ARTICLE 6 - ASSOCIATION RIGHTS :: 1999-2001 MCCFA-MnSCU Employment Contract

Copies of all communications distributed generally to faculty members by the system office or a college shall be supplied to the Association at the same time. The Association shall designate its address for this purpose.

Section 2. Use of Facilities.

The Association and its representatives shall have the right to use the college facilities for purposes of holding meetings and for carrying out the Association's business. Facilities, for purposes of this section, shall mean meeting space and equipment normally used by the faculty. If consumable supplies or classified or student help of the college are used by the Association, such use requires prior approval and reimbursement to the college for costs involved with such use. Utilization of space by the Association requires advance request, and utilization of facilities in general is dependent upon the availability for such use.

Section 3. Transaction of Business.

Duly authorized representatives of the Association shall be permitted to transact official association business on college premises at reasonable times, provided that this shall not unduly interfere with nor interrupt the operations of the college. The Association may use the college distribution service and faculty member mailboxes for communications to faculty members.

Section 4. Bulletin Boards.

The Association shall have the right to post announcements and notices of its activities and concerns on faculty member bulletin boards. One (1) bulletin board on each campus will be at a location mutually agreeable to the local association chapter and the college president or designee.

Subd. 1. Structure of the Committees.

The Association shall establish from one (1) to six (6) committees. Membership on each committee shall not exceed six (6). The number of committees may be limited to three (3) at the college president's request or to a lesser number with local association agreement. Committees will be assigned responsibility for one (1) or more of the following topic areas: Personnel, Student Affairs, Curriculum, Community Service, Facilities, Fiscal Matters and General Matters. The meet and confer process is recognized as being a significant and necessary part of the local campus operation.

Subd. 2. Authority of the Committees.

Each committee will have full authority in the assigned area to present the views of the faculty members in meetings with the college president or designee and a committee of not more than five (5) additional administrators.

Subd. 3. Procedures of the Committees.

Meetings shall be scheduled monthly during the academic year and may be held at additional times by mutual consent of the college president or designee and the chair of the local association committee. The agenda for each meeting shall be prepared and distributed by the college president or designee at least one (1) week before the meeting, and shall contain all items submitted by the chair of the association committee and the college president or designee. Within two (2) weeks after each meeting, the college president or designee will announce to the faculty members agreements reached and/or actions taken as a result of discussions at the meeting. A written rationale of agreements reached and/or actions taken will accompany the announcement, or the college president shall state the rationale at the next meet and confer meeting.

Subd. 4. Matters Which Must Be Considered.

Proposals in the areas of the college budget, faculty activities during scheduled duty days, new program proposals, faculty proposals to discontinue a non-credit course, proposals to eliminate courses or programs, any reduction in unlimited faculty members, college organization and changes in academic standards or credit offerings in existing programs will be considered at a meet and confer meeting. Reductions in unlimited faculty members must be discussed prior to the actual date of layoff. If agreement is not reached at that meeting, the proposal shall be reconsidered at the next meet and confer meeting before action by the administration.

Proposals initiated by the administration to create or change existing policies and/or rules and regulations affecting faculty members will be submitted in writing to the local association for reaction before a final decision is made by the administration.

Subd. 5. State Assistance.

Sincere efforts shall be made to reach agreement. If the local association or the administration feels that sincere efforts to reach agreement or understanding have not been made in meet and confer, the local association may request that the Association bring the issue(s) to the next monthly meeting of the MnSCU/MCCFA Joint Labor-Management Committee.

Subd. 6. Alternative Committee Structure.

As an alternative to the above, a different system of local association involvement in campus governance may be agreed to between the local association and the college president. Such agreement shall not in any way regulate or control the right of selection or participation by the local association, but shall be confined to the design of the structure and its operational mode. Any alternative system of local association involvement in campus governance must be approved by the Association and the chancellor.

Section 6. Association State Committee.

The Association shall establish a committee of no more than eight (8) members to meet and confer with the chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees. This meet and confer shall be for the purposes of discussion and mutual exchange of ideas regarding statewide matters which are considered significant by the Association or the Employer. The Employer shall provide the facilities and set the time for such conferences to take place, and such conferences shall be held at least three (3) times a year. The agenda will be prepared and distributed one (1) week in advance by the board chair or designee, and will include all items submitted by the Association. The agenda shall also include all items submitted by the board chair.

Section 7. Access to Information.

Upon request, the Employer or the Employer's designee, agrees to provide the Association at state and local levels information available to them concerning the professional staffing and financial resources of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, including routine reports, registry of professional personnel, tentative budgetary requirements and allocations, agendas and minutes of board meetings, names and addresses and position on the salary schedule of all faculty members in the bargaining unit and such other information requested by the Association in contract matters or in the processing of a grievance.

Section 8. Delegate Assemblies.

Each delegate to the MCCFA and/or the MEA Delegate Assembly will be excused one (1) day for each assembly, provided that the faculty member has notified the college president or designee as to the dates of the planned absence during the month prior to the month in which the assembly is scheduled. Up to seven (7) delegates from the community colleges will be excused to attend either the NEA Representative Assembly or the NEA Higher Education Conference for three (3) consecutive working days, provided that the faculty member has notified the college president or designee as to the dates at least one (1) month before the planned absence.

MCCFA Employment Contract 1999-2001

ARTICLE 6 - ASSOCIATION RIGHTS

Section 1. Communications.