The Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees approved a collective bargaining agreement with the DACC Faculty Education Association during their Thursday evening, June 23rd meeting.
President Dr. Stephen Nacco says it went very smoothly because of an “interest-based bargaining” format; where both sides simply approach it as two groups working together towards a solution. But both sides, Dr. Nacco says, have to want it that way.
AUDIO: It takes two to tango. Both the Faculty Association and DACC Administration are committed to open exploration of “what does the college need?” And using the federal mediation service and David McIntosh helps facilitate it. With “interest-based,” I was a resource there. They wanted to know what the president thought about enrollment; or the president thought about new programs.
Dr. Nacco gave much credit to Vice-President of Human Resources Jill Cranmore.
AUDIO: Both sides come together with questions, and we work on each other’s questions; and we just collaborate, and it’s problem solving.
The agreement runs July 1st of this year, through June 30th of next year.
The DACC Board has also approved a new Claims Representative Certification Program, in an agreement with CCMSI. If DACC could add three new courses, CCMSI would be ready to accept students right away, and provide paid internships. Vice-President of Academic Affairs Dr. Carl Bridges says, the classes were added; because that’s what community colleges do, provide trained people who are needed in their community.
AUDIO: There’s a review process. There’s a curriculum process. And it has to be approved, but it’s certainly a process worth going through.
Dr. Bridges says, claims representatives are very much in need right now, so it’s not even possible to have too many students complete the program. Cannon Cochran Management Services was incorporated in Danville in 1978.
Finally, a report from the DACC athletic program was presented to the DACC Board Thursday night. Athletic Director Tim Bunton says one of the best things from this past year is definitely how the athletes did in the classroom.
AUDIO: To have 50 of 84 (athletes) have over a 3.0, that’s really cool. And it’s a credit to our head coaches, our assistant coaches, our volunteer coaches. Ultimately, our goal is to move these young people on to four-year institutions. And the first thing you get from a four-year coach is “what are their grades?” So we have to take care of that, and our kids have done a great job with it.
And on the field, one big item was Matt Cervantes softball team finishing 7th at Nationals. Coach Cervantes says it was great how after they lost the regional title game to Illinois Central, they still found their way to Nationals by beating a team from Missouri.
AUDIO: And having the opportunity to get down to Alabama and play, and finishing seventh in the country, just goes to show you the tenacity and the grit that that group had. And that they weren’t phased by anything that was going to happen to them.
DACC Softball Coach Matt Cervantes (left) and Athletic Director Tim Bunton (right) address DACC Board of Trustees.
