TO: Board of Regents

FROM: Sue Hill, Director,  Labor Relations and Personnel

RE: Approval of Tentative Agreement with The University of Montana-Western Faculty Association

DATE: September 27-28, 2001

 

Attached is a summary of the tentative agreement with The University of Montana-Western Faculty Association. The attachment only includes those sections of the agreement where modifications were made. The entire agreement is available for your review on line at: https://mus.edu/hr/cba/collbarg.html 

The agreement provides for 4% salary increases effective November 1st in each year of the biennium. If enrollment falls below 980 FTE in the fall semester of 2001 or 2002 (fall 2000 enrollment was 975 FTE) the administration may initiate renegotiation of the raises for 2002-2003. The salary minimums for each rank except Assistant Professor were increased by 4% each year. The minimum salary for Assistant Professor was increased by $4,000 or approximately 13% in FY 02 and 4% in FY 03. The amount of flexibility afforded the administration to hire above the salary floor was increased from $4,000 to $6,000 with an additional $10,000 (an increase from $4,000) with the agreement of the Association President. The salary maximum for summer session was increased by 12.7% for summer 2002 and 4% for summer 2003. Stipends for promotions were increased by 4% each year. Additional increases to retain faculty with offers of employment at other institutions were authorized and may be implemented at the discretion of the administration. No money was budgeted for such increases.

There were quite a few language changes agreed to during this round of negotiations. Most were not very substantive. The normal teaching workload of full-time tenured and tenurable faculty was defined as 24 hours per academic year in section 7.220. The recently adopted Regent policy on ownership of electronic course material was adopted by reference. Sick leave usage was clarified. The minimum number of funded sabbaticals was reduced from two to one. The procedures for the selection of an arbitrator were modified.

The faculty at The University of Montana-Western are expected to ratify the tentative agreement prior to September 27th. Subject to faculty ratification, I recommend approval of the tentative agreement with The University of Montana-Western Faculty Association.

 

xc: Commissioner Crofts
President Dennison
Chancellor Hulbert