FACCC Weekly E-mail Report

Friday, April 28, 2006

• Federal COLA Announced: 5.92 Percent
• Community College Legislation Advances
• California Budget Project Issues Report on Proposition 98
• 2006 FACCC Conference: Take Action!
• Call for Conference Presenters
• Nominations Open for FACCC Awards
  
  

FEDERAL COLA ANNOUNCED: 5.92 PERCENT

The federal government released its implicit price deflator today for state and local governments, which forms the basis for the discussion on the community college COLA. Following the release of the governor’s May revision to the January budget proposal, the Legislature will deliberate whether it intends to approve the COLA as announced by the federal government, or amend it up or down.

 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEGISLATION ADVANCES

AB 2293 (Nava) – this FACCC-sponsored measure would allow the Employment Development Department to penalize a district for willfully providing incorrect information regarding an unemployment insurance applicant’s first and last day, and flex-time worked. The measure passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is now on the Assembly Floor.

AB 2578 (Frommer) - would establish the California Hope Public Trust and the California Hope Public Endowment to hold and manage real property owned by the State of California for the benefit of public higher education institutions. The measure passed the Assembly Higher Education Committee and is now in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 1309 (Scott) - addresses the nursing shortage in a variety of ways, including promoting high school pre-nursing health career-technical education pathways, reducing student attrition, increasing the number of nursing slots at both the community colleges and the California State University (CSU), and creating a statewide health workforce database. The measure doubles the amount of academic terms by which a part-time clinical nursing faculty can exceed the Sixty Percent Law while retaining temporary status. SB 1309 was approved by the Senate Education Committee and is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 1563 (Escutia) - would establish the Community College Early Assessment Pilot program, under which up to 25 community
colleges would be authorized to provide students at their feeder high schools with an indicator of their readiness for college-level English and math. SB 1309 was approved by the Senate Education Committee and is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

CALIFORNIA BUDGET PROJECT ISSUES REPORT ON PROPOSITION 98

The California Budget Project issued a report this week entitled, “School Finance in California and the Proposition 98 Guarantee.” View the report online at www.faccc.org, under “What’s New.”

 

2006 FACCC CONFERENCE: TAKE ACTION!

Each year, the FACCC Education Institute (EI) works to provide an annual conference, bringing together community college faculty from across the state, higher education leaders, state legislators and more, for a weekend of networking and learning.

As community college faculty, you apply your passion to the lives of students every day. Now it is time to apply that very passion to ensure the stability of California’s community colleges. Join us October 12-14 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles, California, and take an active role in your future.

Come learn how FACCC is working to advocate for the future of California’s community college faculty through the initiative, and more. Meet with educators and professionals from across the state as we examine topics, such as teaching and learning, Student Learning Outcomes, employment issues, and advocacy.

Click here for more information and to register online.

 

CALL FOR CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

In line with continuing FACCC EI conference excellence, applications for interested presenters are now being accepted. Contact FACCC at (916) 447-8555, or visit the FACCC Web site for information and to apply.

 

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR FACCC AWARDS

Each year, FACCC recognizes faculty members who have shown exemplary dedication to their profession, their students, and their institutions. Nominations for this year's awards will be accepted through May 31. Visit www.faccc.org for details and nomination forms.

FACCC award winners will be honored at the FACCC Annual Conference, October 12 - 14, at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles.

 

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Friday, April 21, 2006

 

• Assembly Budget Subcommittee Deliberates Equalization Funding
• Community College Legislation Advances
• Consultation Council Discusses Budget, Hiring Waivers
• FACCC Elections: Cast Your Vote

 

ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE DELIBERATES EQUALIZATION FUNDING

Wednesday, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance deliberated equalization, non-credit rate enhancement, career-technical education, and funding for nursing education.

FACCC testified in support of a blended approach for distribution of the equalization funds, allowing all districts to reach the 90 th percentile in per-student funding. FACCC also insisted that districts be required to report exactly how prior and future equalization funds are spent.

The Department of Finance testified against enhancing the rate of non-credit funding, claiming that it would create cost pressures to raise the rate of K-12 adult education. FACCC took exception to the Department’s position, pointing out that community colleges have not received their legal share of the Proposition 98 split. FACCC strongly supports the System’s position of increasing the funding for non-credit education, in addition to growth and credit equalization (along with the categorical line-items of importance to faculty).

 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEGISLATION ADVANCES

AB 2168 (Liu) would create a new common core general education curriculum that would eventually replace the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Over FACCC’s objection, the Assembly Higher Education Committee approved the measure and sent it to the Appropriations Committee.

AB 1972 (Daucher) would create a new tier of faculty members, hired on three-year contracts, to teach in specially designated areas. These faculty would be temporary in nature, yet exempt from the Sixty Percent Law. They would be paid on the full-time scale, but considered part-timers for purposes of the Faculty Obligation Number. FACCC opposed the measure, questioning how it would solve the long-term vocational shortages, such as nursing. The measure was approved by the Higher Education Committee and has moved to the Appropriations Committee.

AB 1780 (Baca) would reduce community college student enrollment fees to $18 per unit, contingent upon the passage of federal Pell grant legislation. The measure was approved by the Higher Education Committee and is in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SJR 15 (Dutton) urges the President and Congress to eliminate federal offsets that negatively impact Social Security benefits. The measure was passed by the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security Committee, and has moved to the Assembly Floor.

 

CONSULTATION COUNCIL DISCUSSES BUDGET, HIRING WAIVERS

Thursday’s meeting of the Consultation Council focused on three possible sources of funding above the governor’s proposed budget. First, is an expected increase in overall Proposition 98 dollars. Second, is redirection of unused growth dollars in the past two years. Finally, there may be one-time-only money owed from a prior year when Proposition 98 funds had been suspended.

These sources of money should be sufficient to fully fund the part-time faculty office hours and health care line items, an augmentation to the non-credit rate, some funding for small rural CCDs, and equalization at the 90 th percentile.

In response to FACCC, and to the hard work of the faculty organizations, Chancellor Drummond will bring a resolution to the next Community College Board of Governors meeting, affirming the support for the hiring goal of 75 percent full-time faculty teaching credit classroom instruction. The Council reviewed a draft of the resolution, which coupled a hiring waiver for a number of districts along with support of the 75 percent goal.

Click here to view the resolution.

 

FACCC ELECTIONS: CAST YOUR VOTE

FACCC elections run for another ten days. Don't forget to cast your ballot for FACCC office. Click here to view candidate statements and place your vote. Contact the FACCC office at (916) 447-8555, should you encounter difficulties logging in. 

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Thursday, April 6, 2006

 

• Assemblymember Richman Addresses CalSTRS
• FACCC-Sponsored Legislation Approved on Consent
• CCBOG Recommends Equalization Compromise
• Congress Deliberates Education Spending
• FACCC Elections: Cast Your Vote
• Academic Integrity Workshop: Walk-Ins Welcome

 

ASSEMBLYMEMBER RICHMAN ADDRESSES CALSTRS

Assemblymember Keith Richman (R – Granada Hills)addressed the Investment Committee of the Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRB ) today in support of his constitutional amendment, ACA 23. Richman’s proposal would establish a new Defined Benefit (DB) program for faculty members hired after July 1, 2007 .

The new DB program would provide an annual allowance at age 65 equal to 1.75 percent of final compensation for every year of creditable service performed. Participants would also be afforded the opportunity to voluntarily participate in a Defined Contribution plan. ACA 23 would close the existing DB program to new hires.

According to a CalSTRS staff analysis, “ACA 23 is not actuarially sound, because the current DB program would receive less revenue in the future to amortize its Unfunded Actuarial Obligation than under existing law.”

Investment Committee members reiterated their continuing opposition to the constitutional amendment. Committee Member (and Schwarzenegger appointee) Beth Rogers expressed that she did not see the need to eliminate the DB program, which is working to serve its members. Since the Investment Committee does not typically handle legislation, no vote was taken on the matter. The full Teachers’ Retirement Board will vote on the proposal tomorrow.

In related news, FACCC Government Affairs Director Jennifer Baker was quoted in Monday’s Sacramento Bee on CalSTRS’ progress in closing its pension shortfall. Click here to view the story in full.

 

FACCC-SPONSORED LEGISLATION APPROVED ON CONSENT

Yesterday, the Assembly Insurance Committee approved FACCC-sponsored AB 2293 (Nava), on its consent calendar. The measure authorizes penalties against a district for willfully misreporting information about an unemployment insurance applicant, pertaining to the duration of employment or time spent in authorized professional development activity.

 

CCBOG APPROVES EQUALIZATION COMPROMISE

The Community College Board of Governors (CCBOG) unanimously approved seeking a “blended approach” to equalization, which stands as a major compromise between districts. This approach would cause the System to lobby for an increase in equalization in the 2006-07 budget year, from the governor’s proposed figure of $130 million to $161.2 million.

Under the new formula, $50 million in 2006-07 would be allocated on exactly the same methodology and data as the $30 million in the current year. The remaining funds would be calculated on the methods described in SB 361 (Scott), using 2005-06 data.

Click here to view supporting documents.

 

CONGRESS DELIBERATES EDUCATION SPENDING

Congress is scheduled to deliberate House Congressional Resolution 376, to limit allocation levels for student aid. The Resolution would also rule “out-of-order” the Senate’s approved Specter-Harkin amendment, which provided $7 billion to health, education and research. Should this Resolution be approved, the additional $7 billion could not enter House and Senate Budget Committee conference on either of the two different versions of the bill.

The House is also considering a substitute amendment by Representatives Castle , Johnson and Reichert to add $7 billion to health, education and low-income energy assistance programs -- largely the same as the Specter/Harkin amendment that passed the Senate.

 

FACCC ELECTIONS: CAST YOUR VOTE

FACCC elections run through April 30. Don’t forget to cast your ballot for FACCC office. Visit www.faccc.org and click on the icon featuring “2006 FACCC Elections” to view candidate statements and place your vote. Contact the FACCC office at (916) 447-8555, should you encounter difficulties logging in.

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY WORKSHOP: WALK-INS WELCOME

Faculty members are welcome to register on-site for Friday’s Academic Integrity Workshop in Glendale . The workshop will explore such topics as why academic integrity matters to both the teaching and learning processes, what research and experience tell us about why students cheat, and what practical steps faculty can take to prevent cheating and plagiarism.

The workshop will take place at:

 

Glendale College , Room SC212

Friday, April 7

1:00 – 3:00 pm

No cost

 

Click here for workshop information, and to download a free parking pass.

 

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