2023 DCFA Annual Convention: Agenda

 

46th Annual DCFA Convention 

Friday, November 10, 2023, 1:30 – 3:30 pm 

Agenda 

1. Call to order:  ~ 1:30 – 1:40 pm 

2. Welcome:  ~ 1:40 – 1:45 pm 

1. Reminder for those attending virtually to ensure that the full name that they used to join DCFA is indicated as their Zoom username. 

3. Motion for adoption of the agenda: ~ 1:45 – 1:55 pm 

As chair of the convention, I propose that we accept the agenda for this meeting, including the rules for debate and voting, developed in consultation with the parliamentarian, Jennifer Hudson: 

1.  Rules of Debate: 

1. For agenda items requiring consideration for a vote, debate will be limited to 2 minutes per person per agenda item. 

2. Debate for any one agenda item shall not exceed 10 minutes, after which the president shall close the discussion on that item. 

3. Resolutions from the Floor on items not specified on the agenda will be entertained – in writing – following the conclusion of all regular business listed on the agenda and time permitting, following the same limitations for debate as agenda items. 

2. Voting – how, when, and where: 

1. All resolutions from the floor are strongly encouraged to be submitted in writing by Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 8:00pm sent to the entire DCFA Council to be included in the discussion of that agenda item on Friday, November 10, 2023. 

2. Members who attend the Convention in person will vote from the floor by raising their hands. Members who attend virtually will use the “raise hand” feature in Zoom, keeping their hand raised until the Chair of the convention confirms that all virtual votes have been counted. 

3. Motion to Adjourn or Recess: 

1. After voting on proposed resolutions, the Chair will recognize the Parliamentarian to issue a motion to adjourn. 

“Are there any objections to approval of the agenda for this meeting, including the rules for debate and voting?”  If none, it passes by unanimous consent. 

4. Introduce new faculty; recognition of dearly departed. 

5. President’s Address, including introductions and recognitions:  1:55 – 2:05 pm 

6. Standing Committee Reports:  2:05 – 2:25 pm 

1. Communications (2 minutes) – Josh Rose 

2. Instructional Goals and Academic Freedom (2 minutes) – Jennifer Siemantel 

3. Political Information (2 minutes) – Andrew Tolle 

4. Convention Planning (2 minutes) – Denise Griffin 

5. Welfare and Benefits (2 minutes) – Erin Kelley 

6. Membership (2 minutes) – Sherry Boyd 

7. Budget and Finance (2 minutes) – Denise Griffin 

8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2 minutes) – Stacy Vasquez 

7. Treasurer’s Report:  2:25 – 2:30 pm (Denise Griffin) 

8. Adoption of the 2023-2024 DCFA Budget: 2:30 – 2:40 pm. 

1. Adoption of the budget through unanimous consent 

2. Motions to transfer funds 

9. Proposed Resolutions Submitted in Advance 2:40 – 2:50 (10 minutes per agenda item). 

1. Proposed Resolution ONE: On Extending the 2023-2024 Membership Deadline 

1. Whereas continued problems regarding School onboarding practices, HR data, Workday implementation, and campus assignments have contributed to confusion regarding the existence and location of many new faculty, 
   Be It Resolved, this Convention votes to extend the 2023-2024 membership drive through Friday, December 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm. 
   Be It Further Resolved, the DCFA MembershipWorks website will be reactivated to allow faculty to join or renew their membership through Friday, December 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm. 

10. Resolutions from the floor, if applicable: 2:50-3:20 pm 

1. Other proposed resolutions from the floor 

11. Closing of the ballot and Adjournment – 3:30 pm

Reminder: Last Day to Renew or Join the Faculty Association

 The title says it all: today, Monday, November 6, is the last day to join or renew your membership in the Faculty Association for the coming year. Don't lose access to all the benefits of DCFA membership such as camaraderie, advocacy, and - if needed - legal support.  You can join/renew at https://www.dccfa.org/join-here.

DCFA 2023 Annual Convention Information

 Faculty Association members are cordially invited to this year's DCFA Convention on Friday, November 10, 2023 from 1:30-5:00 PM at the Records Building downtown.  Here are further details:

WHO: All DCFA Faculty Association Members are encouraged to attend.

WHAT: The Annual Convention is where we discuss accomplishments, issues, present Standing Committee reports, approve the budget, and deal with amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws as well as resolutions.

WHERE: The Records Building downtown located at 500 Elm Street, Room 7Y11, Dallas, TX 75202. Underground parking is available at a cost of $10. 

 

The convention will also be live-streamed on Zoom:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87017993963?pwd=pF3DCRelXpKBpuMFtPIf5bdlkVSUpa.1

Meeting ID: 870 1799 3963

Passcode: 549321

Dial in: 669-444-9171

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, and make sure to stick around afterward for the reception at the El Centro Student Center from 5:00-7:00 PM!

 

 

Get Ready for the 2024 DCFA Convention on November 10!

All Faculty Association members are cordially invited to this year's convention on Friday, November 10 at 1:30 PM.  More information regarding the specific location will be submitted soon, but we wanted everyone to have the virtual information available as this will be a hybrid event again this year.  The Zoom link and information follow:

Topic: DCFA Convention 2023
Time: Nov 10, 2023 01:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87017993963?pwd=pF3DCRelXpKBpuMFtPIf5bdlkVSUpa.1

Meeting ID: 870 1799 3963
Passcode: 549321

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Meeting ID: 870 1799 3963
Passcode: 549321

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/ktHnBDFx8

TRS Cost-of-Living Adjustment (Prop 9) on 11/7 Ballot - Early Voting Open Thru Fri, 11/3

Dear faculty colleagues,

Proposition 9, regarding cost-of-living adjustments for TRS retirees, is on the ballot for the November 7, 2023, Texas General Election. You may vote early through Friday, November 3, 2023.

The proposition's full title is:

The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

For early voting locations and election day polling locations, visit the Texas My Voter Portal.

For those of you residing within Dallas County, you may visit the Dallas County Elections Page for early voting locations and election-day polling locations.

Please budget time to vote on this important matter regarding TRS and help remind fellow Texan voters of the applicable deadlines.

Invitation to Join the October DCFA Business Meeting

Please use this Zoom link to join us virtually tomorrow for our monthly business meeting on Friday, October 20 at 11:00 AM.  You may view the agenda for the meeting online.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow on Zoom!

Base Salary Accuracy in Workday

Dear faculty,

Just a heads up -- if you log into Workday, you may notice an inaccuracy in your base salary. Administrators have been alerted and are working to correct this problem as soon as possible. In the meantime, please don't be alarmed if you notice your base salary is listed lower than what you know it should be. More information will be coming from the Operations team.

--DCFA Council

Invitation to Join the September DCFA General Business Meeting

Please use this Zoom link to join us virtually tomorrow for our monthly business meeting on Friday, September 08 at 11:00 AM.  You may view the agenda for the meeting online.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow on Zoom!

Membership Drive 2023: Join or Renew on the DCFA Website

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No, not the holiday break, unfortunately, but when the DCFA membership opens on the official website.

Beginning today, September 1st, if you navigate to www.dccfa.org, you will find a new button on the page to either “Join” or “Renew” your membership.  Upon clicking that link, there are a few separate options: one is for those renewing a membership, and the other is for those joining for the first time (and for those who are, welcome! We are delighted you are becoming a member!). Other options include level amounts: Full-Time Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, and Emeritus Faculty.

Important Notes About Joining/Renewing

• The deadline to join or renew, per the DCFA Bylaws, is the first Monday in November (which also corresponds with the week of the Convention on that Friday).
  
  
• We have set the date for auto-renewal to September 08 so there was enough time between this going live on our site and everyone being able to check their auto-renewal option and payment options. (You can do this upon logging in to the site using the instructions above!)
  
  
• We are requiring everyone to use a personal email address and contact information when setting up your profile and logging in. This is to make sure that all of your information on file is separate from Dallas College servers and IT restrictions.

 

Please take a few moments after joining/renewing to complete the “About” section of your account, which includes fields for home address and phone number. Having this information is critical because this collected data is critical for the Political Information Committee to contact DCFA members privately about elections without violating state and district laws and regulations.  (Regular email communications about DCFA and local FA business will still be sent through work email addresses, though!)

 

Why Join the DCFA?

• The Faculty Association is the voice of all faculty. Our voice is stronger if we all get behind the DCFA  
• The Faculty Council (Presidents of the DCFA) meets regularly with Provost Floyd, Chancellor Lonon, Vice Provosts, and other administrators to discuss the concerns of all faculty. Concerns range from organizational issues, cultural issues, compensation, faculty evaluations, and others. We all must make our voices heard through the DCFA.  
• The DCFA acts as an intermediary between faculty and administration when there is a grievance, a dispute, or other issues we cannot fight as individuals.   
• Being a member of DCFA gives you access to the Legal Defense Fund, which can be used to help pay for a lawyer if you find yourself in a dispute with the college and need one. We all need this protection with the recent and ongoing changes within the college.  
• Particularly after the re-org, it can be common to feel isolated. Joining provides a sense of belonging. We all need to join the Faculty Association and fight to keep the culture of our campus.  
• The Faculty Association will collaborate with "the schools of" representatives to champion common goals.

If you encounter any errors or issues with joining or renewing, please email dcfa@dcccd.edu to reach the entire Council and we can assist from there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty Pay Increase Approved By Board of Trustees

Today, the Board of Trustees voted to approve the FY2023-2024 budget, which includes a 5% increase to faculty salary base pay. 

During the Finance Committee earlier in the day, the Chancellor also proposed an increase to the adjunct rate, from $58 per credit hour to $65 per contact hour (PCH). Interestingly, Trustees noticed the rate of $66 PCH at Collin College, $66 PCH at Tarrant County College, and $77 PCH at Austin Community College, they expressed a belief that the presented recommendation to increase adjunct rates was too low. They discussed whether they should exceed Collin and Tarrant, to match Austin Community College, or to do something in between. They ultimately agreed to increase the Chancellor’s recommendation to $66, which put Dallas at par with its two neighboring counties.

Any further information about salary increases or adjustments based on the compensation report from Segal will come soon as the DCFA continues to meet with the Chancellor and upper administration this coming Fall semester.

Criminal Background Checks Update

We have some information regarding the issues surrounding the Criminal Background Check (CBC) requests.

Dallas College HR’s Sr. Director of Employee Relations reached out to the DCFA Council on Tuesday to inform us that she is working with the CHRO to address faculty concerns surrounding the CBC authorization language and the timing of the communications about them.

Currently, she is working with HireRight to “adjust the ‘authorization’ statement for the Basic Criminal Background Checks (CBCs).”  She committed that they will “ensure the language does not reflect a possibility that any other checks, such as a credit check, will be completed” in addition to the CBC. Until the language is updated, they have halted all communication from HR to faculty about the CBCs.

In addition, they are working during the remainder of the summer to ensure that any emails from HR that require action by faculty are sent primarily during the long semester terms (Fall and Spring).

We will let you know if we receive any further updates about these issues.

IMPORTANT: Criminal Background Check Requests from HR

Some of you may have received an email about a five-year renewal for a criminal background check.

If you got this, don't panic: this is simply pro-forma HR stuff. However, as faculty have completed the form, a few issues were noticed that the Council plans to meet with Acting CHRO Louis Burrell to discuss.

First, you have only five days to complete the background check. This is frustrating for faculty who are off contract in summer. HR is aware of this, and has been instructed to send follow-up messages while acknowledging faculty are being asked to do this while off contract.

Second, there was some concerning language in the background check documentation that suggested the company hired to complete these (HireRight) is authorized to go beyond a strict criminal check (such as looking into one's credit history or "mode of living"). We have been told by Acting CHRO Burrell that only a criminal check will be conducted, in case you have already filled out the background check paperwork.

However, the Council's current advice to all faculty regarding the background check request is as follows:

If you get a Background Check Request and it asks for anything other than a criminal background request, the Council does not recommend completing it. Please hold off as we plan to have more extensive, in-depth discussions with HR and Acting CHRO Louis Burrell soon.

As always, if you have questions and concerns, reach out to your campus Faculty Association President.