your HEALTH ● Stress on the job A PSC health & safety pioneer on new hazards at work larıon Page 4 CNewspaper of the professional Staff Congress / City University of New York June 2013

In a referendum on Pathways, the CUNY administration’s overhaul of general 323 votes against; and three voided ballots. An absolute majority of CUNY’s education, 92% voted “no confidence” in the new curriculum. More than 60% full-time faculty has thus expressed its lack of confidence in the administra- of 7,202 eligible voters took part in the referendum among full-time faculty, tion’s new curriculum, which is scheduled to go into effect this Fall. “The vote which was conducted by the American Arbitration Association at the request is a stunning rebuke to the Pathways curriculum and the coercive measures of the PSC. There were 3,996 votes supporting a statement of no confidence; used to impose it,” said PSC President Barbara Bowen. PAGES 6-7

J.P. MORGAN BENEFITS CUNYfirst NEW OPTION Chancellors & Adjuncts and Union members Phasing in corporations unemployment tell their tales your retirement On January 1, Chancellor When adjuncts are jobless In May, Clarion asked our Participants in TIAA-CREF Goldstein became chair- in the summer months, readers to tell us about and similar retirement man of the board of the J.P. they can face obstacles in their experiences with plans at CUNY now have Morgan Funds. How much collecting unemployment CUNYfirst. See inside to a new retirement option: corporate involvement is benefits. Here’s what you read some of what they had phased retirement. Find out too much? PAge 5 need to know. Page 8 to say. Pages 10-11 if it’s right for you. Page 9

American Association of University Professors ● American Federation of Teachers ● national education association ● NYC Central Labor Council ● NYS AFL-CIO ● New York State United Teachers 2 News & Letters Clarion | June 2013

Write to: Clarion/PSC, 61 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Letters to the editor | E-mail: [email protected]. Fax: (212) 302-7815. tion category for this University [CUNY] in addition to those cat- egorized under existing Federal statutes and regulations....” This directive, issued by then Chancel- lor Robert Kibbee in 1976, has been reaffirmed by subsequent chan- Library faculty vs. Pathways cellors and confirmed in federal court. CUNY’s failure to hire ad- ● The members of the PSC Library PSC President Barbara Bowen re- misrepresented by the CUNY ad- McDonalds, Philips and others, and equate numbers of people of color Faculty Committee have “no confi- sponds: The two-tier labor system ministration. The union’s elected constituted an essential tool for ex- or women in professional positions dence” in Pathways. We believe that remains the most intractable and de- delegates discussed the issue at ploiting the business opportunities is compounded by histories of eth- faculty governance, especially the structive issue in higher education. I length and voted overwhelmingly to made available by globalization. nic discrimination against Italian faculty’s historical role in deciding can understand why adjuncts, espe- affirm the design of the referendum As the new century dawned, and Americans and others. curriculum, was subverted by the cially those whose primary employ- (see page 7). with it the corporate model of the This lingering issue was the process in which Pathways was de- ment is at CUNY, would feel stung Many adjuncts worked their university, it was perhaps inevitable topic of a March 27 conference signed and imposed. Moreover, we when the union conducts a referen- hearts out in support of the refer- that university chancellories would “Italian Americans and Discrimi- believe the Pathways structure does dum in which they are not included. endum, as did many full-timers in become interested in ERPs. But nation in Higher Education” held not foster robust, inquiry-based When so much of an adjunct’s daily support of adjunct health insur- CUNY’s use of a business-oriented at St. John’s University. Ironically, learning and reduces the opportu- experience at CUNY is about exclu- ance. That kind of solidarity holds ERP, without customization for the the conference was not sponsored nities for students to receive class- sion – from job security, reasonable the most promise for overturning different needs of an academic en- by the John D. Calandra Italian room instruction from librarians. pay, office space, even respect – be- the two-tier system. vironment, has obviously created American Institute – a CUNY char- Jill Cirasella, John Drobnicki, Lisa ing excluded from a union vote could severe problems. tered institute designated, in part, Ellis, Robert Farrell, William Gargan, be especially hurtful. Further thoughts on (2) In my article, I referred to my to ensure CUNY’s compliance with Mariana Regalado, Sharon Swacker, But the deeply ingrained two-tier own very limited duties as a “train- antidiscriminatory mandates. The Tess Tobin, Elizabeth Tompkins labor system could not, of course, CUNYfirst ing liaison” for CUNYfirst. But ev- March conference at St. John’s was, for the PSC Library Faculty Committee be dismantled by the inclusion of ● I’m glad to see PSC members’ very ery campus has its own training instead, sponsored by the American adjuncts in this vote. The union is active discussion on CUNYfirst (see liaison, and I know directly that ma- Association of Affirmative Action working incrementally toward that pages 10-11) that’s followed Clarion’s ny or most have far greater respon- and other organizations not affili- Referendum structure end, most immediately by securing publication of my op-ed “CUNYfirst, sibilities than mine: they actively ated with CUNY. criticized adjunct health insurance, but it Users Last” (May 2013) on this new recruit trainers, do training them- Both the Calandra Institute and ● Expediency is the mother of op- will take a massive economic and computer system. I’m writing to add selves and are much more involved CUNY’s Italian American Faculty pression and discontent. The union political reform to accomplish it. a couple of further comments: in the CUNYFirst rollout than I was. and Staff Council (IAFSC) have leadership’s decision not to allow the The referendum was a tactic, (1) Enterprise resource planning Typically, they are asked to do this remained silent despite repeated adjuncts who teach more than 50% of not a “basic right of membership.” systems (ERPs) like CUNYfirst without reduction of their other du- calls from many faculty and staff the courses at CUNY to participate in Adjuncts have the right to partici- are massive software systems that ties, i.e., the usual HEO raw deal. By for a CUNY-wide conference to re- the Pathways referendum blatantly pate in leadership elections and integrate the data flow of all busi- not making this clear, I unintention- port and disseminate the apparent shows their support of the two-tier contract ratification votes, just as ness functions (inventory, sales, ally did those folks an injustice. quagmire status of Italian Ameri- system which they profess to abhor. full-timers do. The referendum was accounts payable and receivable, David Arnow cans at CUNY. This conspicu - We pay union dues and yet are de- limited to full-time faculty because human resources, etc.) across an Brooklyn College ous lack of action only reinforces nied a basic right of membership: the it is full-time faculty who have a enterprise. These systems began the “invisible minority” status of vote on issues that impact us such as statutory role in the development to make their appearance in the Italian Americans at CUNY, as curriculum. “No taxation without of curriculum – a role that has been corporate world of the 1980s. In the CUNY & Italian Americans documented by Dr. Francis Elmi’s representation.” Revolutions happen. usurped by the Pathways process – 1990s, ERPs created efficiencies ● It may come as a surprise to ma- seminal 1996 study. Howard Pflanzer and full-time faculty whose views that helped fuel the leaps in profit- ny readers that Italian Americans Mario Caruso Bronx Community College of Pathways have been consistently ability in companies such as Apple, are designated “an affirmative ac- Queens College Into the streets ‘General’ education at CUNY By JOHN TARLETON University of Southern California. tortured thousands of their fellow He has also just been hired by pri- Iraqis in US-funded detention cen- The end of Spring semester seemed vate equity giant KKR, where he ters. ​“[CUNY] is blinded to the fact to be the “season of the generals” at will will chair an internal institute that this guy has been accused of CUNY. At Baruch, retired General focused on public policy and invest- war crimes,” said Stivers. Wesley Clark received an honorary ments in emerging markets. Glenn Petersen, chair of the depart- degree and was a featured speaker at “CUNY is profoundly honored to ment of sociology and anthropology at the college’s May 30 commencement welcome Dr. Petraeus to our aca- Baruch, noted that while commanding ceremonies. A month earlier, on April demic community,’’ said outgoing US forces in Iraq and then Afghani- 29, the Board of Trustees renamed Chancellor Matthew Gold- stan, Petraeus incorporat- City College’s Division of Social Sci- stein. “Our students will have Petraeus’s ed anthropologists into ences as the Colin Powell School for a unique opportunity to learn appointment military Human Terrain Civic and Global Leadership. And on about public policy firsthand Teams that closely studied April 23, CUNY announced the ap- from a distinguished leader as visiting local populations in order pointment of a visiting professor of with extraordinary experience prof ignites to more effectively carry public policy at Macaulay Honors Col- and expertise in international out counter-insurgency lege: retired four-star General David security issues, intelligence controversy. efforts. This approach was Petraeus, former top commander of matters and nation-building.’’ envisioned in The US Army / Ma- US forces fighting in Iraq and Afghan- Petraeus’s appointment at Ma- rine Corps Counterinsurgency Field istan and former head of the Central caulay sparked a different reaction Manual (University of Chicago Press, Intelligence Agency. among other members of the CUNY 2007), for which Petraeus was a lead At Macaulay, Petraeus will lead community: a petition calling for author. The tactic has been sharply a Fall 2013 seminar “examining Petraeus’s appointment to be re- criticized by many anthropologists the developments that could po- scinded quickly garnered hundreds as a violation of academic ethics that sition the United States – and its of signatures. “He was integrally endangers independent anthropolo- North American partners – to lead involved in an illegal war and oc- gists working in the field. arleton the world out of the current global cupation that killed hundreds of Petersen, a Vietnam veteran,

John T John economic slowdown,” focusing on thousands of people, inflamed sec- said he was troubled by the lack of Thousands of trade unionists, immigrants, occupiers and others marked May energy, advanced manufacturing, tarian conflict, and left a country in public discussion at CUNY before Day this year with a rally and march from Union Square to City Hall. The PSC life sciences and information tech- ruins,” said Mike Stivers, a junior Petraeus was hired, which would contingent included Lolly McIver (left), a former faculty member in ESL at BMCC nology. The course will be be limited philosophy major at Macaulay who have allowed for broader consider- and Medgar Evers College, and her husband Jim Perlstein (right), co-chair of the to 16 students who must complete an was among those signing the peti- ation of the ethical and practical is- PSC Solidarity Committee. Participants in the march called for passage of a just application with faculty recommen- tion. A March report by the BBC sues raised by the appointment. “To and comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, an end to the politics of dations and be vetted by a selection Arabic and the Guardian newspa- just appoint people because they are austerity and for the City of New York to negotiate in good faith with its munici- committee. Petraeus will be simul- per tied Petraeus and two of his top seen as prestigious is counter-pro- pal unions, all of which are currently working without a contract. taneously teaching part-time at the advisors to local paramilitaries that ductive,” Petersen said. Clarion | June 2013 news 3 CUNY’s interim chancellor

By JOHN TARLETON fewer “mediocrities” at the GC today, Kelly slated to take over on July 1 Aronowitz says, scholars with uncon- As Graduate Center President ventional interests have also been William Kelly prepares to become increasingly marginalized. He con- CUNY’s Interim Chancellor on tends that the GC has become “main- July 1, his departure from the GC streamed” as it has sought to improve has spurred a mix of responses from its US News & World Report rankings. faculty and students there. “Bill Kelly’s definition of excel- Kelly is widely praised as an ef- lence is whether you are recognized fective institutional leader who as important in your profession,” has brought new resources to the Aronowitz said. “In terms of fi- GC and boosted its visibility, and nances and services, he has done a as a likable administrator who is very good job, but perhaps the price conversant with faculty members’ is too high.” published work. But others are more critical of the GC’s direction, and the search many caution that in his new job, But that is a minority view. Kel- Kelly is unlikely to chart a differ- ly “has designed and supported a ent course from his predecessor’s. Graduate Center where a whole A specialist in American litera- range of provocative ideas and ture who has written a book on the issues are being discussed, and work of Fenimore Cooper, Kelly nothing is beyond the limits,” Mi- served on the Queens College faculty chelle Fine told Clarion. David Na- from 1976 to 1998, and was appointed saw also rejects the idea that the to the faculty of the Graduate Cen- GC has become more homogenous. ter’s doctoral program in English in In his own department, he said, 1986. He became provost of the GC in “It’s a whole new world around 1998 and president in 2005. here. The place was once filled “He’s gotten great people here,” [just] with historians who either said David Nasaw, a distinguished did the US or Europe.” When most professor of history who character- faculty discuss intellectual life at ized the new GC hires as “strikingly the GC during Kelly’s tenure, they diverse.” Under Kelly, he said, the tend to use words like “dynamic.” Graduate Center has become “far Pat Arnow Perhaps, inevitably, there are ru- more vibrant than it’s ever been.” Bill Kelly will take over as CUNY’s interim chancellor on July 1, following an eight-year stint as president of the Graduate Center. mors about whether Kelly will be Job applicants, he said, “are blown considered by the Board of Trustees away to have met an administrator physics program. “He will be forced 2002 contract settlement. The PSC back admissions over the next few as it conducts its search for CUNY’s who has read their work and can to look at Pathways, but I’m not hope- also organized lobbying days in years, aiming for a 25% cut by new permanent chancellor. Asked talk with them about it.” ful about what will happen.” Albany, in which doctoral students 2015, but will boost stipends for about this at the May 7 town hall Zoltán Glück, co-coordinator for Many interviewed at the GC not- and faculty pressed the Legislature most incoming doctoral students meeting, Kelly said flatly that this The Adjunct Project of the Students’ ed Kelly’s political skills, with one to give CUNY graduate students to $25,000 per year for five years, is not allowed by CUNY’s rules. Doctoral Council, criticized Kelly’s faculty member comparing him to the same support as their SUNY starting this Fall. Their teaching According to the University’s Man- support for CUNY’s Pathways cur- Bill Clinton: smart, charming and counterparts. load will also be reduced from two ual of General Policy, “An interim riculum (see page 7). “He and Mat- able to make people feel he sympa- The PSC “was enormously im- classes to one per semester. (Cur- chancellor shall not be a candidate thew Goldstein have different styles thizes with their concerns – even if portant in changing the conversa- rent graduate students are not in- for chancellor.” However, CUNY’s of operating, but the ideology is fun- he rejects their policy views. Those tion on tuition remission,” Kelly cluded in the new program.) Board of Trustees is unusual in that damentally the same,” said Glück, skills will be put to the test told Clarion in 2003. “The important issue is making it can suspend or change a policy arguing that the two share a neolib- on Pathways, which is deeply Pathways When the union and the students aware from the start that, provision, or even a section of its eral view of higher education. unpopular at CUNY. will Doctoral Student Coun- although they may not finish the Bylaws, with a simple majority of its Kelly leaves the Graduate cil (DSC) demanded that degree in five years, if they [don’t], 17 voting members. The current rule pathways Center with a reservoir of present New York State provide that will be principally a function of was adopted at the time of CUNY’s Kelly is chair of the CUNY Path- goodwill among its faculty key test in CUNY grad students with life decisions and life choices,” said last chancellor search, to avoid hav- ways Transfer Majors Committees, for changes he has overseen new role. the same health insurance GC Provost Chase Robinson, who ing the interim position “turn into a and wrote an op-ed for The New in the past decade and a half coverage as those at SUNY, will become the GC’s interim presi- campaign platform,” The New York York Post last March that strongly – some of which were the focus of however, Kelly was slower to offer dent when Kelly departs. Times reported in 1997. defended the Pathways project. union organizing campaigns. Most public support. A PSC-DSC pro- CUNY’s Manual of General Policy “I have been in favor of Pathways often mentioned is greater support test scheduled outside the GC in less hospitable? has a similarly worded restriction long before there was a Pathways,” for doctoral students in the form of March 2008 finally prompted Kelly The additional resources have against an interim college president Kelly said at a May 7 town hall meet- tuition remission, increased sti- and Chancellor Goldstein to write been welcomed, particularly given being a candidate for the permanent ing at the GC, two weeks after he pends and the provision of health to legislators in Albany to request New York City’s cost of living. But position at that school. In 1999, how- was tapped to replace Chancellor insurance. Overall, Distinguished funding for the change. concern has also been expressed ever, the board added an amend- Goldstein. He insisted that Path- Professor of Psychology Michelle In the past year, Kelly has an- about whether these changes will ment that allows for exceptions. The ways would provide a solution to Fine calls the increase in support nounced a plan to significantly make the Graduate Center less hos- most recent such exception came in the problems of credit transfer be- “nothing short of miraculous.” restructure the Graduate Center, pitable to working-class graduate January of this year, when Diane tween community and senior col- “Now, [doctoral students] have with what he has called a “carrot- students whose life situations may not Call, interim president of Queens- leges, a claim that has been disputed more time to devote to their stud- and-stick” approach to speed- allow them to finish their studies as borough Community College, was by faculty (see “UFS-PSC Working ies and their dissertation writing,” ing up the graduation of doctoral rapidly as envisioned in Kelly’s plan. appointed as QCC’s president by the Group Examines Data on Transfer says Distinguished Professor of So- students. “We’re concerned that a culture Board of Trustees. Problems,” December 2012 Clarion). ciology Frances Fox Piven. “This is Inside Higher Ed reported that of elitism will be fostered that goes The board’s appointment of Kel- Pathways “can be improved and absolutely essential for their aca- Kelly wanted “to rethink the against the mission of CUNY to ly as interim chancellor “makes a tweaked,” Kelly said at the May 7 demic training.” ‘roach motel’ concept of graduate serve the working people of the five ton of sense,” commented Michael meeting – but since review of the school, where ‘you check in and boroughs of New York City,” said Busch, editor of the GC Advocate. program is provided for in the Board cooperation & conflict don’t check out.’” When the com- Alyson Spurgas, a co-coordinator “He’s smart and politically savvy.” of Trustees Pathways resolution, he The PSC has seen both coopera- ment sparked controversy at the with The Adjunct Project. Kelly ar- As GC president, Busch said, Kelly said, there is no reason for CUNY to tion and conflict with Kelly during GC, Kelly wrote, “I regret the use gues that the increased fellowships “has been able to do a lot without at- slow down its implementation. his years as GC president. On tu- of a decades-old cliché, but I reaf- will help diversity in admissions. tracting lots of negative attention.” “He’s far more articulate than ition remission, they worked toward firm my rejection of that paradigm. “He’s a complicated figure,” said How Kelly handles the issues that Goldstein or any of the others [at the the same goal: the PSC had made Doctoral institutions have a moral Stanley Aronowitz, a distinguished confront him as interim chancellor, CUNY Central Office],” said Sultan the issue a priority in contract ne- obligation to attend to the progress professor of sociology who thinks particularly Pathways, will deter- Catto, a professor of physics and a gotiations, and negotiated the initial of their students.” that the GC’s increased prominence mine whether that continues to be former executive officer of the GC’s seed money as part of the union’s Under the plan, the GC will scale has come at a cost. While there are the case. 4 analysis Clarion | June 2013

sues involve increases in headaches, gastrointestinal conditions, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders. Others add up to an increase in com- For the love of our working promised immune systems and heart conditions. In all, our weakened bod- ies are more susceptible to colds and flus and illnesses circulating in our more densely packed, and, too often, conditions – and ourselves poorly ventilated conditions. By JOAN GREENBAUM about our working conditions. take action Stress causes new hazards We all know, but usually don’t It is time that we took ourselves Earlier this spring, Joan Green- stop to acknowledge, that it is stress and our working conditions seriously. baum, co-founder of the PSC Health that is the huge invisible hazard in We take our contract and collective & Safety Watchdogs network, was our workplace now. Stress that is bargaining seriously, and, the basis – given the New York State United caused by working conditions that go the very floor of our contract – is the Teachers Unsung Hero Award at beyond what they used to be. Stress need to address our working condi- NYSUT’s annual Health and Safety caused by over-work, lack of recogni- tions. Stress conditions that ooze out Conference. The award honors a tion, lack of respect and many other of increased performance measure- NYSUT member who has gone above issues that we will talk about today. ment, coupled with an increased lack and beyond in addressing health And these invisible hazards have of control over working conditions, and safety problems for his or her real physical effects on our bodies, are a health and safety problem. We local. Greenbaum is professor emer- causing us health problems that have to take action. Now. ita of environmental psychology at cause major concerns and costs for Our collective bargaining rights the CUNY Graduate Center, and of us, our families and society. give us a say in our working lives. It computer information systems at First, let’s talk about some of is precisely this “say” over our work- LaGuardia Community College. the conditions that increase stress ing conditions, including having a Below is the talk that Greenbaum in our daily working lives. Chief say over superimposed, ever-rising gave at the conference, in which she among the hazards facing us, but so performance metrics, that we need analyzes stress in the workplace as a rarely talked about, are the changes to get back. health and safety issue. in work practices that come down A study by the European Agency from on high on what seems for Safety and Health at Work We are facing increasing and often like a constant basis. State A call to shows that the two highest- invisible hazards in our workplaces. and local governments change organize stress occupations are edu- Tonight I am going to suggest that tests and standards, boards cation and health care. OSHA some of these unseen hazards are change requirements, evalu- against has acknowledged workplace potentially as dangerous as chemi- ation and metrics are brought new stress as a health and safety cals and toxins were on factory floors down on us from all possible dangers concern. Now it is time for us back before OSHA was founded. And sources. It feels as if as soon to take ourselves seriously. I will strongly urge that we use the as we have scurried to reach one Health and safety activists, like us

same grassroots union energy that erins Jr. target, another one comes popping here at NYSUT, and like our Watch- got OSHA started back in 1970 to up in its place. In the industrial peri- dogs at the PSC, attend workshops arty K tackle the invisible problems now M od, factory managers employed the where we learn to acknowledge haz- in our post-industrial workplaces, Joan Greenbaum, co-founder of the PSC Health & Safety Watchdogs network “carrot and the stick” to motivate ards, recognize hazards, survey our namely in our classrooms, offices, workers. Now, there are no more members, document the problems hospitals and university buildings. ing the very Republican presidency though climate change and the more carrots, no vegetables – just sticks. and then take collective action. of Richard Nixon. To get such a bill frequent storms we are experiencing And we are playing Whac-A-Mole None of us now know the extent to past battles passed, Mazzocchi and students, to- are seriously affecting our working with these sticks as we try to fend how stress is experienced in our work- It is interesting to remember that gether with workers, had to begin and learning conditions. Together, off one performance measurement places, nor do we have the answers for it took the collective spirit of thou- to take seriously the illnesses that we have learned to take big steps after another. what can and should be done about it sands upon thousands of industrial workers were talking about and toward identifying health and safety – both in our working conditions and workers in the late 1960s and 1970s find ways to document them and re- conditions inside our buildings, such education workers in our bodies. We need to begin the to fight for the right to know about, search their causes. (For a good ac- as leaking pipes, mold conditions, In colleges, for example, we are ex- process by first acknowledging the and indeed limit, the unseen and count, see Les Leopold’s 2007 book, crumbling ceilings and the like. In pected to graduate students faster, problems and talking about them. then unknown hazards in their fac- The Man Who Hated Work and both areas – outside and inside our get them through remedial and basic We can then, for example, modify tories. Their experiences, combined Loved Labor: The Life and Times of work worlds – we have done much and courses with tests imposed on us by some existing online surveys about with union pressures and the then- Tony Mazzocchi.) still have much to do. But tonight, I those who don’t understand colleges workplace stress for our needs and unsung hero Tony Mazzocchi, led Together we have made great am going to ask you to think about today, and water down our curricu- try them out in some workplaces. The to the passage of the Occupational strides in identifying environmental conditions inside our bodies, and the lum to get this all done. It’s metrics, US National Institute for Safety and Safety and Health Act of 1970, dur- problems outside our workplaces – issues of how we experience and feel metrics and more metrics. In K-12 ed- Health (NIOSH) has a useful survey, ucation, not only do you experience as do our colleagues in Canada. the horrors of increased test-taking, but you are facing increased perfor- document it mance standards that try to link With the help of AFT and NYSUT Higher Education in Brief professional evaluation with that we can put our heads together and of the students. Evaluation, evalua- figure out a way to begin to docu- Republicans take aim at “Adding Congress as peer Conservatives have denounced tion and more outcome assessments. ment these serious issues. And as reviewers,” said John Holdren, Warren’s proposal, but a MoveOn.org And for all workers, we experience our forerunners did in the earlier science funding director of the White House Office petition backing it has received an increase in the number of hours days of the health and safety move- From a literal belief in the Bible’s of Science and Technology Policy, almost 450,000 signatures. worked to get this all done as work ment, we can bring in occupational creation story to disdain for cli- “I think that’s a mistake.” spills over to home and life. We face and public health experts and our mate research, many Congress- New name for CUNY’s doing all this with fewer workers own academic specialists in labor ional Republicans show little Elizabeth Warren’s student sharing the load and a greater num- and working conditions to docu- interest in a scientific perspective. new community college ber of administrators looking down ment the problems more fully. We But that hasn’t stopped Rep. Lamar loan proposal CUNY’s New Community College at us. All in the name of efficiency don’t want management’s remedies Smith (R-Tx.), chair of the House With student loan debt topping $1 has a new name – the Stella and – an “efficiency” that means cuts to for how to meditate and decrease Science Committee, from propos- trillion and loan rates set to double Charles Guttman Community Col- the budgets on our end. our own stress levels. We want to ing that the National Science Foun- from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1, Massa- lege. The renaming of the school These are all changes that result collectively change the working con- dation be required to certify to chusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren comes on the heels of a $25 million in overwork. This is speedup in the ditions that cause stress. Congress that all the the research is pushing a different approach: donation from the foundation that traditional sense. And increased We are all unsung heroes in this it finances promotes national se- have the federal government pro- also carries the Guttman name. work – workloads that literally feel battle against the rising tide of per- curity or the economic interests vide loans to students at the same The $25 million includes a $15 mil- like they are on our backs – are inter- formance measured from on-high of the United States. The Obama interest rate it does for the nation’s lion gift to the New Community twined with documented increases in by those who know little about our administration has pushed back, largest banks – 0.75%. College, $9 million to assist com- bullying and workplace violence. We actual professional working condi- saying most members of Congress “Our students are just as impor- munity college students trans- take our tired bodies home at night tions. Let’s begin to take action now aren’t qualified to pass judgment tant to the economic recovery as ferring to senior colleges and $1 with a ticking clock of stress-related by taking our working conditions on scientific research projects. our banks,” Warren said. million for the ASAP program. problems. Some of those health is- and our bodies seriously. Clarion | June 2013 News 5

labor Chancellors & corporations in brief TIAA-CREF drops By NANCY SCOLA & PETER HOGNESS That partnership arguably bene- controversial real estate From 80th Street to Wall Street fits JPMorgan as well, however, and In late January, Baruch College’s serving on corporate boards can project The Ticker reported that CUNY received a salary of $325,000 for increase in the scope of the J.P. raise questions about competing Facing fierce protests from unions, Chancellor Matthew Goldstein had his work as a J.P. Morgan Funds Morgan Funds’ business had cre- objectives. “Sitting on Macmillan TIAA-CREF has sold its interest in been named chairman of the board trustee. For at least the past five ated “a bigger workload and greater or McGraw-Hill would be a definite a real estate construction project for the J.P. Morgan Funds, the mu- years, his J.P. Morgan income has responsibilities in the board room.” conflict of interest,” says Schepers, at 5-11 47th Avenue in Long Island tual funds arm of JPMorgan Chase. been about two-thirds that of his Clarion asked CUNY’s press of- given these firms’ financial stake in City that has become notorious for The board oversees 140 different CUNY salary. fice for a current list of higher education. While Goldstein its poor working conditions and mutual funds, with total assets of But his new role as the Goldstein’s Goldstein’s board roles, does not sit on the board of any failure to pay prevailing wages and $580 billion. “Goldstein’s role at board’s chair, which began expanded and how much time he firms in the education industry, benefits. The campaign against the CUNY,” reported The Ticker, “will on January 1, comes with in- has recently devoted to several of the J.P. Morgan Funds Queens construction “sweatshop” remain unchanged in the face of the creased responsibilities and role at the these and other outside do hold stock in education-related was spearheaded by the New York new chairmanship.” probably a big bump in pay. J.P. Morgan commitments. CUNY companies, including McGraw-Hill District Council of Carpenters That wasn’t true for long. Just The board’s previous chair spokesperson Michael and Pearson, the London-based (NYCDCC) and received important two months after his appointment, was paid $500,000 per year. If Funds Arena replied that, ac- educational testing and publishing support from the PSC and its na- Goldstein announced his resigna- Goldstein matches or exceeds that cording to the office of CUNY’s company. One J.P. Morgan fund tional affiliate, the American Fed- tion after 14 years as CUNY chan - amount, it means that J.P. Morgan general counsel, “the service and holds $14 million worth of stock in eration of Teachers, persuading cellor. With the transition has come Funds is now paying him more than time allotted by the chancellor is American Campus Communities, TIAA-CREF CEO Roger Ferguson renewed attention to Goldstein’s his $490,000 annual salary from within the executive compensa- a developer that has a contract to to drop support for the 47th Avenue long-standing service on corporate CUNY. tion plan guidelines, including the build dorms at the College of Staten development. boards, and whether such blending two-days-a-month rule.” He did not Island. primary commitment of academic and corporate roles provide details. “Carwasheros” sign first should raise concerns. As CUNY According to the CUNY rules A recent report from Reuters, skewed focus prepares to choose its first new governing the chancellor’s role, out- however, gives a sample of the Robert Rhoads directs UCLA’s union contract chancellor in the 21st century, any side work “may not interfere with kinds of duties Goldstein’s new Globalization and Higher Educa- On May 29, workers at the Hi-Tek corporate connections of potential the executive’s primary commit- job entails. As chair of the overall tion Research Center. Beyond the Car Wash & Lube in Queens be- nominees are likely to draw close ment to CUNY.” There are hard lim- Board of Trustees for the J.P. Mor- potential for specific conflicts, he is came the first group of “carwash- scrutiny. its in place as well: CUNY officials gan Funds, Goldstein sits on the concerned that commercial ties skew eros” in New York City to ratify a in policy-making posts are limited boards of a number of individual academic leaders’ focus away from union contract. The three-year con- j.p. morgan funds to two days per month of “outside funds within the group. He chairs “the broader vision of the university tract provides for annual raises, a Goldstein began serving as a consultation or professional activi- the Governance Committee of one as a center for advancing deep forms fair distribution of work hours, five trustee on individual J.P. Morgan ties,” and these must generally be such fund, the Pacholder High Yield of citizenship and civic engagement.” paid sick days a year, unpaid leave Funds in 2003. He joined the full charged to annual leave. That limit Fund, and his responsibilities in Rhoads argues that a chancel- to visit their home countries and the board in 2005. The most recent Se- dates from the 1980s, when New that role include “participat[ing] lor or president’s corporate links establishment of a grievance pro- curity and Exchange Commission York legislators expressed con- in the selection and nomination should trigger a demand to know cedure. The carwasheros are affili- (SEC) filings state that Goldstein cern that commitments to corporate of persons for election or appoint- what universities are getting from ated with the Retail, Wholesale and boards might diffuse the attention ment as Directors; periodic review the deals. Without strict account- Department Store Union (RWDSU), that should be paid to university af- of the compensation payable to the ability, “the personal benefits to which is working with community fairs (see sidebar). Directors; review and evaluation of the individual leader seem vast,” allies to unionize the roughly 200 Not the Donald Schepers, associate dean the functioning of the Board and its argues Rhoads, “and leave one to car washes in New York City that at Baruch’s Zicklin School of Busi- committees; oversight of any ongo- wonder about the real motivation have an estimated 5,000 workers, ness and former director of Ba- ing litigation affecting the Fund, for such forms of involvement.” most of whom are immigrants. first time ruch’s Zicklin Center for Corporate the Adviser or the non-interested Integrity, says that Goldstein’s up- Directors; oversight of regulatory Corporate work was a contentious grade to chairman of the J.P. Mor - issues or deficiencies affecting the issue for CUNY’s previous chancel- gan Funds means a significantly Fund; oversight of the Fund’s risk Marching into the future lor, Ann Reynolds, in the mid-1990s. increased time commitment. Chairs management processes; and over- Matthew Goldstein, president of Ba- are public figures, charged with sight and review of matters with ruch at the time, circulated a letter counterbalancing their full-time respect to service providers to the supporting Reynolds after she was corporate counterparts. “Chair- Fund.” criticized for her extensive commit- man of the board, of any board, is ments to corporate boards. going to be a demanding job,” says other boards Reynolds responded to the criti- Schepers, and a chair might be ex- While serving as CUNY chan- cism by saying that “if she leaves pected to spend hundreds of hours cellor, Goldstein has spent periods at 3 pm for a corporate board meet- per year on his or her duties. of time on several other corporate ing but she has already worked Goldstein’s predecessor as board boards, including Health-Chem seven hours, then she does not con- chair, Fergus Reid, gave an estimate Corp.; the National Financial Part- sider that a day away from CUNY,” of his work week in a May 18, 2004, ners Corp.; and Centro NP, a New The New York Times reported in letter to the head of the Securities York-based property group now 1994. “The executive pay plan is and Exchange Commission, which known as Brixmor. While these 35 hours,” Special Counsel to the is posted on the SEC’s website. “I posts have brought him significant Chancellor David Fields told the have served as an independent income – in the mid-2000s, for ex- paper. “If you’ve worked the hours, chairman of the J.P. Morgan Funds ample, he was paid nearly $50,000 a you’ve worked the hours.” (or predecessor funds) for over 14 year each by Centro NP and National But CUNY’s two-days-a-month years,” wrote Reid. On an ongoing Financial Partners – his JPMorgan limit, adopted at the insistence of the basis, he explained, “on average I work has paid far more. Goldstein State Legislature in 1987, is not framed spend more than one-half of a regu- has also been a member of several as a minimum time commitment to lar business week on the affairs of non-profit boards and government CUNY: that was already covered by our Boards and our Funds and can commissions, and chaired Mayor the Executive Compensation Plan’s assure you that most of our trustees Michael Bloomberg’s Charter Revi- 35-hour week. Instead, the two-day would be willing to do the same if sion Commission in 2010. limit defines a maximum of outside called upon.” Some argue that CUNY can ben- involvement. According to Fund Director In- efit from leaders’ links with the For her corporate service, Reyn- telligence, an industry news site, business world, particularly an olds was paid a total of $140,000 a when Reid decided it was time to association with a large firm like year, or 87% of the $158,000 salary retire as chair, planning for the JPMorgan. The company is one of that CUNY’s chancellor was paid transition began a year in advance. only a handful mentioned in CU-

at the time. One CUNY trustee re- Reid said at the time that increased NY’s 2012-2016 master plan, which Pat Arnow sponded with a proposal to ban the regulatory pressure, the complex- celebrates JPMorgan’s partnership Members of the class of 2013 received their degrees in commencement cer- chancellor from earning outside ity of financial products subject to with Queens College on a “work- emonies held across CUNY in late May & early June. (Above) City Tech’s newest income. –PH trustee approval, and a “dramatic” force pipeline” for IT students. graduates celebrate at the Javits Center on June 4. 6 news Clarion | June 2013 Administrators usurp faculty role

By PETER HOGNESS Core sections on science and math. cipline but answer to a politically “The University objected that these appointed board, and the individual As Spring semester came to a close, Rush to implement Pathways were STEM (science, technology, en- professors whom they pay by the Brooklyn College’s Faculty Council requirements, CUNY central ad- ductory language courses do not gineering, and mathematics) courses task to implement their ideas of cur- condemned the college adminis- ministration insisted this was not comport with the 3-credit/3-hour and, therefore, could not be included riculum and give those ideas profes- tration’s decision to eliminate the true. Pathways, the administration policy,” wrote Provost William Tra- in an AA curriculum,” Sussman sional credence,” he wrote. It was, he school’s foreign language require- argued, gave colleges the flexibility montano, and thus any attempt to wrote in an open letter. concluded, another reason to vote ment. The unilateral decision by the to make their own choices within retain the college’s language This left LaGuardia’s no confidence in the referendum on school’s provost, in the face of sharp the Pathways structure: “A college requirement within Pathways Brooklyn psychology faculty with Pathways (see facing page). faculty opposition, was part of the could, for example, require that [stu- would be “complex.” college two choices: either re- administration’s efforts to imple- dents] take two semesters of foreign BC faculty also objected to shape their program as no confidence ment Pathways, CUNY’s new cur- language,” a Pathways policy docu- the provost’s unilateral elimi- admin axes an AS degree – a compli- As the semester ended, more than riculum for general education that ment said last year. nation of requirements related language cated process that would two dozen Pathways courses failed to is scheduled to be in place this Fall. But since Pathways sharply cuts to speech and ESL. “These are requirement. have required halting new win the support of the College Council the total number of credits in gen- just more examples of how lo- admissions for a year or at Medgar Evers College (MEC). “No untenable eral education, any flexibility is cal administrations are overriding more – or replace the existing anat- Pathways courses were approved by “As implementation of Pathways severely limited in practice. “The faculty governance in their rush to omy class with a non-laboratory the College Council – none of them,” moves forward, it is becoming in - Pathways framework…require[s] implement Pathways,” the union science course, and replace the sta- said Clinton Crawford, a professor creasingly clear how it is degrad- that the college eliminate some of statement said. tistics course with a less rigorous of art at MEC and chair of its PSC ing educational standards,” said a its existing requirements in order At LaGuardia Community Col- course in math. chapter. “We had two meetings in statement from Brooklyn College’s to comply with the Chancellor and lege, the school’s AA program in the same month, and they were not PSC chapter. “By strictly limiting Board’s grand plan,” the BC PSC psychology was rejected by CUNY curriculum design approved either time.” the number of hours per course statement notes. central administration for running The episode was most troubling, MEC’s administration may and the total number of courses afoul of Pathways rules. Accord- Sussman wrote, as an example of choose to submit Pathways courses required for General Education, restricted ing to George Sussman, a profes- the way Pathways is taking cur- to CUNY central administration, colleges are being forced to make Pathways restricts general edu- sor in LaGuardia’s social science riculum design out of the hands of even without faculty approval, untenable choices about what to cation classes to three credits and department, the problem was that academic departments: “Curriculum said Crawford, as has happened at keep and what to sacrifice.” three hours, with very few excep- an anatomy course and a statistics design, once an integral part of our many other CUNY colleges. “But When Pathways critics warned tions, and BC’s provost explained course required for psychology ma- responsibilities, is now in the hands the College Council has sent a de- that the plan would force many col- that was a problem in relation to jors were included in LaGuardia’s of administrators, who may or may finitive message: we have no con- leges to drop their foreign language language instruction: “Some intro- Pathways courses in the Required not be trained in an academic dis- fidence in Pathways.” Why I voted No Confidence in Pathways Clarion spoke with a number of full-time faculty members about their vote in the referendum on Pathways. Here is what some of them had to say.

« Tamara Mose Brown Assistant Professor, Sociology Director, Caribbean Studies Program Brooklyn College Jim Tolan Associate Professor, English Pathways communicates that learn- Composition Coordinator ing another language is just not that BMCC important. And I think the opposite is true. None of the curricular changes that In most other countries, students have been made are based on any learn three or four other languages. kind of pedagogical grounding. I Our students need language skills would be less offended if they would to become global thinkers and part just acknowledge it’s about money of the global workforce, as today Charles Neuman and numbers. there are fewer and fewer bound- Associate Professor, Physics Matthew Goldstein came to our aries across countries and conti- Queensborough Community College college and sold Pathways as a ora nents. Having that language base way to improve transfer for our helps broaden the way you think as The Pathways curriculum values rnesto M students. As someone who teach- E a global citizen. science less. You need a general es at a community college and has I’m very upset about the Brook- background in science. It’s impor- seen students who were vulnera- lyn College administration’s elimi- tant no matter what kind of work ble to having their credits denied, I « Jackie Jones nation of our language requirement, you go into. It goes far beyond the thought this was a good idea. Associate Professor, Computer which we’ve had for years. Why is specific content of a given course – it So I agreed to serve on one of the & Information Science CUNY reducing language study in teaches scientific thinking and logi- Pathways committees. Brooklyn College the 21st century? It doesn’t make cal thinking. Later, when I realized this had any sense. It’s bad to encourage less sci- nothing to do with transfer and was Pathways seems to be the epitome We are seeing wrong-headed ence. We can’t help students as about watering curriculum down, of curriculum made by people who standardization and centraliza- much as we feel they deserve. The I felt dirty. But it was already too have never set foot in a classroom. tion in US education across the three-credit science courses being late to disassociate myself from It’s going to dilute the quality of edu- board. Both K-12 teachers and col- created under Pathways may not this when they claimed Pathways cation at the senior colleges. lege professors are being told what transfer to many schools outside of was driven by faculty input. It’s going to cause us to produce to teach and how. The view is that the CUNY system, including SUNY We would never drive curricular students who know nothing about we should no longer have the au- colleges. changes that would give our stu- computers except the misapprehen- tonomy to make such decisions Matthew Goldstein stepping dents fewer of the skills they need sions they brought with them when ourselves. down is one big vote of no confidence to succeed. I felt duped. they came to college, who are less in Pathways. He’s jumping ship be- The referendum offered a chance able to communicate verbally, who fore things hit the fan. If he believed to make clear how faculty working are less able to write and who are in Pathways, he would stick around on curriculum really feel. less able to work in a lab. Interviews by John Tarleton for the implementation. Clarion | June 2013 news 7

Points of contention Pathways lowers the number of credits that can be required as part Big vote against Pathways of a CUNY college’s general educa- tion plan, and it restricts almost all general education courses to three By PETER HOGNESS edented because our students’ fu- credits. As a result, say critics, Path- 92% say “no confidence” tures are at stake.” ways means reduced foreign lan- In a referendum on Pathways, the CU- The no-confidence referendum of- guage study, basic science classes NY administration’s overhaul of gen- the Graduate Center. “With a new “an overwhelming thumbs-down fered “a unique opportunity to talk without lab sessions, and pressure eral education, 92% said they have “no interim chancellor about to take to the controversial Pathways pro- to our colleagues and engage them,” for less class time in introductory confidence” in the new curriculum. office and Trustees’ Chair Benno gram,” the Post reported. said Alan Feigenberg, a professor writing courses (see tinyurl.com/ More than 60% of the 7,202 eligible vot- Schmidt’s term soon to expire, the “Our students deserve an educa- of architecture at City College and Clarion-Pathways). CUNY’s ad- ers took part in the referendum among moment is right to repeal and re- tion that is broad, deep and rigorous PSC chapter chair. “It was an oppor- ministration contends that Path- full-time faculty, which was conducted think Pathways.” – but Pathways undermines these tunity to discuss not only the issues, ways will help students graduate by the American Arbitration Associa- Press coverage of the vote includ- goals,” Alex Vitale, associate profes- but also the importance of our union more quickly by easing transfer tion at the request of the PSC. ed articles in The New York Post, sor of sociology at Brooklyn College, and of organized resistance.” between different CUNY schools There were 3,996 votes support- The Chronicle of Higher Education, told the Post. “The level of faculty “It was indeed a wonderful or- – but faculty say the data does not ing a statement of no confidence; 323 and Inside Higher Ed. The vote was opposition to Pathways is unprec- ganizing experience,” agreed Judy support that claim (see tinyurl.com/ votes against; and three voided bal- Barbanel, outgoing chapter chair at UFS-PSC-Pathways-Research). lots. The landslide result, combined Queensborough Community College with the high level of participation, and a professor of academic literacy. “I means that an absolute majority of spoke to and got to know many faculty staff, while excluding anyone who CUNY’s full-time faculty has ex- I had never met before, and who had is not a union member, failed by a pressed its lack of confidence in the never attended a union chapter meet- vote of 50 to 15. Adjuncts, full-time administration’s new curriculum, ing. It was an exhausting, but exhila- faculty and professional staff were which is scheduled to go into effect rating experience, and I am thrilled each found on both sides of the vote. this Fall. that the results were so strong.” Critics argued that Pathways is a The PSC Delegate Assembly saw union issue and affects all members, stunning rebuke debate over the structure of the so all union members should vote. “The vote is a stunning rebuke referendum, with some delegates Not to do so, they argued, would be to the Pathways curriculum and objecting to the Executive Coun- exclusionary, and would perpetu- the coercive measures used to im- cil’s decision to organize it as a vote ate CUNY’s two-tier system, while pose it,” said PSC President Bar- choichet among CUNY’s full-time faculty. A including all union members would

bara Bowen, an associate professor Gary S motion for the vote to include part- build a more united union. Those of English at Queens College and Ballots were counted by the American Arbitration Association. time faculty as well as professional who voted not to change the refer- endum said that it was a strategic decision, based on a realistic as- sessment of how CUNY is organized today, where the Bylaws assign re- sponsibility for formulating policy on curriculum to the full-time faculty. Why I voted No Confidence in Pathways When some departments and college senates have voted under pressure Clarion spoke with a number of full-time faculty members about their vote in the referendum on Pathways. Here is what some of them had to say. to approve Pathways courses, they said, management has claimed that this shows Pathways has faculty sup- port. A no-confidence vote by a clear majority of the full-time faculty, they argued, would counter such claims. Pat Arnow empowering Henry Africk The referendum was conducted Professor & Chair, Mathematics Dept. between May 9 and May 31, and re- City Tech sults were announced June 1. “The result of the referendum empow- Pathways is making it easier for stu- ers us at a critical moment,” Bowen dents to graduate, but by lowering wrote in a message informing mem- Fay Rogg Alfonso García Osuna the standards for getting a degree. bers of the outcome. “Equipped with Professor and former Chair, Professor & Chair, Foreign For example, for our math majors, this landslide vote, we can take the Modern Languages Dept. Languages Department it is no longer possible to require campaign to a new level [and] con- BMCC Kingsborough Community College courses in general education, like tinue the fight in the Fall.” economics, which would be relevant “No one can deny that there is mas- I do not believe that any educa- Our mission at the community col- to a math major. These courses can sive faculty opposition to Pathways in tor would endorse a program that leges is to do right by students who be recommended, but not required. its present form,” said PSC Treasurer Lynne Teplin takes away an extra hour of class have been shortchanged by every As a result, we’ve had to remove Mike Fabricant, a professor at the Lecturer, Counseling Department time with the professor and the stu- institution. And Pathways says, some of our math requirements to Hunter School of Social Work, and for- LaGuardia Community College dent in languages and sciences. Af- “No, we won’t!” They don’t believe make room for Pathways general mer executive officer of CUNY’s doc- ter the move to open admissions, we in our students. education courses. This is going to toral program in social welfare. “This I don’t buy the claim that this is going fought so hard for the extra hour of I’m incensed that they would weaken the degree. For non-STEM is a call for management to begin to to be better for transfer. In terms of instruction to meet the needs of our even consider doing something like majors, we have had to cut our negotiate on where we go from here.” curriculum, I think the old one was students. Sadly, CUNY’s motive for this – we fought it tooth and nail. four-credit quantitative reasoning “The rush to implementation is better because it was carefully cho- implementing Pathways is econom- Even a child could tell this makes no course to three credits. There is no deepening the problems with the sen by faculty to prepare students ic, not educational. sense. When 92% of the people say, way you can cover the same amount whole Pathways project,” Fabricant well for a four-year school. Students “This is wrong,” you can’t just shut of work in three hours as you could observed, “and the rotten fruit of who lack confidence in their abili- your eyes and go forward. in four. this process will be with us in the ties may choose the easiest course in fall.” But as students encounter each area, and that will harm them the reality of Pathways and as the when they go on to senior colleges. « Reneta Lansiquot courses are reviewed, he said, fac- Most of the students I talk to Associate Professor, English ulty will have both the opportunity about Pathways are more confused Assistant Director, Honors Scholars Program City Tech and responsibility to speak up in fa- than happy. When I try to explain vor of a more rigorous curriculum. Pathways to them, they are con- Pathways lowers the standards for our students. It lowers the bar. Students “We’re not only going to be watch- fused about what they see. won’t have to take sciences with a lab, or a proper math course, or any class- ing, but acting,” Fabricant said. es in the social sciences. With these catch-all “buckets” of courses, students “Pathways will come under scrutiny can avoid an entire area of study. So both the depth and the breadth of the of a unified, vigilant faculty across education that our students receive will be at risk. the University.” 8 benefits Clarion | June 2013 Update on adjunct health insurance

By DEBORAH BELL talks left covered adjuncts worrying In order to give adjuncts a mea- & PETER HOGNESS month-to-month about their future sure of security while discussions Progress, but still no deal coverage. The PSC-CUNY Welfare continue, the PSC and CUNY ne- In August 2011, the long-standing sion of health insurance, union mem- to receive primary health insurance Fund trustees repeatedly extended gotiated an understanding and the underfunding of adjunct health in- bers rallied, testified and protested coverage under the New York State their deadline as CUNY provided Welfare Fund trustees agreed to surance at CUNY came to a head. at CUNY, insisting on secure fund- Health Insurance Program (NY- some supplemental funding to help accept funding terms allowing the Trustees of the PSC-CUNY Welfare ing to ensure a stable program. PSC SHIP); they are thus not eligible for cover the costs. current Welfare Fund health insur- Fund announced that continuation of delegates made defense of adjunct CUNY’s current adjunct health in- In January, CUNY and PSC took ance coverage for adjuncts to con- adjunct health insurance was in dan- health insurance a priority for this surance, and that will remain true a joint proposal to New York City, tinue through June 30, 2014. ger, and, unless changes were made, it round of negotiations. Solving the under the new plan as well. Some which provides for eligible would not last beyond the coming year. crisis was seen as vital, both for ad- As part of their negotia- adjuncts to receive health eligibility rules The PSC responded with an ener- juncts and for the financial stability tions, the PSC and CUNY changes for insurance coverage under As part of the PSC-CUNY talks so getic campaign to save adjunct health of the Welfare Fund as a whole. In resolved a series of univer- non-teaching the New York City Health far, eligibility rules were adjusted to coverage, to maintain this long-stand- response, Chancellor Matthew Gold- sity-wide grievances about Benefits Program and sup- reflect the proposed terms for cover- ing, basic benefit and put it on a firm- stein expressed to the CUNY Board adjunct overloads over sev- adjuncts plemental health benefits ing eligible adjuncts under the City er foundation. The campaign secured of Trustees his desire to achieve a eral semesters, primarily concerning (prescription drugs, dental, opti- health plan. Effective with the Fall State funding for continuing this ba- financially sustainable solution. instances where waivers were never cal) under the PSC-CUNY Welfare 2013 semester, non-teaching ad- sic benefit and reached important requested, and identified sources of Fund. This is how coverage for full- juncts with two semesters of service agreements with CUNY management negotiations funding for future cost increases in time faculty is structured – though at CUNY must be working at least on ways to provide substantially the With lobbying support from PSC, the program. CUNY also agreed to under different eligibility terms. 15 hours per week to be eligible for same coverage in a more sustainable CUNY secured fringe benefit fund- make a one-time supplemental con- Although there would be no cost to health insurance coverage. (A non- framework. But despite this hard-won ing from New York State that would tribution of $250,000 to the Adjunct the city, so far, a final agreement has teaching adjunct who worked 10 or progress, a permanent new plan is not cover much, but not all, of the cost Professional Development Fund. remained out of reach. “Talks are more, but less than 15 hours in the yet in place. of adjunct health insurance beyond The talks with CUNY manage- continuing and we remain hopeful two semesters of the 2012-2013 aca- This article looks back at what has existing contractual contributions. ment were complex and had to about reaching an agreement,” said demic year, will continue to be eligible been achieved so far, and at what PSC and CUNY then began to nego- address many details. Union ne- PSC President Barbara Bowen at the as long as they work 15 or more hours must still be done. Some agreements tiate the terms of an agreement to gotiating team members say that beginning of June. “It’s a strong pro- per week starting Fall 2013.) Adjuncts reached in the talks between the take to the State and City, designed CUNY proved to be a serious nego- posal, there is a detailed agreement whose eligibility is achieved through union and CUNY management will to provide adjunct coverage in a tiating partner: the two sides often between union and management, the a combination of teaching and non- take effect in the coming months; more rational, cost-effective way by disagreed, but both were committed funding is in place and it’s clearly the teaching work may also need to in- these include additional CUNY fund- including eligible adjuncts under one to getting it done. But the prolonged right thing to do.” crease their non-teaching hours. ing for the benefit; an adjustment of the public-employee health benefit in eligibility rules in preparation programs. Because these large pub- for moving adjuncts into an exist- lic programs cover hundreds of thou- ing public-worker health plan; and sands of employees, such plans are increased funding for the Adjunct much more stable and efficient than Adjunct unemployment benefits Professional Development Fund. the kind of small-group plan the Wel- fare Fund purchases for about 1,800 By MARCIA NEWFIELD of appointment that CUNY sends to hearing in order to challenge the deci- longtime goal eligible adjuncts. PSC Committee on Part-Time Personnel adjuncts specifies that the appoint- sion. You can expect to start receiving Achieving financially sustain- The terms of coverage and financ- ment is subject to change based on your benefits in the meantime. If the able health insurance for part-time ing that PSC and CUNY have nego- If you become unemployed, you shifts in curriculum, funding, or decision to grant your UI benefits is faculty at CUNY who have no other tiated over the past year largely have the right to unemployment staff – and adjuncts often lose classes overturned, your benefits will cease. source of coverage has been a goal replicate eligibility terms for ad- insurance (UI), based on availabil- before the start of the Fall semester. But as long as you are found to have of the PSC leadership for over a de- juncts under the current Welfare ity for work and your prior income This level of uncertainty does been complete and accurate cade. When adjuncts first gained Fund coverage. An adjunct must base. But this benefit is complicated not add up to a “reasonable as- UI benefits in your application, you will health insurance at CUNY in 1986, have worked at CUNY for at least for adjuncts at CUNY and other in- surance.” Thus, adjuncts often can be not have to return UI benefit coverage was provided through two continuous semesters and be stitutions of higher learning, since successfully apply for UI ben- payments you have already the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund and teaching at least six contact hours federal labor laws deny UI benefits efits if they are jobless during obtained received. While some ad- financed by a flat-rate contractual (CUNY-wide), and have access to to employees of educational institu- the summer months. in many juncts have been ordered contribution from CUNY. The num- no other source of health insurance tions when they have “reasonable Adjuncts who have received cases. to pay back money already ber of eligible adjuncts and the cost coverage to be eligible. The plan pro- assurance” of re-employment after letters of non-reappointment received, this is unusual. of coverage increased in the years vides individual coverage only while summers or other normal vacations will have the clearest case for un- Note that if you do not apply at the that followed, but the University re- the adjunct maintains eligibility. from receiving unemployment ben- employment benefits, and will likely end of the Spring semester and then sisted union proposals to adjust the (Adjuncts can buy family coverage efits during these periods. receive UI benefits without problem you are, in fact, not given courses funding accordingly. by paying the difference between the This regulation was set during if they are not working. in the Fall, you cannot apply for UI After the PSC-CUNY Welfare individual and family rate.) the 1970s, before the proliferation of If, on the other hand, you have re- benefits retroactively. Fund trustees declared that the fund CUNY doctoral students – even if adjunct faculty hired on a contingent ceived a letter of reappointment, but If you are in doubt about your could no longer subsidize the provi- employed as adjuncts – are eligible basis in higher education. The letter no promise of a definite class, either rights, please contact an adjunct in writing or verbally, you may also grievance counselor at the PSC at apply for UI benefits. Be prepared 212-354-1252, or the Workers De- to possibly be challenged, since fense League at 212-627-1931. The Making the case for CUNY CUNY maintains that the letters WDL often represents adjuncts at we receive are tantamount to rea- UI hearings when they appeal a sonable assurance. It is critical to be negative decision. meticulously accurate and complete California and Washington State about what you have, or have not, have modified their application been told about the number of cours- of the federal labor regulations to es you are being offered for the Fall clarify adjunct faculty’s right to UI semester; this includes both written benefits, in the same way as other and oral communication. seasonal workers. The PSC has developed legislation for a similar know your rights reform in New York State; while If the New York Department of not yet passed, it has made prog- Labor denies your application, you ress in the Legislature. To help win may request a hearing within 30 passage of this bill, contact Adam days of the denial notice. You will Tripp (adamtripp1980@gmail. receive a hearing date within a few com), or Michael Batson (m64bat- weeks, and will then go before an [email protected]) to join local visits

Pat Arnow administrative law judge to present to legislators, or contact Amanda Paul Washington (second from the right) of the PSC Legislative Committee is joined by CUNY students as he urges Brooklyn the facts of your situation. Magalhaes (amagalhaes@pscmail. City Councilmember Darlene Mealy to support investment in public higher education. The City budget, which helps fund If you are granted UI benefits, org, 212-354-1252) to join lobbying CUNY community colleges, is expected to be completed in June. CUNY has the right to request a visits to Albany. Clarion | June 2013 newsopi & nbeionnefits 9

ment will continue to have access said she would like to do in order to Travia Leave and can use it in to go on more bird-watching excur- one of two ways. Travia Leave is a sions around the world. But despite long-standing option that permits increasing frustrations with Path- employees to be compensated for ways (see pages 6-7) and CUNYfirst New way to retire the partial value of unused sick (see pages 10-11), Robbins eventu- days, up to a maximum of one ally decided not to take phased re- semester, before officially retir- tirement – at least, not yet. By JOHN TARLETON ing. Those taking phased retire- “The irrevocability of the deci- Making a gradual departure ment can combine it with Travia sion weighed heavily on me,” she Long-serving full-time faculty and Leave by taking their Travia as a told Clarion. “You can’t come back, professional staff at CUNY who are ment System (TRS). According to ees may also have access to other lump sum payment at the end of which is the one reason I didn’t want participants in TIAA-CREF or simi- CUNY, more than 800 faculty and sources of income. Explicitly, in the the phasing period or can stay on to make the decision now.” lar plans now have a new retirement over 100 professional staff met these language of the agreement, PSC and payroll for up to one semester (de- option: phased retirement. criteria as of October 2011, which CUNY encourage employees to con- pending on the amount of unused signing up Under a three-year pilot program gives some idea of the potential sult a financial professional sick days) at the end of the For Robbins and others in her negotiated by the PSC and CUNY, scope of the new program. and/or retirement counselor PSC, CUNY phased retirement period, situation, there will be more oppor- eligible full-time faculty may take and review all aspects before launch at 100% pay. The combina- tunities to take phased retirement. a voluntary phased retirement of same status making the decision to phase. tion of phased retirement Under the terms of the three-year one, two or three years in which “For people who can financially Employees on phased re- a three- and Travia leave cannot pilot program, notification for tak- they carry 50% of workload and afford this option, this can be a good tirement will retain their rank year pilot exceed three years, and ing phased retirement is due by Oc- receive 50% of pay. HEO-series em- way to transition into retirement,” and their tenure, CCE or 13.3b program. requires an irrevocable tober 1 for the following academic ployees and full-time CLTs can take said Jared Herst, PSC Coordinator status until they complete the choice of full retirement year and final arrangements are a phased retirement for either six for Pension & Benefits. “But you phasing period. They will also be en- at the end of the phasing period. to be made by February 1. HEOs or months or one year, at 80% of work- need to be sure about your decision, titled to the same health insurance The agreement between PSC and CLTs who intend to enter phased re- load and 80% of pay. The decision to because it’s irrevocable.” If you take and PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund ben- CUNY to establish the phased-re - tirement at the start of the Spring fully retire after the phase-in period phased retirement, you can decide efits as full-time employees, under tirement program was reached April semester must provide notification is irrevocable. to fully retire sooner, but not later, the same terms as full-time employ- 26. Those interested in participating no later than May 1 of the preceding than your original target date. ees, and will have largely the same starting next Fall, had until May 15 year and final arrangements must conditions The financial aspects of phased access to college facilities as before. to submit a notice of intent to their be in place by October 1. To participate, faculty and staff retirement are important because, To be approved for phased re- department chair/supervisor and a Before members meet with their must be enrolled in the Optional while “phasing,” employees remain tirement, faculty members are formal application had to be submit- campus HR offices or their depart- Retirement Plan (TIAA-CREF or active employees and will not have required to meet with their depart- ted by June 7. In the course of the ment chairs to discuss phased re- the alternate funding vehicles with access to their primary CUNY re- ment chairs and HEOs or CLTs negotiations, the union succeeded tirement, Herst said they should MetLife or Guardian); must be at tirement annuity. In fact, retire- with their supervisors to reach a in gaining coverage for library and speak with him in order to go over least 65 years of age; must have ment contributions will continue mutually agreeable configuration of counseling faculty and for profes- the details of the program. Before tenure, a CCE or 13.3b status; and from both CUNY and employees, their reduced work schedules. Any sional staff, who were not included making a decision, he also encour- have at least 15 years of continuous, based on their reduced rate of pay. subsequent changes in a member’s in management’s original proposal. ages members to meet with their pensionable service. Unfortunately, Those who are phasing will have ac- part-time workload configuration For BMCC Professor of Biology TIAA-CREF consultant or their current New York State law does not cess to funds in their supplemental must be approved by the depart- Edith Robbins, the initial availabil- financial planner. allow a phased retirement option for retirement accounts, because they ment chair or supervisor. ity of phased retirement presented “Retirement should be a time in participants in the Teachers Retire- are older than 59 and 1/2. Employ- Those taking phased retire - a difficult choice. Robbins, 71, has which a person enjoys the fruits of taught at BMCC since 1968 and their labor and a life well-lived,” serves as the biology team leader in Herst said. “But, it’s important to her school’s department of sciences plan carefully and make sure you where she decides on textbooks, fully understand all the implications online homework assignments and of phased retirement, financial and other issues related to overseeing practical, before you make a major Chancellor’s lucrative exit 50 sections of biology classes per life decision like this one.”) Mem- semester. bers can meet with Herst to go over By JOHN TARLETON the details of the program. Herst “Emeritus” post to pay $300K difficult choices also encourages members to meet The Board of Trustees has ap - chancellor,” Schmidt said of Gold- students are being hit with a tuition Faculty who take phased retire- with their TIAA-CREF consultant proved a retirement package for stein, whose compensation has increase of 31% over five years. ment may arrange their schedule to and their financial planner. outgoing CUNY Chancellor Mat- included a $90,000 annual housing Thirty-nine percent of CUNY stu- teach full-time for one semester and To contact the PSC Pension & thew Goldstein that will pay him a allowance. dents come from households that be off the other – something Robbins Benefits Office, call 212-354-1252. six-figure salary for nearly seven The chancellor’s outside income earn less than $20,000 per year. years after his retirement takes currently includes his salary as “It’s disgraceful,” said Bob Cer- effect July 1. board chair of the J.P. Morgan mele, an associate professor of The retiring chancellor will go on Funds, thought to be at least $500,000 mathematics at City Tech and PSC “study leave” for one year at per year (see page 5). He chapter chair. “It’s horrifying that One solid foundation his current salary of $490,000, A ‘collapse is expected to continue in someone would take so much mon- a year take five months of paid that role for several years ey from a public institution that is Travia leave and then serve as of the to come. starved for funds.” chancellor emeritus for five ethos of In the past, the position tremendous need years at an annual salary of the public of chancellor emeritus – $300,000. Goldstein will col- like faculty emeritus Gerald Meyer is a professor emer- lect his chancellor emeritus sector’? positions – was unpaid. itus of history at Hostos Community salary concurrently with his Last year the Board of College. Since Meyer’s retirement, CUNY pension. Trustees voted to change that, he has regularly taught one class The board’s resolution states adding “chancellor emeritus” to per semester, for which he is paid that $100,000 of the chancellor the titles in CUNY’s Executive as an adjunct. Meyer says that Gold- emeritus salary “shall come from Compensation Plan (August 2012 stein’s retirement package is symp- non-tax-levy funds.” In the past, Clarion). Schmidt told the Post tomatic of deeper trends in society, this has meant that the funds come that Goldstein’s duties as chancel- leading to “the collapse of the ethos from the CUNY Research Founda- lor emeritus would include teach- of the public sector based on a con- tion, with money from the RF’s ing, fundraising and work on some cept of service and stewardship.” “overhead” on faculty members’ special projects. In 2006, Meyer co-founded the research grants. The board’s resolution on ap- Hostos Circle of 100 Scholarship & pointment of a chancellor emeritus Emergency Fund, which has raised ‘underpaid’ did not directly address why it was almost $200,000 since its inception. arleton Shortly before trustees approved necessary to make this a salaried The Fund has distributed $1,000 the plan at their April 29 meeting, position. Instead, it cited Goldstein’s scholarships and $500 emergency T John Board Chair Benno Schmidt told the record as chancellor, saying that he grants to hundreds of standout stu- About 90 CUNY Research Foundation workers and their supporters, including New York Post that board members has been “a true visionary.” dents who are close to graduating RF workers Roger Waldon (foreground) and Abel Guan (background), picketed wanted Goldstein’s send-off to be The Board’s action comes at a but need a financial assist. “The May 21, outside a meeting of the foundation’s board of directors. The RF Central “on the generous side.” time when faculty and staff have need is tremendous,” Meyer told Office Chapter has been without a contract since January 1, and is insisting that “I think he’s been underpaid as not received a raise since 2010, and Clarion. management make a fair wage offer. 10 opinion Clarion | June 2013 PSC members’ experiences with CUNYfirst

fter publishing David Arnow’s Converting any system is an arduous task, first system, or, if they were able to access seeking $510 million in damages stemming op-ed on the new CUNYfirst but one usually can expect to get to a point CUNYfirst, were not accorded access to the from an allegedly faulty installation of the computer system (“CUNYfirst, where most things are working well. I don’t Faculty Center screen which was necessary company’s ERP and student administration AUsers Last,” May 2013 Clarion), think CF will ever work well and we will to post grades on the CUNYfirst system. applications at Cleveland State University. we asked readers to tell us their own experi- have problems with it until we finally con- The explanation given by the Office of Cleveland State University and PeopleSoft ences with CUNYfirst. Some of the responses vert to something else. Converging Technologies (OCT) was that USA, Inc., reached a $4.25 million settlement are excerpted below; most of those who com- I agree with other posts here about the ‘CUNYfirst de-provisioned 500-plus adjunct in 2005. mented chose to remain anonymous. training being inadequate at best. My col- accounts on June 1, 2011, because the con- These are just a few lawsuits against Users’ criticisms of CUNYfirst are spe- leagues who did the CF “Train the Trainer” tracts ended May 31, 2011.’ The announced PeopleSoft/Oracle by universities; there cific, widespread and growing. You can training were never given any hands-on deadline for all Queens College faculty to have been others by private corporations, read the original article and the full range of time in the system. Rather, they were taught submit grade rosters for the Spring 2011 se- municipalities and others for cost overruns, comments it drew at psc-cuny.org/clarion/ how to read PowerPoint presentations out mester was June 4, 2011. poor functionality, missed deadlines, etc.... may-2013/CUNYfirst-users-last. loud (and urged to “smile more”). They “Just as teaching a course begins well SIMS was imperfect, but was basically themselves were frustrated that they were before the professor takes attendance and responsive to the needs of each college. I’ll supposed to train colleagues on campus but ends after the class is dismissed, so too does never understand why an investment in Entering grades for Spring 2013 were not given the proper training or tools the process begin well before the first day of enhancing SIMS to make it an integrated At home, I tried on two separate days to ac- to do so. classes for the semester and ends well after university-wide system was not done. Just cess CUNYfirst, and each time it rejected Then, in the middle of all of the CF the final examination papers are collected. yesterday I spoke to an admissions staff my password as invalid. On Tuesday, I went problems, we are supposed to implement But the CUNYfirst system was programmed member at SUNY Buffalo where they use to Borough of Manhattan Community Col- Pathways, which requires a great deal of under the assumption that the adjunct fac- Oracle. She described it as a nightmare, lege to enter grades at the Registrar’s [Of- administrative retooling in addition to its ulty members’ relationship with Queens saying she longs for the days when Buffalo fice]. After passing through three levels of pedagogical issues. And now we are told College was in all respects severed after used its own “homegrown” computer infor- assistants in the office...the head registrar that there will be significant changes being midnight of the 31st day of May....” mation system.... [had] to enter the system and enter the made in how financial aid will be delivered, [from tinyurl.com/QC-adjunct-TF] grades himself. It was a blood-pressure- also starting this fall. raising experience! [But] it was handled How much are we, as HEOs, expected to Duplicate records – 1 most courteously by the people in the office: shoulder at one time? Most of my colleagues Such a terrible choice ...Because the formatting of staff informa- I only blame CUNYfirst. are extremely tired, some to the point of Dogged HEO staff members have been tion is different than it was in the legacy increased illnesses. We get little recogni- putting in 13- to 14-hour days to try to get system, when we import faculty data into tion (except for us lucky ones with supervi- CUNYfirst to work, basically trying to fit a a separate, mission-critical database, it If I had chosen this system, I would sors who acknowledge our hard work and round peg into a square hole. This on top of causes duplicate records. This has had the dedication in the only way they can: thanks implementing Pathways. effect of making it impossible for faculty to have been fired! and the occasional pizza party) and rarely The system is repeatedly “down.” Even log in to that database and check on infor- I want to thank you for not only the bold are eligible for merit raises or other “hard” when it is working, it takes about 15 min- mation relating to their students. stand you took in your opinion piece in compensation.... utes or more to use it to advise a student; Clarion, but also for your recognition of Again, I thank you for recognizing HEOs whereas in the past, academic advisors HEOs at CUNY and the toll that CF (as we and the work we do to make our colleges could obtain the information they needed Duplicate records – 2 call CUNYfirst) and now Pathways have run. I feel that the people at Central have from SIMs in about a minute or two. Mul- Duplicate record problems caused by taken on us. forgotten what it is like to be on the ground tiple 15 minutes times the students on your CUNYfirst have exploded since the first I am from a Wave 2 school and had to put at one of the colleges. campus and you begin to see the magni- campuses went live. I regularly have to in enormous hours of over-time in the year tude of the problem. deal with problems on the CUNY Portal leading up to our conversion. Now that we In 2011, Montclair University sued Oracle and Blackboard, where students are sud- are live, CF has slowed down our processes A total mess [maker of PeopleSoft, the software used by denly duplicated because a campus they’ve enormously, resulting in extra hours on a At Hunter College [in May] a printed notice CUNYfirst] for a failed ERP [Enterprise never attended, or haven’t attended in routine basis. I rarely leave my office on was posted...telling students that gradu- Resource Planning system]; in fact, the years, has gone live on CUNYfirst and time. I still have to put in enough extra ate registration was suspended because of Montclair situation was named one of the 10 imported unchecked or incorrect data. As hours that I end up with a few days off in “problems” with CUNYfirst. This came af- biggest ERP software failures of 2011 by Com- a result of the bad data, they experience comp time about three times a year. (And ter another notice, telling students that they puter World Magazine. Montclair claimed severe account issues. They find their that is with me being somewhat generous...) were not registering correctly and while that due to serious mistakes and delays on the Blackboard courses are suddenly gone, or A stack of paperwork arriving on my they think that they have completed regis- part of Oracle, the project cost over $5 million when they log in to Blackboard, they see desk that would take about an hour in tration, they really haven’t. A total mess. more than the original budget. Montclair also a different student’s name and courses. SIMS, can take anywhere from 3 to 7 hours, alleged that Oracle staffed the project with Meanwhile, Blackboard is perceived as depending on the density of what is includ- unprepared staffers, missed deadlines, didn’t malfunctioning, when it’s actually due to ed, the complexity of the specifics involved, CUNYfirst’s “deprovisioning” of adequately test the software and even used a bad data management by CUNYfirst. Ulti- how slow CF will be on any given day, and “rigged” software demonstration that falsely mately, it’s the students who pay the price. how many times it will log me off for no ap- adjunct faculty made it seem like some functionality was parent reason. See page 16 of the Queens College Adjunct part of Oracle’s base system. This case was Even worse is how our end-clients, the Task Force Report for details of how CUNY- recently resolved [see tinyurl.com/Montclair- Department chair perspective students – Remember them? – have fared first “deprovisioned” hundreds of adjuncts: U-settlement for details].... The last I heard, As an academic department chairperson, under this system. If those of us who have “As the Adjunct Task Force prepared Cambridge University was also considering I needed to create requisitions and man- been using CF for one to two years still have for one of its final meetings to review this suing for the same reasons. age personnel actions, appointments, etc. problems with it, how can we expect stu- report, many adjuncts at Queens College [In] an older suit, Ohio’s attorney general I was unable to do anything at all in the dents to master this crucial system? found it impossible to access the CUNY- filed a lawsuit against PeopleSoft, Inc., financials because they were not made We were told by someone who was sup- available to me despite my notifying the VP posedly on the university-wide committee of Administration & Finance and the VP from the beginning that was charged with “The system is repeatedly ‘down.’” of Academic Affairs multiple times, over choosing the vendor, that it came down to months, asking...for their assistance in rec- two finalists: Oracle and a European com- pany. The person said that the European company was hungry to get into the US Clarion june 2013 market and their presentation, product and Newspaper of the Professional Staff Congress/City University of New York, collective bargaining representative of the CUNY instructional staff. Vol. 42, No. 5. PSC/CUNY is affiliated with the American response to questions ran rings around Or- Association of University Professors, National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers (Local 2334), AFL-CIO, the New York City Central Labor Council and New York State United Teachers. Published by PSC/CUNY, 61 Broadway, 15th floor, New York, NY 10006. Telephone: (212) 354-1252. Website: www.psc-CUNY.org. E-mail: [email protected]. All opinions expressed in these pages are acle. Many members of the committee were not necessarily those of the PSC. dumbfounded when Oracle got the contract. PSC OFFICERS: Barbara Bowen, President; Steven London, First Vice President; Arthurine DeSola, Secretary; Michael Fabricant, Treasurer; George Brandon, Jonathan Buchsbaum, Penny Lewis, I wouldn’t care if this was a workable Costas Panayotakis, Michael Spear, University-Wide Officers; Robert Cermele, Vice President, Senior Colleges; David Hatchett, Blanca Vásquez, Alex Vitale, Senior College Officers; Anne Friedman, Vice President, Community Colleges; Lorraine Cohen, Sharon Persinger, Felipe Pimentel, Community College Officers; Iris DeLutro, Vice President, Cross-Campus Units; Alan Pearlman, Andrea system, but it is not. It should be clear to Ades Vásquez, Paul Washington, Cross-Campus Officers; Marcia Newfield, Vice President, Part-Time Personnel; Michael Batson, Susan DiRaimo, Steve Weisblatt, Part-Time Personnel Officers; Bill anyone who uses CF that it was not meant Freidheim, Eileen Moran, Retiree Officers; Irwin H. Polishook, President Emeritus; Peter I. Hoberman, Vice President Emeritus, Cross-Campus Units. as a university administration product and STAFF: Deborah Bell, Executive Director; Naomi Zauderer, Associate Executive Director; Faye H. Alladin, Coordinator, Financial Services; Debra L. Bergen, Director, Contract Administration & University-Wide Grievance Officer; Dierdre Brill, Director, Organizing; Francis Clark, Coordinator, Communications; Barbara Gabriel, Coordinator, Office Services and Human Resources; Jared Herst, that the people who rebuilt it for this market Coordinator, Pension & Health Benefits; Kate Pfordresher, Director, Research & Public Policy; Diana Rosato, Coordinator, Membership Department; Peter Zwiebach, Director of Legal Affairs. know nothing about college administration Editor: Peter Hogness / Associate Editor: John Tarleton / Designer: Margarita Aguilar / Proofreader: Teri Duerr. and the tasks we have to do on a daily basis. © 2013 Professional Staff Congress/CUNY Clarion | June 2013 opinion 11

faults, it can be used to get the job done – al- beit slower than the low-overhead systems that came before it. ...CUNYfirst definitely is not UI [user in- terface] coded as well as it could be. Half of PSC members’ experiences with CUNYfirst [the reason] was CUNY Central’s decision in the amount it chose to spend. The other was tifying the problem.... After this my access The powers-that-be at CUNY should admit PeopleSoft’s decision in not having a higher was enabled (no courtesy call, no apology, they made a terrible mistake with CUNY- Printing from CUNYfirst standard for its programmers when pro- nothing), but things still did not go smooth- first and just start over. [One user commented that when trying to gramming basic items. This unfortunately ly. They had to fiddle with it for months to print out grade reports from CUNYfirst, “all comes full circle due to the negotiated terms try to get authorized users set up properly, I get are bits and pieces of the web page.” of the contract between CUNY Central and [and] basically half of the year was gone by My experience with CUNYfirst That drew the following response, from an- PeopleSoft. PeopleSoft can point to the con- the time things were set up better (but re- My experience with CUNYfirst so far is other user.] tract, but, in the end it, was CUNY Central member, we have deadlines for submission exactly as the author described: it is very who signed on the dotted line. of budget [requisitions], we do not actually rigid and poorly designed (feels extremely My experience is that you should be using get 12 months). outdated).... Firefox when accessing CUNYfirst. [This Horrible situations, still trying to get I don’t understand why faculty’s full can help with the problem] that when print- From technophile to technophobe the system to work and receiving items is social security numbers are displayed in ing...at times the screen will not print com- EPIC FAIL. Those words can’t be strong extraordinarily labor-intensive – [it’s a] enough. The worst example of corporatiz- library department, [so] we receive lots of ing ever in CUNY.... Not only is it poorly items. Regarding personnel matters, I had designed and non-intuitive, it constantly to still submit everything in multiple-page breaks down. It is so buggy that everyone forms typed with a typewriter.... No savings ends up spending much more time on it or efficiencies here.... than the old system. The biggest frustra- The problems have been many, and ex- tion is that no one seems to know how to fix tremely frustrating for students, too. anything, so the same HEOs keep getting bombarded with help questions. One of our best HEOs has resigned because, after two First, “do no harm” years, she has had it and would rather retire David Arnow’s piece is excellent! And than deal with CUNYfirst. For faculty it’s yet sad that it’s what I suspected: CUNY a nightmare, because instead of making it lowballed the cost and nobody had enough easy to register students, it’s harder. [In sense to either scale back, look for a differ- one case] it took five hours and five differ- ent solution, or at least say “do no harm” ent offices to fix one small item. CUNYfirst and leave the cobbled-together, but func- help desks are staffed by non-HEOs, who tional, systems in place. are sweet but generally don’t have advanced answers. And so it goes... if this is repre- sentative of the conditions for teaching and Unconfirmed learning at CUNY, then we, as an institu- I avoid CUNYfirst as much as possible. I tion, are an EPIC FAIL! use it mostly to enter grades. What drives me crazy is that I never know if the grades have been accepted. There is no kind of con- Point-by-point firmation. And why does it take so long for I agree with the points made [by others]: the grades I enter to reach the Registrar’s It takes forever to get to the course site. Office? Grades are sent to the “main” com- Submitting grades is too complicated. puter only at the end of each day.... I am not sure I did because I see no Whenever I print out my roster or grade confirmation. sheet, I sorely miss having a microscope! I do not need to see my employment data Could anything be printed in a smaller font? and feel prone to hacking knowing that that I’m glad my grades are in and the summer information is available on this site, which I is a-coming, so I won’t have to face CUNY- use to submit grades. first until the Fall semester begins. Who wrote the instructions for grade sub- mission at Hunter College? It is amateurish at best. Seven pages of instructions are too CUNYfirst good for just one thing: long. And why are there descriptions of fea- tures that are not even available? wreaking havoc It’s hard to believe that this site and its CUNYfirst has been, in a word, a disaster. features could have made sense to anybody. It has hurt students, faculty and staff in ways no one could have imagined when it first arrived at our campus. The amount of Quick reference hours in lost productivity, and the amount The “Faculty Quick Reference Guide” to of money lost due to canceled classes is uper CUNYfirst has 78 pages. That is all.

just staggering. (If something like this K Peter happened in the corporate world, heads would be rolling by now and the people who the Personal Info Summary section. Un- pletely. You will, at those times, get just the A good investment? wreaked this kind of havoc would have like some other personal info, we cannot outside frame of the screen. In 2010, I was chair of my department and been fired.) edit it and we don’t need a reminder like Within Firefox, when you are at the was urged to attend [a CUNYfirst] training We experienced numerous insurmount- that. It’s useless and it’s just an invitation screen that is not printing out correctly, workshop. Of the dozen or so people who able challenges during our first semester for some Internet hacker to steal it while you should right-click the area [with the] came to this event, I was the only one able with CUNYfirst, but registration was the you are managing your classes or looking information you want to print. You will to even log on to the system, and that was worst. Dozens of courses were canceled for student info. With so many identity then see a pop-up menu [saying] “This just due to sheer dumb luck. Even the work- because exhausted students simply gave thefts committed every day and reported Frame.” Then another pop-up submenu ap- shop leader, a very savvy staffer at Hunter’s up. (Imagine spending hours trying to in the media, it’s irresponsible on the part pears. Click “Print This Frame,” and click Instructional Computing & Information sign up for a class and having all the in- of CUNYfirst management and Human Re- “OK” to print. Technology Office, was unable to access the formation disappear from your screen five sources to display such info. This is a Firefox-only solution that I got system. The workshop ended prematurely, times.) One section of a popular course I from our IT department [on] our campus. but I stayed to explore the site and update have taught for several years was canceled I was an IT tech [when I worked] in corpo- my emergency contacts. I was tickled to find because only six students managed to reg- CUNY last rate, so I asked those I knew in our campus a page where I could buy “stock options” in ister for it successfully. As a result, I lost ...When you enter your grades you have no IT department if they experienced this, and “my company.” thousands of dollars of my meager income idea if they went through. Twice I had to what they were aware of as a solution. Not long ago when “reclaiming” my CUNY- as an adjunct. I was not alone; many of my hand-write my grades because CUNYfirst Though CUNYfirst was difficult to use first account after several years of inactivity, colleagues also lost classes and there was never submitted the grades. initially, and still has a good number of I found that the stock options page still exists constantly scrambling to rearrange teach- – an artifact, no doubt, of having a system ing schedules. This system is so outdated that isn’t “customized,” but only “configured.” and so broken I don’t think it can be fixed. “Hours in lost productivity...” A good investment? I have my doubts. Professional Staff Congress/CUNY 61 Broadway, 15th Floor NonProfit Org. New York, New York 10006 U.S. Postage PAID Return Service Requested New York, N.Y. 15 –minute Activist Permit No. 8049

Speak out for CUNY funding Negotiations are heating up for have funded in the past, such as the City Council and the mayor the Murphy Institute, the Black in advance of the June 30 dead- Male Initiative and the Center line for next year’s New York City for Puerto Rican Studies. You budget. So now is the time to call can send a message at psc-cuny. and urge support for full fund- org/Council-2013-budget. ing for CUNY and its community To get involved in the PSC’s leg- colleges. Let councilmembers islative efforts, e-mail Amanda know that we need them to Magalhaes at amagalhaes@psc- continue to support items they mail.org or call 212-354-1252.

12 news Clarion | June 2013 PSC chapter election results

By Peter Hogness lege: Chair, Lana Zinger; Vice Chair, Retirees Chapter: Chair, Wil- Continuity and change Aranzazu Borrachero; Secretary, Mi- liam Friedheim; Vice Chair, Joel Thirteen PSC chapters held votes chael Cesarano; Officers-At-Large, Berger; Secretary, Jean Weisman; in April to elect chapter officers, Hernandez (Brooklyn), Nicholas Manhattan Community College: Susan Jacobowitz, Maria Mercedes Officers-At-Large, Patricia Bram- delegates and Alternates to the DA Irons (Brooklyn), Steven Levine Chair, Joyce Moorman; Vice Chair, Franco, Charles Neuman, Julian well, Francine Brewer, Judith to the union’s Delegate Assembly. (LaGuardia), Graciano Matos (City), Geoffrey Kurtz; Secretary, Kathleen Stark; Delegates to the DA, Judith Bronfman, Jacob Judd; Delegates Seven campuses also voted to elect George Muchita (QCC), Robert Nel- Offenholley; Officers-At-Large, Car- Barbanel, Michael Cesarano, David to the DA, Joan Greenbaum, representatives to the PSC-CUNY son (Graduate School), Gina Nurse ol Bilsky-Biniek, Joy Dunkley, Hya- Humphries, Joel Kuszai, Matthew John Hyland, David Kotelchuck, Welfare Fund Advisory Council. (Medgar Evers), Geniece Pacifici- cinth Martin, Joanne Zak; Delegates Lau, Vartan Messier, Alicia Sinclair; Stephen Leberstein, Cecelia Mc- There were contested races in the Elejalde (City), Anita Rivers (Bronx to the DA, Francesco Crocco, Erik Alternates to the DA, Aranzazu Bor- Call, Jim Perlstein; Alternates to HEO Chapter, at the Manhattan CC), Carrie Roberts (Brooklyn), Freas, Anthony Gronowicz, Craig rachero, Jimmy Cutrone, Elyn Feld- the DA, Miriam Balmuth, Jackie Educational Opportunity Center, Paul Washington (Medgar Evers), Hutchison, Geoffrey Kurtz, How- man, Julian Stark, Jennifer Maloy DiSalvo, Ezra Seltzer, Santiago and at the College of Staten Island; Janet Winter (John Jay), Cheryl Wu ard Meltzer, Hemalatha Navaratne, Villafane, Robert Wurman; PSC- ballots in those races were counted (Staten Island); Alternates to the Kathleen Offenholley, Charles Post; Research Foundation: Chair, An- CUNY Welfare Advisory Council, by the American Arbitration Asso- DA, Mario Caruso (Queens), Jeff Alternates to the DA, Matthew Ally, thony Dixon Irwin Yellowitz ciation. All races in other chapters Clapp (City), Marie Desir (Graduate Thomas Burgess, K.E. Saavik Ford, were uncontested; those ballots School), Michele Doney (John Jay), Andrew Levy, Yolanda Medina, Ben- were counted by PSC office staff. Vanessa Jennings (City), Anselma jamin Powell; PSC-CUNY Welfare The Elections Committee has Rodriguez (Brooklyn), Andrea Advisory Council, Jane Clark, Nel- certified results in all the elections, Vasquez (Graduate School), Vera son Izquierdo Staying well-informed except for the vote at the College of Weekes (Medgar Evers) Staten Island, where the chapter Medgar Evers: Chair, Clinton Craw- election results have been chal- Hunter Campus School: Chair, Da- ford; Vice Chair, Iola Thompson; lenged. The Elections Committee is vid Towber; Vice Chair, Cristina Secretary, Verna Green; Officers- reviewing the challenge, and Clarion Moore; Secretary, Sonya Glasser; At-Large, Obasegun Awolabi, Stan- will publish complete results in our Officers-At-Large, Barbara Ghnas- ley Bajue; Delegates to the DA, summer issue. The PSC Delegate sia, Sue Monroe, Sylvia Schaindlin, Obasegun Awolabi, Stanley Bajue; Assembly, at it May 16 meeting, ac- Lee Weinberg Alternate, Moses Phillips; PSC- cepted the Elections Committee’s CUNY Welfare Advisory Council, certification report on results of the Kingsborough CC: Chair, Rina James Gaynor, Kamau Chow-Tai elections at other campuses. Yarmish; Vice Chair, Michael Spear; In all, 2277 votes were cast, out of Secretary, Caterina Pierre; Officers- MEOC Chapter: Chair, Karen Berry, a total of 6857 ballots mailed, for an At-Large, Donald Hume, Eileen Ken- Vice Chair, Ronald Pettaway, Sec- overall voter turnout of 33%. nedy, Michael Miranda, Eben Wood; retary, Caughey Gwynette Kearse, The names of those elected follow Delegates to the DA, Susan Aranoff, Officers-At-Large, Evelyn McCatty, below, with those new to their posi- Michael Barnhart, Scott Cally, Eliz- Samuel Paul, Mabel Ramharack, tion listed in italics. abeth Dill, Stephen Majewicz, Wil- Lawrence Williams; Alternate Del- liam Rooney; Alternates to the DA, egate, Michael Hatchette Bronx Community College EOC: John Acosta, Stephen Armstrong II, Chair, Frank Munoz Susan Farrell, Alfonso Garcia Osu- New York City College of Technol- na, Florence Schneider; PSC-CUNY ogy: Chair, Robert Cermele; Vice HEO Chapter: Chair, Iris DeLutro Welfare Advisory Council, Gordon Chair, Carole Harris; Secretary, Te- (Queens); Vice Chair; Paul Wash- Bassen, Anthony Dilernia resa Tobin; Officers-At-Large, Mary ington (Medgar Evers); Secretary, Alice Browne, Stephen James, Ben Janet Winter (John Jay); Officers- Lehman College: Chair, Manfred Shepard, Sharon Swacker; Delegates At-Large, Sherrian Grant-Fordham Philipp; Vice Chair, Duane Tanan- to the DA, Katie Albany, Kyle Cuor- (York), Wayne Harewood (KCC), baum; Secretary, Rosalind Carey; dileone, Andrew Douglas, Laurel Karen Thomas (Bronx CC), Marc Officers-At-Large, Juan De La Kallen, Reneta Lansiquot, Sean Ward (Lehman); Delegates to the Cruz, David Manier, Massimo Pig- MacDonald, Joel Mason, Shauna DA, Anthony Andrews (York), Ste- liucci, Kevin Sailor; Delegates to Vey; Alternates to the DA, Carole

phen Barrera (York), Cynthia Bink the DA, Steven Birnbaum, Robert Harris, Stephen James, Patrick O’ anders (NYCCT), Thomas Brennan (Staten Farrell, Wayne Halliday, David Hy- Halloran, Diana Samaroo, Gerald ave S ave Island), Arthur Ben Chitty (Queens), man; Alternates to the DA, Amod Van Loon; PSC-CUNY Welfare Ad- D Jeffrey Connors (QCC), Berkis Choudhary, Mine Doyran, Christy visory Council, Jacqueline Elliott, City Councilmember Tish James (center) holds the May issue of Clarion as she Cruz-Eusebio (Hostos), John Galla- Folsom, Vincent Prohaska; PSC- Helen Frank listens to a presentation on Pathways at a policy briefing for community leaders, gher (BMCC), Donna Gill (Hunter), CUNY Welfare Advisory Council, organized by the PSC. The union is stepping up its efforts to educate the public Marci Goodman (Queens), Zoraida Amod Choudhary, Dana Fenton Queensborough Community Col- about the negative impact of Pathways on students’ education. (See pages 6-7.)