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Higher ED Elections
Posted on January 8, 2017 by hcafawebmaster
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HCAFA Members Elected to IEA Representative Assembly
Posted on December 21, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
Two members of HCAFA will be representing our interests at the annual Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly in Chicago in April. Taimi Wilk was elected as our local emissary and Marybeth Linse was selected in regionwide voting to serve as the minority representative delegate.
In addition, Tom Shanahan of the Harper College Custodial/Maintenance Association will also be a representative of Harper’s other IEA-affiliated local. Tom is a dual-unit member at Harper; he is a member of both CMA and HCAFA..
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IEA Higher Insider Update
Posted on December 8, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
Governor to impose extreme insurance hikes
In an effort to shift state costs to its employees, the governor is now planning to impose his extreme contract terms on state employees, including professors and employees in the state university system who are part of the Central Management System by increasing health insurance costs. The plan would result in increases that range from $3100 in FY17 to more than $10,000 over the next three years. In one scenario, a university professor earning $88,000 a year enrolled in a managed care plan covering two dependents would shoulder an additional $14,420 in health care costs over the next three years. Premium contributions would increase from $3,786 per year to almost $9,500 per year by FY19. To maintain that salary, the professor would have to receive a 5.5% increase to base pay. AFSCME prepared and sent a fact sheet to IEA staff and leaders in late November.
Fund Our Future postcard campaign continues
The Fund Our Future coalition decided to continue collecting signatures on the postcards to let our legislators know they need to fully fund the MAP grants. If you still have postcards or want to do more, please continue collecting the ones you have or forward them to your local IEA office.
Campaign materials, including instructions and postcards, may be requested by contacting Mary Ann Kocher with the IEA Higher Ed Program. The postcards will likely be delivered during the spring legislative session. Stay tuned.
In the news
The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) agreed to request that the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) grant community colleges the option of offering a bachelor’s in nursing. The measure, if accepted, would likely require legislation before approval. Read comments from IEA Higher Ed Director Michael McDermott regarding this issue.
Bloomington Pantagraph editorial: Common sense needed in nursing degree debate
Negative impacts of higher ed budget crisis continue
Daily Herald: Oakton Community College preschool may close due to decreased state funding
Effects of the budget impass on day-to-day lives
Illinois has not passed a real budget in over a year, the first state to do so since the Great Depression. Go to inthesetimes.com to read more and view several Stranded by the State videos.
News from the IEA Higher Ed Council
The IEA Higher Education Council serves as the primary advisory body to IEA governance and IEA staff in regard to matters concerning higher education and its faculty, graduate assistants and professional support staff. The council meets up to four times yearly. Council news, business and actions will be shared as a regular part of the Higher Ed insider.
Higher Ed Council meeting minutes and highlights
Nov. 11-12 meeting highlights
Following a session with Industrial Areas Foundation Organizer Jonathan Lange, the council agreed to invite contingent workers of all stripes to talk about their lives and work experience. If the plan works, we hope to develop a strategy of resistance to just-in-time workers as the new normal for employment arrangements.
IEA Director of Government Relations Jim Reed provided a legislative update. Higher ed funding will likely be a top issue in the upcoming legislative session. U of I has introduced a proposal for its own deal for reliable funding for five years and we may see this from other institutions. Performance funding will be an issue.
NEA Director Gina Harris noted that the council should pay close attention to the ESSA and how it relates to higher ed.
Jim Grimes presented on the NEA Professional Practices Community. This resource is free to all IEA members.
The statewide higher ed positions to be elected in 2017 were discussed. Four council positions are up for election as well as the suburban section representative and alternate (all three-year terms). In January, you will receive the 2017 NEA-RA Delegate and Special Elections mailer containing information on elections and how to submit a nomination. You may also visit the IEA website for elections information. Nominations are due by Feb. 22.
The Higher Ed Council has developed IEA candidate questionnaires for executive officers and NEA directors set to be sent the first of January after the nomination deadline. Candidates will be interviewed, and recommendations made, at the next council meeting scheduled for February in Bloomington.
Higher ed members are encouraged to attend the NEA Higher Ed Conference, Mar. 16-19, in Dallas. IEA funding is available. Funding request forms are due by Jan. 13.
The council discussed the IEA One Conference and decided to continue with this joint conference. They would also like to provide regional conferences if additional funding can be obtained.
Once approved, final minutes for the November council meeting will be shared in the insider.
Please send questions, comments or concerns to the IEA Higher Ed Chair
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Come to the Next HCAFA Exec Committee Meeting to Vote for your Rep to the IEA Rep Assembly
Posted on November 16, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
The election for HCAFA representatives to the Illinois Education Association Representative Assembly in Chicago from March 30 to April 1 will be held at the IEA office at 553. N. North Court, #210 in Palatine from 12 noon until 1:30pm on Friday, December 2. All full dues-paying members of HCAFA are eligible to participate in the voting.
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Adjuncts, does this sound all too familiar?
Posted on September 25, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
Sept. 2, 2016, Sun Times
OPINION
David McGrath
It is a tiny perk, but one I wanted: an identification badge for my job as an adjunct professor. The official I.D.’s are helpful for free or discounted admission to museums, college athletic events and many state and federal parks and facilities, all in the interest of public education. But when I asked, I was told that only full-time professors were eligible.
Barely a month later, I read an email announcement offering Personal Health Assessments to college employees by a professional nursing group that would be on our campus for two days the following week. Great!
Or so I thought, since this benefit could be a godsend for part-time professors who do not receive health benefits. But as you might have anticipated, as soon as I inquired further about the free check-up, I learned it was limited to full-time teachers only. Continue reading
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Availability Forms Are Due September 15
Posted on September 12, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
Availability forms for those wishing to teach/work in Spring 2017 are due by SEPTEMBER 15! If you haven’t sent yours in yet, you have only a few days to get it in.
If there is even a slight possibility that you would like to teach a course or work at Harper in Spring 2017 and have not yet completed a Faculty Availability Form for that semester, make sure to submit one immediately. This form is required by the College. You must send it electronically to your division dean. Be sure that it is sent by September 15th!
The HCAFA Executive Committee
Note: To get the form, log on to the HIP page. Then scroll down to the bottom of the page. Select the Availability Form at the bottom of the page. (The college may not have the date updated, but that is the form to fill out.)
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Want to Know Where Your NEA Dues Go?
Posted on August 31, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
A small portion of your yearly dues goes to HCAFA; a larger part goes to NEA, and the majority of your dues go to IEA. We have provided information about the HCAFA and IEA portions, but thought you’d be interested in finding out where the money sent to NEA goes.
Keep in mind that this chart shows full-time faculty dues. Adjuncts pay 1/4 of that amount.
Check out the attached chart below to see how your NEA dues get spent.
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Wonder Where Your Dues Money Goes?
Posted on August 28, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
You might be interested in seeing where the money we send to NEA on your behalf goes. This chart will give you an idea. Keep in mind that adjuncts do not pay full dues. We pay 1/4 dues, so the amount for adjuncts is 1/4 of the amounts shown.
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Want to get the most out of your IEA membership?
Posted on August 5, 2016 by hcafawebmaster
Watch this 90 second video to learn about the benefits that you’re entitled to from IEA. You may be surprised to learn about discounts and help available to you.
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Harper College Adjunct Faculty Association 