March 6, 2014 Minutes
Presiding Officer: Andrea Weber
Welcome new employees in attendance today!
Actions of Meeting
Roll Call
- Roll call was conducted using sign-in sheets
- Members in Attendance: Ian Alaimo, Teressa Arnette, Catherine Beck, Tara Benson, Christina Bowles, Kelly Cara, Addie Douglas, Brian Edmond, Paul Essel, Dave Falls, Scott Fiedler, Andrew Garton, Sandy Johnson, Sharon Lopinot, Yvette Medley, Janelle Melton, Robert Moore, Allison Overmyer, Charles Schoneboom, Gary Stafford, Brenda Stewart, Andrea Weber, Karen Willde, Ryan Wilson
- Proxy Members in Attendance: None
- Members Absent (Excused): Dixie Williams
- Members Absent (Unexcused): Lindsey Kolb
- Guests in Attendance: Andrea Breshears (Sociology & Anthropology), Cheryl Combs (Financial Aid Coordinator – Blair-Shannon), Lauren Bansbach (Environmental Mgt.), Marilyn Robertson (THWC), Connie Pyle (THWC), Sheila Bowen (THWC), Joyce Eddy (VP RED), Adam Beck (CIT), Libby Burger (Relay for Life), Taylor Vance (Student), Brian Westhues (Campus Rec), Leta Moler (Diversity & Inclusion), Dr. Frederick Muegge (THWC), Debbie Donnellan (MSU Staff Ambassadors), Holly Robison (Psychology), Jennifer Meyer (Psychology)
Call to Order
- Staff Senate had quorum
- Meeting called to order at 11:01 AM by Chair, Andrea Weber
Approval of Agenda
- Agenda was emailed prior to meeting
- Motion to approve agenda with no changes by Ryan Wilson
- Second by Allison Overmyer
- Agenda approved unanimously
Approval of Minutes
- February meeting minutes were emailed prior to meeting
- Motion to approve minutes with no changes by Ryan Wilson
- Second by Addie Douglas
- February minutes approved unanimously
Chair Report
- Relay for Life - Presentation by Libby Burger, SR at MSU, Relay for Life Event Chair
-
- All money raised goes to American Cancer Society and stays in this area
- 1.3+ million raised since coming to MSU
- Roughly 100K raised each year, last year at 60K
- Goal for 2014
- 60K raised (13K raised so far)
- 70 teams
- 1,000 people registered
- Teams to raise at least $1,000 (Staff Senate team goal is $1,000)
- Website is www.Relayforlife.org/missouristatemo
- Event is from 6 PM on Fri., April 25th, to 6 AM on Sat., April 26th
- Location is Hammons Student Center
- Departmental sponsorship
- Amounts of $50, $100, $250, and $500
- Name or logo can be put on back of t-shirts
- Signs posted around the Relay area
- New Staff Mentoring Program – Presentation by Debbie Donnellan (View the MSU Bear Connection presentation)
- Program in conjunction with MSU Staff Ambassadors and Office of Human Resources
- Commitment for MSU Staff Ambassadors and new employees at MSU
- Not many other universities have staff mentoring programs (we are a frontrunner)
- Why MSU Staff Ambassadors?
- Understand university, 12-month long program, great overview of MSU, professional development in MSU customer needs
- 180 ambassadors still employed at MSU
- Alumni programs
- Personal knowledge of each member
- Ongoing professional development and training workshops
- Program geared toward relational mentoring rather than promotional
- Career development rather than promotion or advancement
- Group mentoring, team mentoring, virtual mentoring, etc.
- Cost effective and time efficient
- We are not set up as job mentoring institution due to lack of straight career paths
- Goal is for career development (insight)
- Watching webinars, doing research on other programs, creating MSU model
- Basis is the university mission in public affairs
- Long-range goals: est. MSU as an employer of choice
- Bear Connection
- MSU Ambassador created name
- Program focuses on connecting people through relational mentoring
- Goals are to shorten learning curve, reduce stress and frustration, develop new bears
- Going to formalize program (this is one of the best practices)
- Signing documentation
- Agreeing to meet, have coffee, communicate certain # of times, etc.
- Will help with the evaluation of the program
- Process
- Applications from MSU Staff Ambassadors
- Selection
- Training
- Networked with new employee
- First contact is after New Employee Orientation
- Lunch, contract, tour of campus
- Expecting mentoring relationship to last between 6-9 months
- Evaluations to determine success of program
- Mentor, new employee, supervisors
- Once 6-9 months ends, Ambassador gets networked with next new employee
- Benefits to new staff, the Ambassador, and the university
- Questions?
- Will supervisors need to approve ambassadors?
- Yes
- When application is filled out, how long are ambassadors in the pool?
- Not sure how long it will be before ambassadors are assigned – depends on where you work (proximity), gender (same-sex mentors only), and new employees being hired
- How long are you signing up for?
- 6-9 months
- Once the first round is over, you automatically go back into the pool, but supervisor has to give permission again
- How long is training?
- 3 hours
- Why the gender matching?
- Preference voiced by those developing the program
- Reduce feelings of discomfort (i.e., if giving FRC tours, can’t show locker room, etc.)
- Thought it would be more comfortable for new employees in some cases, so just decided to go this route for simplicity
- Will every single new employee be required to have a mentor?
- Staff, yes. Not faculty.
- How many new staff each year?
- 130-150 a year
- Is there a short version of this information that can go out to all Ambassadors?
- Working on a website right now with all the information
- As soon as the application is up and ready, it will be sent out to everyone
- Please consider ethnicity and sexual orientation for the needs/comfort of new employees
- Those aren’t questions we can ask of a new employee, and we don’t ask it of our ambassadors
- Once new employees meet the ambassador initially, if they want to quit the program or get a new ambassador, it will be done
- Will supervisors need to approve ambassadors?
- Taylor Health and Wellness Center – presentation by Dr. Muegge (View the Taylor Health and Wellness Center presentation)
- Medical Home since 1923: Quality, Cost, Convenience
- Accredited as an institution (every 3 years – it is an extensive process)
- Several thousands of dollars are invested in each visit
- Labs are accredited by COLA
- Every 2 years
- 100% ratings
- 100% board certified medical staff
- Lowest cost in area
- Students are 70% of visitors providing 60% of funding
- Keeps medical staff medically sharp
- Helps keep costs down
- Key benefits:
- Working with MSU’s HR department to help keep this a quality and cost-effective option for MSU employees
- Great availability of staff (if you call at 9 AM, you can always get in on the same day)
- Satisfaction surveys are always very positive
- Continuous growth through the years
- Have expanded tremendously
- Since 2000, have added a variety of new staff and services
- Revenue has also grown accordingly
- Comes from student health fees and employee fees
- Keep what we save for investments in the future
- Added several new medical offerings including wellness programming and preventative measures
- Public health and community service involvement
- Needing to expand facilities (currently using 90% of space)
- Questions:
- $400 health benefit – does it automatically get applied?
- You have to ask that it be applied
- People pick and choose where they want to apply the benefit to maximize the benefit
- When someone retires, can they carry the same group premium insurance?
- Yes, you can retire still with the benefits up to 65
- A few years ago they changed the 65 age range, so after that age, you are eligible for Medicare
- $400 health benefit – does it automatically get applied?
- Changes to June and July Staff Senate Meetings
- July meeting to July 10 to avoid the July 4th holiday
- Wanting to do some training for senators
- June 12th , 11AM-1PM
- Will include a lunch
- Kelly will email a SurveyMonkey poll to senators to collect votes on these changes
Chair Elect Report
- Staff Development Incentive Program – no report this month
- Pediatric Nurse Task Force – Closed
- Shared Leave Report
-
- 242 - Employees contributing to pool
- 215 - Eligible employees
- 4,754.17 - Hours contributed
- $128K - Value of hours
- 7 requests so far – all have been approved
- Employees can contribute vacation time to the pool, and once they have contributed three days, they are eligible to take hours from the pool for emergency needs (i.e., all vacation and sick hours have been used, but major illness or injury arises)
Past Chair Report
- Dixie is absent today
- Computer Information Systems Taskforce for Wi-Fi on campus
Secretary/Treasurer Report
- Budget balances
- Operating budget (A account)
- Balance is $1,340.56 (same as last month)
- Expected upcoming expenses = $567.71
- $27.76 for scholarship table tents
- $49.95 for plaque and gavel to BJ’s Trophy Shop
- $15 x 6 = $90 for gift cards to senators with no absences
- $400 for Staff Senate video
- Expected balance = $772.85
- Can be used for Staff Senate training event in June
- Other?
- B account – Balance is $2,812.67 (same as last month)
- Denim Day
- $1,984.58 Donation to Lee National Denim Day going out today
- Still waiting on $54 charge for luncheon set-up
- Expected balance = $774.09
- If your committee needs funding, be sure to request soon
- Anything we don’t use rolls over ($705.59 rolled over last year)
- Petty cash on hand is $125
- Denim Day
- Foundation fund (Scholarship account) – report by Scholarship Committee (below)
- Operating budget (A account)
- Staff Senate Elections
- Nominations for vacant office positions taken today and at next month’s meeting
- Only current members of the senate are eligible
- Elections will take place at the May meeting by vote of current senators
- Vacant positions:
- Chair-Elect
- Nominations
- Kelly Cara – Declined
- Andrew Garton – Declined
- Brian Edmond – Declined
- Allison Overmyer – Accepted
- Christina Bowles – Accepted
- Gary Stafford – Declined
- Nominations
- Secretary/Treasurer
- Nominate
- Robert Moore – Accepted
- Andrew Garton – Declined
- Ryan Wilson – Declined
- Nominate
- Director of Staff Relations (appointed by chairperson)
- Chair-Elect
- Nominations for vacant senator positions begin March 17 (first business day after
15th)
- I’ll send an email to all staff with link to online nomination form
- Can be self-nominations or made by another staff member
- Nominations due by April 15
- Nominees must submit statement of intent by April 15
- Online ballot will be available May 1, and elections will be open until June 1
- Vacant positions:
- Job family 4 – 1 position
- Ex-Officio – 3 positions
- Faculty Senate
- SGA
- Parliamentarian (appointed by chairperson)
- Nominations for vacant office positions taken today and at next month’s meeting
Director of Staff Relations Report
- Committee Reports
- Bylaws – No report
- Denim Days Committee – No report
- Public Affairs Committee – Gary Stafford
- Sign-up for events (passing sheet around)
- Relay for life, April 25 from 7 PM-7 AM – There will be a Staff Senate team, so contact
anyone from the Staff Senate Public Affairs Committee if you want to be on the team
- $10 fee waived because we are part of MSU community
- Just click “pay later” when you sign up, and the fee will be waived
- Adopt-A-Street, March 14 (12-1 PM, all staff)
- Convoy of Hope, March 25, April 29, May 20, 6:30-8:30 each date (sign-up passed around)
- Public Relations Committee – Kelly Cara
- We are waiting to hear back from Web & New Media about the next steps for the Staff Senate ad project.
- Scholarship Committee – Andrew Garton
- Final expected balance = $4,008.81
- The scholarships have already been paid out this year, so current balance remains as is.
- Total raised this year $1,270 (goal was $1,000)
- Not including check received today from Ovations (raised $150.80)
- Proud to be Staff shirts now for sale at the Bookstore, money coming in soon.
- Second annual benefit luncheon Wed. April 23, 11 AM-1PM in PSU ballroom
- Still Need volunteers; will send out sign-up
- Final expected balance = $4,008.81
- Staff Activities – No Report
- Staff Excellence in University Service Awards – No Report
- MSU Administrative Professional Forum Committee – No report
- Public Arts Committee – No report
- My Ideas Committee – Allison Overmyer
- Adam Beck, Chair of committee, is here with information to pass around
- Pdf version will be distributed
- My Ideas program is in 4th year of existence
- Submit any ideas you have for improving the university (efficiency,
- If an idea is already happening on campus, they aren’t accepted, but any other ideas are put in the running
- Quarterly drawing for gift card at the Bookstore
- Guideline on website about what constitutes a great idea
- Only for faculty and staff
- Faculty Senate – No report
- Sustainability Committee – No report
- Admin Budget Committee – No report
Old Business
- None
New Business
- Refer to Chair report above
- June meeting: proposal to move June meeting to June 12th for training (11:00am – 1:00pm)
- July meeting: proposal to move July meeting to July 10th
Announcements
- Tabled due to time constraints
- Speakers for future meetings: General Education update in April and Faculty Senate in May
- Goal for next year: Task Force to review the Staff handbook
- Next meeting is April 3, 11-12, Library 101 (auditorium in lobby area)\
Open Forum
- Tabled due to time constraints
- Common Reader Discussion – Christina
- How does Staff Senate be bigger and bolder?
Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn by Yvette Medley
- Second by Allison Overmyer
- Meeting was adjourned at 12:03 PM by Chair, Andrea Weber
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kelly Cara, Secretary/Treasurer