November 4, 2004 Minutes

1. Call to Order - A regular meeting of the Staff Senate of Missouri State University was called to order at Plaster Student Union, Room 313 at 1:30 p.m.

2. Roll Call -

Present - Sherry Adams, Belinda Davis, Diana Garland, Terrill Harvey, David Liss, Tami Sutton, Sara Clark, Earle Doman, Norm Griffith, Tara Horton, Steve Mills, Scott Walker, Allison Crocker, Marline Faherty, LaDonna Hansen, Phyllis Kenney, Phil Nichols, Lisa McEowen-LeVangie

Absent - Veronica Adinegara, Patrick Byers, Monya McMichael, Chris Stodtman, Sue Alvers, Mike Clark, Cheryl Pawling, Ben Boslaugh, Antoinette Foster (SGA), Lois Shufeldt (Faculty Senate)

Guests - Mark Brixey, Edie Sartin Leslie James, Dale Moore

3. Guest Speaker - Greg Onstot, Vice President for University Advancement was scheduled at this time, but due to a scheduling conflict asked Phil to please bring forth a letter from Vice President Onstot asking the Staff Senate for their verbal support of a new bronze bear award. The vote of support was unanimous.

4. Announcements -

Phil Nichols, Chair, began the meeting by recommending Terrill Harvey to fill a vacant Staff Senate seat for occupational category 5 (secretarial and clerical support). This recommendation was unanimously approved by the Senate. Terrill will replace D. Lynn Singleton who resigned in October.

Staff Senator Ben Boslaugh"s job was reclassified, changing his occupational category. In order for him to continue serving his term on Staff Senate and under a provision of the bylaws, the Chair reallocated current Senator Sara Clark to one of the upcoming occupational category 3 (support professional) vacancies allowing Ben Boslaugh to continue serving on Senate as the Administration and Finance divisional representative.

New members were chosen to replace the senators outgoing at the end of this calendar year. For occupational category 3 (support professional), there were two vacancies and five applicants, thus the applicants" names were placed in a box and drawn. The replacements drawn for these two vacancies were Wendy Ferguson and Barbara Jones. In the occupational category 6 (skilled crafts and trades), there was only one spot to fill and Glenn Fletcher was the only applicant. For the occupational category 7 (service occupations), there were three available seats and at that time there were no applicants. Phil did however recommend Dennis Perry for one of the occupational category 7seats and indicated that he would speak to other individuals about filling the remaining two vacancies in that category. Senators should let Phil know if there is someone they would recommend for these vacant positions as well. Senate unanimously approved the members selected to fill the vacancies beginning in 2005. Phil indicated that he would be contacting the new members, as well as the ones not chosen. The applicants not chosen will remain in the pool, until next year's membership drive, to fill additional vacancies as they become available. The new members will attend the December meeting for a welcome and orientation.

Two resolutions regarding FY05 unresolved issues and key issues for FY06 were brought forth for Staff Senate approval. The last paragraph of the resolution for "Follow-up on Unresolved FY05 Issues," was amended to read:

"Be it resolved, the Staff Senate requests that Administrative Council respond by December 1, 2004 to the proposals for summer work schedule and increased vacation accrual rates so a focus for FY06 can be established."

The two resolutions were unanimously approved as amended and will be presented to Administrative Council by the Staff Senate Chair.

5. Approval of Minutes - The minutes of the open, regular meeting of October 7, 2004, were approved.

6. Report from the Chair - Phi Nichols - Phil reported to the Board of Governors concerning the campus Denim Day collections and publicly thanked the Denim Day Committee for their hard work. Phil proposed that a moment of silence be observed at 11 AM on Veterans Day to remember veterans" service; this was unanimously approved by the Board. Lisa McEowen-LeVangie, Staff Senate Budget and Priorities Committee Chair, presented the Staff Senate Survey results to the Board of Governors.

7. Committee Reports -

Budget and Priorities, Lisa McEowen-LeVangie-Chair - Lisa more thoroughly addressed her presentation to the Board of Governors at their October meeting. An item of interest to the Board of Governors was the low number of those completing the survey. A brief discussion followed about possible ways to increase responses to the survey. Overall Lisa felt the exchange with the Board went very well and she emphasized the interest that the Board does have in the survey results. There was also great interest in having some sort of job satisfaction survey for staff as well as the budget priorities survey. Governor Sheid expressed support for the flex-time option of the "summer work schedule" proposal that is awaiting a response from Administrative Council.

Lisa reported that she, Phil Nichols and Diana Garland met with Greg Burris, Vice President for Administration and Finance, Staff Senate"s liaison to Administrative Council. The meeting was to gain direction as how to proceed with unresolved FY05 priorities. Greg indicated that they should meet with Dr. Don Aripoli, Vice President for Student Affairs, to further discuss the issue of a summer work schedule. Dr. Aripoli has the most concern over the problems connected with a summer work schedule. After meeting with Dr. Aripoli it was determined by the four that Administrative Council would be more receptive to the idea of a flex time schedule as opposed to an actual summer work schedule which would allow for the University to be closed on Fridays. Dr. Aripoli agreed to forward some language for the employee handbook to Greg Burris so that Greg can draft a response to Staff Senate"s recommendations from Administrative Council.
Denim Day Committee Report, Edie Sartin-Chair - Edie Sartin reported that $4,040.50 was raised this year by the Missouri State campus community during the Lee National Denim Day campaign to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for research.
Public Affairs Committee, Lisa McEowen-LeVangie-Member - Lisa reported that the committee was discussing topics for future Lunch Hour Lecture Series presentations. She also reported that the committee will be submitting a proposal for a Public Affairs grant award for spring 2005. She once again emphasized that the committee would welcome more members and that you did not need to be a member of Staff Senate to serve on the Public Affairs Committee.
Public Relations Committee, Tara Horton-Chair - Tara gave a brief report. During the report she presented the six top logos (picked at the October Staff Senate meeting) for a vote to hopefully determine a clear winner for the official Staff Senate logo. Members present were to vote for the logos according to their preference. Tara will be announcing the winner at next month's Staff Senate meeting.
Centennial Celebration Committee, Diana Garland-Chair - Diana reported that there was a great turnout for the dedication of the Centennial Display Case and that there was a great deal of coverage given the event by the press. Phil thanked Andrea Mostyn, Assistant Director of University Communications, for getting the word out to the press for us.
Faculty Senate Report, Norm Griffith-Staff Senate Representative - Norm gave a brief report of the October Faculty Senate meeting. Phil is still trying to get a Faculty Senate representative on Staff Senate, as well as a representative from the Student Government Association.
Salary & Compensation System Taskforce Report, Phil Nichold-Staff Senate Representative - Phil gave a brief report.
Master Planning Committee, Phil Nichols-Staff Senate Representative - Phil gave a brief report.
Veterans Recognition Committee, Phil Nichols-Chair - Phil gave a brief report on the upcoming events for Veteran"s Day, November 11.
University Planning Advisory Committee, Lisa McEowen-LeVangie-Staff Senate Representative - Lisa gave an updated report on the activities of the committee and the status of the long-range planning process. She announced that the open forums for the fall would be November 18 from 3 to 5 in Karls 101 and December 8 from 3 to 5 in Glass 101.
Human Resources Planning Task Force, Lisa McEowen-LeVangie-Staff Senate Representative - Lisa reported that Howard Berriman, Chair of the University"s Healthcare Plans Review Committee, gave a broad overview of future plans for the employee healthcare plans. She also reported on the status of the first ever Human Resources Chapter for the new long-range plan.

8. Unfinished Business - There was no unfinished business

9. New Business -

Mark Brixey, Director of Baker Bookstore, announced that the Bookstore would be having their annual Customer Appreciation Day on Tuesday, November 30 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The Bookstore is offering a 25% discount on regular priced merchandise for that day.

Diana Garland, Chair Elect, reemphasized that the Staff Senate needed to address the questions posed by the Higher Learning Commission Steering Committee. At that time she read the questions and the Chair tasked the members of Staff Senate to read through the committee's questions and prepare at lease one bulleted item for each question to present at the December meeting.

Phil, Diana and Tami reviewed the duties of the Staff Senate Chair, Chair-Elect and Secretary and encouraged all senators to think about becoming an officer next year. Information about the duties of the positions can be found in the bylaws on the Staff Senate website and any questions can be directed to Phil or Diana. New officers will be elected at the January meeting.

The next regular meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. on December 2, 2004 in Plaster Student Union room 313.

The meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:
Tami Sutton
Staff Senate Secretary