Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty Hiring Practices for Faculty NCSCBHEP – 33 rd Annual National Conference April 2, 3, 4, 2006 in New York City Presented by: Toni Munos, System Director, Personnel – MnSCU Bill Newton, Director of Labor Relations - MSCF

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty SO WHAT IS A HIRING PRACTICE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT? WHY DO WE HAVE IT? WHAT IS THE HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY? WHAT IS THE CURRENT HIRING PRACTICE STATUS?

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty SO WHAT IS A HIRING PRACTICE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT? The hiring practice begins with an annual snapshot of total FTE of full-time and part-time faculty. A standard calculation is done to determine the ratio of full-time to part-time faculty based on the mutual agreement of the parties.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty WHY DO WE HAVE IT? Since the first professional agreement the founding Chancellor Phillip Helland supported the commitment to full- time faculty. In the 1980’s the second Chancellor Gerald Christenson continued that support.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty WHAT IS THE HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY?  The hiring practices language comes from the former Minnesota Community College Faculty Association collective bargaining agreements  Prior to the first hiring practices language in the MCCFA agreement, contract language required tracking of course by course claiming for all temporary part-time/adjunct faculty.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  Tracking by course was a tedious process which often led to missed opportunities for faculty.  The remedy for missed opportunities most often resulted in the Employer compensating the faculty member for work they should have been offered.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  The MCCFA contract contained the first hiring practices language.  “It shall be the normal practice to hire unlimited full-time faculty (limited exceptions) after three successive quarters in which sufficient demand in the offerings in a field has been equal to or greater than an assignment to a full-time faculty member.”

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  The language also stated: “It shall be the normal practice to hire a minimum number of part-time faculty members by combining their assignments to the maximum amount feasible.”  Further, if not otherwise noted, a part-time faculty working the equivalent of full-time would be presumed to be unlimited full-time.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  During the life of the MCCFA agreement the “normal practice” to hire full- time faculty was constantly debated.  Numerous grievances were filed in an attempt to force the Employer to change part-time faculty to a full-time status or to post more full- time positions.  The Employer and Union relationship was extremely strained and at times at impasse over the issue.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  After months of turbulent discussions, the Employer put before the Union what was coined as a “metanoic proposal”.  The parties then reached an agreement that later was negotiated into the

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  The hiring practices language remained the same regarding the normal practice to “post” full-time positions but the part-time claiming language was traded for a new concept to manage the establishment of “unlimited part-time” faculty members.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  Current workloads of temporary part-time faculty were evaluated and if they met the established criteria to become unlimited part- time, the faculty member was granted unlimited part-time status with a minimum guarantee of work between 36% to 80%.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  For the next five years there continued to be tension regarding the “right” number of full- time positions.  The round of negotiations resulted in a specific percentage of full-time to part- time faculty. 60% full-time at each college and 70% full-time system-wide.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  The negotiated language framed the criteria for calculating the percentages.  A snapshot of the unlimited full-time roster was determined on January 20 of each year compared to the total FTE allocation of faculty at each college to calculate the percents.  Colleges below 60% were required to post unlimited full-time positions by March 31.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  In the last MCCFA contract the negotiated language changed from a college and system-wide percent to a single college percent of 67% full-time faculty.  Additional detail was negotiated to clarify the calculation into a two phase approach. One analysis on February 15 and the final phase on March 15.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  In 2001 the two two-year college faculty unions, Minnesota State Community College Faculty and the United Technical College Educators merged into a single two-year college union, Minnesota State College Faculty.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty HIRING PRACTICES HISTORY  The hiring practices language was modified to include all technical college faculty.  The MSCF agreement also reverted to the two percentage thresholds, 60% at the college level and 70% system- wide.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty CURRENT HIRING PRACTICES Phase I Process – February 15  A snapshot query of total faculty FTE  Add 50% of concurrent enrollment FTE  Subtract qualifying replacement FTE  Compare November 1 seniority roster headcount of unlimited full-time faculty to total FTE  Calculate the college and system-wide percent

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty CURRENT HIRING PRACTICES Phase II Process – March 15  Total faculty FTE remains static  Reconcile 50% of concurrent enrollment FTE  Replacement FTE remains static  Reconcile headcount of unlimited full-time faculty actively employed on February 15  Calculate the college and system-wide percent  Verify UFT postings to date  Determine compliance at each college  Colleges out of compliance are required to post UFT positions by March 31

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty THE FUTURE OF HIRING PRACTICES  In recent rounds of negotiations the Employer has attempted twice to negotiate the elimination of the hiring practices language.  In times of shrinking resources the maintenance of a 60% plus full-time workforce is a strain on some colleges.  From a purely principle based perspective, language restricting the Employer’s right to select and direct staffing patterns is generally viewed as an infringement on inherent management rights.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty THE FUTURE OF HIRING PRACTICES  The Union has a vested interested in ensuring a high level of full-time positions.  Full-time positions equate to commitment and ownership to the organization.  Commitment and ownership most often equate to quality.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty THE FUTURE OF HIRING PRACTICES  Both parties agree quality faculty are our future!  Balancing available resources while ensuring on going quality will continue to challenge the hiring practices concept.

Minnesota State Colleges & Universities and Minnesota State College Faculty We welcome all Questions !