Attending:  Pam Houston, Jason O'Connor, Dan Consolver, Donna Hultine, Jill Hummels, Danny Kaiser, Thelma Simons, Ray Hummert, Jeannette Johnson, Kathy Stiers, Mark Nesbitt-Daly

Minutes:  No minutes from April meeting.

Consolver met with the Provost this morning.  They discussed tickets for the Clinton lecture.  There was a lot of disappointment about how they were distributed.  Donors to the Dole Institute had the opportunity to get tickets in advance and only about 700 were issued on the day of the general distribution.  Houston advised that she received an e-mail from student body VP Jeff Dunlap that talked about K-States Landon Lecture series and how they could accommodate a much larger crowd than we can at Lied.

Consolver asked the Provost about the unclassified salary pay increase delay since we are the only ones who are delayed consistently.  The Provost explained that it was a timing issue tied to approvals of tuition enhancement dollars.  We discussed the difficulties associated with a change.  Faucher advised there are so many things linked to a true fiscal year like notices of non-reappointment and leave accruals.  J. Johnson pointed out that when we moved to a bi-weekly pay system, administration made a decision to keep notices tied to the fiscal year instead of following a floating date every year at the end of a pay period.  The Regents will decide in late June on the tuition increase.  The effective date of raises this year will be July 4^th.

Houston wondered if there was anything we wanted to do – or care to do about this?  This pay issue is a Lawrence campus only decision.  The Provost wants to wait until tuition enhancement dollars are in the pot.  J. Johnson points out that there is no way we could go ahead with raises before the hike is approved as there are Regents very concerned about how students will fare with this increase.

Houston voiced frustration that it seems like these decisions are already made and we are not included in the process at all.  The Provost is willing to come to a town hall meeting to discuss.  J. Johnson pointed out that this decision was announced in a letter sent to deans but Houston thought the Provost should have talked to us before it went out in a letter that we were not sent.

Consolver said they also discussed the deans and chair review and a potential restructuring of governance.  The proposal to make classified employees regents employees is seeking SenEx endorsement of a resolution asking the Regents to "get off the dime."

J. Johnson asked Faucher how much longer we would be getting pay advises.  Faucher advised that the portal has been shut down indefinitely because of problems.

Houston talked about the governance restructuring proposal.  The process is confusing.  They are putting together a task force and need a volunteer.  J. Johnson and Consolver volunteered.  The Task Force on Academics and Athletics is seeking comments about a connection or lack of connection between the two.  Kaiser will participate.

Houston advised that the election call has not gone out.  J. Johnson is working on it.  We need to update the web pages about how many openings there are.

Hummels pointed out that Simons has been very gracious to continue upkeep of our web site and asked if she was still going to do it.  She says she will continue but is going off the board so would need good communication.  Simons will be a member of Hummel's committee.

The Parking Commission needs two new unclassified members.  The Employee Recognition committee looks good. 

Lindy Eakin attended the meeting to explain unclassified merit.  Budgets were due 5/7.  Three percent was allotted for all unclassified employees with a potential additional 2% from tuition enhancement.  This amounts to 2.9 million dollars.  Final approval of the increase is not until June 23/24.    Fiscal year for payroll starts June 6^th.  The Regents wait so late because the legislature shifted back two weeks.

If raises are delayed then the state gives and funds the 3% increase.  If 3% is applied to actual fiscal year salary, then we are not really getting the whole 3% - the university is banking the extra.  Fringe benefits will now be distributed with the budget – sort of a block grant.

Houston advised Eakin that we would welcome being used as a sounding board for the beginnings of discussions like this.

There is a P&R meeting today.  Questions about whether Katherine's term is up?  This is a good committee for us to be on – lots of power and influence.

Faucher mentioned training for the PeopleAdmin system.  She also advised that there will now be a 10-month staff category, comparable to faculty – pay can be spread throughout the entire year.

Adjourned at 1:40 pm.

University Council -

J. Johnson advised that the basketball ticket issue is all settled by now.  Jason O'Connor is our representative on the 3 person appeals committee.

SenEx 

Houston advised that the Athletic Board would be the topic at the next University Council meeting.  Bylaws say the current group has certain authority but apparently they don't, the NCAA wouldn't allow it.  They are recommending a 5 person board, also advisory and ultimately the Chancellor will have control. 

Adjourned @ 1:35 pm