Nuts & Bolts: FSU Annual Meeting, Online Course Development, Labor Based Grading, MTA candidate forum and thinking about retiring
4/8/2024
Dear Members,
It is finally here- the eclipse is just hours away. If you are on campus the partial eclipse begins at 2:16PM with peak occurring at 3:29PM. It ends at 4:39PM. I am ready with my solar glasses.
FSU Annual Meeting, April 23rd at 3pm
Our annual meeting is two weeks away! Please join to us hear what your union has been doing, the status of activities (bargaining, parking bargaining, and coalition work), and adopting a budget for the next year.
FSU policies require members to receive annual meeting materials no later than two weeks prior to the meeting. On Tuesday, April 9th, all dues paying members will receive an email with the materials.
Online class development: Departmental Model and Individual Model
Faculty who develops an online class must complete the Memorandum of Agreement for Online Course Development. Faculty can choose either the departmental model or the individual model. In each case, the faculty member receives a stipend for developing the course.
The Departmental Model: A faculty member receives a stipend for course development (the stipend amount is variable and may be negotiated between the parties). The department retains intellectual property rights. Other faculty members may teach the course.
Individual Model: A faculty member receives a $3,000 stipend for course development. The faculty member shall have the right of first refusal to teach their developed course. If the faculty member chooses not to teach their developed course, and another faculty member teaches the course, then the one who developed the course receives a $500 payment per course offering.
For more on distance learning, see here.
Anti-Racism Grant Recipient Events
An upcoming event of which the sponsors were awarded a 2023-2024 FSU Anti-Racism Grant.
Equity, Efficiency, Empathy: A Presentation on Labor-Based Grading.
A presentation and panel discussion about Labor Based Grading on Wednesday, April 10th, from 2:30-4:00 p.m. on Zoom. Writing instructors Susan Field, Brittanie Weatherbie-Greco, Dan Messier & Brittany Peterson have researched, implemented, and studied the effects of LBG with over 900 students. Join them to learn about this grading ecology and how it might work to cultivate antiracist values and enable success for students of all backgrounds in your classroom and discipline and reduce the emotional toll of grades and grading when it comes to qualitative work such as student writing. Flyer attached.
MTA Retirement Consultations, April 11th and 15th
Ed McCourt, MTA retirement consultant, will meet individually with a member who is thinking about retirement. He is holding sessions between 9AM and 5:15PM on Wednesday, April 11th, and Monday, April 15th. You must pre-register. Go to https://www.fsu.umb.edu/content/mta-retirement-workshops-april-2024
April 16th MTA Candidate Forum: President and Vice President
The PSU is hosting a forum with the three MTA presidential/vice-presidential candidates, on Tuesday, April 16, 12-1 pm on zoom. All three candidates—Max Page, candidate for president and the two vice president candidates, Deb McCarthy, and Yahaira Rodriguez have confirmed that they will attend.
(contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information).
Save the Date, April 18th 2PM Social Security and State Retirement
A representative of the Massachusetts Retirement Association will be educating us on what happens when you collect your state pension and have 40 credits under social security.
MTA Benefits: BJ’s Membership
You can join or renew your BJ’s membership at a discounted rate through April 30th.
Monday, April 15th Patriota Day, State Holiday
There will be no Nuts & Bolts. We can all enjoy the marathon, visit Lexington, or even finish your taxes (Mass. residents have until April 17th).
Sincerely,
Caroline Coscia
FSU President
Senior Lecturer II
Political Science Department
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