Hello from California...here is an article from the Chronicle of Higher Ed that I thought was interesting. Joey
Strike Blocked, Central Michigan U. and Faculty Will Bring Labor Dispute to Fact Finder
August 26, 2011, 2:08 pm
An agreement worked out this morning will continue to block a strike by Central Michigan University faculty members but will grant them several important goals while a state-sponsored fact-finding process seeks a resolution of salary and benefit issues behind the labor dispute, The Saginaw News reported. Some 600 tenured and tenure-track professors walked off their jobs on Monday, before a judge ordered them back to work. Under the deal announced today, the faculty union will refrain from striking but may picket. In turn, the university will reinstate union dues collections, binding arbitration, and grievance procedures, will allow faculty members to choose a different prescription-drug plan, and will not retaliate against the strikers. The first hearing of the fact finder, who was appointed by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, is scheduled for September 7.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
bend quarterly update #5
Next we had info on SB909 and SB242 (909 is the Oregon Education Investment Board). SB242 creates a new entity. The Higher Education (HE) Committee brings the Oregon University System (OUS) and the 17 community colleges together. Previously, HE referred to only the OUS system. This has great symbolic value, as the community colleges are now equal partners in determining HE education across the state. In fact, CC's are at the heart of the college continuem.
In addition, SB242 makes the OUS system a non-state agency, which unburdens it from many state mandates. However, OUS will still be under the state department of education.
The goal of all this is to fund public education differently. Instead of seat-time (FTE), the funding points would be some of the following:
**certificates and degrees
**moving English language learners to English proficiency
**documenting the first 15 and 30 hours of instruction
**dual HS enropre-college-college
**students have the skills necessary to do college-level work
The current funding model wants to fill seats, but doesn't provide a way for the student to stay in the seat. Instead, OEIB wants to measure completion and knowledge uptake.
In addition, SB242 makes the OUS system a non-state agency, which unburdens it from many state mandates. However, OUS will still be under the state department of education.
The goal of all this is to fund public education differently. Instead of seat-time (FTE), the funding points would be some of the following:
**certificates and degrees
**moving English language learners to English proficiency
**documenting the first 15 and 30 hours of instruction
**dual HS enropre-college-college
**students have the skills necessary to do college-level work
The current funding model wants to fill seats, but doesn't provide a way for the student to stay in the seat. Instead, OEIB wants to measure completion and knowledge uptake.
bend quarterly update #4
Your help is needed:
Election 2010 changed the makeup of the Oregon house and Senate.
**30/30 house
**16/14 sen
**9 Republican freshman w/ conservative agenda
**a corporist reform coalition has been formed to oppose pro-edu bills
We need to fight! Please volunteer by calling voters, knocking on doors, and canvassing. Educators are highly influential! !
What's ahead..
**bad ballot measures are already circulating
**there Iwill be open seats
It's time to recruit pro-labor, pro-education candidates.
Login to: defendoregon.org
Attend the OEA rally on the Capital steps
president's day / feb 20th, 2012
More info to follow! !
Election 2010 changed the makeup of the Oregon house and Senate.
**30/30 house
**16/14 sen
**9 Republican freshman w/ conservative agenda
**a corporist reform coalition has been formed to oppose pro-edu bills
We need to fight! Please volunteer by calling voters, knocking on doors, and canvassing. Educators are highly influential! !
What's ahead..
**bad ballot measures are already circulating
**there Iwill be open seats
It's time to recruit pro-labor, pro-education candidates.
Login to: defendoregon.org
Attend the OEA rally on the Capital steps
president's day / feb 20th, 2012
More info to follow! !
bend quarterly update #3
We started off this morning with reports from various community colleges. Some have managed to avoid striking; others still struggle with bargaining, RIFs, mediations, etcetera. We are all very proud of klammath community college's succesful fight to form a bargaining unit!
Next we had a conference call regarding higher education issues- some highlights:
The Dream Act: the goal is to increase the number of young adults get access to higher education (HE). In this act, immigrants can resolve their status, and work towards citizenship.
For-profit schools: must lead to a degree, prepare students for gainful employment, be eligible for federal financial aid, and not have a huge debt.
Next was a legislative update:
**40 million cut to community colleges / huge cuts to k-12 also
**OEA prevailed on 68 major pieces of legislation
**8 bills passed that OEA strongly opposed / one such bill is HB 3645: HE Charter (school) Sponsorship, in which a community college has to sponsor a charter school if the school is denied charter. Charter schools are not our forte or responsibility.
Good bills:
**HB 3543: kicker as tax credit, not check
**HB 362: career technical education
**SB %418: task force on HE success
**HB 3521: student transfer rights
OEA stopped some bad bills:
**Oregon Opportunity Grant for for-profit schools
**a capital gains tax cut
**merit pay
**some PERS & collective bargaining rollback proposals
Languishing bills
**SB 742: tuition equity (Oregon's version of the Dream Act)
**HB 3320 & SB 35: unemployment benefits for summer term
**SB 931: PT faculty re-employment (based on a California law)
Next we had a conference call regarding higher education issues- some highlights:
The Dream Act: the goal is to increase the number of young adults get access to higher education (HE). In this act, immigrants can resolve their status, and work towards citizenship.
For-profit schools: must lead to a degree, prepare students for gainful employment, be eligible for federal financial aid, and not have a huge debt.
Next was a legislative update:
**40 million cut to community colleges / huge cuts to k-12 also
**OEA prevailed on 68 major pieces of legislation
**8 bills passed that OEA strongly opposed / one such bill is HB 3645: HE Charter (school) Sponsorship, in which a community college has to sponsor a charter school if the school is denied charter. Charter schools are not our forte or responsibility.
Good bills:
**HB 3543: kicker as tax credit, not check
**HB 362: career technical education
**SB %418: task force on HE success
**HB 3521: student transfer rights
OEA stopped some bad bills:
**Oregon Opportunity Grant for for-profit schools
**a capital gains tax cut
**merit pay
**some PERS & collective bargaining rollback proposals
Languishing bills
**SB 742: tuition equity (Oregon's version of the Dream Act)
**HB 3320 & SB 35: unemployment benefits for summer term
**SB 931: PT faculty re-employment (based on a California law)
bend quarterly update #2
A few more notes about the new Oregon Education Investment Board:
**a chief education officer will beh hired next year after a nation-wide search.
**there was strong bipartisan support for the 40/40/20 plan.
**gov wants to create a culture of innovation,
**also wants more flexibility for individual school districts
**example: a fifth year for hs students, so they don't drop out
**need to find a steady funding stream (how about sales tax?)
**reward best practices & expand the islands of excellence
**look at proficiency instead of grades
THIS IS ALL IN THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES, SO EXPECT LOTS MORE DISCUSSION AND CHANGES!
New topic:
OEA has grants of about $100 (directly to students)
You can contribute to this fund thru payroll deduction or your debit/credit card
So far, OEA members have contributed over $68,000
The meeting ended last night at 5pm. I'm staying with old friends, and we took the dog for a walk thru the desert. Dorothy is not in Portland (Kansas) any more :-).
**a chief education officer will beh hired next year after a nation-wide search.
**there was strong bipartisan support for the 40/40/20 plan.
**gov wants to create a culture of innovation,
**also wants more flexibility for individual school districts
**example: a fifth year for hs students, so they don't drop out
**need to find a steady funding stream (how about sales tax?)
**reward best practices & expand the islands of excellence
**look at proficiency instead of grades
THIS IS ALL IN THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES, SO EXPECT LOTS MORE DISCUSSION AND CHANGES!
New topic:
OEA has grants of about $100 (directly to students)
You can contribute to this fund thru payroll deduction or your debit/credit card
So far, OEA members have contributed over $68,000
The meeting ended last night at 5pm. I'm staying with old friends, and we took the dog for a walk thru the desert. Dorothy is not in Portland (Kansas) any more :-).
Friday, August 26, 2011
college council message #1
As you probably know, the OEA represents K-12, as well as the 17 community colleges. Under the OEA banner is college council, which represents CC classified, PT and FT interests. I'm here in Bend for the quarterly meeting. I'll try to send you bits of info as the meeting progresses.
1. Klamath community college has worked since 2009 to firstly be recognized by the Oregon Employment Board, then to fight for a contract. They just got their very first contract, and so we eagerly welcome them to the union family.
2. Oregon Edu Investment Project: under HB 242, I think, Governor Kitzhaber has created a plan for the state's education system. This plan encompasses pre-kinder through post-graduate, and it's referred to as "0-20", zero being pre-kinder and twenty being a master's degree. The whole system must be accountable, not just early learning; in fact, grades 11 - 14 (HS thru early college) are furthest behind. The long-term goal of the OEIB is "40/40/20", 40% of Oregonians will have a BA, 40% will have an AA or certificate, and 20% will have a HS diploma.
1. Klamath community college has worked since 2009 to firstly be recognized by the Oregon Employment Board, then to fight for a contract. They just got their very first contract, and so we eagerly welcome them to the union family.
2. Oregon Edu Investment Project: under HB 242, I think, Governor Kitzhaber has created a plan for the state's education system. This plan encompasses pre-kinder through post-graduate, and it's referred to as "0-20", zero being pre-kinder and twenty being a master's degree. The whole system must be accountable, not just early learning; in fact, grades 11 - 14 (HS thru early college) are furthest behind. The long-term goal of the OEIB is "40/40/20", 40% of Oregonians will have a BA, 40% will have an AA or certificate, and 20% will have a HS diploma.
Monday, August 15, 2011
New Job Postings
New Job Postings
· Small Business Development Center Instructor
· Water and Wastewater Science Instructor
· Welding
· General Biology
· ESL (English as a Second Language) Instructor
· Engineering
· Counseling
· Advising
2. Then click “CCCJobs” (https://clackamas.peopleadmin.com/)
3. Then click one of five job categories: admin/supervisory, faculty, support staff, student, or federal work-study.
4. Enter the position name (e.g. Small Business Instructor) OR click on “search jobs” (upper, left-hand side of your screen )
5. Cuidado! As noted on the website, there are specific directions to follow, such as:
There are many unfilled positions opening within the next year. Many have been unfilled for the past 15 months. Some many have been filled already. They include:
· Automotive instructor / High School· Small Business Development Center Instructor
· Water and Wastewater Science Instructor
· Welding
· General Biology
· ESL (English as a Second Language) Instructor
· Engineering
· Counseling
· Advising
To apply for a position, please follow these steps:
1. http://depts.clackamas.edu/hr/JobOpenings.aspx2. Then click “CCCJobs” (https://clackamas.peopleadmin.com/)
3. Then click one of five job categories: admin/supervisory, faculty, support staff, student, or federal work-study.
4. Enter the position name (e.g. Small Business Instructor) OR click on “search jobs” (upper, left-hand side of your screen )
5. Cuidado! As noted on the website, there are specific directions to follow, such as:
It is unacceptable to attach a resume instead of completing the experience section of the online application. Failure to complete the experience section of the application will result in disqualification. Everyone who applies for a position is required to create a detailed application.
Good luck!Shuttle bus to start next Spring (2012)
FREE Shuttle Bus to OC Campus
· U.S. Dept of Transportation: http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3550.html
· Board of Education meeting notes (pages 31 – 40): ask Jennifer for a copy
The Towncenter Xpress (TX) pilot project was started in April 2010, in which a shuttle van transported students, staff and public from the “end of the green line” (MAX train) at the Clackamas Town Center (CTC) to the Oregon City Campus (OC). Having been “tabled” for lack of funding for the past year, it was announced that the college had been awarded JARC (Job Access & Reverse Commuting) funding of $15,000. The college will match this funding (with help from ASG), and so be able to transport 14 people to the college at a time. The TX van will enable far-flung students and others to get from the CTC to OC in just 15 minutes or so, as opposed to an hour and 15 minutes. Funding, however, is contingent on ridership.
TX will start next Spring (2012). It will run six (6) hours a day, four (4) days a week (no Friday runs); and be concurrent with the community college annual schedule. That means the shuttle will only run when classes are in session, and not during Spring or other planned breaks.
More links:
· Trimet/JARC info: http://trimet.org/meetings/jarc/index.htm · U.S. Dept of Transportation: http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3550.html
· Board of Education meeting notes (pages 31 – 40): ask Jennifer for a copy
Pro-Patria Award
Pro Patria Award
· http://www.arfp.org/skins/ARFP/home.aspx then click “Programs”, then Army Strong Community Center
A very nice honor was awarded to CCC and accepted by CCC President, Joanne Truesdell. The recognition came from the by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (http://www.esgr.org/site/), and it’s called the Pro-Patria Award (http://www.esgr.org/site/Programs/ProPatriaAward.aspx)/
“The "Pro Patria Award" is presented annually by each ESGR Committee to the one employer in their state or territory who has provided the most exceptional support of our national defense through leadership practices and personnel policies that support their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.”
There was a wonderful D.O.D. (department of defense) volunteer who commented that CCC’s Army Strong Community Center’s attracted 400 people for the grand opening, and has assisted at least 400 people since that time. There are only 3 other Army Strong Community Centers (all of which are east of the Mississippi), whose grand openings only attracted 50 - 60 people.
More links:
· http://depts.clackamas.edu/veterans/VETCenter.aspx· http://www.arfp.org/skins/ARFP/home.aspx then click “Programs”, then Army Strong Community Center
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