Colleagues:
This is the second in a number of updates that I planned to send out to all of you. This update will focus on summer related issues.
Coordinator ESH Issue:
It has come to the attention of the Executive Committee that at least one Dean has made the decision to not provide summer Coordinator ESH to faculty within his unit. This is the prerogative of the Dean. We on the Executive Committee firmly believe that that faculty should not be asked to work for free. If you are not being paid to work during the summer months then you need to refuse any attempt to make you participate in hiring committees, consultations with a Dean or a Chair on hiring of part-time faculty, or on scheduling issues. If you are not being paid to work then let the Chair and Dean do the work over the summer months. If you encounter any pressure to work for free during the summer and perform some of your Coordinator duties, please contact Tim Kirkner or myself.
Summer Training Concerns:
After the announcement about the summer training opportunities a flurry of e-mails were sent to members of the Executive Committee. We received the message loud and clear that the differing messages faculty were receiving from various administrators and Chairs has caused quite a bit of confusion. I hope that the following provides you all with some clarity as it relates to summer training opportunities.
The Summer Professional Development Institute was created to help faculty obtain the training they need so that they are qualified to teach in a structured remote environment by the time classes start in summer session II. In addition, more advanced optional offerings are provided for those faculty who are already qualified to teach in a distance learning environment but want to enhance their skill level. If you click on the link below, you will be directed to the Summer Professional Development webpage.
https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/offices/elite/summer-institute.html
If you click on the Professional Development Opportunities link, you will see links to a summer schedule, an application form, a professional development flowchart, an infographic on structured remote teaching, and a syllabus for the structured remote teaching program.
When you click on the application link, you will see that there are four different training programs being offered this summer. Select the one that is appropriate for you and if you complete the program you will receive a stipend of $1,850. These training programs are open to all full-time and part-time faculty members. If you are not sure which program is best for you, click on the link to the flowchart and it will direct you to the program that is most appropriate for you. The Structured Remote Teaching training is for faculty like me who have no Blackboard training or like many of you who have completed a portion of the part I training. The advanced training options (Universal Design for Teaching, Outside the Box Assessment, and Emerging Technologies for the Classroom) are open to those of you who are already qualified to teach distance learning or hybrid classes.
It is imperative that you complete the application and submit it to your Chair as soon as you can. The Chair will review your application and forward it to your Dean for approval. The application must get to the Dean by May 20.
Please refer to the frequently asked questions link if you need additional information on any of the summer training offerings.
Please notify Tim Kirkner or myself if you are denied the right to participate in any of these training programs.
Technology Issues:
As you know, the Administration has decided that all summer session II classes will be taught in an on-line format or in a structured remote format. We will start the fall semester teaching all classes in a similar manner. With this in mind, I want you all to know that the Chapter has stressed to members of the Administration many of us do not have the technology in our homes that will enable us to do this. In addition, many of us do not have the ergonomic furniture in our homes like we requested and received in our offices. Members of the Administration are looking in the CARES Act funding to see how this funding could be used to help us meet the technology and non-technology requirements that would enable us to perform our jobs at home.
Professional Week
Next week is Professional Week and a series of guest speakers are schedule to present on relevant topics for many of us. You must register if you want to “attend” any of these Zoom presentations through MC Learns. Our own Dr. Collins Jones is scheduled to present on the topic of the COVID-19 virus on May 19 at 11:00am. He is a terrific speaker and I encourage you to register for his presentation.
AAUP Closing Meeting
In my last update, I mentioned that we will be hosting a Chapter closing meeting for the faculty on Wednesday May 20 at 1:00pm. Next week we will e-mail you a Zoom link invitation to this meeting. Please look for this link in your e-mail and plan on attending if your schedule permits.
In closing, I hope you are all safe, and healthy, and that you are taking time to take care of yourself. This is a very busy and stressful time for us and our students so please be good to yourself.
On behalf of the Chapter,
Harry Z.
Harry N. Zarin, Professor/Counselor
President-AAUP
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