1. President Sally McCracken called the meeting to order in Tower Room, McKenny Union, at 12:05 p.m. Jim VandenBosch moved (Mark Higbee seconded) approval of the September 29, 2004 minutes. The motion passed, 9-0 with no abstentions.
2. CONTRACTUAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS: Sally McCracken announced the following appointments: Health Care Task Force – the AAUP representatives will be Howard Bunsis and Richard Douglass; Joint Salary Task Force – the AAUP representatives will be Jim VandenBosch, Matt Everett, Eric Schulz, and Marty Shichtman. The Executive Committee still must appoint faculty to the Student Evaluation and Technology Transfer Task Forces.
3. TREASURER REPORT: Howard Bunsis reviewed the financial statements from 2003/2004. An outside accounting firm prepared these reports. The Chapter’s financial situation has turned around dramatically since last year. The statements show that the net asset value of the Chapter went from a negative $99,133 to a positive $108,582. The Chapter’s cash reserves are now at $179,089. This turnaround was accomplished by tight fiscal control over the memberships dues income. The Chapter office is being run at half the cost of the past, including reductions in staff salaries, benefits, and travel/entertainment. The statements also reflect the note payable to the National AAUP for the dues arrearage. Any legal issues involving the Chapter will be covered by insurance. Also on September 1, 2004 the dues were reduced by .1%. Phil Bogle asked how the Chapter’s members would be given a copy of the financial statements. The financial statements will be put on the AAUP website, but any member wishing a copy can request one from the AAUP office. This year’s budget will also be placed on the AAUP website Lynn Tilton and Howard Bunsis will work with the National to get an updated dues roster. We will not pay our dues arrearage debt off early, as it is an interest free loan. But the current dues to the National may go down. Jim VandenBosch moved acceptance of the financial statements for 2003/2004 (David Crary seconded). The motion passed 9-0.
4. GRIEVANCE REPORT: Mark Higbee and Susan Moeller, co-grievance officers, reported that there is still one tenure denial from 2003/2004 at the Step III level. The grievance at Step III on the elimination of the Geography/Geology department head is still on hold, waiting for input from the CAS Council. The appeal of the ruling allowing EMU to refuse to reinstate a faculty member who won an arbitration award is still pending. Many grievances are occurring due to the administration not following correct input procedures.
The grievance officers have been handling many questions relating to the reappointment and tenure application process. An MOU was approved by the EC to extend the time a faculty member has to be granted permanent resident status in order to achieve tenure. Phil Bogle asked if the stewards could be informed regarding grievances filed in their departments. The AAUP will ask individual faculty if they have talked to their steward about a grievance, but will not release this information without permission from the grievant.
5. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE: Sally McCracken opened the nominations. There was one additional nomination. David Crary from Economics was nominated for an at-large position. Nominations were then closed. All candidates need to submit their materials to Jamin Eisenbach, chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee by October 29, 2004.
6. NEW BUSINESS: Howard Bunsis discussed the impact of the elimination of the M-CARE HMO by the administration. 50 faculty members are affected. Jeannette Hassan will correct the open enrollment letter by revising the statement regarding the cost of the M-CARE option and restate that the administration not the AAUP eliminated this option. Open Enrollment for changing health care options if October 25 to November 5, 2004. Howard will work with members on addressing health care concerns. President Willis issued an ambiguous statement on Michigan’s Proposal 2. The AAUP has formally come out against Proposal 2. Phil Bogle suggested a web page for the union stewards. Jim VandenBosch as vice president will work on involving the stewards more in AAUP business.
7. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Submitted by Susan Moeller, Past President