Staff Council Executive Committee Meeting with President Coleman
Tuesday, June 18, 2002, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Present: Pat Arkema, Ella Born, Charlie Eastham, Jeff Evans, Susan Felker, Dave Martin
Absent: Bonnie McIntosh, Janice Simmons-Welburn
1. President Coleman’s Comments
a. Salary Policy: the decision has been made that the university will recommend an average salary increase of 3% for faculty and professional and scientific staff. It will be a challenge for the university to fund this and will mean reallocating funds centrally. However, everyone agreed this is the best thing to do, to promote retention of faculty and staff, and to encourage the belief that the university is the preferred place to work.
b. Budget from the state legislature: the final legislation made it look as if the salary bill was fully funded. It is important, however, to realize that funding was cut from the operating budget. Overall, the university took another huge cut in funding. The good news is that we did receive funding for the new Journalism classroom building.
c. The Board of Regents (BOR) meeting this week:
1) The university will present the preliminary budget for FY 2003, with the final budget to be presented at the July BOR meeting. Had the BOR not increased tuition last year, we would be in much worse shape this year. The tuition increase, along with the fact that enrollment remains strong, should allow the university to continue its investment in Liberal Arts & Sciences and continue to protect the four-year graduation contract.
2) The June meeting also is when individual institutions will be discussing their plans for future tuition increases.
d. Capital Campaign: the kickoff event was very successful. The goal of $850 million was announced. It is hoped that this goal might be surpassed. It was also Alumni weekend, so this may have accounted for additional participants in the event.
e. Grants and Contracts: administration will be reviewing these sources of funds in mid-July. It seems to be going well and looks as if we might surpass what we had hoped to receive in grant and contract funding.
2. Staff Council President's Comments
a. Dave Martin mentioned that the Staff Council and Faculty Senate offices are moving to sixth floor of the Jefferson Building next week. President Coleman said she appreciated that we were willing to move to allow for the relocation of the university radio station.
b. Dave said that he was able to attend both of the kickoff events for the Capital Campaign. He agreed that the event was quite nice and well attended. Dave also mentioned that he has invited Della McGrath, Director of the Campus Campaign, to be a guest at the July Staff Council meeting.
3. Updates and Discussion Topics
a. Pat Arkema mentioned that the draft of the Budget Committee proposal had been shared with Staff Council at its meeting last week. She also said the Executive Committee (EC) has been discussing how to populate the Budget Committee. It looks as if, at least initially, the EC will appoint past presidents to the committee. Pat said that one question was raised regarding the draft: is it accurate to say that a chair and co-chair will be appointed? Perhaps it would be better to say a chair and vice-chair, or co-chairs, will be appointed.
b. Charlie Eastham discussed the meeting of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) that he and Dave Martin attended recently. Eleven of the twelve member institutions were represented. Michigan was the one member that did not have any participants. President Coleman said that she was not sure of their policy for attending these meetings. She will, however, encourage Michigan to participate. Charlie said that this seems to be a good way for the Professional and Academic staff groups to meet, discuss similar interests, and to share information and best practices.
c. Dave Martin told President Coleman that Staff Council has approved a resolution that is a statement of concern and support for those staff that might be facing furloughs or layoffs during this budget crisis. He said that the resolution would be sent to Sue Buckley and that President Coleman would receive a copy.
Sue Buckley then distributed a handout: “Guideposts for Staff Reductions: Effective Leadership During Periods of Budget Constraints." Sue said that these guidelines were developed last spring and that the Human Resources Unit Representatives follow these guidelines. She said that Charlotte Westerhaus, Director of Affirmative Action, would be reviewing these guidelines. Sue also said that an update will be coming out within a few days and that the guidelines are on the HR web site.
d. Dave Martin told President Coleman that he had received a phone call from Professor Boyd. Professor Boyd told Dave that, as interim university president, he would like to continue the close relationship with Staff Council. The EC wonders if we should think about inviting Professor Boyd to attend the last meeting that the EC will be having with President Coleman in July. President Coleman thinks this is a wonderful idea and encouraged Dave to invite Professor Boyd. She said that Professor Boyd is trying to attend as many meetings and events as possible.
4. Sue Buckley's Comments
Sue had only one additional item to discuss since she had discussed earlier in the meeting the guidelines that HR unit reps follow during budget constraints. Sue wanted to let us know that the Research Council will be looking at the issue of having visitors in the workplace. There especially is some concern with having children in the workplace.
|
Future Executive
Committee Meetings: |
Future Meetings
with President Coleman: |
|
Thursday, July 11, 2002* |
Monday, July 22, 2002** |
|
Thursday, August 15, 2002 |
Monday, August 19, 2002*** |
|
Thursday, September 12, 2002 |
Tuesday, September 24, 2002 |
|
Thursday, October 10, 2002 |
Monday, October 28, 2002 |
|
Thursday, November 14, 2002 |
Monday, November 18, 2002 |
|
Thursday, December 5, 2002 |
Monday, December 9, 2002 |
*All Executive Committee meetings are 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
**All meetings with President Coleman are 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
***Interim President Sandy Boyd will continue meeting with the Executive Committee.
Respectfully submitted,