A regular meeting of the MAT Executive Council was called to order by Ann Barrett at 2:00pm.

Those attending: Bill Coppola, Sue Kater, Jan Binder, Rick DeGraw, Tim Keefe, Suzanne Martin, Sandra Mares, Rick Kemp, Anne Williams, Denise Bruce, Ann Barrett, Sharon Blanton, Michael Springer, Dee Jacobs.

GROUND RULES

• Meetings will start on time.
• Meetings will end on time.
• Everybody must be respectful of the opinions of others.
• A topic must be "finished" before moving on.
• What is said remains in the room.
• Have fun.

ACTION - Minutes approved by consensus.

President's Report
Ann Barrett updated MEC on current activities:

• The direction for activities is based on decisions made by MEC at last year's MAT Retreat. Goals
• Leave a well-organized office to the next president.
• Budget reorganized and easier to read.
• The web pages transfer to DO.
• Discussion:
  • The timeline (which was distributed).
  • The purchase of software.
  • Bring web page up to date
  • Site is not easy to use.
  • Recover and post the archives
  • Memo to membership-at-large to find a volunteer willing to keep the web pages up to date.
  • Updates to MEC weekly until the web pages are moved to the District Office server.

  MOTION:Discussion of the web pages should be made an agenda item for the next meeting.

  ACTION:Approved by consensus.

• Development of new MAT evaluations is a multi-year project. An ad hoc committee has been assigned to this project. This committee will be working on forms and processes in conjunction with Human Resources.
• Membership has a print materials concept. A mock up will be ready for MEC review in Feb. Materials should be ready for MAT Conference.
• Ann will meet with each committee chair in January to facilitate reaching goals set at the 2000 Retreat.
• Committees will send a short (one or two paragraphs) written update to the MEC electronically a few days prior to the monthly meeting. If no activity has occurred just state No Report. Committees that need discussion, input, or a vote from MEC will be put on the agenda via the call for reports.

• A handout with information about the dues was distributed.
• Dee requested that the MEC budget report be given quarterly instead of monthly.

MOTION: This report should become a quarterly report.

ACTION: Approved by consensus.

Collaborative Policy Development

• The report requested during the last meeting was distributed. This report will be sent electronically to all members of the MEC.

• A form that will make grievances easier to assess was created.
• Letting members know about the $2,000.00 fund available for legal consultations was discussed. The first step of the grievance process refers the grievant to the unit president. It is therefore the role of the unit president to inform the grievant of this fund's existence.
• Posting the grievance form and process on the web was discussed.

EBAC

• A report was distributed. Discussion included:
  • Personal Time Off
  • Employee "Rights" Regarding Cultural/Religious Holidays
  • Flex Credit Proposal
  • Family Coverage
  • Banked Vacation
  • Faculty Proposals
• Health insurance is provided for domestic partners, but the money is spent differently for legal reasons.
• According to the EBAC Report, People-soft is not capable of making lump sum payments for unused vacation. Somebody from People-soft is scheduled to work on this problem.
• How much time can be accrued after a buy back is one of the topics.

Action: It is recommended that workshops (similar to the professional growth workshops) be provide to MAT employees with information on health insurance policies.

Action: It is recommended that EBAC Representatives visit the campuses to answer questions about health insurance policies from the membership.

Action: The distribution of a survey to gauge how people are feeling about the way flex credits are being assigned was requested to take place early in January. The results will be sent to EBAC and the Gov. Bd.

Professional Growth

• Videotapes from the Professional Growth Workshop will be available for each college at the next MEC meeting.
• It was also suggested that the workshop be distributed over ITPA.
• A printed budget report was requested.

  UNIT PRESIDENT'S REPORTS

  Scottsdale Community College

  Michael Springer reviewed the lack of benefits for people who are hired for less than 6 months. This is particularly critical since MAT employees are frequently hired in January, which does not allow them sufficient workdays to qualify for benefits before the end of the fiscal year. This policy has been in place for several years.

  The concerns are:

  • Short-term faculty is hired on a semester (not fiscal year) basis and is therefore given benefits. This is an inequity between the employee groups.
  • The policy is enforced on an arbitrary basis since some people are given benefits.
  • It adds to the difficulty of hiring part time people when they will not get benefits.
  • In certain circumstance, the person hired on a short-term contract is without benefits for a full year.
  A discussion followed.

  ACTION: It was requested that a speaker be scheduled to inform MEC regarding this policy.

  South Mountain Community College

  Sandi Mares announced that MAT is participating in the Presidential Search Committee. She stated that this is an accomplishment since MAT has not been allowed to participate in the Presidents Advisory Council.

  UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  MAT Strategic Plan

  There was a discussion on the timeliness of starting a strategic plan. The discussion included:

  • The need for certain basic tools such as a handbook before starting a strategic plan.
  • Development of tools, which is in progress, should be part of the planning.
  • There is a need for planning to provide continuity from year to year.
  More discussion is needed.

  NEW BUSINESS

  Appointment of Marina Gorton, EBAC Representative to replace Denise Bruce

  MOTION: Marina Gorton should be appointed EBAC Representative.

  ACTION: This motion was approved by consensus.

  PLUS-DELTA

  Plus

  • Good EBAC report
  • Good Grievance Committee report
  • Good discussion on resolution of MAT home page issues
  • Good discussions in general
  • Don't need computer
  Delta
  • Can't hear

  The meeting was adjourned at 4:00pm.

  
  Posted 12/19/00.