Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting

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Present – Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Peter Cokkinias, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Rich Grudzinski, Jonathan Holland,Jeff Perry, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, Jeri Sykes, and Will Silvio. 

  1. Danny made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting. Rich seconded and the vote was unanimous to accept the minutes.
     
  2. We have cards for Roger Brown and Danny that we will sign and send out.
     
  3. Contracts are in and printed. They will be distributed through the chairs next week.
     
  4. NEASC report, Larry will send the letter and report that the college has received very soon.
     
  5. Conversions – we have four this year. The process will change for this year. They are going to treat this as a job opening with specific criteria that fit the needs of the college. They are going to announce the criteria first before the conversion process begins to let the faculty know what the positions are with the qualifications needed. Overall, this should be more transparent.
     
  6. We discussed the letter that was sent to Roger, Larry, and the Board of Trustees from a recent graduate about ways in which Berklee can be improved.
     
  7. We discussed visually impaired students and the problems that we face as faculty trying to mainstream them with no support from administration. Also, piano skills across the college for non-piano players.
     
  8. AFT-MA is looking for topics from faculty about recent issues facing us for their newsletter, opinion pieces, anything relating to your field. Any interested parties should contact the Union Office.
     
  9. Recent closure for snow should have actually been Tuesday night in addition to Wednesday. The Governor called for people to leave the city at 3:00 pm, Berklee should follow suit.
     
  10. MOU groups – chairs have been elected, very good notes should be taken during the meetings to really keep topics in focus with updates during our EC meetings. Members of the MOU groups that are not on the EC should come next week and the Union/Faculty members of the MOU groups will meet for the last 20 minutes.