Minutes from
Unclassified Senate Meeting
November 13, 2008
Minutes transcribed by Abby Coffin
In attendance: Debbie Baker, Diann Burright, Abby Coffin, Susan Corrigan, Paul Farran, Danny Kaiser, Mike Krings, Paul Liechti, Angie Loving, Rebecca Mayer, Lucy McGilley, Amanda Ostreko, Kathy Pribbenow, Aaron Quisenberry, Tom Ryan, Easan Selvan, Heidi Simon, Carolyn Thompson, Xinkun Wang, Rick Whitemore, Phil Wilke, Denise Modin, Audrey Coleman, Allyson Flaster, Noelle Kurth, Susan Mercer, Andrew Shoemaker, Peggy Robinson.
Excused: Angie Claussen, Chris Claussen, Jeannette Johnson, Lisa Shaw, Jason O’Connor, Dan Coonfield, Gail James, Megan Gannon, Mary Ann Rasnak, John Augusto, Ed Foley.
Absent: Teresa Kopsa, Claudia Bode
The meeting was called to order at noon by President Paul Farran.
The minutes of the October 9, 2008 meeting were approved with editorial changes.
Reports:
President: Paul Farran -No business in University Senate, last meeting cancelled. Expanded employee benefits information forwarded from the task force, report will come out in Spring. Phil Wilke and Paul have been meeting to revise bylaws. Next meeting will cover all by law changes, Senators need to review these prior to meeting. The Audio reader tour was excellent. Jeanette Johnson has had back surgery and will be out for awhile.
Secretary: Abby Coffin in Angie Claussen’s absence. Abby read the list of those people excused for today. Mary Ann will be keeping notes in December while Angie is on maternity leave.
Treasurer: Noelle Kurth reports that some money has been spent, and some has been allocated. $210.00 has been spent on professional development events and $2000 has been allocated to provide four $500 scholarships for the Professional Development Committee’s initiative. $1200-$1500 has been allocated to provide funds for the mini wheat state tour in the Spring. This leaves about $2000 remaining for the balance. Recommendations have been made for spending additional funds. Heidi Simon suggested using funds for the Registration fee for the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. The total cost is $3100, Heidi is researching cost sharing possibilities with a working group. The Provost’s Office and all senate bodies will be approached to see if the cost of registration can be shared. Other costs could be incurred, but they would need to be paid for by endowed funds. This is being researched as well. Heidi asked that this be brought to the executive committee and Paul agreed. After discussed, Noelle will bring this to other senate’s treasurers. Budget cuts were discussed and it was indicated that we do not know what will happen in the future but it would be best to spend allocations this year. Paul discussed budget cut proposals as summarized in an email from the Chancellor. Officially the treasury balance is $5562.00 to date.
Governance and Representation Committee: Phil Wilke – Nothing new in the committee, but larger issues are coming soon.
Professional Development Committee: Allyson Flaster – Committee has been busy. Dole Elections event with 11 in attendance. 13 attendees at the Audio-reader event with student performance. Upcoming events are updating your career documents event on December 5th. Sub-committee led by Gail James to further examine professional development. The Scholarship committee has met and is developing a rubric to be brought to the executive committee. Noelle has been working on funding for the scholarship and this is close to complete. Applications expected to be available in December. HREO is developing more information about unclassified employees to be listed on the website.
Public Relations Committee: Mike Krings – committee has met, discussing updates to the website. They are working on technical side to site updates as well as updates to copy on the site. Computer services have been contacted regarding database set up and there will be no additional fees charged. Committee will be meeting again soon, expecting a new look to the site for test early 2009. At the February 12th meeting, this will be viewed by the full senate. Reminder emails have been sent.
Elections Committee: Megan Gannon – absent, Paul reported that committee gearing up for elections.
University Support Staff: Peggy – Maxine has retired. Alan Easeland has passed away, one of the USS senators on 10/25. Senate seat will be held open in his memory for one year. A memorial bench or tree planting will be done. Mini wheat state tour was held for USS employees, another tour is planned in the Spring. Wind farm, Tallgrass Prairie were among the places visited. Newsletter planned for end of December.
Student Senate: Mark Pacey – absent, no report.
Faculty Senate
Committee Reports
Planning and Resources Committee/Jason O’Connor – report will be moved to next meeting
Academic Computing and Telecommunications Committee/Susan Zvacek – works to improve environment for telecommuting and academic computing. Recommendations are made for policy decisions related to IT. Standing chargers are to work with library committees, review IT issues. This year’s charges are to review mediated courseware policy, and recommend no changes. Review issues related to access for online resources for staff. Some staff do not have access to a computer or an opportunity to use a computer during their work day. With things being available in online format only, this is a concern. Recommendations to come. Monitor developments in IT as needed is the final charge for the committee. Topics include resources for the disabled, and other issues. Most seem to be ongoing. Rationale for charges are not communicated. Some frustration is being felt by the committee. Paul clarified process for charges and will provide feedback to Mary Berry. A name change may be recommended since it is outdated given the changes in technology. More feedback is needed from central IT as to the direction of this committee. Danny Kaiser stressed importance of this committee’s existence. This will be brought to Mary Berry by Danny and Paul. A power policy was recommended as something to be taken to the committee from Unclassified Senate. Easan will share the draft of this policy.
Unfinished Business
Rick Whitmore - task force for document repository. Audrey Coleman and Rick would like to be added to next executive committee to get better ideas of what should be kept, what shouldn’t and how to determine importance of documentation. After this fact finding a product will be developed.
Phil Wilke – Proposal to combine legislative visit of unclassified senate and USS. Pros and cons document of visit have been reviewed since last meeting. USS would prefer to combine meetings, but have not made a formal request to do so. We need to decide if we are asked to do so what our answer will be, if we want to ask to combine, and what changes do we want to make to the legislative visit. No developments have been made in what University Relations will have our talking points be for the visit. In December, a meeting will be set up with the KU lobbyist to determine talking points. One concern is that the differences between unclassified and USS employees will not be able to be communicated given time. Another concern could be that there are too many people to meet with legislators, and we won’t be able to fill everyone’s time. USS goes with other employees from KS Regent’s Schools as part of the Kansas Council in January. Peggy shared that KU’s two staffing groups are unique and combining them could be mutually beneficial. USS feels that the change from classified employees to USS changes their role. Many voiced concerns for too much information to be given in one visit. To be considered, we started having these to differentiate who we are, and have we done this yet? If we make a change, what is our purpose if we haven’t accomplished that? Visits seem to clarify this difference, but legislators seem confused each visit. Discussion was had about number of visits on KU’s behalf, it seems there are many throughout the Spring. In what way does it affect the different groups if the legislators understand KU’s different staff groups? This can affect merit raise allocations, retirement benefits, time and leave reporting, etc.
Moved and seconded: The Unclassified Senate will combine their Legislative Visit with the University Support Staff Senate in 2009. 7 for/17 opposed/2 abstained. Motion Not Passed.
Phil Wilke – By laws. Updated by Phil and Paul, changes passed out to all Senators. Current wording has a strike-through with proposed language in red and underlined. Most changes were typographical, grammar, and changes to reflect things that are in current practice. Major changes (highlighted) include: to have standing committee chairs for 2 year terms, Article 6, section 4 – defining how often we will meet, Article 11 – no longer applies given other changes that have been made, dispersing of funds is now addressed in Article 7, section 6. This document should be reviewed and senators should prepared to discuss and vote next meeting on a per article basis.
New Business – Frederic Gutknecht’s position expires because of his retirement as is Jamie Kramer’s with a new position leaving. Both expire in May 2009. Noelle will recommend a research person to fill Jamie’s interim term. Spots will not be actively sought out due to short term vacancy.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.