Minutes from Union-Management meeting 2-6-20

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: February 6, 2020 at 1:00p
In Attendance: Matthew Nicholl, Darla Hanley, Jay Kennedy, Larry Simpson,Jeff Klug, Elizabeth Alvarez,Andrew Murphy, Melinda Thomas, Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Denise Pons-Leone, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris

Call to order 1:05p.

1. Counseling Center Update

SILVIO summarized Union concerns regarding access to Counseling Services. SIMPSON affirmed desire of administration to provide and promote access. KLUG seconded SIMPSON’s remarks, summarizing move to central campus location (161 Mass Ave., 4th Floor) for all Health and Wellness Activities and revised in-take procedures. KLUG noted 57% year-over-year increase in Fall 2019 in requests for services. KLUG attributed increase, in part, to greater visibility and efforts to reach-out in the community. ALVAREZ recently reviewed procedures and processes, implemented Rapid Access Counselor to prioritize emergency situations and same-day access. ALVAREZ further discussed issues at Berklee in comparison to other institutions, reasons for hospitalization of students, exceptionally long wait times, services for students struggling with addiction, and communication with faculty. MURPHY emphasized need to contact Public Safety in times of crisis.

2. Corona Virus Update

MURPHY said risk of spreading in U.S., including Boston, is extremely low. Currently, no Berklee students affect. In U.S., flu is a far greater concern.

Meeting adjourned 1:55p.

Minutes from union executive meeting 1-30-20

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: January 30, 2020 at 1:00p
In Attendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Utar Artun, Peter Cokkinias, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Vanessa Morris

Call to order 1:12p.

1. Approve minutes

MOTION: “To approve minutes of Union Executive Committee meeting on January 23.” (JOHNSON)

SECOND: EPSTEIN

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. Committee updates

EPSTEIN provided informal update on Equity Study; REICH provided informal update on Dean and Chair Survey; SILVIO provided update on Faculty Promotion Advisory Committee, which is composed of Will Silvio (chair), Prince Charles Alexander, Marti Epstein, Elizabeth Seitz, and Andrew Shryock; and D. SCOTT provided informal update on Communications Committee. Also, EPSTEIN discussed recent meeting with representatives of Student Government.

3. February meeting of Union & Management

Upcoming meeting of Union and Management will focus on Counseling and Wellness.

4. Department Rep positions

SILVIO indicated departments that need department representatives to the Union; these are Bass, Film Scoring, Guitar, BCB Core Studies, MP&E, Music Therapy, and Woodwind.

Meeting adjourned 1:50p.

Minutes from union executive meeting 1-23-20

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: January 23, 2020 at 1:00p
In Attendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Denise Pons-Leone, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Peter Cokkinias, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris, Mike Scott, Andrea Johnson

Call to order 1:07p.

1. Approve minutes

MOTION: “To approve minutes of Union Executive Committee meetings on November 14, December 5, and December 12.” (CECERE)

SECOND: ABRAHAM

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. Classroom & Facilities update

SILVIO summarized meeting with Larry Simpson, Jay Kennedy, Matthew Nichol, Bruce Bennett, Greg Esposto, and Jerry Smith in which efforts to improve classroom conditions were discussed. As a result, College has increased use of student workers, replaced equipment, reviewed issues noted by faculty and Union, and identified areas for further improvement.

3. Presidential Search Committee Update

SILVIO summarized ongoing efforts to place a Union representative on the Presidential Search Committee, specifically a petition with roughly 470 signatures that was submitted at a BTOT listening session to Search Committee Chair Marty Mannion. The petition prompted a follow-up meeting and an invitation to submit questions directly to candidate(s).

4. Private Lessons Concern

ROLFE discussed implications – both payment and credit toward benefits thresholds – for part- time faculty caused by students who sign up for private instruction after Week 1.

CONFIDENTIAL - Any text in red will be redacted in version published on Union website

5. Substitute Policy

SILVIO summarized Administration amendments to College policy to reflect state laws with respect to earned sick time. Additionally, policy for Conservatory faculty has been updated and clarified. Finally, College will reimburse individuals who previously requested reimbursement for wages paid to subs out of their own pockets. New College policy now applies and no further reimbursement requests will be considered.

Meeting adjourned 1:52p.