Minutes from Union Executive Meeting 4-16-2020

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: April 16, 2020 at 1:00p, via teleconference
InAttendance: WillSilvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, WendyRolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Peg Codding, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Denise Pons-Leone, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris, Mike Scott

Call to order 1:02p.

1. Minutes

MOTION: “To approve minutes of Union Executive Committee meeting on April 9, 2020.” (EPSTEIN)

SECOND: CECERE

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. College letter to faculty

SILVIO discussed ambiguity and potential concerns regarding College letter to faculty (“Addressing the Impacts of COVID-19,” April 13, 2020). A meeting with SILVIO and Provost is being scheduled. Discussed followed, including concerns regarding potential promotion freezes, reduced workload, course enrollment thresholds, part-time conversions to full-time status, salary equity adjustments, and annual raises.

Meeting adjourned 1:54p.

Minutes from Union Executive Meeting 4-9-2020

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: April 9, 2020 at 1:00p, via teleconference
InAttendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Paul Masters, Utar Artun, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris, Michael Scott

Call to order 1:01p.

1. Minutes

MOTION: “To approve minutes of Union Executive Committee meeting on April 2, 2020.” (REICH)

SECOND: M. JOHNSON

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. PT pay training

SILVIO summarized two hours max for 1-on-1 personal training, beyond the training sessions already offered by the College. PT were paid for supplemental department meetings.

3. Summer teaching

Discussion of summer teaching circumstances, with emphasis on faculty who have lost classes.

4. Equity Office Investigations

SILVIO summarized faculty investigations prompted by anonymous emails. Discussion followed.

Meeting adjourned 1:48p.

Minutes from Union Executive Meeting 4-2-2020

Meeting: Berklee Faculty Union Executive Committee
Date: April 2, 2020 at 1:00p, via teleconference
In Attendance: Will Silvio, David Scott, Andrew Shryock, Elizabeth Seitz, Wendy Rolfe, Prince Charles Alexander, Michael Abraham, Dennis Cecere, Marti Epstein, Utar Artun, Alicia Bower, Michael Johnson, Stephanie Reich, Nicholas Urie, Vanessa Morris

Call to order 1:00p.

1. Minutes

MOTION: “To approve minutes of Union Executive Committee meetings on March 12 and March 26.” (SEITZ)

SECOND: ABRAHAM

VOTE: unanimous approval, motion carries

2. Berklee Online

ALEXANDER discussed tax implications of change in employee status for an individual who teaches on-campus and also for Berklee Online.

3. Zoom teleconference concerns

SILVIO and JOHNSON discussed College’s efforts to resolve faculty issues related to Zoom teleconference software. These largely concerned faculty who also taught with Berklee Online. Discussion followed

4. PT training pay

CECERE discussed pay caps for part-time faculty who participated in training sessions during Spring Break. SILVIO and ROLFE indicated part-time faculty were being limited to two hours.

5. Student evaluations

REICH discussed suspending student surveys. Discussion followed.

Meeting adjourned 1:49p.