APSCUF-KU and Administration Action Items

Summary of Pre-Spring Break Talks

Commitment to a Collaborative Process

·       Both APSCUF-KU and the administration are committed to develop a more collaborative process to resolve problems. Both sides reject the "management-by-grievance" model. Both APSCUF-KU and the Administration recognize that to achieve this challenging goal will require the commitment of both sides.

·       The Provost will come to the next Rep Council meeting to address the body and represent the administration's view of our discussions and where we go from here.  Specifically, he will address the need for a new culture of how we do things here.

·       Both APSCUF-KU and the administration will share formulas for determining student to faculty ratio.  Both sides will share information so we are all working from the same data.

 Large Classes

The Provost is beginning process of studying how other State System universities deal with large classes.  The Provost will look at individual cases where some additional form of support may be offered (including some alternate work assignments provided for in the current CBA on specific instances).  We will also work with Deans and Department Chairs in particular in the scheduling of courses in the Forum.

 

·       The President will transfer $100,000 to Provost's account to assist him in instituting some of the programs he is working on. Dr. Cevallos committed to increasing the amount to $200,000 for the 2009-10 year.

·       Course rotation for large classes will begin the Fall 2008 semester.  Deans are responsible for talking with department chairs about which course may be candidates for rotation. 

·       The Provost has placed additional funds into a pilot program similar to the supplemental instruction program to provide undergraduate student support for faculty teaching classes of 100 or more students. These funds and students are not used for tutoring or "teaching" but rather for providing logistical support to faculty.  They are used for support that is allowable in the contract. The Provost has also instituted another pilot program to provide graduate student proctors for mid-term and final exams for large classes, within CBA limits.

·       APSCUF-KU and the Provost will look into reinstituting a class attendance policy at KU.

The Early Learning Center

·         Kutztown University will fund ELC through the certification process whose guidelines will be made public by the PA Department of Education by April 2008.  Ultimately, the decision to keep the ELC over the long term will require the faculty in the Department of elementary Education to demonstrate that the ELC truly operates as a teaching lab.  Once the program is approved, the department faculty in particular, and the College of Education in general will have to recommend its continuance.  If they decide that the ELC is a teaching lab and that it is necessary for their program, KU will continue to fund it. Administration is actively exploring potential sites outside of campus.  Professors Tracy Keyes and Elsa Geskus will have input in this process.

          
Office Space

·       Office Space: three floors of Old Main will be converted to help ensure that a target of fifty new offices for faculty is available by Fall 2008.  It is most likely that whole departments will be moved to reduce the probability that a department's faculty may have to be split between buildings. APSCUF-KU understands that this process may be cumbersome, uncomfortable, and inconvenient for those faculty and departments affected, and agrees to support the administration in a process that will result in a betterment of faculty offices at the institutional level.

Plus/Minus Grading

·       The president provided us with the implementation date: March 2009.  This is the date that the new SAP system will go on line here.  President Cevallos said that it would not be prudent to lay out the expenditures for +/- grading for Fall 2008 since it will be superseded the following semester.  +/- grading MAY be available for Spring 2009, however Fall 2009 is a more likely target date.

ADA Academic Support

·       The administration will provide additional ADA testing space.  An administrative area is being identified to be converted to provide testing spaces for learning-disabled students. This should be in place by Fall 2008. ADA testing space will be included in all future building plans. A policy change to allow faculty to schedule test space will be addressed at local Meet & Discuss.

 Workplace Health

·       The administration will follow appropriate regulations (such as OSHA, EPA, DEP) when it comes to testing problem buildings.  This summer, management will train custodians what to look for in terms of mold and other environmental hazards. Facilities has improved air quality testing procedures to monitor buildings.

 

Recent Additional Funding for Academic areas and Misc.

·         Faculty stipends have been increased for overseas programs

• Funding has been increased for faculty professional development, faculty research, and undergraduate research
• 43 tenure track lines were released for 2007-2008 with 9 of these positions being newly created
• The operating budget for the honors Program was increased by over 100%.
• A Dean and a staff position were added to the College of Graduate Studies
• Increases of $1,000 were provided to the base budget of every instructional academic department.  Plus additional base funding totaling $24,000 was added to selected departments based on recommendations by the Deans working with the Chairs of the Departments.
• A base budget was established for the Frederick Douglass Institute
• A new secretary slot was granted to the College of Business
• A new TV services staff line has been added.
• A base budget has been established for the newly created Office of Assessment.
• A Department of Academic Enrichment was established, and a base budget was provided
• A position of Associate Dean was established for the College of Visual & Performing Arts.