Invitation to Join DCFA Regular Monthly Business Meeting on Oct. 22, 2021

Tommy Thompson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Tommy Thompson's Zoom Meeting

Time: Oct 22, 2021 03:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

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Meeting ID: 928 7251 2939

Passcode: 946339

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Convention Planning Committee Seeks Volunteers to Help Ensure Online Voting is Secure

Due to the need to allow online voting and the success of using an auditing team in the August 18-20 convention, this is a call for volunteers for anyone interested in serving as an auditor for the 2021 Annual Convention of the DCFA.  Please read the requirements below and if you are interested in volunteering, complete the volunteer form using the link at the end of this post by Friday, October 29, 5:00 p.m.  The DCFA Council and Convention Planning Team will notify those volunteers who are selected to serve within one week of the form closure to schedule training dates and provide further instructions as described below.

Below are the requirements to participate as a Faculty Association vote auditor for online voting. Please read all requirements carefully before completing this form:

• The auditing team will consist of 3 volunteer faculty who are active members (FT faculty who paid dues by November 1, 2021, for the 2021-2022 AY) plus one 3rd party observer paid by the DCFA primarily to observe but may assist with counting/comparison as well.
• Auditors must agree to relinquish their right to vote in all convention matters for the Convention for which they serve as an auditor, including the right to use a proxy.
• Auditors must agree to be present in person together at one location, likely in the Garland/Richardson areas, with no private outside communication for the duration of the convention voting period and until counting and verification of the vote is complete.  The time commitment is estimated to be 12:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2021, for this year’s annual convention. 
• Auditors who need to communicate with anyone outside the room must be willing to put their phone on speaker so all auditors can hear what is said on both sides and/or show their phone screen or computer screen if it is necessary to message someone outside the room so that all others present can verify that none of the communication is about the vote.
• Auditors should be detail-oriented, technologically capable and experienced with Microsoft Forms and Microsoft Excel worksheets (sorting, filtering, data analysis, etc.) and comfortable learning enough to operate a back-up software program (TBD) in advance just in case it is needed.
• Auditors will load the ballot, distribute it to all active members of the DCFA at the appropriate time and with the necessary settings, close the vote and then conduct a verification of the votes in comparison to the membership roster and adjusting for proxy votes before sharing the results with the DCFA Council.

This is the form to volunteer as an auditor for the November 12, 2021 Annual Convention.  Please submit your form by Friday, October 29 to be considered. Thank you!

 

Questions? Reach out to Jennifer Baggett, DCFA Convention Planning Committee Chair, JenniferBaggett@dcccd.edu

Minutes of Faculty Council "Schedule Improvement" Reps with Provost and AST Now Available

The Faculty Council recently agreed that Jennifer Baggett (Richland), Keith Baker (North Lake), and Tommy Thompson (Cedar Valley) would engage on behalf of the Council with Provost Shawnda Floyd and Academic Scheduling Team Director Nicole Mabine, to discuss ongoing faculty concerns with the overall Dallas College schedule build process, and to work toward solutions.

The group met Thursday, Oct. 7, and the minutes of that meeting are now available in this folder on the DCFA SharePoint site.

DCFA Treasurer Posts Proposed 2021-2022 DCFA Budget

DCFA Treasurer has posted the proposed 2021-2022 fiscal year budget to this folder on the DCFA SharePoint site.

Thanks to the DCFA Budget and Finance Committee, and the Membership Committee, for their help in preparing the proposed budget.

Members will have an opportunity to vote to approve the proposed budget at the November 12, 2021 DCFA Convention.

Updated Copies of DCFA Constitution and Bylaws Now Posted in SharePoint

The DCFA Constitution and Bylaws documents were amended during the August 2021 special convention.

The amended documents are now available in the appropriate folder on the DCFA SharePoint site.

The MS Word files are posted so as to allow ease of future amendments, without the entire document having to be re-typed.

The PDF files are the official documents.

Previous versions of the DCFA Constitution and Bylaws are now also located in a separate folder on the DCFA SharePoint site. This folder does not contain every previous version of the Constitution and Bylaws - only those version available to the current Council.

If any member has older previous versions of the Constitution and/or Bylaws, they may send them to Matt Hinckley to be filed into the appropriate folder of former Constitutions and Bylaws on the DCFA SharePoint site.

Official Statement of DCFA on Recent “No Confidence” Vote

This statement was adopted by the DCFA Faculty Council and sent to the Board of Trustees on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.

Dear Dr. May and Honorable Dallas College Trustees: 

We were all surprised to read the email signed by Richard Menchaca calling for a faculty vote of no confidence. The Faculty Council was not consulted on this action, nor has the Council ever suggested such an action. 

 

As you have often stated, our recent transition into a new, unified institution to better serve our students and the greater community has had challenges. Also, as you know, we don’t always agree with some of this transition’s resulting procedures and managerial decisions, particularly when we see directly how those changes negatively impact the students in our classrooms. Nevertheless, we share your desire to work toward achieving the long-term success of Dallas College and our students. We value our continued ability to discuss these matters with the Chancellor to work together to improve learning and the lives of our students in our community. 

 

As always, feel free to contact any of us if you have any questions, need any additional information regarding this matter, or have any other thoughts or concerns. 

 

Tommy Thompson – Cedar Valley Campus 

DCFA President 

 

Margo Silva – Mountain View Campus 

DCFA Vice President 

 

Peggy Mason – Brookhaven Campus 

DCFA Secretary 

 

Keith Baker – North Lake Campus 

DCFA Treasurer 

 

Jennifer Baggett – Richland Campus 

DCFA Member 

 

Matt Hinckley – Eastfield Campus 

DCFA Member 

 

Wade Hyde – El Centro Campus 

DCFA Member 

DCFA Announces Annual Convention on November 12, 2021

The DCFA 2021 Annual Convention will be on Friday, November 12, beginning at 1:30 p.m. as a 100% online event due to the ongoing and unpredictable COVID-19 conditions. Additionally, there will be no post-convention reception. We hope to return to an in-person component of the annual convention and a resumption of the post-convention reception next year.  

An invitation to join us for the Annual Convention will be posted at least 2 weeks prior to the event, but we encourage you to block out the afternoon on your calendar now to ensure you are able to attend and participate fully.  Per the change to the bylaws through the August 2021 convention, voting will be allowed online and by proxy (with strict rules for designating a proxy) and the details for how voting will be conducted will be shared in the invitation along with the agenda. 

Per the DCFA Constitution and bylaws, if you have a proposal to amend the constitution or bylaws that you would like considered at the 2021 Annual Convention, that proposal must be received by the DCFA Council Secretary and President at least 1 month prior to the scheduled convention. This means any proposals to amend the constitution or bylaws must be submitted in writing to both the secretary, Peggy Mason, and the president, Tommy Thompson, by Tuesday, October 12.  It is strongly recommended that any resolutions to be considered also be submitted by this date. For simplicity, you are welcome to email your proposed motions to amend or resolutions to dccfa@dcccd.edu (which sends a copy to all DCFA Council members). 

Following submission, the DCFA Council will review the submissions with the parliamentarian and contact the authors if any changes are suggested before posting all proposed motions to amend by the required deadline of Friday, October 29 (2 weeks prior to the Convention).  

 

CDC Director Recommends COVID-19 Booster for Anyone with "Occupational Exposure," Including Teachers (and Faculty)

Patrick Moore (School of Law and Public Service, Richland Campus), shared the following information:

The Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended that anyone with "occupational exposure" to the COVID-19 virus should receive a booster shot of the vaccine, six months after receiving the initial vaccination. Those covered by "occupational exposure" include teachers (and by extension faculty).

The FDA had recommended booster shots for people age 65 or older, for age 18-64 with high risk because of underlying health conditions, and for 18-64 because of potential occupational exposure, including health-care workers, grocery store employees, and teachers.

A CDC advisory panel agreed, except for the recommendation regarding people with high potential of occupational exposure, for whom it did not recommend the booster.

 

Today, though, the Director of the CDC overrode the CDC advisory panel and recommended boosters for all three groups: 65 and over, underlying health conditions, and occupational exposure.

 

Here is a link to the CDC release: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0924-booster-recommendations-.html.

 

Here is a link to the CDC’s main vaccine booster shot page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html. The main text of this page recommends an 8-month time gap between initial vaccination and booster, but the final recommendation says 6 months.

 

This recommendation relates to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Washington Post reports that “the vaccine advisory panel reviewed data only for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the CDC ‘will address, with the same sense of urgency, recommendations for the Moderna and J & J vaccines as soon as those data are available.’ “  https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/09/23/covid-booster-shots-cdc/

Information to Join, or Renew Your Membership in, the Dallas College Faculty Association

Welcome to the 2021-2022 Dallas College Academic Year, and the Dallas College Faculty Association (DCFA) Fall 2021 Membership Drive! 

Many faculty have begun asking how to pay their Faculty Association membership dues. To a member or join new member must:

STEP 1: Use this link and log in with the email address you used when paying your dues last year. You can use the “request password” option if you don’t remember your password. If you don’t remember which email address you used last year and the first one you tried didn’t work, email your campus FA president to ask them to check their membership roster and let you know: https://www.dccfa.org/#myaccount 

STEP 2: Choose your faculty status and click the appropriate "Join Here" button (Full-time, Part-time, Emeritus/Reserve).

STEP 3: Select your campus location by clicking the appropriate link.

STEP 4: Complete the information (including your School of) and secure payment form on this page and click the "Click here to submit payment" button.

STEP 5: (Optional) Complete the additional information for your profile.

 

If you did not join last year (2020-2021), and have not previously used the online dues payment system (Fall 2020 was the first time this online dues payment system was used), please send an email to Keith Baker at KBaker1@dcccd.edu. Your email should say:

 

I need a new account in DCFA.

Name: _____________

Email Address to be used for account: ______________

DCCCD Email Address: ______________

Status: FT or Adjunct

Members will receive two emails.  One is the receipt for payment that identifies the type of membership and the campus.  The other is a welcome email that contains their username and temporary password for the DCCFA website.  This log in information will allow faculty to go in and update their information and payment method periodically as needed.  The log in area is in the middle of the Home page.

The system will allow you to renew automatically, if you want to rejoin manually each year you should not select the automatic option, rather the manual option.

Regards,

Keith Baker, DCFA Treasurer

 

 

 

 

Information to Join DCFA Faculty Council Monthly Business Meeting, 11:15 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, via ZOOM

DCFA Monthly Business Meeting

 9/3/2021. 11:15AM -1:30 PM

 

Tommy Thompson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Tommy Thompson's Zoom Meeting
Time: Sep 3, 2021 11:15 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 323 871 6564
Passcode: YBygj8
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Tommy Thompson, Ph.D.

Professor of Mathematics

DCCFA President 2021-2022

Faculty President

Final Results of Convention Motions Now Available

Thank you all for attending the convention, your participation is integral to conduct business of the DCCFA. The results of the vote are shown below.

Here is a PDF of the final certified results.

For an amendment to the constitution to pass, it must earn two-thirds vote of the membership in attendance provided the proposed amendment shall have been published in the official publication at least fourteen (14) days before the meeting (DCCFA Constitution, Article XIV, Section 1). A total of 269 people voted on the ballot and that is how we defined presence per vote of the Council prior to the convention. Therefore 180 yes votes (>2/3) are required for the motion to carry.

·       Consideration of Proposed Constitutional Amendment ONE: TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DCCFA; Offered by Jennifer Hudson Allen (BHC).  The vote was 259 yes votes, so the motion carries.

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·       Consideration of Proposed Constitutional Amendment TWO: TO REWRITE THE DCCFA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE II; Offered by Jennifer Baggett, Lamrot Bekele, Carlette Patrice Lockett, Rolanda Randle and Mary Wood (RLC). The vote was 212 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Constitutional Amendment THREE: TO REWRITE THE DCCFA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE IX; Offered by Jennifer Baggett, Lamrot Bekele, Carlette Patrice Lockett, Rolanda Randle and Mary Wood (RLC). The vote was 157 yes votes, so the motion fails.

·        Consideration of Proposed Constitutional Amendment FOUR: TO REWRITE THE DCCFA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLES VI AND XIV; Offered by Patrick Moore (RLC). The vote was 173 yes votes, so the motion fails.

For an amendment to the bylaws to pass, it must earn a majority vote of the members present at a general convention (DCCFA Bylaws, Article XII). A total of 269 people voted. Therefore 135 yes votes are required for the motion to carry.

·       Consideration of the Amended Version of Proposed ByLaws Amendment ONE: MEMBERSHIP IN THE DCCFA; Offered by Jennifer Hudson Allen (BHC). The vote was 165 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed ByLaws Amendment TWO: TO ALLOW VIRTUAL CONVENTION, ONLINE VOTING, AND PROXY REPRESENTATION; Offered by Matt Hinkley (EFC) and Wade Hyde (ECC). The vote was 181 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of the Amended Version of Proposed ByLaws Amendment THREE: TO UPDATE ARTICLE XIII TO ALLOW FOR PROXY VOTING IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL CONVENTION; Offered by Patrick Moore (RLC). The vote was 171 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed ByLaws Amendment FOUR: TO UPDATE ARTICLE I TO REFELCT THE TRADITIONAL PURPOSE; Offered by Jennifer Baggett, Lamrot Bekele, Carlette Patrice Lockett, Rolanda Randle and Mary Wood (RLC). The vote was 204 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed ByLaws Amendment FIVE: TO UPDATE ARTICLE IX TO ADD STANDING COMMITTEES FOR EACH ACADEMIC SCHOOL; Offered by Jennifer Baggett, Lamrot Bekele, Carlette Patrice Lockett, Rolanda Randle and Mary Wood (RLC). The vote was 167 yes votes, so the motion carries, but the constitutional amendment required for this bylaws change to be enacted failed, so the bylaws amendment is ruled out of order by the chair.

·       Consideration of Proposed ByLaws Amendment SIX: TO ALLOW FOR ACADEMIC SCHOOLS REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS; Offered by Jennifer Baggett, Lamrot Bekele, Carlette Patrice Lockett, Rolanda Randle and Mary Wood (RLC). The vote was 167 yes votes, so the motion carries, but the constitutional amendment required for this bylaws change to be enacted failed, so the bylaws amendment is ruled out of order by the chair.

·       Consideration of Proposed ByLaws Amendment SEVEN: TO UPDATE ARTICLE XII TO ALLOW BYLAWS CHANGES THROUGH SPECIAL CONVENTION; Offered by Patrick Moore (RLC). The vote was 187 yes votes, so the motion carries, but the constitutional amendment required for this bylaws change to be enacted failed, so the bylaws amendment is ruled out of order by the chair.

For a resolution to pass, it must earn a simple majority of the votes cast at a convention.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution TWO: TO ADOPT A DCCFA POSITION ON DALLAS COLLEGE SINGLE ACCREDITATION, DEI INITIATIVES, AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS; TO ENDORSE THE AGB/ACE/AAUP JOINT STATEMENT ON SHARED GOVERNANCE AND THE AAUP POSITIONS ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FACULTY ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE; AND TO APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A GENUINE SHARED GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AT DALLAS COLLEGE.; Offered by Paul Day (EFC).  A total of 239 people voted yes or no. Therefore 120 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 138 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution FOUR: FACULTY PRIMACY OVER METHODS AND MANNER OF ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ATTAINMENT AND TIMEFRAME FOR FINAL GRADE SUBMISSION; Offered by Paul Day (EFC). A total of 245 people voted yes or no. Therefore 123 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 154 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution FIVE: ON DEFAULT TEXTBOOKS AND LEARNING MATERIALS; Offered by Paul Day (EFC). A total of 246 people voted yes or no. Therefore 124 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 158 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution SIX: ON THE FREEDOM OF THE SYLLABUS; Offered by Josh Rose (BHC). A total of 244 people voted yes or no. Therefore 123 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 169 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution SEVEN: TO ESTABLISH FREEDOM TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES; Offered by Paul Day (EFC). A total of 238 people voted yes or no. Therefore 120 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 146 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of the Amended Version of Proposed Resolution NINE: ADDRESSING FACULTY COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH THE CHANCELLOR, VICE-CHANCELLORS, AND PROVOST; Offered by Daniel Murphy (EFC). A total of 250 people voted yes or no. Therefore 126 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 162 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution TEN: TO REQUEST 360 DEGREE REVIEWS OF FACULTY SUPERVISORS; Offered by Daniel Murphy (EFC). A total of 249 people voted yes or no. Therefore 125 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 202 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution the Amended Version of ELEVEN: TO END MARRIAGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND SUPERVISION; Offered by Daniel Murphy (EFC). A total of 251 people voted yes or no. Therefore 126 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 187 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution TWELVE: TO END NUMERICAL GRADING; Offered by Daniel Murphy (EFC). A total of 240 people voted yes or no. Therefore 121 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 133 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution THIRTEEN: TO RECONFIRM THAT THE DCCFA IS THE REPRESNTATIVE OF DALLAS COLLEGE FACULTY; Offered by Patrick Moore (RLC). A total of 238 people voted yes or no. Therefore 120 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 178 yes votes, so the motion carries.

·       Consideration of Proposed Resolution FOURTEEN: TO ADDRESS THE DISTRICT LEVEL STRUCTURE OF THE DCCFA; Offered by Jennifer Hudson Allen (BHC). A total of 250 people voted yes or no. Therefore 126 yes votes are required for the motion to carry. The vote was 185 yes votes, so the motion carries.

 NOTE: Matt Hinckley did not write text of this post; he only posted what was sent to him.