Hi again,
We have been hearing from many of you about the challenges and victories you have had in the last week. The same goes for the SBFA. Here are some updates:
First, we have been hearing that people are being told that they will have to be prepared to teach online in the fall. Assuming that this will be the case, please review the language of Article 50 and determine if you are entitled to a development stipend (up to two total). The timeframe for building a new Blackboard course is 6 months; we have 5, but I am confident we can make that work. The development stipend for each of your first two online course developments is $3,086.95 (this is for faculty-owned courses, not “work-for-hire,” which is the format we recommend, although “work-for-hire” is also available–see Article 50). There is an “Internet Course Approval” form to fill out Updated Internet Course Approval Form 2018 2021 and you need to get it signed by your Department Chair & Dean/AVP in advance. (Note: you will not get paid the development stipend until the course is listed on the schedule, but if you have been told this is a possibility it makes sense to get ready.) This is your right as a faculty member, and certainly you deserve to be properly trained if you have not constructed a complete course before, or only one. Contact one of the Instructional Designers for help:
- Liberal Arts: Tera Doty-Blance/Susan Woerner
- Business & Public Services: Carine Surdey
- STEM: Cagatay “Emre” Dogan
- Health Sciences: Cagatay “Emre” Dogan
Second, by now you should have received an email about the nursing grievance resolution proposal from your Reps. If not, reach out to them. If you don’t hear anything let us know, and we will send you the materials. We will be discussing it on Thursday at Rep Council, so be sure your Rep knows your thoughts. Violation of the contract affects all of us, so please weigh in even if you are not teaching faculty. The grievance needs to be resolved by April 19, or it moves forward, so time is short.
We still haven’t heard from the Administration on multiple concerns. We requested a Labor Management meeting about the table from 38I, which must be resolved by the end of the semester. We have repeatedly asked for a response to the Coronavirus curtailment MOU that we told you about a couple of weeks ago. We will keep asking. In addition, questions to payroll about processing payroll dues deduction forms electronically have not received a response.
We also haven’t heard about our offer to provide support to the EOC (Emergency Operations Center). So unfortunately we are finding out things at the same time as the rest of campus. Again, we will keep asking, as we think we could help the Administration avoid some of the confusion that has been in abundance lately. We are meeting with Dr. Drumm later this week and we will remind him of all of these matters.
Upcoming dates: Rep Council is April 9 and FA Chairs & Coordinators is April 21. Be on the lookout for the invites for this.
And finally, the good news–excellent news! The librarians have been allowed to work from home! And of course, they are doing it with bells on! Take a look at this:
https://sunybroome.info/library/news/message-library
(I’m thinking of stealing this idea.) 🙂
Keep up the great work, and let us know how it is going!
In friendship and solidarity,
Suzanne
Suzanne V. Shepard, Ph.D.
President, SUNY Broome Faculty Association
SUNY Broome Community College 