University of Nebraska Kearney

Staff Senate Minutes - December 14, 1999

Employee of the Month: Lewanda Diaz, Management/Marketing.

Present: Dave Bargen, Dennis Choplin, Tim Danube, Dee Ellingson, Carol Hines, Deb Huryta, Dannien Jones, Kathy Livingston, Tim McMullen, Bonnie Mumm, and Ron Roth.

Absent: John Lakey and Terry Gibbs.

1. Call to Order

2. Agenda Adopted (Bargen/Ellingson)

3. Minutes and Correspondence
   1. The secretary read a thank-you note from Carol Hines for being selected Employee of the Month for November.
   2. Minutes of the November 16th meeting were approved as printed.

4. Unfinished Business
   1. Procedures Issues
      McMullen discussed the issues and recommendations from the Procedures Committee on three related issues: (1) The election process. (2) How new members are notified. (3) How to deal with ties in voting. The committee wanted to eliminate phone calls as much as possible and get the ballots down to a more manageable size, especially in the office/service category. He explained the recommendation would be to only nominate one person, instead of two. The recommended wording of the bylaws (under Nominations) would be: The nomination forms will list all eligible staff. The forms will inform staff that they may nominate one person from the list, including themselves. Only nomination forms that follow this guideline will be accepted. In addition, the committee decided they didn't want to stretch out (time-wise) the election process. So it is recommended that nominees be sent an e-mail asking if they would be willing to serve if elected. Phone calls would still be made to those persons who don't have access to e-mail. The recommended wording of the bylaws (under Nominations) would be: Nominees will be sent an electronic message informing them of Staff Senate's purpose and goals, informing them that they have been nominated, and asking them to reply if they are willing to serve, if elected. Those nominees not on the University e-mail system will be contacted by phone. Responses must be received by the Third Tuesday in September.
      As to new members being notified, the recommendation is that the Election Committee notify newly elected members instead of waiting for the notice to come from the Chancellor. However the Chancellor would still be notified in writing as to the new members and officers. The recommended wording of the bylaws (under Post Election, Section A) would be: The Election Committee will notify the newly elected members of their election and their first meeting date; (under Post Election, Section C): The Election Committee is to provide the names of the new Senate members and officers to the Chancellor and the University News Bureau for publication in the campus newsletter.
      On the final issue of how to deal with ties, the committee went with Robert's Rules of Order and recommended adding this sentence to the Officers section, last paragraph, prior to the last sentence: The President will refrain from voting except in the event of a tie per Robert's Rules of Order.
      In the following discussion, the question was raised as to how it will be handled if nominees do not respond. McMullen said then their name would not be placed on the ballot. The question was asked as to what you do if someone is on vacation, etc. The same applies. The Election Committee must have a response before they can put a name on the ballot. A concern was also raised as to the President deciding who would get elected in case of a tie vote. McMullen stated there would just be a second ballot with the President voting the second time around. Members felt that needed to be clarified in the recommended wording.
      McMullen/Livingston moved to adopt the recommended changes to the bylaws as presented concerning the election process and the notification of new members. Motion passed unanimously. As to the recommendation concerning ties, revised wording for the bylaws will be presented at the next meeting.

   2. Committee Assignments
      Members were given a copy of the Annual Report. Mumm noted that included in it was a list of all committees and what they do. She suggested members review committee reports and then notify one of the officers by January 3rd as to their first three choices for committee assignments. The Executive Committee will then review those preferences and make the committee assignments with respect to the required representation. Each individual will be placed on at least two committees. Anyone wanting to serve on more, should also make those wishes known. Once the committee assignments are made, Mumm asked that each committee meet in January and set goals.

5. Committee and Search Reports
   1. Strategic Planning
      Met last week and Jim Scott, a member of the Commission for Development of Criteria for Evaluation of Prioritization of Academic Programs at the University of Nebraska, was present. With the anticipated shortage of resources, President Smith wanted criteria in place to evaluate and prioritize academic needs. This committee, which has representation from all four campuses, has been given that task. Sometime in the Spring, they plan on holding forums on campus. UNK representatives are David Clark, Rodney Miller, and Jim Scott.
      Mike Miller presented the Facilities Master Plan. Some questions asked were: "Where will recreation move when the College of Education Building is built west of the Sports Center?" The University has purchased land south of the Sports Center (on 15th Street) which is being leveled and prepared for a practice field and for intramural sports. Another question involved the use of the farmland (south of West Center). At one time they had mentioned moving Facilities there, but that plan has been tabled. Foster Field was also mentioned. There are no plans to move it in the foreseeable future. The presentation itself mentioned 22 out of 42 buildings on campus need major renovation. Although LB309 funds will provide for many of these needs, there still will be buildings that need renovation.
      In addition, the committee is setting goals for the strategic plan. The goals are: 1) to solidify UNK's position as a Premier Residential Undergraduate University 2) to address UNK's resource needs, achieve greater efficiency in academic and administrative operations, and expand UNK's fiscal base 3) to attract, retain, and reward talented people 4) to coordinate with other University of Nebraska campuses to extend the opportunity for advanced education to Nebraska citizens and 5) provide out-reach services to Nebraskans The committee will set benchmarks as to how to evaluate those goals.

   2. Student Life Functional Review
      Presented their recommendations and report to the Chancellor. Included in the recommendations were that International Student and Multicultural Student offices be separate each with their own director, that the enrollment manager position (previously held by Steve Robinson) not be continued, plus some recommendations for movement of responsibilities. A search is planned in January for the VCSA. A coordinated marketing effect is also needed to bring in and retain students. In addition, there is a need for - one stop shopping where students do not have to go from building to building to get the information wanted. It needs to be all in one area.
      Another recommendation involved having Admissions and Financial Aid two separate divisions, each with their own director.

6. New Business
   1. Executive Committee Visit with Chancellor
      The Chancellor was presented the Annual Report.
      Topics on the agenda included: Staff Senate's accomplishments, Staff Award for Excellence, NU Values participation, Committee Participation, Campus Events Participation, and the July 1 Celebration. On the issue of the Staff Award for Excellence, the Chancellor said Staff Senate could start the procedure in the Spring, according to the guidelines prepared by Staff Senate. The committee reviewing applications will be the Executive Committee from both the Staff Senate and the Office Service Advisory Council who will then make a recommendation to the Chancellor. One of the concerns expressed to the Chancellor was salaries for staff for the next biennium. She stated it is the number one priority. Mumm had a copy of the letter sent to President Smith in which the Chancellor asked for additional funding for non-faculty salaries in order to address some long-standing and severe discrepancies between salaries paid to non-faculty at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and comparable groups at other institutions. This will allow UNK to offer and pay competitive wages. It would further rectify a glaring imbalance between faculty salaries, which are adjusted in line with the peer market, and staff salaries which are not. Mumm noted that on the list of priorities sent to President Smith, it is the first priority; however, it was first on the list last year also.
      The Chancellor agreed to let the Election Committee notify new Staff Senate members in order to speed up the process. In addition, the Executive Committee asked about the Chancellor's breakfast and was told to visit with Tom York about the matter since he coordinates the breakfasts. She did comment that she values and respects the staff and what they do.

   2. Annual Report Members were given a copy of the report.

   3. Chancellor's Strategic Plan Presentation
      Due to mechanical failure, the presentation was not shown and has been rescheduled for the next meeting.

7. Announcements
   The next meeting will be January 18, 2000, 10:30 a.m., Art Gallery, Student Union

8. Adjourn
   The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. (Hines/Choplin).