Common use of Professional Learning Communities Clause in Contracts

Professional Learning Communities. The University agrees to reimburse up to $1,500 per academic year in costs incurred by the GEU to operate a professional learning community which addresses issues concerning cultural sensitivity, race, privilege, and/or power imbalances that may arise in undergraduate instruction conducted by Employees at the University. To obtain reimbursement, the GEU must submit receipts or other proofs of payment to the Graduate School not later than May 15 of any given year for the preceding academic year. The reimbursement request must also include the number of attendees, the roles held at the University by those attendees, and an overview of subjects covered. Any request for reimbursement must also comply with the MSU Manual of Business Procedures and other applicable University rules and policies. The GEU may submit a request to the Graduate School for the use of classroom space and, if available, the professional learning community shall be permitted to use the classroom space at no charge. The professional learning community must meet the following criteria: 1. Participants, attendees and speakers must be informed in advance that the professional learning community is sponsored by the Union and not the University; 2. Participants, attendees and speakers must be informed in advance that faculty teaching a class retain the ability to direct TAs and others working on the class on all matters pertaining to instruction of that class, regardless of information shared within the professional learning community; 3. The professional learning community shall have no role in the determination of content of a class, and 4. The professional learning community may not be used to promote any political issue or candidate, to promote union membership, or to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed in section 9 of the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act.