Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting

Present – Michael Abraham, Rick Applin, Peter Cokkinias, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Rich Grudzinski, Danny Harrington, Jonathan Holland, Teodros Kiros, Dennis Cecere, Jeff Perry, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, Will Silvio.

Guests -Michael Bierylo, Charles Cassara, and Mike Scott

1. Danny made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting. Jonathan seconded and the vote was unanimous to accept the minutes.
    
2. Jackson reviewed the semester. This is the last meeting of the year. Tonight we have a budget meeting from 6-8 to go over all the finances. We discussed the petition to re-instate the Faculty Initiated W for ensembles only – a very hot topic on many levels.
    
3. Jackson has asked for a tour of all vacant space at the college so we know what we are talking about as we request more office space!
    
4. We celebrated the tenure of Mike Scott and Charles Cassara. We started this organization in 1978 and until this fall it was Mike and Charles running the ship. Thank you for your service.

Union notes from Union / Management Meeting

Present – Michael Abraham, Prince Charles Alexander, Rick Applin, Dennis Cecere, Peggy Codding, Peter Cokkinias, Beth Denisch, Marti Epstein, Rich Grudzinski, Danny Harrington, Jonathan Holland, Teodros Kiros, Jeff Perry, Diane Richardson, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, and Will Silvio.

Management – Larry Simpson, Jay Kennedy, Bill Whitney, Kari Juusela, Darla Hanley, Matt Marvuglio, Jeanine Cowan, Amelia Koch, Chris Connors, Camille Colatosti, Mac Hisey.

1. Jackson opened the meeting and acknowledged the ground breaking yesterday for 160. Larry passed it over to Camille.
    
2. Self Study and Reaccreditation Process, Camille Colatosti – Dean of Institution Assessment and Graduate Studies. Accreditation is done by NEASC. Voluntary, self-regulated, and carried out by peer review, but very important to meet standards set by NEASC. Camille made a presentation about the process and where we are in terms of accreditation. March 3-6 of 2013 is the next visit to our campus. Valencia is also a campus to visit before the first class graduates, not sure how at this point.
    
3. College's Graduate Program Proposal (Camille Colatosti). 
   
   Valencia 
   
   Fall 2012
   MM Contemporary Studio Performance
   MM Scoring for Film, television and video games
   MA Global Entertainment and Music Business
   
   Fall 2013
   MM Contemporary writing and production
   MM Electronic production and design
   MM Symphonic Band Studies
   
   Boston
   
   Fall 2013 
   (possibly)
   
   MA Global Entertainment and Music Business
   MA Music Therapy
   MM Music Education
   MM Contemporary studio performance
   
    
4. 150 Access/ADA Issues Update (Mac Hisey). This is a topic for after the break; tomorrow is the first meeting since our last meeting. Many options have been considered, John Eldert’s plan is the one that has the most promise at this point – expanding the 142 entrance to be more of a main entrance with an elevator that would have access to the entire building. The plan is to see drawings at our next union/management meeting. 
    
5. Vocal Department Space Update (Jay Kennedy). The growth of the department has led to space issues. Slow and steady progress is being made. Room 5S has been cleared out to use for voice exclusively. Other spaces are becoming available and it will be better this spring and next fall will hopefully be even better. This is a divisional issue and not just a department issue. Progress is being made, 1140 bathroom plan is also an important topic.

Minutes from Union Executive Committee Meeting

Present – Prince Charles Alexander, Rick Applin, Peter Cokkinias, Beth Denisch, Rich Grudzinski, Danny Harrington, Teodros Kiros, Dennis Cecere, Jeff Perry, Diane Richardson, Wendy Rolfe, Jackson Schultz, Will Silvio. 

1. Rick made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting. Rich seconded and the vote was unanimous to accept the minutes.
    
2. Jay Kennedy and Steven Riggs have been going to department meetings in 1140 to share their plans to renovate the bathrooms in 1140.
    
3. We discussed a letter to Performance Division in support of re-instating the Instructor Initiated Withdrawal in the Ensemble Department.
    
4. Jackson is making cookies for the Dec. 8th meeting; perhaps we will have special guests Charles Cassara and Mike Scott.
    
5. We discussed the 403b conversion to Diversified Retirement Services from the Standard and TIAA-CREF. Diversified also handles the defined benefit pension plan. The college is looking for a record keeper with funds that are not proprietary to their company. The Berklee Retirement Committee selects the funds that are available for faculty to contribute to. The Standard will no longer be an option at the college; the money will be moved to Diversified. If you have TIAA-CREF, the option is yours to move your existing money but all NEW contributions will be made to Diversified. The college needs to communicate better with our members; we need them to share the correct information with regards to the how and why this change is taking place.
    
6. There is a pending sexual harassment charge on a faculty member from a student. More information will follow. Jackson will be talking with Larry Simpson this afternoon.
    
7. We discussed the concept of a party for faculty during BTOT.
    
8. We discussed the position paper from last meeting. Teodros and Wendy have started and we need feedback on where we are and where we are headed with this concept. Jackson passed out the draft and we will e-mail him feedback.