Staff Senate Minutes - April 16, 2002
Employee of the Month: Barbara Harshbarger, Staff Secretary III, Criminal Justice and Political Science.
Present:
Directors -- Anderson, Livingston, Roggasch
Managerial/Professional -- Danube, Kucera, McMullen
Office -- Ellingson, Mitchell, Jones
Service -- Hines, Lange
Ex Officio: Lakey
Absent: Wilson
Others attending: Cheryl Bressington, Linda Clark, Gary Clark
Livingston asked everyone to introduce themselves since the newly elected members are in attendance.
- Call to Order
- Adoption of Agenda
- Agenda Adopted (Roggasch/McMullen)
- Minutes and Correspondence
- Minutes of the March 19, 2002 meeting were approved as written.
- Unfinished Business
None
- Committee and Search Reports
- Election Committee
Livingston passed around the final statistics on the election process as to the number of staff who were eligible to vote, the number of nomination ballots returned, the number who actually accepted the nomination, and the number who cast an election ballot. Livingston noted the tradition has stayed the same for the managerial/professional and the office staff running in the 50% and 70% which is very good. There are still concerns in the service area whose return percent was only 18%. She noted the statistics are self-explanatory, but asked if anyone had any questions. In conclusion, Livingston stated the Election Committee did have some suggestions that they passed along to the Procedures Committee. Those ideas will be discussed under the Procedures Committee report.
- Employee Recognition
No Report
- Performance Management
No Report
- Procedures Committee
McMullen stated the committee's main item on its agenda is to address the issues of the election. When the decision was made to move elections to March, no one thought about Spring Break having an impact on the elections. He stated that there were only four working days between the time the nomination ballots were returned, individuals notified, and when employees had to respond as to whether they would let their name be placed on the ballot. Those days were Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. The Monday and Tuesday were the beginning of Spring Break. The bosses of some staff were gone so they did not have an opportunity to see if it was alright with their boss to have their name on the ballot. He noted the committee will have to meet and decide how to address the problem. Some of the possible solutions are to widen the time to return nomination ballots to one and a half weeks and to also widen the acceptance time to one and a half weeks. That way no matter when Spring Break falls in the process, it would not interfere. They also talked about changing each step of the process to 10 days. McMullen noted the Procedures Committee has not met yet to work this out, but if anyone has any suggestions to please pass them along. He noted today is his last day on Staff Senate, but he will pass some documents, including the new bylaws, on to the new chair and would be willing to go over all the issues with the new chair. He would even be willing to go to the first meeting. Livingston noted he could also stay on the committee.
- Professional Development Committee
No Report
- Office/Service Dependent Scholarship Committee
Lakey reminded members that some time ago he informed Staff Senate that it appears there would be a surplus in the expendable portion of the Office/Service Dependent Scholarship account. At that time, he recommended that $500 be moved to the endowed account so that we could draw interest on that amount. His recommendation was based on projected income through payroll deductions and the Foundation Drive, etc. However he found out that as of March 1, the expendable account had to have $1000 in that account in order to award $1000 in scholarships for next year. They allowed Lakey to reverse the transfer to retain that amount in the account. The committee in the future will not be allowed to use future projections to cover future scholarship awards. He noted there will be money that he can move later.
- Making a Difference Subcommittee
No Report
- Mentoring Subcommittee
No Report
- Information Technology
No Report
- Strategic Planning
No Report
- Centennial Committee
No Report
- Marketing Council
Anderson reported she was not able to attend the meeting, but did have the minutes. She reported that on April 21st, the committee has planned a four-page insert in the Omaha World Herald. It will highlight several UNK programs including Construction Management, Telecommunications Management, and Kenya Taylor's work with farm hearing loss. The upcoming Centennial Celebrations were discussed and the logo contest was announced. It is up on the web and open for entries until April 29th. The presentation by UNK's marketing agency, SACCO, will be April 22, 2002 at the Administrative Council. In the meantime, the committee is progressing with producing an undergraduate catalog and viewbook. These will be compatible with the proposed design of the ad campaign, but not in the ad campaign's creative template. Representatives from the colleges and other units gave their reports on activities for the next few months and Athletics was welcomed as an important part of the marketing council. Plans include a Pepsi campaign for the fall football schedule on cans of Pepsi which can be turned in for $2 off a ticket for a game. Ideas are still being taken for the UNK Today in the HUB. The next meeting is September 26th.
Anderson stated she has received many comments about UNK not being in the College Bound and that issue has been addressed. Audley felt since there was not a lot of money available, it should be used in different venues. There is a lot of money being spent with the SACCO Agency. They are hopeful that will produce some good results.
- University of Nebraska Provost Search
Livingston stated they are almost done with the on campus interviews. The last one is tomorrow. The committee will then meet and develop their recommendation for President Smith. Livingston noted candidates have been to UNK, but have been meeting with the vice chancellors and the graduate dean. Livingston stated she has been attending the luncheons in Lincoln.
- Chancellor Search
Livingston stated to her knowledge, there still has not been a composite schedule released of times the candidates are to meet with individuals/groups. The Executive Committee of Staff Senate, in conjunction with the Executive Committee of Faculty Senate and the Executive Committee of the Bargaining Unit, will meet with the candidates for about 45 minutes each. There will be open forums, but they have not been announced yet. The first candidate will be on campus April 25th and the last will be here on May 8th. Livingston encouraged everyone to attend the open forums. She felt staff need to be there and show an interest in what is happening on campus. Hines asked if there is a need to have prepared questions. Livingston noted the forums are pretty informal and stated the Executive Committee has not been given any direction. However if anyone has a specific question that they want asked, members are to contact either Livingston, Ellingson, or Hines.
- Athletic Director Search
Livingston stated the committee meets tomorrow to develop the criteria. The selection will be later than originally stated. The committee felt the job opening advertisement needed to go in the NCAA News and that took a little longer than proposed. By the time the recommendation is ready, we should know who the new chancellor will be and he/she could be involved. Amy Stephens and Darrell Morris are co-chairs of the committee. Other members are Larry Riessland, Mark Sutko (community), Bruce Elder, Chris Gannon (student) and herself.
- Parking Committee
McMullen stated at the April meeting they prepared the recommendation for changes in the lot designations to be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor of Student Life. These recommendations are to address issues that will develop when the College of Ed Building opens up. The committee recommended that a couple of the commuter lots become lots for faculty, staff, and commuters. Facilities is putting some money into the softball fields by the Frank House; in the past, buses for special events had parked there and the ground got torn up. The committee is recommending that a few acres be taken out of leased farm land and those acres be used for parking for the buses after some gravel/rock is laid down. The committee also addressed the issue of motorcycle permits for parking for individuals who already have a regular parking permit. The committee recommended that those individuals be able to purchase an additional motorcycle permit for only five dollars. McMullen reminded everyone, these are only recommendations and the committee will have to wait and see if those recommendations are adopted.
- New Business
- Student Conduct Judicial Board
Kucera stated that Dr. Schlake, who formed this committee, asked the committee to look at the student handbook and student code of conduct since it has not been updated in years. For the last two semesters, they have been going over each line and they are trying to develop it so that it is more user friendly for UNK and to the student to address the needs when students break codes. Some of the areas it would address are cheating or plagiarism, furnishing false information, forgery, hazing, possession of narcotics, distribution of drugs, etc. Kucera noted this is talking about serious offenses for which students would come before a judicial board of the university where they could be suspended or expelled. The Board would be composed of five students, three faculty, and one staff. What they are wanting from Staff Senate is to have a pool of five people from which they could pull one person to serve on the Board when an offense is committed. Kucera asked if members wanted to establish the pool from within or go out into the campus community for the pool. When needed one person would be selected from among the five depending on who might have the most knowledge/experience dealing with that particular issue or student. Livingston asked if this is a permanent pool or something that would change every year. Kucera felt it would probably change every year.
McMullen asked if this was different from the recommendations that were forwarded a couple months ago and Bryan Samuels interviewed us. Roggasch and Lange noted they too had been interviewed by Samuels. Roggasch thought it was for the same thing. Kucera noted they were not aware that Samuels did that. Kucera wondered if that was different since they only decided this last week.
McMullen wondered if residential students didn't go through a separate process. Kucera stated this is for all students. For example, if a residence hall student would be caught plagiarizing and the faculty member wanted to send it to the Judicial Board, it would go to the campus Student Conduct Judicial Board and not through Residential and Greek Life. Res Life has limitations on what they can do. If a student resident commits a serious offense and may need to be expelled, it would have to go through the campus Judicial Board who does have that authority. McMullen noted he thought that was what Samuels was talking about. Kucera stated she will go back to the committee and find out and then she will come back to Staff Senate.
- Announcements
- Next meeting May 21, 2002, Jennings Room, Library - NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
- Let's Have Lunch, Kearney Park & Recreation on upcoming summer programs, May 8th, Oak Room, NOTE LOCATION CHANGE
- Retirement Service Awards Luncheon, April 19th
Lakey noted this is in honor of those who are retiring and also to recognize employees for their years of service. Lakey noted tickets are still available, but today is the last day to purchase them. The $6.95 lunch will be at the HPER Gym starting at 12:30. First will be lunch and then the retirement awards followed by the service awards. He noted that the pins this year have a new design. They have the Bell Tower image on them and are larger in size. Livingston asked if there was anyone here getting a service award. Lakey will get one for 25 years and Hines for 15 years.
- Miscellaneous
Livingston reminded committee chairs that she needs their reports this week. She also reminded current members, new members, and also members going off Staff Senate that part of our responsibility is committee structure. Everyone needs to decide what committees they would like to serve on and/or remain on. For new members, she encouraged them to look at the bylaws to see what committees are available and for what each committee is responsible. That should help them decide where they would like to serve. Members are also free to visit with others about the committees. She also encouraged members that are going off Senate to continue to serve if they could. Staff Senate has changed the bylaws to encourage more participation by others on campus. Livingston gave certificates to all the outgoing members and thanked them for their service. Receiving certificates were Tim McMullen, Carol Hines, Jan Mitchell, and Kathy Livingston who was reelected for another term.
- Election of Officers
- Livingston turned the meeting over to Lakey who conducted the elections. Lakey reminded members that only the current and newly elected members could vote - outgoing members could not.
Lakey opened the floor for nominations for president. Jones nominated Kathy Livingston and Anderson seconded the nomination. McMullen moved the nominations cease and that Livingston be elected by vote of acclimation. Roggasch seconded the motion which passed.
For the office of vice president, Livingston nominated Dee Ellingson. McMullen seconded the motion. A brief discussion followed as to who would do minutes if Ellingson is elected. Roggasch moved the nominations cease and that Ellingson be elected by vote of acclimation. Lange seconded the motion which carried.
For the office of secretary, Roggasch nominated Linda Clark. Livingston seconded the motion. Clark nominated Dannien Jones and Kucera seconded the motion. Members, by written ballot, elected Jones as secretary.
Lakey stated the floor was open for election of two individuals to serve on the Professional Conduct Committee. Lakey explained what that committee does and also stated that the elected individuals must be either managerial/professional or directors. However, office and service can nominate individuals and vote, but they can not serve on this committee. Livingston nominated Anita Kucera and Tim Danube. Roggasch seconded the motion. There being no other nomination, members approved the motion by voice vote.
A suggestion was made that next year Lakey send everyone an e-mail prior to the meeting informing members as to who the newly elected members are and also who is going off Staff Senate. Roggasch also suggested that e-mails from members could also indicate who they would like to nominate as officers and then those nominated individuals could be contacted to see if they would be willing to serve.
- Adjourn
- The meeting was adjourned (Anderson/Danube) at 11:25 a.m.