Minutes from Union Executive Meeting 3-26-2020

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: March 26, 2020 at 1:00p, via teleconference
InAttendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Denise Pons- Leone, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris, Mike Scott

Call to order 1:00p.

1. Part-time faculty pay

SILVIO discussed faculty-wide email regarding part-time faculty working unpaid during Spring Break. Discussion followed.

2. Potential Union action in response to COVID19

SILVIO discussed potential Union actions to support faculty in response to COVID19. Discussion followed.

3. Summer teaching

SILVIO discussed summer teaching. Discussion followed.

4. Discussion of teaching challenges with online environment

EPSTEIN and PONS-LEONE discussed challenges transitioning to, and teaching in, online environment.

Meeting adjourned 1:46p.

Minutes from Union Executive Meeting 3-12-2020

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: March 12, 2020 at 1:00p
InAttendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Denise Pons-Leone, Utar Artun, Peter Cokkinias, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Vanessa Morris, Mike Scott, Andrea Johnson

Call to order 1:04p.

1. Minutes

MOTION: “To approve minutes of Union Executive Committee meetings on February 27 and March 5.” (COKKINIAS)

SECOND: JOHNSON

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. Honorarium

MOTION: “To pay an honorarium of $2,101.25 to Peg Codding for activities as a member of Union Executive Committee.” (REICH)

SECOND: JOHNSON

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

3. College closing due to Covid-19

SILVIO summarized Union collaboration with Administration regarding Covid-19.

4. College response to unfounded allegations against faculty

SILVIO summarized need for College response to unfounded allegations by students against faculty.

5. Union meeting with Student Government Association

EPSTEIN and SEITZ summarized meeting with representatives of Berklee SGA to discuss best practices for interactions between faculty and students, including Title IX language on course syllabi. SILVIO noted Union will pursue greater communication on similar matters with Provost and Human Resources.

6. Review of audited financial reports

Executive Committee reviewed audited financial documents. Opportunity to discuss and ask questions ensued. D. SCOTT noted a typo: “CHARGEABLE EXPENSES” should read “NON- CHARGEABLE EXPENSES.”

7. Upcoming meetings

Executive Committee will continue to meet, via teleconference, during campus closure related to Covid-19.

8. Chair - Dean Survey

Chair - Dean Survey will be placed on hold.

Meeting adjourned 1:54p.

Minutes from Union Executive Meeting 2-13-2020

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: February 13, 2020 at 1:00p
In Attendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Peter Cokkinias, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris, Mike Scott, Rebecca Kline

Call to order 1:06p.

1. Minutes

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

SECOND: MASTERS

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. Donations

SILVIO discussed potential donations to scholarship funds in memory of College faculty. Discussion tabled until next meeting.

3. Chair and dean survey

REICH summarized progress with chair and dean surveys. Draft to be presented next week.

4. Equity study

EPSTEIN summarized progress with equity study, including questions related to gender, workload, advising, invitations to participate in College-sponsored trips, and student concerns. Working group will consider soliciting faculty feedback via survey. Conference call with AFT national office is scheduled.  Further discussion to follow, once a firm has been engaged to conduct study.

5. Ensemble personnel

CECERE summarized ongoing challenges with ensemble personnel.

6. Faculty compensation

ALEXANDER summarized ambiguity with respect to faculty compensation for Berklee Online activity with respect to on-campus teaching activity.

Meeting adjourned 1:50p