THE NEXT PART IS THE ADJUNCT
FACULTY REPORT FROM MR. DON MORRIS.
WELCOME, MR. MORRIS. >> MADAM CHAIR, TRUSTEES,
CHANCELLOR RHODES, GOOD AFTERNOON.S SAID WHEN WE TRUST
SOMEONE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEM IN THEIR HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY. WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL DO
THE THINGS THEY SAY THEY WILL. WE RECOGNIZE THEIR ABILITIES
AND STRENGTHS AND WE PLACE OUR FAITH IN THEM.
THE VITAL CONCERN OF ADJUNCT FACULTY IN THE COMING YEAR IS
HAVING ADEQUATE INPUT IN EXECUTIVE DECISIONS ON THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS FOR RETURNING BACK TO CAMPUS IN
2021 AND MOVING FORWARD. WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PHILOSOPHY OF A SLOW AND
STEADY PATH OF RETURN. THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS IS THE
SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IN CREATING AN
ATMOSPHERE WHERE FACULTY AND STUDENTS CAN ENGAGE IN
TEACHING AND LEARNING. UNFORTUNATELY, FEAR AND
ANXIETY ARE ENEMIES HAVE TEACHING AND LEARNING.
GOOD TEACHERS KNOW THAT BEFORE ANY TEACHING AND LEARNING CAN
BEGIN, A FOUNDATION OF SAFETY AND TRUST MUST BE LAID.
HIGH STRESS CAN CAUSE LOW PERFORMANCE ESPECIALLY WHEN
COUNCIL MEMBERED WITH THE STUDENTS OR THE FACULTY'S
PERCEIVED INABILITY TO COPE. UNDUE STRESS HAS PHYSICAL
MANIFESTATIONS AND CAN CAUSE AN OVER ACTIVE ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM THAT CREATES INFLAMMATION AND OTHER IS
HEALTH ISSUES. IT CAN LEAD TO HARMING HABITS
AND SOME MAY RESPOND IN UNHEALTHY WAYS BY DRINKING,
SMOKING, EATING HIGH FAT AND SUGARY YOU FOODS AND ABUSING
SUBSTANCES. GOOD COMMUNICATION IS A KEY
FACTOR IN REDUCING ANXIETY, BUT GOOD COMMUNICATION IS
NECESSITATED UPON TRUST. HOW IS THE ACC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
BUILDING AND PROMOTING TRUST TO THE COMMUNITY, THE STUDENTS
AND EMPLOYEES IT SERVES? WHAT STEPS CAN WE TAKE
TOGETHER TO BUILD TRUST IN OUR COMMUNITY?
THE AFA IS WORKING ON BUILDING TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF
FACULTY AS WE BEGIN PLANNING ON SCHEDULING A SERIES OF
INTERACTIVE SOCIAL HOURS. THESE SHORT 60 MINUTE
ENGAGEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO RECONNECT FACULTY BOTH
VISUALLY AND VERBALLY. SURE, WE'VE ONLY BEEN ENGAGED
IN ZOOM, WEBEX AND COLLABORATE MEETINGS WITH THE PRIMARY
INTENT OF WORK, BUT WOE NEED DELIBERATE, SOCIAL INTERACTION
DESIGNED TO BUILD TRUST. THE KIND OF TRUST THAT IS THE
OUTFALL OF PERSONAL CONNECTION AND AFFIRMATION.
THE AFA INVITES TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATION TO JOIN IN OUR
INTERACTIVE SOCIAL HOURS AS WE SCHEDULE THEM THROUGHOUT THE
SEMESTER. YOUR PARTICIPATION AND
INTERACTION WITH FACULTY WILL HELP PLAY A FOUNDATION OF
TRUST THE COMMUNITY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MORRIS.
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEESR. MIGUEL
DELEON. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND CHANCELLOR RHODES.
I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING THE ASSOCIATION
THIS PLATFORM TO SPEAK. ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS,
FIRSTLY I WOULD LIKE THE THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR
ALL THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE BOARD
MEETINGS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS INTO THE EVENING AND I
WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT
THE DECISIONS Y'ALL ARE MAKING FOR THE COLLEGE AND THE
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING THESE
PAST FEW MONTHS ON GETTING THIS YEAR GOING ON A STABLE
FOOTING. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED OUR GOALS
AND ORGANIZED OURSELVES IN A SAUNA WHICH HAS IMPROVED OUR
WORK FLOW TREMENDOUSLY. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ONE GOAL WE
HAVE SET FORTH, REPRESENTATION ON THE BACK TO CAMPUS
COMMITTEE, THANK YOU DR. RHODES AND DR. MALCOLM FOR
ALLOWING US THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE FINAL
STAGES OF ANOTHER ONE OF OUR GOALS, AND THAT IS TO UPDATE
OUR BYLAWS. THAT SHOULD BE FINALIZED BY
OUR NOVEMBER CEA GENERAL MEETING SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO
THOSE CHANGES. ON OCTOBER 16TH, WE'LL BE
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING THE CLASSIFIEDS, WHICH WILL BE OUR
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE CEA. I CANNOT THANK OUR
COMMUNICATION OFFICER MELISSA GRIFFITH ENOUGH FOR TAKING ON
THIS CHALLENGE. SHE IS ALSO COLLABORATING WITH
OUR SECRETARY-TREASURER MINNIE DUPLANTIS, PRESIDENT-ELECT
MATTHEW CAMPBELL, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT CASSIE OLIVO TO ENSURE WE PUBLISH THE MOST
PERTINENT INFORMATION TO OUR MEMBERS. THE LAST MEETING I STAD
WE WERE WORKING ON SEATING OUR CEA COMMITTEES AND I'M HAPPY
TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE SEATED THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS
COMMITTEE AND WILL BE SCHEDULING OUR FIRST MEETING
LATER THIS MONTH. IN OUR LAST MEETING WITH
DR. RHODES AND HIS CABINET, WE BROUGHT FORWARD A
RECOMMENDATION TO -- FROM CEA MEMBER RANDY SPEARS WHICH IS
TO CREATE A RIVERBAT TEAM AWARD.
THE AWARD WILL BE GIVEN TO GROUPS THAT HAVE SHOWN
OUTSTANDING TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO THIS IDEA
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH H. R. AND MARKETING ON
THIS COLLABORATION. AND LASTLY, JOE
LARKINS-FOSTER, OUR PAST PRESIDENT IS THE CHAIR OF THE
EMPLOYEE EMERGENCY FUND AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THE
ASSOCIATIONS TO GET THE NEW LOAN FUND ORGANIZED AND
FINALIZED. THE WORK IS JUST ABOUT
COMPLETED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE NEW
CHANGES AND ALL THE ASSOCIATIONS WORKING TOGETHER
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE THREE C'S FOR THE GOOD OF ACC.
THANK YOU AND HAVE GREAT AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REPORT IS FROM THE
FULL-TIME FACULTY SENATE. AND WE'LL HEAR FROM MR. WAYNE
BUTLER. >> GREETINGS ALL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, CHAIR BRYANT,
CHANCELLOR RHODES AND ALL OTHER MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE
TODAY. I, TOO, WANT TO START WITH
THANKS TODAY, FIRST FOR THE 2% RAISE THAT DR. RHODES PROPOSED
AND THE BOARD APPROVED. STRONG GESTURE FROM LEADERSHIP
AND THE BOARD THAT ACC CARES ABOUT STAFF AND FACULTY.
IT'S NOT EVERYTHING WE WERE HOPING FOR, BUT WE KNOW IN
THESE TIMES, 2% WAS A WONDERFUL GESTURE AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT. ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE SLEPT BE
LEADERSHIP DISPLAYED BY THE CHANCELLOR, HIS CABINET FOR
THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN MEETINGS LIKE
THIS ONE, THE SCORES OF OTHERS WHERE LEADERSHIP AND FACULTY
HASH OUT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WILL HELP ACC
MEET ITS GOALS. AS A COUPLE OF OTHER
PRESIDENTS HAVE MENTIONED ON FRIDAY WE HAD WHAT WE BELIEVE
IS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MEETING OF ALL THE ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENTS AND THE CHANCELLOR AND HIS CABINET.
WE TOUCHED ON ISSUES OF OPERATIONAL ISSUES OF MAKING
TIME FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, UPDATING JOB
DESCRIPTIONS AND PAY DISPARITY AMONG ASSOCIATION OFFICERS,
AND GOT SOME INFORMATION ON HOW SPRING 21 IS GOING TO ROLL
OUT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES.
MIGUEL POINTED OUT THERE THE BACK TO CAMPUS PLAN WAS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US, AND THE CLIMATE SURVEY RESULTS.
VERY PLEASED FROM THAT SURVEY TO SEE ALL THE POSITIVE STEPS
WE'VE MADE IN THE AREAS OF STUDENT SUCCESS, BUT WE DO
WANT TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THE AREAS OF
IMPROVEMENT. SOME OF THOSE I'LL TOUCH ON IN
A BIT HERE, BUT ALSO WANT TO REVIEW THE FULL-TIME FACULTY
SENATE HAS BEEN WORKING ON. RIGHT NOW A LOT OF OUR WORK IS
FOCUSING ON THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN OUR FOUR PRIORITIES
FOR THE YEAR TO REMIND YOU WE'RE STUDENT SUCCESS
INITIATIVES, FACULTY SUCCESS INITIATIVES, EQUITY ACROSS THE
BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY, WORKLOADS, ACCESS
TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COLLEGE FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY
AND STAFF, AND THE FACULTY IN STUDENT SUCCESS ONE OF THE
CHARTERS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. AND HOW CAN WE ALIGN THOSE
WITH THE CHANCELLOR'S SIX POINTS OF EMPHASIS THIS YEAR,
REDUCING EQUITY GAPS, MODERNIZING TECHNOLOGY,
PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL ONLINE ORGANIZATION, HELPING
AUSTINITES OR CENTRAL TEXANS GET BACK TO WORK, INCREASING
SUCCESS -- CORE SUCCESS RATES AND TO FOSTER A SAFE, PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT.WE THINK THESE ARE L WORTHWHILE OF COURSE.
NOW IT'S A MATTER OF HOW DO THEY ALIGN.
AND OF COURSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO KEEP ON CONTRIBUTE TO GO
THE THREE C'S OF THE CARING, COMMUNICATION AND
COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON.
WE'RE PLEASED THAT THE FULL TIME FACULTY HAS BEEN GRANTED
MORE SEATS ON MORE COMMITTEES SUCH AS THE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY GOVERNING BOARD AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL AS INPUT ON IMPORTANT COMMITTEES
ON ADJUNCT HIRING EQUITY, FOR INSTANCE AND THE UPCOMING
INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION ASSESSMENT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR ROLES IN THOSE AREAS AS
WELL AS IN THE ESTABLISHED GOVERNANCE AREAS AND THE
MASTER PLANNING THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING ON.
WE SEE OBVIOUSLY EARLY EASY OVERLAPS OF THE STUDENT
SUCCESS IN EXCEPTIONAL ONLINE EDUCATION AND THE INCREASE OF
CORE SUCCESS RATES. CERTAINLY WE SHARE THOSE
GOALS. AND CERTAINLY REDUCING EQUITY
GAPS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE ACC COMMUNITY IN ALL TYPES OF
DOMAINS AND ARENAS. SO WE'RE DEFINITELY ON BOARD
WITH THAT AS WELL. WE CAN SEE HOW MODERNIZING
TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CLOSING THE EQUITY GAPS AND
IMPROVING ONLINE EDUCATION AND IMPROVING CORE SUCCESS RATES.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE POSSIBILITIES.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MULL OVER HOW FULL TIME FACULTY CAN
HELP GET CENTRAL TEXANS BACK TO WORK.
CERTAINLY A BIG PART OF CONSTITUENCY AND FULL TIME
FACULTY ARE THE WORKFORCE FACULTY AND THAT'S ALWAYS
THEIR JOB. ONE, THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER TO
PREPARE PEOPLE FOR THE WORKFORCE AND WE'LL CONTINUE
TO THINK ABOUT WAYS HOUR ACADEMIC TRANSFER FOLKS ARE
REALLY DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR A FOUR YEAR
EXPERIENCE OR A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION, NOT ALWAYS
VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED, BUT I'M SURE WE'LL CONTINUE HAVING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TRYING TO
FIND THE ALIGNMENT AMONG THEM. OF COURSE, WE'RE VERY
INTERESTED IN THE EQUITY AND GETTING BACK TO CAMPUS SAFELY.
ONE THING WE'LL CONTINUES WORKING ON IS HOW TO DEFINE
FACULTY SUCCESS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE
PREMISE THAT IN ORDER TO HELP THE STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
WE HAVE TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE
THIS WHERE EVERYBODY IS DOING THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME NEW,
OR MOST EVERYBODY IS, WE'RE GOING TO BE THINKING THROUGH
OF WHAT THAT MEANS TO US, HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE IT, WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES
AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH LEADERSHIP TO ENHANCE FACULTY
SUCCESS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESS WITH
THE BRITISH ENTREPRENEUR RICHARD BRANSON'S TAKE ON
LEADERSHIP.HE HAS TAKEN THE OPPY TO DECONSTRUCT A BIT THE OLD
THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT CREE DOE, AND SAYING THAT IF
WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR FRONT LINE PEOPLE, THEY CAN'T
TAKE CARE OF THE CUSTOMERS. SO TAKING CARE OF THE
ENTERPRISES PEOPLE IS NUMBER ONE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HELP AND
DELIGHT YOUR CUSTOMERS WITHOUT HAPPY AND DELIGHTED AND
FUNCTIONAL EMPLOYEES. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR
WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER TO HELP OUR FACULTY BE A
SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE. SOME OF THE -- WE WERE PLEASED
WITH THE SURVEY AND SOME OF THE DATA THAT THE CHANCELLOR
SHARED WITH US ABOUT THE GREAT STRIDES WE'VE MADE IN STUDENT
SUCCESS. WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THAT,
IMPROVED GRADUATION RATES AND SEMESTER RETURN RATES AND WE
DID SPEND SOME TIME ON THE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT,
CERTAINLY ONES THAT HAD TO DO WITH COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS THE
BOARD FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, ACROSS THE SILOS, SO ON AND SO
FORTH, AND CERTAINLY IN OUR GESTURE TO SAY HOW CAN WE HELP
WITH THAT, WE'RE CERTAINLY ON BOARD TO HELPING OUT WITH THE
COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATION AND CULTURE OF
CARING. WE ARE SO PLEASED TO HEAR THAT
THE OTHER ASSOCIATIONS LIKE THE FULL TIME FACULTY
ASSOCIATION HAS BYLAWS FOR THE OFFICERS, HAS NEW
COMMUNICATION TOOLS THAT WE PUT IN LAST YEAR, WEEKLY
SENATE STANDARD NEWSLETTER AND MORE E-MAILING AND THE BY LAWS
STRUCTURES THE BOARD AND TURN AROUND TIME FLOW.
AS WE'RE ALL DISCOVERING, THIS IS A HUGE TASK.
THINGS CHANGE ALL THE TIME. LOTS OF DIFFERENT AUDIENCES
PAYING ATTENTION IN DIFFERENT WAYS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE TO KEEP ON COMMUNICATING AND SO
WE'RE HOPING THAT LEADERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO HELP US HELP
YOU AS WE NEED MORE RESOURCES PERHAPS FOR IMPROVING THE
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY AND FOR WAYS OF
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADERSHIP SO WE CAN ALL
TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES TOGETHER.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
TIME TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE ACTIVITIES WHERE WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER. >> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. BUTLER. AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
ASSOCIATION OFONAL-TECHNICALE'LM DR. LAUREN SEBEL.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, TRUSTEES AND DR. RHODES.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, APTE WOULD LIKE TO THANK DR. RHODES FOR
RECOMMENDING AND TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVING OUR 2% RAISE
DURING A TIME WHEN THINGS ARE SO UNCERTAIN, THE CONFIDENCE
THAT YOU'VE SHOWN TO EMPLOYEES IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THE APT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MET AND DISCUSSED IDEAS FOR
PROMOTING STUDENT SUCCESS, VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES AND OUR FOCUS ON CONTINUING TO BUILD OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD, ADMINISTRATORS AND THE OTHER
ASSOCIATIONS. WE ALSO DISCUSSED OUR YEARLY
SUPPORT OF BOOTS AND BATS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING IF THE
EVENT WILL BE VIRTUAL THIS YEAR AND HOW WE CAN
PARTICIPATE AND HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ACC FOUNDATION.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO T. LED FOR THE AMAZING GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
IF YOU ALL WEREN'T THERE AND HAVEN'T WATCHED IT, PLEASE GO
WATCH MIKE MITCHLY DANCE, THAT'S ALWAYS THE BEST PART OF
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. FINALLY, APTE IS COMMITTED TO
ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS RECEIVE THE TWO HOURS
TO VOTE THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND APPRECIATE ACC'S
SUPPORT OF THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT REPORT WOULD BE THE CHANCELLOR'S REMARKS AND UPDATES. DR. RHODES?