Organizational Structure Spring 2009

Info as to how other districts are handling the budget crisis
5/16/09

Dear Colleagues,
We thought you might like to see how Foothill/DeAnza is handling the budget crisis. As we get information from other districts we will pass it along.

From Foothill/DeAnza: FH/DA district has been carefully planning ever since the economy first slid last September. Here are their new cuts based on the May revise-listing positions to be cut, filled with those being removed from other positions, etc. http://fhdafiles.fhda.edu/downloads/homefhda/positionslist.pdf

To: All Faculty and Staff
From: Chancellor Martha Kanter
Date: May 14, 2009

The effects of the state's dire budget situation and our own internal operating deficit have placed Foothill-De Anza and many of our sister community colleges and K-12 schools in the unfortunate situation of needing to eliminate filled positions in the coming year. This is devastating news for all of education and we wish it were not so.

Over the past six months, our colleges and Central Services have worked hard on solutions to preserve as many people and positions as possible as we seek to educate the most students we can. In the months ahead as the state's financial news changes for better or worse, we will take advantage of every opportunity to preserve people and positions. We are providing the list of filled positions to be eliminated now to give us all as much time as possible to work on effective transitions. It is with great regret that we propose eliminating these positions.

You may view the positions by clicking on this link:
http://fhdafiles.fhda.edu/downloads/homefhda/positionslist.pdf

We have prepared answers to some frequently asked questions, which you may view on the district's budget update web page:
http://business.fhda.edu/budget/budget_faqs

As new information becomes available to us, we will update this list to let you know what steps we are taking to address this crisis. We will also continue advocating at the state level to preserve educational opportunity for all, the mission of our district since its inception.

4/20/09

There has been talk that the Chancellor has directed that the Brain Trust recommendation regarding eliminating the Division Chair structure be implemented. Word has it that he has instructed the College administration to pull together an implementation plan by May 1.

Article 21 covers the organization structure. The article states that any revision or alteration of the organization structure is to go through a shared governance committee. Such revision is assigned by the contract to a shared governance committee and not the Administration EMT. If the District tries to unilaterally impose a different organizational structure then what has been recommended by the previous shared governance committee, it would be a MAJOR contract violation. ACE will defend to the full extent of the law the Contract that the District has agreed to and ratified.

ACE will be meeting with the Academic Senates at both colleges this week and urges all faculty members to attend, listen, and be heard! The meetings will be as follows:
WVCAS meeting on Tuesday, April 21 in WVC Board Room 2:10-4:30pp
MCAS meeting on Thursday, April 23 in Campus Center Room 219-220 2:05-4:05p

Ed Kleppinger, ACE President

Some thoughts from a fellow faculty member on this matter: 4/14/09 #2

And even more directly to the point, will our administration please give us some details on how this change is going to (1) save money, administratively, (2) make us a more effective educational institution, (3) change the way in which we accomplish our common goals? Imposing from "top-down" or "from on high" is not a great way to build a team spirit... or perhaps that's not one of the goals.
Please let your ideas/thoughts be communicated!

Organizational Structure 4/14/09

Dear Colleagues,

The following information has been communicated with ACE:
At the WVC Division Chair Council meeting yesterday, the Division Chairs were informed that Chancellor Hendrickson has asked the VP of Instruction at both colleges to come up with an implementation plan for moving toward a dean structure (and away from the current division chair council organizational structure) by May 1.

This information is being shared with the faculty so that they can communicate their ideas and feelings about a possible dean structure with their Senate, their union and with each other.

QUESTIONS asked:
For ACE: Can we get the ACE lawyer to give us input into whether or not the Administration has the right to make such a change unilaterally? Or would such a change require negotiation with ACE?

For Mission College: Has MC's Senate and Division Chairs (as well as faculty as a whole) been informed of this "implementation plan"? What is MC Division Chair's and faculty's perspective on this?

ACE will be in communication with the ACE attorney about this matter.

Ed Kleppinger
ACE President