DCCFA 40th Anniversary Convention a Great Success!

The DCCFA 40th Anniversary Convention, held on November 10, 2017, was a resounding success.

To kick off the festivities, Dr. Ken Alfers and Dr. Fred Newbury provided a presentation on the history and milestones of the DCCFA over the past 40 years. Ken and Fred stressed the importance of understanding the history of the Association and highlighted many of its key achievements of the past four decades.

The Convention also featured guest speaker Richard Moore, Executive Director of TCCTA, who discussed concerns regarding Guided Pathways, the THECB 60x30 plan, and Dual Credit enrollments, as well as the importance of membership in TCCTA and ongoing faculty involvement.

The proposed 2017-2018 DCCFA budget was passed by unanimous consent.

The proposed dues increase was also unanimously approved by the membership. Dues will be $90 per year, starting in Fall 2018. This change is reflected in the revised DCCFA Bylaws, located here: http://www.dccfa.info/constitution.html

Clarification note, April 9, 2018: The fall membership drive closes on the day of the convention, so the new dues structure would not apply to new faculty who had started and/or joined the association in the Fall of 2017. However, any changes to policies or procedures in the Constitution and Bylaws are in effect once approved at the convention, which means the new dues structure would be in effect for any faculty starting or joining in Spring of 2018; dues for those individuals would thus be $70. 

The minutes of the Convention, the President's State of the Association address, and the Standing Committe reports are all posted on the DCCFA website: http://www.dccfa.info/DCCFA_Minutes_2017.html

Once again, the Convention ended with a wonderful reception hosted by the El Centro Food and Hospitality Institute, which featured delicious hors d'oeuvres, hot foods, desserts, and drinks.

DCCFA Nov. 10 Pre-Convention Update 3

The Faculty Council again extends its invitation to members to attend the DCCFA Convention, and peruse the previous updates with information relevant for the convention.

Here is a link to the proposed agenda for the convention.

Here is the link to Pre-Convention Update #1, from Wednesday, Oct. 11. Most notably, Pre-Convention Update #1 includes the proposed 2017-2018 DCCFA budget, posted 30 days in advance of the convention, in accordance with the DCCFA bylaws.

Here is the link to Pre-Convention Update #2, from Wednesday, Oct. 25, in which the Council offers a vision for the future of DCCFA, including a proposal to revise the bylaws to increase dues to $90 beginning with the Fall 2018 membership drive, posted more than two weeks in advance of the convention, in accordance with the DCCA bylaws.

Finally, here again is the invitation to the convention:

DCCFA 40th Anniversary Convention

Friday, November 10, 2017

1:00-5:00 p.m.

WHO:

Faculty Association Members

WHAT:

A special presentation honoring the past achievements of the DCCFA, our present DCCFA regular Convention business, and a look forward.

Guest Speakers:

Richard Moore, Executive Director of TCCTA

Beaman Floyd, Higher Education Lobbyist

Dr. Ken Alfers, Faculty, Mountain View College

WHERE:

Dallas County Commissioners Court

(in the Dallas County Administration Building)

411 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75202

Parking/Transportation:

Several lots are available close to the building, nominal fee for parking.

DART Rail: West End Station

 Reception

5:00-7:00 p.m.

MENU:

Hors d'oeuvres along with delicious hot foods prepared by the famous El Centro Food and Hospitality Institute, plus an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

WHERE:

El Centro College

 801 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75202

Dining Room, C100

Parking Information:

Several lots are available close to ECC; nominal fee for parking.

DART Rail: West End Station

Sponsor:

Damian Caruso, K.W. Gutshall & Associates

Please RSVP for the Reception 

Faculty encouraged to enroll in the THECB email distribution link

With all of the information flying at faculty from multiple directions, it can be difficult to make sense of what is happening at the local, state, and federal levels. It also can be difficult to understand the often conflicting expectations from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) on one hand, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) on the other hand.

In addition, so many faculty report that they have difficulty managing the volume of email they receive.

However, those faculty who wish to remain apprised of official information from the THECB, may nevertheless wish to register for the THECB’s email distribution list, at the following link:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXHECB/subscribers/new?preferences=true