The Word from CSEA
Columbus State Education Association Newsletter of January 21, 2009
CHANGE IN THE AIR
With the inauguration of a new President and the accompanying expectations for change (however measured and incremental), Columbus State faces similar expectations in the coming two years.
Dr. Moeller has expressed to the Board that her current contract, which expires December 31, will be her last. At the same time, the impending departure of Provost Dr. Kay Adkins makes clear that the College is facing additional dramatic leadership changes. These developments and their implications for the College have created a sense of expectation not unlike the changes in the nation’s capital.
Impending change also creates a sense of anticipation, and Columbus State is already feeling it. The processes of transition are critical to operational stability and institutional integrity. CSEA’s elected leaders sent a letter to the President requesting the hiring of an interim Provost rather than conducting a search for a new Provost right now. Because a new president will be in place within a year after the Provost’s arrival, it seems prudent for the new president to have input into selection of the College’s chief academic officer.
CSEA is disappointed that the President has decided to immediately proceed with the search for a Provost. Nonetheless, CSEA has appointed Humanities Professor David Hockenbery (formerly Dean of Arts & Sciences) to the search committee to guarantee that faculty concerns will be an integral part of the committee’s deliberations. A critical element of the committee’s work will be to ensure that a new Provost has an awareness of faculty’s central role in college governance and possesses the essential mix of classroom teaching experience and administrative ability.
CSEA hopes to maintain the spirit of cooperation that marked last year’s contract talks. Still, it is not helpful for the administration to dismiss faculty concerns or suggestions about the future direction for Columbus State. As the College opens a second campus, prepares for a transition to a semester schedule, and participates in other statewide initiatives, administrators will need the cooperation of faculty to make these upcoming challenges successful.
The Delaware campus was originally scheduled to open during Winter Quarter (January) 2010. Due to poor planning that included failure to conduct a required traffic impact study, the opening has been delayed until at least Spring Quarter 2010, with further delays possible. These delays were foreseen by faculty with expertise in this area, but were ignored by the administration.
As it faces change in leadership, Columbus State like the nation is moving into a transitional period that demands vision and patience. Faculty, in particular, are looking forward to working cooperatively with a new President who will likely bring his/her own vision and goals to the college, as well as possibly hiring a new Provost/Chief Academic Officer, as we move forward together, beginning on January 1, 2010. CSEA hopes that the Board and the College’s leadership have the foresight to make decisions that take into account both current initiatives underway and future projects that will be undertaken, and that these decisions will incorporate the skill, experience, wisdom, and desire of the faculty.
CSEA ESTABLISHES STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
CSEA has made a $10,500 contribution to the Columbus State Development Foundation to establish a CSEA Scholarship Fund to provide scholarship support to students. Faculty can contribute to this fund either through payroll deduction or one-time donations.
CAMPUS SAFETY COMMITTEE
As a result of last year’s contract negotiations, the Campus Safety Committee is examining classroom safety issues as a part of larger efforts to ensure the safety of students and College employees. Faculty with safety concerns or suggestions should contact CSEA faculty representatives on the committee: Terence Olive (x5618, tolive@cscc.edu ), Vicki Lackey (x5320, vlackey@cscc.edu ), or Bill Warner (x2675, bwarner@cscc.edu ). You can also send an email directly to Chief Sean Asbury atsasbury@cscc.edu . Any ideas that you may have (e.g., equipping classrooms with doors that lock from the inside) about how to make our classrooms safer are encouraged.
Another aspect of these safety efforts is to develop more effective work relationships between faculty and Public Safety, which now uses a district assignment system on campus. To help faculty to get to know officers in their respective work areas, we have attached a campus map with the names of Public Safety officers working various shifts in each district. We encourage you to introduce yourself and develop closer working relationships with CSCC safety forces.
IS YOUR FAMILY PROTECTED?
Since 1987, NEA has provided every OEA/NEA member a FREE life insurance policy in the form of the NEA Complimentary Term Life Insurance Plan. Surprisingly, only about half of all eligible members have taken the time to designate their beneficiary. This complicates the process of paying any benefit to the families of members who die. This is further exacerbated by some who have out-of-date beneficiaries, perhaps an ex-spouse or a person who is no longer living.
Why not start out this New Year by contacting NEA Member Benefits about the NEA Complimentary Term Life Insurance Plan already in place for active members and registering or updating your beneficiary? It’s as easy as a phone call (800-637-4636 M-F 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) or a visit to the NEA website. You can also register on-line at www.neamb.com. Select NEA COMPLIMENTARY TERM LIFE INSURANCE from the drop down menu that will appear when the cursor is on the INSURANCE button at the top left side of the page. From there, simply select the REGISTER MY BENEFICIARY button and a few easy steps allow you to complete the process.
The Word is produced by the Communications Committee of the Columbus State Education Association. We welcome your comments, news, and insights.
Darrell Minor, President/ x5310
Amy Brubaker, Vice-President / x5068
Judy Anderson, Secretary / x5822
Phil MacLean, Treasurer / x5308
Kevin James, Parliamentarian-elect / x5008
Steve Abbott, Senior Association Representative / x5096
Gil Feiertag, Senior Association Representative / x5861
Beth Barnett, Association Representative / x2593
Liz Betzel, Association Representative / x5329
Dave Busch, Association Representative / x5079
Dr. Bill Cook, Association Representative / x5364
T.J. Duda, Association Representative / x5309
Cindy Evans, Association Representative / x2435
Dr. Charlie Gallucci, Association Representative / x5499
Dr. Mort Javadi, Association Representative / x5635
Dr. Sue Longenbaker, Association Representative / x2430
Jackie Miller, Association Representative / x2601
Mark Mitchell, Association Representative / x3612
Eric Nuebauer, Association Representative / x5698
Keith Sanders, Association Representative / x2588
Gilberto Serrano, Association Representative / x3863
Leslie Smith, Association Representative / x5302