Plan to attend TMCC-NFA Chapter meeting on January 9
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The Truckee Meadows Community College chapter of the Nevada Faculty Alliance will hold its first meting of the Spring 2024 semester on Tuesday, January 9 following the morning's kickoff activities. All members are strongly encouraged to attend and non-supervisory TMCC academic and administrative faculty who wish to learn more about NFA are welcome to join us. Please see the draft agenda and feel free to contact any TMCC-NFA officer with suggestions for topics of discussion.
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TMCC-NFA
Spring Semester Meeting
2:00 PM
Tuesday, January 9
Dandini Campus, SIER 108
or via Zoom
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Look for the TMCC-NFA table on campus on January 9. We will have information for members and accept applications for new members.
We'll also be handing out t-shirts to members who haven't received one yet, and to new applicants. Members who have not received a stole to wear at commencement may pick one up at the table, as well.
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AFT President Randi Weingarten to meet with Nevada faculty in the wake of UNLV shootings
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All NFA members are invited to join their UNLV colleagues during a visit from Randi Weingarten, the national president of the American Federation of Teachers. The event will available via Zoom and begins at 3:30 PM on Tuesday, January 9th, immediately following the TMCC-NFA chapter meeting.
Weingarten is a passionate defender of academic freedom during a time when education at all levels is under assault by misinformation and state censorship. She is also a national spokesperson for teachers' rights and classroom reforms, including reforms to improve school safety.
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AFT President
Randi Weingarten
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During her visit, President Weingarten will hear from faculty directly impacted by the horrific events of December 6 on the UNLV campus. NFA will encourage her to use her national platform to raise awareness of campus security needs. Other topics, such as the growing political pressure on higher education will also be open for discussion.
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TMCC-NFA and administration agree to one-year extension of collective bargaining agreement
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On December 15, 2023, TMCC-NFA President Jim New and TMCC President Karin Hilgersom signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that extends the current collective bargaining agreement, commonly known as the contract, for one additional year. The current agreement will not expire until June 30, 2026. TMCC-NFA will propose that negotiations for a new agreement begin no later than April 15, 2025.
Last July, President Hilgersom announced her pending separation from TMCC effective July 1, 2025. The contract extension allows TMCC-NFA to work with the incoming administration. Additionally, it allows us to avoid negotiations during the Nevada Legislature's 2025 session, where the Collective Bargaining Bill for NSHE Professionals will be under consideration once again. If the Legislature overrides Governor Lombardo's veto of the bill that was passed last year, or a new version of the bill is passed and enacted, the TMCC-NFA Contract will require substantial revisions.
With several of the negotiators from prior bargaining sessions about to enter retirement, the extension also gives the Chapter time to identify new negotiators and prepare them for the process. The Chapter will pay for one or two members to attend collective bargaining training from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in partnership with Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Training for the West Coast is schedule for June 2-7, 2024. Members interested in joining the negotiating team should contact any TMCC-NFA officer.
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Nominations sought for 2nd annual
TMCC-NFA Legacy Award
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2022-23 Legacy Award Winner, Professor Blisin Hestiyas
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The TMCC-NFA Legacy Award was created during the 2022-23 academic year to honor one member who consistently represents NFA values in service on behalf of colleagues in areas such as academic freedom, shared governance, and collective bargaining just to name a few. Professor Blisin Hestiyas became the first recipient of the award at a year-end event in May 2023. She was recognized for her work on procedures to prevent other employees, including supervisors, from gaining unannounced access to an instructor's Canvas course shell, maintaining compliance with the contract.
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Members will soon be asked to make nominations for 2023-24. Any TMCC-NFA member in good standing is welcome to make a nomination. Guidelines are listed on the TMCC-NFA website. The recipient will be honored at a year-end celebration with a commemorative award and $500 honorarium. Watch for more information in the coming weeks.
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TMCC-NFA Officers
Jim New, President
Amy Cavanaugh, Vice President
Julia Hammett, Secretary
Lars Jensen, Treasurer
Cheryl Cardoza, Past President
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