampa on February 5 and 19, March 5 and 26, April 9 and 23, and May 21. The Chapter will meet at St. Petersburg on March 19 and at Polytech on May 7. Locations TBA.

Report on MOU ratification.
The MOU was ratified by 94 % of the voting members of the UFF Bargaining Unit, and by the BOT, with one negative vote. Discussion of Polytech’s non-involvement in the retirement plan.

Blackboard and lecture-capture survey.
Discussion of Blackboard upgrade and resulting support problems.

INTO.
USF has entered into a 30-year contract with INTO to recruit and provide preliminary English language instruction to foreign students. We will seek information on the contract and the arrangements.

David Caton, Oracle, academic freedom in teaching.
Discussion of recent controversy over a course in Queer Studies.

• Motion made and seconded that the Communications Chair compose a draft of a letter on Academic Freedom, with reference to the Queer Studies course controversy, to be vetted by members of the fac-activism list, and once approved, to be submitted to The Oracle. Motion passes 6-4.

Reports.

• Grievances. Outstanding cases were discussed.
• Bargaining. Discussion of the Administration’s proposed language for Article 13.
  • Motion made and seconded that the Communications Committee will broadcast some kind of special alert regarding the posting of a Bargaining Page. Motion passed.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on January 24, 2010.

Draft agenda, chapter meeting, January 22
Noon, SOC 384, Tampa campus

1. Minutes of last meeting
2. Scheduling of meetings
3. Report on MOU ratification
4. Blackboard and lecture-capture survey
5. David Caton, Oracle, academic freedom in teaching
6. Reports
7. New business
8. For the good of the order

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were seventeen people in attendance, including thirteen of the Chapter Council, making a quorum of the Council.

Agenda & Minutes.
The Agenda and the minutes for December 4 were approved.

Chapter Elections.
The Election Committee proposed the following schedule:

• Nominations open effective immediately, close on February 12
• Ballot materials preparation, completed February 19
• Ballot mail-out February 22
• Last day for ballots to be received March 24
• Ballot counting March 26

It is noted that this presumes that the Chapter will meet on the Fridays February 19 and March 26.

• Schedule approved.

Chapter Meetings.
The schedule of chapter meetings this semester is to be determined.

• Motion made and seconded: that the meetings shall occur on alternate Fridays. Motion tabled to January 22.
• Motion made and seconded: that motions be written down, with makers and seconds noted. Motion fails.

Chapter Council Meeting.
The Chapter Council is to approve chairs and members of standing committees.

• Motion made and seconded by council members, noting the presence of a quorum of the council, that the council meet today. Content of motion approved by the President.

UFF Senate Meeting.
The UFF Senate will meet in Orlando over the February 13, 14 weekend.

Grievance Committee Report.
Grievance moratorium in effect.

Treasurer’s Report.
The Chapter is paying out new member refunds. The President notes that as the Chapter now has over 400 members, there will be 16 UFF Senate seats.

Bargaining.
Discussion of Bargaining items.

• Motion made and seconded: that the USF Administration proposal for Article 13 be sent to the Bargaining Unit. Motion passes unanimously.
• Motion made and seconded: of approbation for the excellent work that Bob Welker has performed up to this time as Chief Negotiator. Motion passes unanimously.

Communication Chair’s Report.
Communications still being overhauled.

Recess into meeting as a Chapter Council.
The Chapter Council held an open meeting, and reports the approval of the following chairs of standing committees:

• Bargaining Committee: Mark Klisch
• Communications Committee: Greg McColm
• Grievance Committee: Mark Klisch
• Political Action Committee: Bob Welker
• Service Committee: Paul Terry

These appointments are for terms ending the first Chapter meeting at or after April 1. The Chapter Council will meet again jointly with the Chapter on January 22.

Good of the Order.
Discussion of the situation of contingent faculty.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on January 9, 2010.

Draft agenda, UFFUSF chapter meeting
January 8, 12-1:30 pm, SOC 384

1. MOU ratification
   1. Q&A
   2. Opening of voting for 12-2 slot
   3. Distribution of materials to polling volunteers (thank you, volunteers!)
2. Future scheduling
   1. Chapter elections
   2. Regular chapter meetings in February (please head to meeting times input page if you have not yet!)
   3. Chapter council (Greg coordinating)
   4. UFF Senate meeting
3. Reports
   1. Grievances
   2. Treasurer
   3. Bargaining
   4. Communications
   5. President’s report
4. New business
5. For the good of the order

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were eight people in attendance. There was not a quorum for the Chapter Council.

Minutes.
The minutes for November 20 were approved.

Election Committee.
Steve Tauber will chair an election committee, and Lynn McBrien will be a member. Other members may be appointed.

Membership.
We have new members.

• There is a bureaucratic problem with some job classifications in the unit, and we will address these.

Meetings in January.
The Chapter will meet on January 8 and 22, and during January we will set a schedule for the rest of the semester.

Union Solidarity.
We have requests from two fellow unions for support and assistance.

• The Chapter will send a letter of support for an organizing campaign by the American Federation of Government Employees, for their efforts to organize TSA officers.

Referenda on Governance Documents.
The votes on the Constitution and Bylaws amendments were tabulated:

• Nearly 98 % of the votes cast supported so amending the constitution.
• Nearly 98 % of the votes cast supported so amending the bylaws.

Effective immediately, the constitution and bylaws are so amended.

Reports.

• Treasury. We have money.
• Communications. The website and electronic communications are under revision.
• Grievances. The Winter Break moratorium will continue to February 2, unless a pressing matter arises.
• Bargaining. Discussion of ongoing bargaining.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on December 5, 2009.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were twelve people in attendance. There was a quorum for the Chapter Council.

Minutes.
The minutes for November 6 were approved.

Membership.
We continue to gain new members.

UFF-USF Applied Anthropology Report.
Two graduate students conducted a study of two USF departments to gain a perspective on faculty attitudes towards UFF.

• Motion made and seconded: To create an ad hoc committee to study how to address the issues raised in this report. Motion to refer this issue to the new Service Committee made, seconded, and approved.

Several proposals were made from the floor.

Ratification of Amendments to the UFF-USF Chapter Constitution and Bylaws.
Voting will be conducted via VotingPlace.Net, and the results will be downloaded and computed at the next Chapter Meeting on December 4.

Article 10 on Annual Evaluations.
Discussion.

Reports.

• Grievances. Annual grievance moratorium during Winter Break still be negotiated.
• Treasury. We have money.
• Communications. We continue to communicate.
• Bargaining. Discussion of upcoming bargaining.

Good of the Order.
Discussion of the flexibility of interpretation of Roberts Rules.
These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on November 22, 2009.

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were thirteen people in attendance. There was no quorum for the Chapter Council.

Membership.
Discussion of packets for new members.

Referendum on Amendments.

• Motion made and seconded. The referendum on the proposed amendments to the constitution shall be conducted by electronic ballot. Motion approved. .

On-line Student Surveys.
Discussion.

Definition of Faculty.
Discussion.

Reports.

• Grievances: Discussion of outstanding grievances.
• Treasury: We have money.
• Communications: Discussion.

New Business.
The report on attitudes towards UFF in the English and Sociology Departments will be on the agenda for the Nov. 20 UFF Chapter meeting.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on November 8, 2009.

UFF-USF Chapter Meeting Agenda
November 6, 2009, 12 noon
SOC 258 (Tampa)

1. Minutes
2. Membership: rebate reminder, member information packets.
3. Referendum on proposed amendments: process.
4. Online student surveys
5. Definition of “faculty.”
6. Grievances and other legal matters.
7. Reports
8. For the good of the order

USF-UFF Chapter Meeting

Attendance.
There were nine people in attendance. There was no quorum for the Chapter Council.

Agenda.
The agenda was approved.

Dues Rebate.

• Motion made and seconded. Effective October 1, 2009, any person who joins UFF and is eligible for the rebate program will receive the rebate at the end of the first full session or semester during which that person was a UFF member throughout. This policy sunsets in summer 2010. Motion approved unanimously..

Interpretive note: if the issue comes up, Summer Session C is regarded as a full session or semester.

New USF policy on FTEs in assignments.
Discussion of a new uniform policy announced by the Office of Academic Affairs. Discussion.

Hosted Programs at Regional Campuses.
Discussion of reports that programs may be moved from one campus to another.

Reports.

• Treasury: we are solvent.
• Membership: discussion of activities to encourage membership.
• Communications: discussion.
• Faculty Senate. Discussion of the proposal for a global sustainability program.
• Bargaining: the Chief Negotiator reported on our current status.
• Grievances: report on recent developments.

These minutes respectfully submitted by G. McColm on October 25, 2009.