Staff Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 12, 2001, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Clasen Board Room

 

Present:   Diane Anderson, Pat Arkema, Ella Born, Vicki Brown, Cathy Colony Bunnell, Jenniffer Carpe,

   Jan Christensen, Charlie Eastham, Susan Felker, David Fitzgerald, Mary Freitag, Donna Hirst,

   Pat Kenner, Hazel Kerr, Kathy Klein, Tina Knutson, Karon Kolek, Mark Long, Wanda Magruder,  David Martin, Bonnie McIntosh, Donna Muller, Pamela Lenz Nielsen, Juan Parales, Sherry Pech, Cheryl Reardon, Sandra Reed, Janice Simmons-Welburn, Rebecca Stamy, Heather Weber,

   Xian Wu.

 

Absent:    Cheryl Carter, Milind Deshpande, Judy Elleson, Pamela Kacena, Joy Kross, Feather Lacy, Dongwang Liu, Christine Remmert, Mona Shaw, Jun Tang, Anne Tanner, Amy Welter, Michael Wichman, Jeanette Wigum

 

Administrative Liaisons:  Sue Buckley, Interim Associate Vice President of Human Resources

                                       Kevin Ward, Director of Employee and Labor Relations

1.      The meeting was called to order at 2:35 p.m.

2.      Review/approval of minutes.

  1. 7/11/01 Staff Council meeting minutes approved.
  2. Reviewed minutes from 7/13/01 and 8/3/01 Executive Committee meetings.
  3. Reviewed minutes from 7/17/01 and 8/9/01 Executive Committee meetings with President Coleman.

3.      Comments – Interim AVP Sue Buckley.

  1. Personnel Changes:

1)      President Coleman has chosen to close the search for a Director of Affirmative Action and will likely reopen a search in January with Sue Buckley again acting as chair.  There were four good, solid candidates on campus in July.  However, none was the “right match.”  Jennifer Modestou will serve as acting Director.

2)      Kevin Ward from Employee and Labor Relations has recently been appointed Interim Associate Director of Human Resources.  He also will be acting as an administrative liaison to Staff Council.

3)      Sondra Zardus from Compensation and Classification, Human Resources, will be leaving the university in the fall.  A search has been started with Laura Reed acting as chair.

  1. The Board of Regents meeting is taking place as we meet.  Items on the agenda include:

1)      Tuition policies and rates.

2)      Final action on the FY03 operating budget, which is relatively modest.  We will be asking for full funding of salaries, funding for Public Health, and funding to improve instructional programs, such as libraries, start-up costs for new faculty, and money for building maintenance.

3)      Phased and early retirement.  The Board of Regents (BOR) will be reviewing a straight-forward report of the number of people who participated in these programs:  Twenty-five people took phased retirement in FY00, and 23 participated in FY01; 122 people took early retirement in FY00, and 149 took early retirement in FY01.

4)      At the November meeting, the BOR will be working on forming a set of principles to guide all five Regents’ institutions in forming future retirement programs.  Councilors should contact FRIC members as soon as possible with any suggestions or concerns.

5)      ERIP will be ending 6/30/02.  It is still under consideration whether to be flexible in allowing people who are eligible at that time to take up to two years to decide to avail themselves of the early retirement benefits to which they were entitled as of that date.

  1. Regents’ institutions will be participating in an external audit.  The audit will be comprised of three phases.  The first phase should be complete by the end of September.  The second phase will be starting shortly and will determine the focus of the audit.               
  2. With regard to the events of Tuesday, September 11:  If councilors know of individuals or groups of people who are experiencing stress and/or anxiety, councilors should encourage them to seek help.  Faculty and Staff Services/Human Resources would be a good place to start.
  3. Pat Kenner inquired as to the status of the grievance policy.  It has been “finalized” once again.  Sue Buckley and Kevin Ward will be consulting with VP Doug True regarding who should see the documents next (i.e., deans, vps).

4.      Issues/Reports/On-going Concerns.

  1. Cathy Colony Bunnell made a motion that was seconded to change Article VIII, Officers, Section 1 of the Bylaws.  Currently it reads:  “The officers of this Council shall be a President, Vice President/President Elect and Secretary”.  It has been proposed to change it to read:  “The officers of this Council shall be President, Vice President/President Elect, Secretary, and Past President.”  Some discussion took place.  A vote will be taken at the October meeting.
  2. Pat Kenner mentioned that MGT of America, consultants hired by the BOR has met with several groups on campus including PCSI, central administration,  and various employee groups.  Pat also advised SC that the Faculty Staff BPAC has been reconvened by chair Jonathan Carlson to complete the charge of formulating recommendations to central administration about the University 's budgeting process.  Kenner also noted that the possibility of reversions in the current budget year will make this a very stressful time.
  3. Pat Arkema attended the FRIC meeting last Friday.  She posed a question to the council as to whether the council should consider principles for future retirement programs as a group or contact FRIC members on an individual basis.  She also asked the council if they should support extending the ERIP for two years for those people who qualify by 6/30/02.  Discussion followed.  Pat Kenner asked Sue Buckley what some of the reasons are for not extending the eligibility for two years.  Sue answered that this was primarily because of the number of people who would qualify and that it would drag on.  Sue also stated that in February, each institution could go to the BOR to recommend an early retirement program for their consideration.  Pat Arkema believes it to be a philosophical discussion:  incent to leave vs. reward and recognition for long-term employees.  Sue, once again, strongly suggested that the council contact FRIC members in the month of September – do not wait!
  4. Twenty-two Staff Council Tuition Scholarships for the fall were awarded using $9,335.00 from the Coke funds.  There were forty-six eligible applicants.  A suggestion was made to have an article put in the FYI announcing the awards.
  5. Pat Arkema, Dave Martin, and Michael Wichman recently attended a luncheon with approximately fifteen state legislators.  Pat was called on to make a short speech.
  6. Pat Arkema, Dave Martin, Ella Born, and Pat Kenner recently attended a reception to meet new BOR members.
  7. The UI SMART program has received a suggestion to have some sort of campus clean up.  Pat Kenner wondered about setting something up with the Staff Council, Faculty Senate, and UISG presidents.
  8. Pat Arkema raised the possibility of having the Staff Council meeting packets sent electronically rather than by campus mail.  Each councilor would be responsible for printing the packet.  There was little or no discussion.
  9. Pat Arkema reaffirmed that the Staff Council meeting times are from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.  Councilors should make every effort to attend the entire meeting.

5.      Speakers were:

Jane Holland, Program Associate with Family Services, who discussed some of the programs available, and shared pamphlets.

Chuck Green, Director of Public Safety, described the make-up of the department, the role of the officers currently, and the history of efforts to arm some of the officers.  He primarily discussed the possibility of the use of the Taser.  Connie Tipsword, chair of the University Safety and Security Charter Committee, accompanied Mr. Green and stated that the committee recently voted 8:1 in recommendation of the use of the Taser.   Some councilors raised a few questions and discussion followed.

6.      Other Business.  None presented.

7.      Meeting adjourned:  4:45 p.m.

8.      Next Meeting:  October 10, 2001, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ella Born, Staff Council Secretary