Student Evaluations

Is your dean following the recommended protocol in their use of IDEA feedback from students?  Has your dean been trained in the appropriate use of this evaluation tool?
http://theideacenter.org/ideablog/2012/06/misuses-and-abuses-student-ratings-instruction

Meeting

The next meeting for KVCC-FT members will be held on Friday, June 15th, 9:30 a.m. at 729 Academy Street.  

KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
KVCC FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (KVCC-FT)
729 Academy Street
Kalamazoo MI 49007
office@kvccft.org

Dear KVCCFT Members: 


There are some exciting steps for us to take now that we are
an official union!

Most importantly, you are invited to attend our first committee meeting
as a certified union in p/t faculty office 7412 next Tuesday, June 5, at
11:45.

Agenda:

1. Assess recognition campaign.

2. Set date & draft agenda for retreat in 2-3 weeks when we will sketch
out a plan for fall negotiations, including some training for the
bargaining committee. We will also plan the first membership meeting at
which we will

• Elect officers
• Approve a bargaining team
• Discuss and vote on a bargaining platform
• Ratify a constitution

Please reply to office@kvccft.org to let us know you're coming, or if
you're interested but that time does not work for you.

Dr. Catherine Barnard
Nancy Beers
Ann Marie Boyle
Christopher Karbowski
Kyle Kelly
Laurie Nic
Edward O’Dowd
Kelly O’Leary
Dr. Nishani Samaraweera
Thomas Schurino
Jean Snow

KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
KVCC FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (KVCC-FT)
729 Academy Street
Kalamazoo MI 49007
office@kvccft.org

We won! 162 YES, 38 No. 


We will be in touch soon about an inaugural membership meeting and preparations for contract negotiations.

Best,
The KVCC-FT Organizing Committee:

Dr. Catherine Barnard
Nancy Beers
Ann Marie Boyle
Christopher Karbowski
Kyle Kelly
Laurie Nic
Edward O’Dowd
Kelly O’Leary
Dr. Nishani Samaraweera
Thomas Schurino
Jean Snow

KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
KVCC FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (KVCC-FT)
729 Academy Street
Kalamazoo MI 49007
office@kvccft.org

Reminder

All KVCC-FT ballots must be mailed by Monday, May 21st, in order for your vote to be counted.

Dear Part-time Colleagues:

Our last communication with you briefly explained the teleconference
whereby the KVCC Federation of Teachers and the College’s administration
had to decide on language governing who would be eligible to vote in the
certification election.

We are happy to report that an agreement defining eligibility was
reached on Monday! Part-time instructors who are teaching at least one
credit in the current semester--including those who work full-time at
the college & have a second appointment as p-t faculty--will have the
opportunity to cast ballots. To be eligible to vote, you must have been
employed on March 27, the date the petition was filed with the state.

The election will be conducted by mail through the Michigan Employment
Relations Commission (MERC):

**Ballots will be sent by mail May 4
**Ballots will be due at MERC May 23
**Ballots will be counted May 24

We will send out additional details closer to the election, along with a
sample ballot! Following the election, we will need to formalize the
organization's structure with a constitution and the election of
officers -- and then begin preparations for negotiations. If you are
interested in getting involved, please reply to this message!

Sincerely,

The KVCC-FT Organizing Committee:

Dr. Catherine Barnard
Nancy Beers
Ann Marie Boyle
Christopher Karbowski
Kyle Kelly
Laurie Nic
Edward O’Dowd
Kelly O’Leary
Dr. Nishani Samaraweera
Thomas Schurino
Jean Snow

KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
KVCC FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (KVCC-FT)
729 Academy Street
Kalamazoo MI 49007
office@kvccft.org

You have probably seen office doors blossom out in yellow, much like spring daffodils with the promise of a new day dawning. Your door may already look like a daffodil garden, but if you haven’t yet received a “STRONGEST TOGETHER” sticker, reply to this email, and your name will bloom, too.

On Friday, April 6, at 1:00 PM, we teleconferenced with the attorney for the College and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) to determine a definition of who will be able to vote in the election.  The brief conversation went very well, and with a little adjustment in language we should be able to reach an agreement. We contend that anyone who teaches part-time, whether one credit or ten credits, should be allowed to vote, and it appears that the Administration agrees.

We ask for your public support in the coming weeks. Let’s make every office door an acclamation that we stand STRONGEST TOGETHER. Once the voting date has been set, let’s all agree to have our names printed on a poster in support of a YES vote.  A new day is dawning.

In Solidarity, 

The Organizing Committee

Please reply to office@kvccft.org to give permission for a sticker on your office hour posting and your name on our campaign poster.