page 1

���� ���

����������������� ��������� ����

www.fascc.org

In this Issue√ Negotiations ................... 1√ Good Health ................ 1-2√ fyi ................................. 3√ GOTV ........................... 4√ Election Results ............ 5√ Observations .................. 6√ New Members ................ 7√ Adjunct Corner ............... 8√ Know Your Contract ....... 8√ Community Outreach ..... 9√ Affordable Housing ....... 10√ Party Photos ................ 11√ EC Reps ...................... 12

Negotiations

FINALLY, the real work ofnegotiations is beginning. The

Faculty Association and the County/College negotiating teams have metthree times, gone over each other’sproposals, and have set up smallersubcommittees to begin working onvarious issues that both sides want/need to address. We’ve also set upadditional full negotiating sessionsfor Dec. 12, Jan. 4, 9, 14, and 24and Feb. 8.

The negotiating proposals fromthe County/College are available forfaculty review as well as thoseproposed by the Faculty Association.Faculty can peruse both sets ofproposals in the FA Office on theAmmerman Campus, in JohnBurgess’s office (MC 104) or PeteDiGregorio’s office (N 17) at theGrant Campus and in KathieRogers’s office (O 226) on the EastCampus.

Karen Carlson (Physical Education, Grant) packs Thanksgiving mealsfor Grant Campus Food Pantry (see page 9)

Something to cheer about:Our “Good Health” Plan!

In this season of “well wishing,” it’s worth giving pause to reflect on ourgood fortune to have a very good health plan that is also in very good health.The Employee Medical Health Plan of Suffolk County (EMHP) became ourhealth plan in 1992. Since then the County and all nine Suffolk Countyunions have worked diligently to maintain our comprehensive medical benefitswhile containing the costs for our members and for the County. Those of usinvolved in the EMHP Labor/Management Committee have always worked

See Good Health p. 2

page 2

����Joyce Gabriele .................................... Co-EditorKevin Peterman .................................. Co-EditorKevin Peterman .............................. Photography

���

Good Health from p. 1

hard to make sure that our plan was run well and webelieved that it was. However, two years ago, questionswere raised in the Suffolk County Legislature and inNewsday about the financial savings to the County withour self-insured health plan as compared to the statewideEmpire Plan. At that time, several audits werecommenced on EMHP’s claims’ processing andpayment issues, including an audit by New York StateComptroller Alan Hevesi. I am happy to announcethat according to a November 14 press release, StateComptroller Hevesi stated, “The cost of providing healthcare benefits for employees has risen dramatically foremployers. It is critical that public employers monitorthese expenses closely. I applaud Suffolk Countyfor ensuring that it has systems in place to controlcosts and reduce errors, such as duplicatepayments. Others around the state can learn fromSuffolk County’s remarkable efforts.” [Emphasismine] Obviously now, that our plan is run well is notmerely a belief but we have credentialed verificationthat it is!

Part of making sure that our health plan stayshealthy and affordable is the fact that every 3-5 yearsthe Labor/Management Committee evaluates our healthinsurance providers by sending out Requests forProposals (RFP’s) to solicit bids from third-partyproviders to administer the various parts of our healthplan, namely major medical/hospital, prescription drugsand mental health/substance abuse. Since all of ourprovider contracts expire at the end of 2005, theCommittee has spent the last year reviewing proposalsand interviewing third-party administrators. The RFPfor the hospital/major medical provider has beencompleted. As a result, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shieldhas replaced Vytra, effective November 1. Thischange in provider has not changed the planbenefits. However, under Empire Blue Cross/BlueShield our network of providers is more than twice thesize of our former network and in-network providers

are now available nationwide. This means thatmembers will have more provider choices and have agreater opportunity to pay less out-of-network costs.In addition, the new ID cards no longer display anemployee’s social security number on them.

By April of 2006, the Committee hopes to completeits evaluations of the RFPs for both the prescriptiondrug administrator and the mental health/substanceabuse provider. If there are any changes from thecurrent providers or current procedures, all membersand retirees will be notified at that time.

Suffolk County provides health insurance coverageto approximately 46,000 employees, retirees and theirfamilies. Plan expenses were $128 million in 2001,$140 million in 2002 and $172 million in 2003. Becauseof the diligence and the cooperation of both Labor andManagement, the increases to our health insuranceplan have been kept to a minimum for the County andthe College. This effort has also kept health insurancepremiums at no cost to our members and retirees. For2005 the value of our health plan is $468.32 per monthfor individuals and over $998.87 per month for familycoverage for a total yearly value of over $5,619.60per individual and over $11,986.44 per family. Per thenegotiated Memorandum of Agreement between theCounty and all nine County unions, in 2006 the providerco-pay per visit will increase to $16.00 and the out-of-network deductible will go up $50.00 to $550 perindividual or $1,100 per family.

While no one wants to have to use our health plan,it’s reassuring to know that we have such acomprehensive, well-run health plan that provides usand our family members with access to thousands ofproviders and hospitals all over the country, that enablesus get the prescriptions we need with a relatively lowco-pay at local retail and maintenance pharmacies aswell as through mail order, and that acknowledges thatmental health and substance abuse care are essentialelements of a comprehensive medical plan.

Upon reflection, EMHP gives us much to “cheer”about in 2006. Here’s to our good health and the healthof EMHP in the new year!

—Ellen Schuler Mauk—

page 3

fyiREMINDER

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - The deadline for 2005FA/SCC Benefit Fund Prescription Drug claims is April30, 2006. NPA will mail prescription drug printouts tofaculty in March. If you do not want to wait for thisprintout, you also have the option of getting a printoutfrom your druggist. The Prescription Drug Claim Formis available from the Fund Office, Southampton 224D,Ammerman Campus or you can call Mary at 732-6500or go online:http://www.fascc.org/benefits/prescription1.pdf

EC ELECTION CERTIFICATIONThe EC certified the election of Ammerman Campusrep Samantha Sinclair from the Nursing Department.She will be representing the nursing, health career andphysical education areas. They also certified MichaelTrezza as adjunct rep for the english, library,communications, theater and radio & television areas.

etc.Congratulations! Elisa Mancuso (nursing, Grant) wonthe Nursing Education Award from the New York StateNurses Association. This award recognizes individualswhose contributions have fostered “the protection ofthe public and the advancement of the profession.”Elisa was presented with this award at the annual NYSNurses Association convention.

LONGEVITY CHECKSOn January 12 longevity checks will be distributed tofull-time faculty employed more than 10 years bySuffolk County.

Years of F-T Service Amount10 - 14 $85015 - 19 $1,35020 - 24 $1,85025 - 29 $2,20030+ $2,700

There will be TAXES ! Where will it go? Federal: 25%,State: 8.2%, FICA: 7.65%, and FICA-MED: 1.45%.

WINTERSESSION AND SPRINGADJUNCT/OVERLOAD CHECKS

Faculty teaching the Wintersession will receive onecheck on January 19. For the Spring 2006 semester,there will be seven adjunct / overload paychecksbeginning March 2 & ending May 25.

FA & BF HOLIDAY HOURSThe Faculty Association and the Benefit Fund officewill be closed: Friday, December 23, Monday,December 26, Friday December 30 and Monday,January 2.The offices will reopen Tuesday, January 3, 2006.

The last paycheck stub of 2005 (received Dec. 22 anddated Dec. 18) has the total amount of dues you paidfrom January through December 2005. The itemnumber on the back of your stub will be one of thefollowing, depending upon your faculty status: 241 -full-time; 242 - adjunct; 243 - full-time miscellaneous(temp lines) This is the figure you and/or youraccountant will need when filing your taxes. We do nothave these figures readily available. They must beresearched individually since they are based on differentsalary bases and pay periods, covering two academicyears. So...

KEEP YOUR LAST PAY STUB OF 2005.

PAY STUBS FOR 2005 TAX FILINGS

1 2 / 1 8 / 0 5

page 4

GOTV(Get Out The Vote)

On November 1, 2, and 3 FA and Guild members calledNYSUT members to encourage them to vote for FAendorsed candidates in their respective districts. Overforty faculty participated in the process. Maybe nexttime, with more faculty, we can call all 50,000 plusNYSUT members in Suffolk County.

Adjunct rep Jerry Fallon

New member coordinator Kim Ng Southard EC rep Darryl Butkos

AME retiree and adjunct Jack Rice

page 5

Political Action

2006 - 07 S. C. LEGISLATORSThe results are in:

1st Edward Romaine (R)* 2nd Jay Schneiderman (R)* 3rd Kate Browning (D) 4th Joseph Caracappa (R)* 5th Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D)* 6th Daniel Losquadro (R)* 7th Jack Eddington (D)* 8th Bill Lindsay (D)* 9th Ricardo Montano (D)*

10th Cameron Alden (R)*11th Thomas Barraga (R)*12th John Kennedy (R)*13th Lynn Nowick (R)*14th Wayne Horsley (D)*15th Elie Mystal (D)*16th Steven Stern (D)*17th Louis D’Amaro (D)*18th Jon Cooper (D) *

* FA Endorsed

THANKSAs the Political ActionCoordinator of the FA, I just wantto thank the FA and Guildmembers who staffed the phonebanks in Novenber:

Christina Beard-MooseJohn BurgessDarryl Butkos

Frank DiGregorioMaryanne Ellinger

Jerry FallonJoyce GabrieleKrista Gruber

Denise HaggertyMarie Hanna

Patricia HannaLouise JohnstonDeborah KieselBarbara Leek

Dan LinkerRandy ManningKevin McCoyCeleste Morin

Kim Ng SouthardCarol Powers

Jack RiceBarbara Ripel

Ray RosesEllen Schuler Mauk

Marya ShepherdSean Tvelia

Cynthia Villanti

Great job!- Kevin Peterman -

Dwight David Eisenhower“Should any political party attempt to abolishsocial security, unemployment insurance, andeliminate labor laws and farm programs, youwould not hear of that party again in ourpolitical history. There is a tiny splinter group,of course, that believes you can do these things.Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possiblyknow his background), a few other Texas oilmillionaires, and an occasional politician orbusiness man from other areas. Their numberis negligible and they are stupid.”Source -Eisenhower, Dwight D. Personal and confidential ToEdgar Newton Eisenhower, 8 November 1954. In ThePapers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambosand D. van Ee, doc. 1147. World Wide Web facsimileby The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commissionof the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The JohnsHopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1147.cfm

Back to the Future

page 6

“The book is too hard!”“They expect us to research things.”

“They don’t tell us when assignments are due.”“The tests are unfair.”

What do these assertions from students all have incommon? Believe it or not, they’ve all been used asreasons to schedule faculty observations. “Wait,” youask, “are students allowed to request facultyobservations?”

Like many questions posed to a Grievance Officer,the answer is yes and no. Yes, students may havelegitimate complaints about a faculty member, and thesecomplaints may eventually lead to that faculty memberbeing observed. However, far too often, facultyobservations are scheduled immediately after a studentcomplaint—and worse—without the student,department chair, or area dean even speaking with thefaculty member first.

See, the problem isn’t necessarily with studentsvoicing their concerns. Of course a student has theright to speak up. But there are some serious problemswith the way faculty observations have been handledlately.

Problem #1 is with administrators who don’t getboth sides of the story before leaping to the observation,which can empower the student regardless of thecomplaint and demean the faculty member. Properprocedure asks that the department chair listen to thestudent’s concerns and ask if the student has alreadyaddressed the matter directly with the faculty member(when appropriate). If so, then the department chairshould meet with the faculty member to get his or herversion of events. This step too often gets skipped,damaging both the relationship between the student andfaculty member and the relationship between the facultymember and their supervisor.

While I think this happens without malicious intent,far too often the college appears to operate under theassumption that students have more rights than thefaculty. Our faculty is expected to follow properprocedures when reporting student discipline cases—not to make it more difficult to discipline a student butto ensure that the students’ rights are preserved.However, every time the college fails to follow theStudent Complaint Procedure, it denies this same basicright to its own faculty.

Problem #2 is with administrators who request orperform observations as a knee-jerk, illogical reactionto a student complaint. So, back to those actual studentcomplaints listed above. If a student complains to a

department chair that “the book is too hard” or “thetests are unfair,” what in the world can be accomplishedby observing the faculty member in class? Commonsense says that if the issue is with the text or exams, aconversation may need to happen with the facultymember regarding those specific items. Now, I do notwant to leave the impression that this problem is rampantacross the college it’s not, but it does occur.

So, what is the real problem? In my opinion it seemsthat the real problem occurs when the college’s ownadministrators don’t know the correct procedures.Although, this may appear to be a simple technicality itcan have a tremendous impact on the academicatmosphere of the institution.

Sure, telling a student that you will look into it andthen scheduling an observation is a quick way ofremoving an upset student from your office but it falselyempowers students at the expense of the faculty’sauthority. This situation becomes exacerbated whenthe faculty member now has to alter a lesson (at theexpense of all other students) to accommodate theobservation that may not even be necessary.

These knee-jerk reactions give the appearance thatthe problem is being resolved when in fact it isn’t. If astudent or group of students complains about unfairexams, a faculty observation doesn’t address thestudent’s actual complaint; although it seems as if theadministration is actually doing something, theadministrator’s reaction fails to address the real issueof concern.

So for the edification of all…• First, regarding the question posed above: no, anadministrator is not obligated to observe a facultymember simply because a student requested it; anadministrator is, however, obligated to listen to allcomplaints and investigate them properly based on theirmerit.• Second, the college’s official Student ComplaintProcedure (http://www3.sunysuffolk.edu/forms/Policies10.pdf) outlines how the college is supposed toaddress student complaints. It is a logical procedurethat allows a complaint to be addressed in a professional,fair manner.

And those are my observations about observations.Most of us would agree that in an educational settingit’s incredibly important to be consistent and fair whenaddressing student concerns and complaints. I’d liketo observe that principle in action far more often.

- Sean Tvelia -

Some Observations About Observations

page 7

New Members

- Dan Linker -

The fact that Paul received his BA in Banking andFinance from Hofstra University wouldn’t seem at allout of the ordinary until you found out that he is aPhysical Education Instructor at the Ammermancampus. But in fact, shortly after he received hisdegree, the tragedy of 9/11 occurred and decent jobofferings in the financial world were slim. So Paulrefocused his career path and in two years wasgraduated from the same institution with an MA inPhysical Education. This turned out to be a fortuitousdecision on his part, for not only did he receive severaljob offers, but he is now embarking on a career whichhe truly enjoys. Immediately after his graduate work,Paul went back to his own high school, Northport, as apermanent sub for one year, and began at Suffolk thisfall.

The courses Paul teaches include Weight Training,Body Toning, Tennis, Fitness Walking, and Wellness,and he has noticed a surge of interest in Yoga andKickboxing. Along with his teaching, Paul is alsobecoming involved in the Surf Club, connecting withstudents who share one of his passions. His interest insports and outdoor activities, particularly surfing, haslead him several times to Costa Rica, as well as PuertoRico and the West Coast. When he was younger, healso traveled to Ireland to play in a soccer tournament.Paul’s competent demeanor and obvious greatrelationship with his colleagues make him an asset tothe department. He has enjoyed his time here so farand is excited about the future.

Although this is Kathy’s first full time semester atSuffolk, she brings with her a wealth of experience. Infact, she has graced more than a few academic hallsand lays claim to many diplomas. After growing up onLong Island, Kathy attended Duke University, buttransferred to Adelphi to receive her BS in nursing.She then worked as a staff nurse at what is now St.Catherine’s, focusing on medical/surgical matters andintensive care, and later managed a walk-in clinic.

Her true calling, however, soon found her and forthe following 13 years she taught at an LPN programaffiliated with Western Suffolk BOCES. Her obviouscompetence and managerial abilities quickly carried herinto a combined teaching/advising/leadership role, andshe was also the acting chairperson of the NursingDepartment. In order to advance her teaching to thecollegiate level, she then pursued higher degrees ofeducation. Fast forward to a Master’s degree inEducation from CW Post, a New York State TeachingCertificate, and a Master’s degree in Nursing fromDrexel University, and you have the Kathy Burger ourGrant campus is very fortunate to employ.

In an English classroom, a student might make agrammar mistake, he/she might have a comma splice.Or a fragment. In nursing, the consequences of amistake could be much more severe. Kathy knowsthat the anxiety caused by this knowledge is very strong,particularly among first year students, and she workshard to get them beyond this added pressure so theycan focus their energies on the task in front of them.She enjoys taking students into the field so they canactually take care of patients and apply their theoryand skill lessons in the practical setting, which helpsrelieve some of the awesome pressures they feel.

In addition to teaching, Kathy has a many extra-curricular pursuits. From gardening to boating to potteryto exercise, she keeps herself quite busy. She alsoloves spending time with her family, and is excited aboutthis new angle on her career.

Kathy BurgerNursingGrant

Paul AmorilloPhysical Education

Ammerman

page 8

AdjunctCorner

Do you belong to theFaculty Association?

When I get the chance to talk to adjuncts atSuffolk Community College, I ask, “Are youa member of the Faculty Association ofSuffolk Community College?” In many cases, theperson gives me a blank stare, and may state, “Gee —I don’t know” or “I think I am a member, but I am notsure.” Through state law and our collective bargainingagreement with the college, dues are deductedautomatically for all Faculty Association members (bothfull and part-time), and dues are also deducted for NONmembers (both full and part-time) as well. These non-union professional staff members are called agencyfee payers.

If you would like to check your union status, pleasefeel free to call the Faculty Association office at 451 -4151 during business hours and ask Anita to check thestatus of your membership. There are some advantagesto belonging to the Association. You get the advantageof being able to vote in union elections and contractratification. As an agency fee payer, you do not getthe chance to vote in elections or contract ratificationsor even attend union meetings. This may be viewed asa disadvantage for you, since you are bound by unionbargaining agreements, but have no say in the process.

If you are not already a member of the local, itmight be in your best interest to consider joining. If youwould like to discuss union membership or any othermatter, please feel free to contact me at the FA office,leave your name and number, and I will get back toyou as soon as possible.

- Frank J. DiGregorio -

Article VII, E. Evaluation of Faculty.1. A formal evaluation shall be defined as a writtenassessment of a faculty member’s performance to beused in determining personnel actions and/or assessingprofessional competence. The process of evaluation shallinclude observations of teaching and/or performance ofprofessional duties.2. The individual faculty member shall sign and date eachformal evaluation report, shall receive a copy of eachevaluation report and shall be permitted to file a writtenreply to any portion of such report to which he/she maytake exception.3. Observations. Observations may be initiated either bythe faculty member or by the Administration, and shallbe limited to a reasonable number per year. Allobservations shall be done with the full knowledge ofthe faculty member being observed.4. The following personnel actions (promotion,continuing appointment, and term appointment) shall bepreceded by at least one (1) scheduled formal observation.5. The faculty member shall receive written notice atleast forty-eight (48) hours (or, as to adjunct facultymembers, one (1) scheduled class meeting period) inadvance for each scheduled formal observation. Suchnotice shall include the name of the administrator(s)conducting the observation, the time of the observationand the course or duties to be observed. The Chairpersonof the appropriate Peer Personnel Committee shall alsoreceive a copy of the notice at least forty-eight (48) hours(or, as to adjunct faculty members, one (1) scheduledclass meeting) in advance of the scheduled observationand the faculty member shall have the right to invite arepresentative of the Peer Personnel Committee to thescheduled observation.6. The faculty member shall have an opportunity todiscuss the observations with the observer before thereport is written. The Administrator who has conductedthe observation shall schedule a meeting with the facultymember to discuss the observation within five (5)working days, or in the case of adjunct faculty at leasttwo (2) class meetings. The report of the observationshall be written by the observer and the faculty membershall receive a copy thereof within twenty-one (21)calendar days following the observation or fourteen (14)calendar days following the discussion but in no eventbeyond the end of the semester.7. The faculty member shall receive individualized reasonsin writing for promotion denial.8. The individual faculty member shall sign and date eachobservation report and be permitted to file a written replyto any portions of such report to which he/she may takeexception. Such signature shall not constitute agreementor disagreement with the contents.

Know Your Contract

Nurse Faculty Loan Forgiveness GrantsJan. 1 is the deadline to apply for grants through thestate’s Nursing Faculty Loan Forgiveness IncentiveProgram. Awards are made annually to nursingfaculty members or adjunct clinical faculty who arelicensed registered nurses holding graduate degrees.

Successful applicants must have outstandingbalances for eligible student loans to fund nursingprograms that began on or after Jan. 1, 2001. Theprogram is offered through the Higher EducationServices Corp.For more information, see:

www.hesc.com/bulletin.nsf/

page 9

Thank you for your support of the Faculty Association Community Outreach Committee’s Annual Harvest Plant salewhich took place October 19 at the Ammerman Campus and October 26 at the Grant Campus. We were able to raisea total of $1,369.95 for the Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Suffolk (AHRC). The beautiful plants weresupplied by Flowerfield Gardens. This money will be given to the Respite House on the Flowerfield grounds for thementally retarded that are enrolled in AHRC’s programs. Respite House provides a safe place for children and adultswith developmental disabilities to stay so that their family can have an opportunity to get away without worrying abouttheir loved ones. What a wonderful feeling it is to help this needy group of individuals.

Pictured (l - r): Jim Armas, Ginger Skillman, Marie Hanna and Mohini Ratnasabapathy

Jim Armas and Ginger Skillman from Flowerfied Gardens present a certificate of appreciation to Faculty Association CommunityOutreach members for their support of the Association for the Help of Retarded Children – Suffolk County Chapter. FlowerfieldGardens is a 2.1 acre nursery and retail garden shop owned and operated by AHRC.

Professors Al Heraghty andMaryann Borrello at the GrantCampus Food Pantry. Thisseason more than 125 familiesof SCCC’s students were giventhe ingredients for completeThanksgiving dinners whichincluded turkey, canned goods,stuffing and dessert.The FA’s Community OutreachCommittee donated $300 worthof turkeys to the Food Pantryas well as $600 to L. I. Careson behalf of the Ammermanand East Campuses.

Giving Back

Community Outreach

phot

o by

Gay

le S

heri

dan

page 10

At this year’s NYSUT Community CollegeConference, I spent some time with former colleaguesfrom Mohawk Valley CC. Halfway through theweekend, a concerned colleague asked how I’m doingfinancially. “The cost of living downstate,” she began,“must seem astronomical.” Since coming to Suffolk, Itold them, my salary has doubled, but just as soon as Iheard “cong…” I filled in the “rats” for them: whilemy salary has doubled, the cost of housinghas quadrupled.

The smiles quickly formed frowns,and “congrats” shifted to “I’m sosorry.” However, my hope forpossibly purchasing a new home wasrestored soon after the conferenceby the efforts of the FA’sC o m m u n i t yO u t r e a c hC o m m i t t e e .

The Outreach team sponsored an AffordableHousing Seminar on November 4, presented by KishaWright of the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP).A non-profit organization founded in 1988, LIHPprovides free homebuyer education programs and pre-purchase and post-purchase counseling services inaddition to developing affordable, safe homes for low-and moderate-income Long Islanders.

“This program gave me a lot more hope,” claimedTania Ortiz (EOP and CSP Counselor). New to thecollege, Tania went through the process last year butwas left feeling discouraged due to her debt-to-incomeratio. “It’s the student loans,” she explained, “and Iknow that other new faculty and staff are in a similarsituation.” In addition to helping people through thehome buying process, LIHP is careful to helpprospective buyers understand issues that come withownership. “Purchasing is one step,” Kisha cautionedthe group, “but maintenance is equally important.” Taniafelt most encouraged by Kisha’s insistence on ourtaking advantage of the free individualized counselingbecause each of our financial situations and homebuying needs is unique.

Anabel Castaneda (Math), who coordinated theAffordable Housing seminar, knows just how Taniafeels. “The entire process is overwhelming,” she said,“especially on Long Island. People wonder, ‘where doI even start?’” When the Outreach Committeedecided to focus its efforts on housing, Anabel

“Nobody is untouched by this issue”: Affordable housing on Long Island

volunteered because food, clothing, and shelter arebasic human needs and “we can’t take it for grantedthat people have comfortable, safe places to live.” Thedozen individuals at the seminar unanimously agreed.Having received a great deal of interest from the FAmembership, Anabel noted that the OutreachC o m m i t t e e plans to invite LIHP to campus again

next year.“Nobody is untouched by this

issue,” added Adam Penna,Community OutreachCommittee Chair. “It not onlyaffects individual faculty whoare currently in home buyingmarket, it also affects our

faculty whosechildren want to buy

a home but can’t affordto live nearby.”

More importantly, Adam pointed out, it impacts thecollege and our community as a whole. Within ourdepartments, the cost of housing can deter potentialcandidates from accepting a position at Suffolk. “Thisaffects our students, this affects our friends andrelatives, this affects our community, this affects ourquality of life.” When it comes to affordable housing,he said, “all of these constituencies are at a breakingpoint. It’s one of the most important issues facing thepeople of Long Island.”

I’m personally very pleased that CommunityOutreach Committee will continue focusing on the issueof affordable housing. I’ve made an appointment withKisha Wright because purchasing a home on LongIsland seems infinitely more complicated than what Iwent through upstate. I also recently made a secondappointment with one of the FA Benefit Fund’s financialcounselors. He recognized my name from having metwith him last December. “So,” he asked, “did you payoff your credit card as planned?” I’m happy to saythat I did. With their assistance, I’ve managed tobecome almost completely debt free (only the studentloan remains). With Kisha’s assistance, hopefully I canmanage the process of purchasing a home on LongIsland.

I can’t wait to give my former colleagues an updateat next year’s Community College Conference. Ofcourse, the cost of housing on Long Island won’t beany less astronomical, but now I have more hope.

- Cynthia Villanti -

page 11

Party On12-2-05

Holiday Party

2005 Retirees(clockwise from top left): GloriaQuigley, Maureen O’Grady, DonCoscia, Cheryl Blando-Coscia andCarole Gambrell (center)

Thanks to Party Committee members: Christina Beard-Moose, Audrey deLong,Julie Hanauer, Louise Johnston, Kim Ng Southard, Barbara Ripel, Mary Streit,Sean Tvelia, Jane-Marie Wright, Anita Greifenstein, Mary Kaffaga and specialthanks to Eleanor McCormick for the poinsettias.

Save theDate

12/15/06

page 12

FA

CU

LT

Y A

SSO

CIA

TIO

NSU

FF

OLK

CO

MM

UN

ITY

CO

LLE

GE

South

ampto

n 2

24J, 533 C

olleg

e R

oad

Sel

den

, N

ew Y

ork

11784-2

899

Pre

Srt

Std

U.S

. P

osta

gePA

IDP

erm

it N

o. 1

Ron

konk

oma,

NY

117

79

2005 -

06 E

xec

uti

ve

Cou

nci

lO

FF

ICE

RS

Elle

n Sc

hule

r Mau

k...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

....P

resi

dent

Kev

in P

eter

man

......

......

......

......

......

......

Exe

cutiv

e V

ice

Pres

iden

tM

arie

Han

na...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

..Se

cret

ary

Joyc

e G

abri

ele

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

..T

reas

urer

Sean

Tve

lia...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

....G

riev

ance

Off

icer

Fran

k J.

DiG

rego

rio

......

......

......

......

......

......

Adj

unct

Coo

rdin

ator

AD

JUN

CT

SD

oug

Cod

y...

......

.....

BY

,CH

,NR

,ES

,FS

,HO

,PH

,AT

,TE

,EN

,TT

Gar

rett

Lac

ara

......

......

......

......

....

CS

,AC

,BF,

BA

,BL

,BD

,BU

,OT

Arl

ene

Cas

sidy

......

....E

K,H

S,PO

,PD

,PS,

Cou

nsel

ing,

Stu

d. A

ct.

Mic

hael

Fro

st...

......

...E

K,H

S,PO

,PD

,PS,

Cou

nsel

ing,

Stu

d. A

ct.

Mic

hael

Tre

zza

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

....E

G,L

R,C

O,T

H,R

TT

heod

ora

Mam

atas

......

......

......

......

......

......

....E

G,L

R,C

O,T

H,R

TJe

rry

Fallo

n...

......

......

......

......

......

...Fo

r. L

ang.

,EF,

SL,M

U,V

A,P

LR

obin

Haa

s...

......

......

......

......

......

...Fo

r. L

ang.

,EF,

SL,M

U,V

A,P

LR

occo

DiN

apol

i....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

..M

ath

Gen

ine

Schw

inge

......

......

.....

NR

,HC

,FM

,HI,

CD

,OD

,ED

,PE

,OS

Car

ol P

ower

s...

......

......

......

.N

R,H

C,F

M,H

I,C

D,O

D,E

D,P

E,O

SB

arba

ra L

eek

......

......

......

......

..PA

/Spe

cial

ists

- A

cad.

Ski

lls C

trs.

Mau

reen

San

dfor

d..

PA/S

pec.

- Pr

ogra

mm

atic

, Tec

h &

At-

Lar

geM

ary

Ann

Elli

nger

......

......

....P

A/S

peci

alis

ts -

Ins

truc

tiona

l Lab

sC

hris

toph

er G

hera

rdi.

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...R

etir

ee/G

uild

Cha

rles

Gri

ppi.

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.Ret

iree

/Gui

ld

PR

OF

ESS

ION

AL

ASS

IST

AN

TS

Kat

hy M

assi

mo

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Prog

ram

mat

icJo

seph

ine

Pign

atar

o...

......

Tech

nica

l Are

as/I

nstr

uctio

nal C

ente

rsD

eb K

iese

l...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...In

stru

ctio

nal L

abs

(631

) 451

-415

1

AM

ME

RM

AN

CA

MP

US

Bri

an Z

amek

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...M

usic

/Vis

ual A

rts

Sam

anth

a Si

ncla

ir...

......

...N

ursi

ng/H

ealth

& H

uman

Ser

vice

s/PE

Dar

ryl

But

kos

......

......

......

......

......

......

Bio

logy

/Phy

sica

l Sci

ence

sM

icha

el B

onan

no...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.Mat

hTo

m B

ovin

o...

......

......

...C

omm

./Lan

guag

es/R

eadi

ng/P

hilo

soph

y/

The

ater

/TV

,Rad

io,F

ilmK

rist

a G

rube

r....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...L

ibra

ryK

evin

McN

amar

a...

......

......

......

... A

ccou

ntin

g/B

usin

ess A

dmin

./

Bus

ines

s In

form

atio

n Sy

stem

sA

dam

Pen

na...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

Eng

lish

Val

erie

Par

ks...

......

......

......

......

...So

cial

Sci

ence

s/C

rim

inal

Just

ice

Kar

en P

epe

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

....

Cou

nsel

ing

Bob

Sar

degn

a...

......

......

......

......

.. E

ngin

eeri

ng/C

ompu

ter S

cien

ce/

Ind

ustr

ial T

echn

olog

yE

AST

ER

N C

AM

PU

SL

aure

y R

usso

......

......

......

.....

Lib

rary

/Hum

aniti

es/S

ocia

l Sci

ence

sL

ouis

e Jo

hnst

on...

......

......

Cou

nsel

ing/

Scie

nce/

Mat

h &

Bus

ines

s

GR

AN

T C

AM

PU

SJo

hn B

urge

ss...

......

......

......

......

.Nat

ural

& H

ealth

Sci

ence

s/M

ath

Gay

le S

heri

dan

......

......

......

......

..L

iber

al A

rts/

Cou

nsel

ing/

Lib

rary

Moh

ini

Rat

na...

......

......

......

......

Lib

eral

Art

s/C

ouns

elin

g/L

ibra

ryPe

ter D

iGre

gori

o...

......

......

......

......

......

...B

usin

ess

& T

echn

olog

y

NY

SUT

Jona

than

Rub

in...

......

......

....N

YSU

T L

abor

Rel

atio

ns S

peci

alis

t