MARSHALL UNIVERSITY CLASSIFIED STAFF COUNCIL MINUTES
Thursday, March 15, 2001
Student Center – Room 2E10
 

President Nina Barrett called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.. Motion was made by LuAnn South to accept the February minutes as written and seconded by David Blackburn. Council unanimously passed. Mr. Jim Stephens is in Charleston today and is unable to attend. President Barrett mentioned to Council that scheduling the President at this time of the year is nearly impossible as long as the legislature is in session, but we will keep trying.

HIGHER EDUCATION DAY: Tanya Bobo reported they had a good time at the Higher Education Day at the Capitol.  She reported that it was a good experience.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS –  Mr. Reffeitt reported he had attended a luncheon to meet with the delegates and they did not show up. He had lunch with Ms. Hall where they discussed the gray machine bill that they have included in the budget, but it has yet to pass.  He was asked where Senate Bill 653 (approved last year) stands. He reported that the packet has been submitted for changes. 

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE – David Cremeans reported on three Personnel Committee Recommendations: 1) Mandatory supervisory workshops to be made available for directors, supervisors and faculty who supervise classified staff and to be made available for interested classified staff.  2) The Department of Human Resources allow an advocate to represent them in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.  3) The Follett College Bookstore reinstate the discount to the staff and faculty and consider granting it to returning alumni.  Much discussion ensued on these three recommendations.  Mr. Cremeans put forth these recommendations as a motion. Motion seconded and Council unanimously agreed on all three recommendations with minor changes.  Discussion of the ADR process continued.  

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS:  No report.  

MEMBERSHIP/ELECTION – The committee has not met this month. Mr. Wortham explained that until we hear from the legislature whether there will be one or two positions (ACCE and Institutional Board), they have no reason to meet. We did speak to Stephanie Neal and asked if she could suggest to the legislature members when they meet next week, if they would look at changing that section of the statute to allow us to go past April 30 to elect the new members.  

SERVICE – The following additional discount is given:  Pearl Vision, Huntington Mall,  is offering the following discount to Marshall employees with a PEIA insurance card. Show your insurance card when buying new glasses and the following discounts will apply: 30% off frames, 30% off lenses and 20% off add-ons.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT – Mr. Harless reported they did not meet.  

STAFF DEVELOPMENT – No report.  

FACULTY SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS  

ATHLETIC COMMITTEE: Sonya Cantrell reported that the football schedule is out. October 20 is the date they are looking at for Homecoming. Mr. Lance West informed them that Marshall has the smallest number of sports in the MAC so they are currently working on two women’s sports. The front-runner for possibilities is: women’s golf and women’s swimming. Ms. Linda Wilkinson informed the group that 65 Marshall athletics made the Dean’s list with a 3.3 grade point average and four of those had a 4.0 grade point average with a 132 athletic with a 3.0 or better grade point average. Ms. Cantrell also serves on the Athletic Advisory Board. They met in November and were informed that at this time no formal allegations have been made to President Dan Angel or Marshall at this time on the NCAA investigation.  President Barrett asked Sonja if she had any feedback on when the NCAA is gong to rule on our indiscretion. She responded: “No, the last time they brought up the subject was November 2000”.   She will keep Council informed. Discussion continued.  

BUDGET/ACADEMIC POLICY COMMMITTEE: No report. 

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:  No report. 

PHYSICAL FACILITIES/PLANNING COMMITTEE: No report.  

STUDENT CONDUCT/PLANNING COMMITTEE – LuAnn South reported they had met but  most of the meeting had to do with residents.  An issue that has been tabled at this time concerns smoking areas on campus. There is a  recommendation that we build buildings (little gazebos) on campus for smokers. There is no money for this project. Discussion continued.  

UNIVERSITY FUNCTIONS COMMITTEE – No report.  

ACCE:  Stephanie Neal reported that from what she understands, the Central office is working on more enhancements. The ACCE will meet with the Governor at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday as well as meet with Senators Plymale and Jackson. She feels that our chance of getting a salary schedule in the WV Code is very good. A pamphlet was distributed to Council “The Higher Education Advisory Council of Classified Employees, Legislative Information 2001.” This pamphlet was also handed out to all legislators. There are a couple of bills for PEIA that deals with conversion of sick leave days after retirement. They feel that the buy out of sick leave at the time of retirement is too costly. House Bill 2171 (retirement contribution) – employees pay 6% and this bill will reduce payments to 4%. Senate Bill 38 increases years from 20-30 years and House Bill 2360 removes the 20-year cap on increment pay. This discussion was lengthy.  

INSTITUTIONAL BOARD: Ms. Bobo reported that last week’s scheduled meeting in Teays Valley was cancelled. They will reschedule this training meeting at a later date.  They were supposed to have their first training session on Trusteeship. The Board of Advisory had lunch with J. Michael Mullen, the new Chancellor. The group was very impressed with him.  

OLD BUSINESS: President Barrett reported to Council the need to watch their absences. She explained to Council that if they were going to be absent, they need to notify either Mary, Cora, President Barrett or Vice President Joe Wortham. Under the constitution we are to vote whether or not a person should be dismissed for excessive absences. One member decided to resign rather than allow Council to vote to dismiss her. President Barrett explained that it is not necessarily true that you will be voted off if you can explain the reasons for your absences.  Excused absences do not count against you.  

Ms. LuAnn South attended a supervisory meeting with Mr. Stephens in regard to the Performance Evaluation Form. Mr. Stephens had indicated this form would no longer be mailed to our supervisors. Instead a report will be sent to the supervisors indicating this form needs to be completed. It would be up to that supervisor to go on the web, secure, print and fill out the form. The concern she has with this is that in the past when it was done, the top portion was filled out with name, title, position and etc. Now it is totally up to the supervisor to do everything.  Ms. South has asked Mr. Stephens what happens when it is not done. He says that we should call the Human Resource office and they will call them. She feels that Human Resource should send the form with the information already on it instead of the report. She sees this as being a potential problem. President Barrett agreed that this could be a problem. No action taken by Council at this time. Discussion continued.  

NEW BUSINESS –  None  

With there being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m.