MCC Daily Tribune

Responses to Unanswered Questions from October 16th MCC Town Hall

Thank you to those who participated in and submitted questions at last week's MCC Town Hall. The recording is available for viewing online at the following link:

https://monroecommunity.zoom.us/rec/share/uEZZAp-Ktkz9H2aXV7gLXq1Zk5oFJZtOehxNI7GKA4dvoHPrKHRnaLhKsQsseSIS.l2bpmsvR4y3qk88q

Below are responses to questions that were not addressed due to time constraints.

QUESTION: Please review the details regarding those employees that must/be required to take a COVID test to come on campus and how often.

ANSWER: For October, simply complete your daily screening assessment and schedule a pooled testing appointment by the end of the month through MCC Public Safety at (585) 292-8310. Starting November 1st, be sure to be tested every two weeks.

QUESTION: Do we have to get a test at MCC Brighton or can we get a test, say, at Walgreens?

ANSWER: Yes, simply verify your results through Human Resources.

QUESTION: If faculty or staff has an equipment emergency, and have not tested, what options do they have, or can we provide, so they can continue to serve students?

ANSWER: Through October simply complete your daily screening assessment and then make a pooled testing appointment through MCC Public Safety at (585) 292-8310.

QUESTION: What if we have not been tested yet, for next week shifts?

ANSWER: Through October all you need to do is compete your daily screening assessment and schedule a testing appointment through MCC Public Safety at (585) 292-8310.

QUESTION: How can we get into the cycle for the testing on campus if we are required to have a negative test to gain access to the campus starting next week?

ANSWER: Through October all that is required is for you to complete your daily screening assessment make a testing appointment through MCC Public Safety at (585) 292-8310.

QUESTION: Has Leadership and the FA Union had any recent discussions on a new, possibly more cost-effective salary equity model been discussed?

ANSWER: Yes, there have been some conversations. Remember that with the change in Human Resources leadership these conversations had to backtrack to bring all involved up to speed.

QUESTION: How long does the result for testing take?

ANSWER: Usually around 36 hours. If the pooled sample tests negative, you will not be notified. You will only be notified if your pooled sample tests positive.

QUESTION: When are the tests results available after getting tested?

ANSWER: Usually within 36 hours. If the pooled sample tests negative, you will not be notified. You will only be notified if your pooled sample tests positive.

QUESTION: What if we choose not to be tested, is it an option, we just would work remotely. Is it going to be required by department to be on campus?

ANSWER: If you are approved by your supervisor to work completely remotely there is no need to test. The situation to think about is if an emergency should arise and you need to come to campus, would you be able to schedule a test in time to address the emergency. This is your call.

QUESTION: If we need to come to campus Monday but just hearing this now, can we come to campus until the next pooled testing on Wednesday?

ANSWER: Yes, just complete the screening assessment and schedule an appointment to be tested through MCC Public Safety at (585) 292-8310.

QUESTION: I think it would be helpful to specify what type of testing is required for employees who are authorized to be on campus - even though he/she might only go in once a week or once a month. Pool or nasal swab.

ANSWER: Either type of test will satisfy the requirement.

QUESTION: Do you think that reducing salaries will cause more people to leave/retire? Some of us are having to take on more work responsibilities without any training, due to the sudden, unplanned mass exodus. We have lost years of institutional knowledge with people leaving. How much more of that knowledge can we afford to lose? Thank You.

ANSWER: The results of the first five steps to reduce the $12m deficit appear to have met the goal. If that turns out to be true, there will be no request to reduce salaries. We all understand the depth of the loss of institutional memory. We also deeply appreciate everyone's willingness to make the new situation in their respective departments work for all. Thank you.

QUESTION: Can I just get tested individually?

ANSWER: Yes.

QUESTION: Do we need to first be approved for campus access for the pooled testing?

ANSWER: No, complete your daily assessment screening and schedule a testing appointment through MCC Public Safety at (585) 292-8310.

Not a question, but a comment: This Covid testing requirement could be real problem if a faculty computer breaks. It's a lot of extra time and effort to visit campus once every two weeks just to be prepared for an emergency.

REPLY: Agreed - this entire pandemic is creating a great deal of extra time and effort for many.

QUESTION: Who pays the cost of testing if we all get on the schedule for testing just in case we have to come on campus?

ANSWER: The College.

QUESTION: Should I tell my students to test just in case they need to come?

ANSWER: Yes, please.

QUESTION: Follow up, what is the turn around time for the pool testing?

ANSWER: To date it has been around 36 hours. If the pooled sample tests negative, you will not be notified. You will only be notified if your pooled sample tests positive

QUESTION: For promotions, the contract seems to indicate 5 years (in the 6th year) for the first tenure level promotion. It does not seem to indicate a 5-6 year requirement for subsequent promotions. Can you please clarify this?

ANSWER: That is an accurate interpretation of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. Specifics will require additional negotiations.

QUESTION: I understand that this is a heavy lift but some students who would come Downtown do not have resources to travel to Brighton for a COVID test. How can we help them?

ANSWER: That is a problem that we have yet to solve. Stay tuned.

QUESTION: How quickly does the pooled testing result come back?

ANSWER: Generally, within 36 hours. If the pooled sample tests negative, you will not be notified. You will only be notified if your pooled sample tests positive.

QUESTION: If someone is tested during pool testing how do they show it's a negative test? The email we get just says we were tested-I haven't gotten a follow up email.

ANSWER: The College receives all 'assumed negative' results in a single communication. If there are positives results each individual in the pool will be contacted.

QUESTION: Will an early retirement incentive be offered to CSEA employees at some point?

ANSWER: We believe we are finished offering early retirement incentives for FY'21.

QUESTION: How do we submit COVID results from another testing center?

ANSWER: Employees submit their test results to Human Resources.

QUESTION: How are students and staff proving they have been tested when they come to the check in locations at each campus?

ANSWER: We are working to have the screening app interface with the testing registrants.

QUESTION: What is going on with the downtown campus as far as facilities there?

ANSWER: All our campuses are only open for face-to-face learning. That is only 5% so every campus is very sparsely populated right now.

QUESTION: Students are now withdrawing from all of their courses, is the college making any effort to reach out to these students to determine the reason for their withdrawal and offering assistance to re-enroll for the spring semester?

ANSWER: This semester we are piloting a new Recommend to Withdraw flag for full-term classes in Starfish. Faculty are instructed to raise this flag when it is no longer possible for a student to pass. The flag sends an email to the student with information on withdrawing and encouraging them to discuss the option with someone in their Success Network before withdrawing. Outreach on this flag is optional for this pilot semester, however going forward for the spring we expect to have our team of Starfish responders call students receiving this flag. This flag is the result of collaboration among John Kulak, Betsy Ripton, and Jerome St Croix.

QUESTION: Students are really struggling with navigating Blackboard. Each instructor sets things up differently. As an advisor, I don't know what the student sees and I can only refer to the Tech Desk. Is there something/someone available for assistance?

ANSWER: First - with the rapid move to remote learning and use of Blackboard in many classes, there is great variability in how blackboard courses are set up which does make it challenging for students. However, there many resources available to assist students with navigating Blackboard. The Get myMCC (Blackboard) Help page (https://www.monroecc.edu/depts/distlearn/get-mymcc-blackboard-help/) includes links to the Student Technology Help Desk, the Open SUNY Help Desk and additional resources.

We also encourage all students to complete the MCC Online Learning Student Orientation which includes information on how to use blackboard and where to get help. A long-term solution is to work with faculty to adopt new course templates that create more consistency across all courses. The Virtual Campus team is exploring options for this and will be providing training and support to faculty as they prepare their courses for the spring semester.

QUESTION: Since the requirement starts on Monday, can we still come on to campus to get the test?

ANSWER: Yes.

QUESTION: Do we have to complete the registration form every time for the pool testing?

ANSWER: Not the full registration; after the first time it is a series of current health questions only.

QUESTION: Would you please make sure the COVID test is announced each week in the Trib. TY :)

ANSWER: Yes.

QUESTION: It was mentioned that the college saved money in Vacation Buy Back this year. Was the option to opt in for Vacation Buy Back posted in the Trib? It's typically posted once a month leading up to the deadline. Has the deadline passed? If not, how does one opt in?

ANSWER: While there is no specific date listed in the contract, the practice has been to payout vacation days on the first pay date of October. In order to facilitate this, the due date is typically just after mid-September. This year, the deadline on the submission for was September 20th. Information on vacation buy back was posted in the Trib several times from June through the Fall.

QUESTION: When do we need to start weekly testing? If we are to be on campus on Monday, are we not to report?

ANSWER: Report as planned. Do your regular screening assessment and schedule a test for this week or next.

QUESTION: If we take the pool test, are we not allowed to come to campus until the result is received?

ANSWER: The on-campus screening assessment coupled with a scheduled test will be adequate to come on campus.

QUESTION: Personally, working the check in location at Brighton, we were very busy trying to check in the 352 people for the pool testing this week on top of the students and employees who were here for class/work. I am concerned that we are going to get very backed up at the with trying to check in 700 people. Do we have a plan for checking in that many people?

ANSWER: We are working on it. You will see a call for volunteers in the Trib. We will need all the help we can get!

QUESTION: What is the state of that covid sick bank? Is there still time in it? Have we agreed to seek more days or more time to use? What is our practice regarding is a person tests positive for COVID using that bank?

ANSWER: The College and the union leaders are in agreement about extending the MCC COVID-19 leave bank benefit to December 31, 2020, to bring it in line with the expiration of the federal leave benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act. MCC's COVID-19 leave bank started with 6,083 hours donated by employees of the College. As of September 10, 2020, 214.40 hours were used.

QUESTION: What are the 12 positions that will be searched?

ANSWER: I'm not sure what list of 12 is being referred to here however, 9 of the VPEP positions have been filled.

QUESTION: How does an employee's temporary status impact equity?

ANSWER: Years of service in a full-time temporary position are included. Under the FA contact Article 46 - Salary Equity, Section B. Criteria, subparagraph 6 - "Years of service begin with initial full-time employment. Years of service do not include CSEA or other non-faculty or non-professional service years. Years of service include years under a grant and as a full-time temporary employee. Years of service as an adjunct or part-time employee are excluded. Faculty on college approved non-compensated leave shall receive length of service credit for the time of their leave."

Katherine Douglas
Office of the President
10/21/2020