Guest – Mr. Jim Stephens – HR Office

The telephone directory’s content is finished.  The document can be sent as an Adobe PDF file to anyone needing it now.  The HR Office is working on the new cover.  As soon as the cover can be approved, the directory is ready to be sent to the printer. 

Mr. Stephens stated that the telephone directory with home telephone numbers requested by Terry Olson for the Public Safety Office has been sent to Mr. Jim Terry for the past nine months.  It is updated on a monthly basis. 

Copies of the Arriving and Departing Employee forms had been provided to Council members.  Mr. Stephens stated that he had received positive responses concerning the use of the forms.  Leonard Lovely requested that part-time employees be included in the arriving/departing report form received in the Mail Room each month.  Mr. Stephens agreed to provide the requested information.

Mr. Stephens reported that the Safety Committee will be meeting on the second Monday of each month.  The Committee hopes to have an input form on the site for safety issues.  Unless the issue is confidential, the Committee plans to summarize the committee’s recommendation for the issue and put it on the web site.  The committee hopes to build an integration between the web site and the workers compensation program to reduce work place injuries.

Mike Dunn asked about the two outstanding resolutions and the Reduction in Force policy – can they be resubmitted since we have a new president?  Mr. Stephens said that all are in the President’s Office and President Farrell and Layton Cottrill are reviewing them.  Mr. Stephens believes the original documents will suffice for the interim president. The draft of the Reduction in Force has been provided to the Executive Committee.

Mr. Stephens commented on the Series 8 meeting in Charleston.  He was encouraged by the committee that organized the meeting and the tone of the meeting itself.  Stephanie Neal mentioned that the first draft which was to be sent to the committee by January 14 has not been received.  She will share the information when received. 

Announcements:

Mike Dunn thanked Interim President Farrell for including him and Student Body President Jenny Gaston on the President’s Council.

Mike also thanked Bernice Bullock, Leonard Lovely, Jody Perry and Patsy Stephenson from the main campus and Joe Taylor and Martha Pierson from the South Charleston campus for attending the Series 8 meeting on January 6.

Jody Perry from the Personnel/Finance Committee submitted an emeritus policy to the executive committee for review.  The policy has been returned to committee with suggested changes.  The committee was also provided with the HR policy concerning new hires not coming on the payroll during the middle of December.  The Executive committee hopes to return these items in early February.

Bernice Bullock announced that free income tax preparation will be available through the United Way.  This service is provided by trained volunteers beginning Saturday, January 29 through April 15 at Goodwill by appointment only.  Bernice will provide additional information as it becomes available. 

Bernice also stated that the tobacco recommendation from Staff Council will be going to the January 27^th meeting of Faculty Senate.  There was discussion in the Faculty Senate Executive Committee meeting about disapproving the recommendation. She suggested that the staff member who sponsored the recommendation be at the meeting to answer questions.

IBOG Report – Sherri Noble

Sherri Noble handed out a calendar of upcoming events and provided the following information from the Institutional Board of Governors Meeting held on January 19, 2005.

• The minutes of the November 10 and December 17, 2004 meetings were approved.
• Governor Wise appointed General Harley Mooney as Mike Farrell’s replacement.  General Mooney will serve on the Finance committee.
• Verna Gibson will move from the Finance Committee to serve as chair of the Academic Committee, replacing Mike Farrell.

Interim President Farrell’s report provided the following:

• A packet of information on performance indicators (Sherri shared a copy with the  Council)

• Marshall University has been informed that we will not receive reallocation of funds lost over the last three years through the budget reductions
• A need for more out-of-state students
• Plan approved for a Ph.D. in Health Care Management
• $40,000 received from the Governor’s Office for a study on government structure.

President Riley’s Report included the following:

• Growth strategies and the need for new dollars
• Level enrollment which is being monitored

The MU Community and Technical College marketing plan was presented.  Dr.  Szwilski gave an overview of the Center for Environmental, Geotechnical and applied Sciences activities.

The following committee information was provided:

• The Medical School Committee provided a brief overview of the upcoming LCME Accreditation visit.
• The Finance Committee approved the financial report and authorized the institution to request proposals for an internal auditor who would contract with the Board rather than the HEPC.
• The Academic Committee approved intent to plan for an MA in Latin and three new and two continuing appointments to the Autism Advisory Board.
• The Athletic Committee updated the Board of Governors on the football seating plan, land use/space utilization, and conference issues.  This plan does not go into effect until 2006.
• The Community College Committee approved the MT contractual agreement and indirect cost model for the next six months.  They also authorized Mr. White to draft a resolution, if necessary, to submit to the CTC Council regarding MU’s 2-year nursing program.

A Search Committee meeting followed.  An all-day meeting will be held on January 28 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  The schedule for the individual groups is not yet available.  The committee is asking for input regarding characteristic traits desired in a new president.  After much discussion it was decided that the characteristics should be submitted to Jody Perry, Personnel/Finance Committee Chair, prior to the 28^th so the executive committee can organize the suggestions.

The Search Committee voted to hire a consultant.  Four responses were received.  The applicant list will be reviewed by Mr. Michael Perry.  The committee will then meet with candidates and hire the appropriate consultant. 

ACCE – Stephanie Neal

Stephanie stated that the ACCE anticipates some classified staff issues (such as revisions to State Code concerning bumping rights) on the next meeting’s agenda. 

Stephanie discussed the open meeting on Series 8 held on January 6, 2005 on the South Charleston campus.  Series 8 is a comprehensive rule affecting faculty and staff, not just staff alone.  Mr. Dennis Taylor will attend the ACCE February 2^nd meeting.  Stephanie will provide more information on Series 8 after that meeting.

Several issues which concern classified employees came up at the legislative interim.

Stephanie Neal provided copies of the Human Resources Reports.  A lengthy discussion took place regarding the Human Resources Report and Marshall’s place in the report in relation to other higher education institutions in the state.  A copy of the Human Resources Report is available for viewing in the Staff Council Office.  The areas of interest to staff include: 

• Cost of Increasing Retirement Contributions by 1.5%, Fall 2004 Personnel Data
• Cost to Fund Classified Staff Schedule, Zero Step, All Funding Sources (Fall 2004 Personnel Data), Pay Step as of July 1, 2005
• Cost to Fund Full Classified Staff Schedule, All Funding Sources (Fall 2004 Personnel Data), Pay Step as of July 1, 2005
• Outsourcing Follow-Up Report – January 2005
• Full-Time Classified and Non-Classified Staff by Gender – Fall 2004
• Employee Turnover Rate at Public Institutions .52 and Above FTE in 2003 Personnel File  Returning as a .53 and Above in 2004 (2-Year/4-Year Institutions Consolidated for Fall 2003 Comparison)

Education Subcommittee A – Higher Education is sending forward to the Joint Standing Committee on Education three priorities for consideration during the 2005 regular legislative session:

1. Making the annual increment available for faculty (this is a fairness issue),
2. Follow-up on SB 653 and SB 703 initiatives in regard to peer equity funding and CTC development, and
3. Increased funding for HB 3009 projects (1999 – Workforce Development Initiative)

Robert Morgenstern, Director of Legislative Affairs, External Communications and Outreach for the HEPC, has resigned to direct the newly created Higher Education Division of the AFT-WV.

Standing Committee Reports

• Election Committee – Carol Hurula – Nominations for Group 30 (Other Professionals) are due by Tuesday, January 25.  Nominations for Group 50 (Clerical) are due by Wednesday, January 26.  Absentee voting will be held on Thursday, February 10 and the regular election will be held on Wednesday, February 16.  Because of a classification change, Charlene Hawkins’ position in Group 50 is available.  Group 30 will select one representative and Group 50 will select two representatives, not one as originally stated.
• Staff Development & Service – Yanzhi Wu – Three funeral baskets were sent in the month of December.  The Staff Council Sympathy Fund has a balance of $375.44.  Thank you notes from Anna Gue and Lu Ann South for funeral baskets and Raddar Atchley for her Fall Spring 2005 tuition waiver were read.
• Legislative Affairs – Stephanie Neal – The Legislative Affairs Committee will meet next week. 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

Minutes prepared by:            _____________________________________

                                                Charlene R. Hawkins, Program Assistant, Staff Council

Minutes approved by:           _____________________________________

                                                Michael Dunn, Chair, Staff Council

Minutes read  by:                   _____________________________________

                                                Michael Farrell, Interim President