MSP EXECUTIVE BOARD                                                                                    WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008

Present: Banach, Barker, Brewer, Brigham, Clawson, Ishii, Page, Paynter, Phillis, Scharrer, Smethurst                                                                                                                 

Staff: Gallagher, Reardon, Wulkan                                                                                       

Absent: Barrington, Brandt, Danai, Freeman, Ganz, Gencarella, Gubrium, Hemment, Gore, Lawrence, Lovett,  McDermott, Sutherland 

 
1.         Minutes of February 11, 2008           

    Approved unanimously

 
2.         Chancellor Search

            The pool has been narrowed from 25-30 to 10.  They will be interviewed in Boston during 3 days of spring break.  3 names will be submitted to the President on April 11.  We expect campus visits in late April or early May.  Faculty and librarians on the search committee have influenced the process: most of the 10 are academics, and the Board of Trustees is asking the campus administration to prepare an outline of a campus strategic plan for the new chancellor.

 
3.         Recruiting

            a) MTA Annual Meeting 5/9-5/10.  MSP will be pushing for a proactive progressive tax initiative, and Naka will lead our delegation to hear Irish music on Friday night.

            b) Executive Board.  There will be a call for nominations to the membership soon, but Board members are asked to suggest names of people who would be good Board members to the officers who are acting as a Nominating Committee.  We should be considering new faculty/librarians as well as long-term ones.  Serving on the Board does count as University service.

 
4.         PHENOM Campaign

            A major post card campaign is underway, and MSP members are being asked to circulate them in their departments and to sign up to have a student come do a presentation in class.  Faculty could do the presentation and circulate the cards themselves as well.  We are mobilizing to get lots of people to the State House on April 16.  It was suggested that department bulleting boards and the Learning Commons TV screen could be used for the campaign.

 
5.         Contract Faclty Provisions in the Contract

            The Board reviewed the gains that MSP has won for contract faculty in the last 2 contracts.  These concern contract length, job security, salaries, and promotional opportunities.  The administration is proposing that the “just cause” standard for reappointment not take effect until after 6 years (instead of the current 2 years).  There was consensus this was unreasonable and taking the place of developing a good evaluation system for lecturers.  The Board agreed to refine the document that had been prepared for this meeting and to use it in further educational efforts.  The officers and bargaining team will discuss how to respond to management.

 
6.         Merit Notifications

            In response to Max’s question, it became clear that different departments notify people about their merit awards in different ways or not at all.

            Some get no notification.

            Some are told what their share of the pool is, but not the amount.

            Some are told the amount but nothing about the process.

            This may be a topic for a future meeting.