MARSHALL UNIVERSITY CLASSIFIED STAFF COUNCIL MINUTES
THURSDAY,  APRIL 25, 2002
JOHN SPOTTS ROOM – MEMORIAL STUDENT CENTER

President Barrett called the meeting to order at 1:10 pm and asked for approval and/or discussion regarding minutes of last meeting.  Jill Burcham advised she had been listed as unexcused instead of excused absence.  With no other corrections or discussion,  motion was made to accept minutes with amendment and seconded. 

STANDING COMMITTEES: 

Election Committee: Carla Cook 

Carla noted that Sherri Noble had helped to revise the Academic list of members and updated it to show members in the correct Division/Group they should fall under.  This was done because several members fall under a different Division of classification resulting from changing of job positions & moving within other areas.  With this list updated it was necessary to move the dates to receive nominations originally scheduled for April 22^nd to May 3^rd  to April 29^th – May 8^th.  This will allow enough time to receive all nominations and  having absentee voting on  May 17^th   as previously scheduled. Actual voting will be held  May 22, 2002 at designated areas.  Carla will be able to report back to Council with results on May 23^rd.    A question was asked if it is in the Constitution that Human Resources provide this kind of information to the Membership/Election Committee?  President Barrett answered yes, it is in the Constitution in Article IV, Section 7, Paragraph 1.  A lengthy discussion ensued about the lack of cooperation Council has been receiving from Human Resources about this and other areas. Carla thanked Sherri for the help in revising the list and bringing it up-to-date. 

Legislative Affairs: Jill Burcham:  Jill reported that President Angel had attended the last meeting and reported on the Promise Scholarship and the impact it would have on Marshall and the state as a whole.  President Angel also noted he saw very little interest by the Legislative body to add a faculty/staff or student government representative to the HEPC.  President Angel was asked if more representation was needed at the state house to show support in our concerns; he felt the best alternative would be more visibility of staff and employees during Marshall Day. 

ACCE: Stephanie Neal: Stephanie distributed copies of bills passed relating to Higher Ed during the 2002 Legislative session.  At  an Advisory Council meeting a presentation was given to the Policy Commission, which was well received .  This presentation will be available on the website for review as well.  The Policy Commission members have asked that this presentation be used as a training tool in future meetings.   

Stephanie also provided a copy of the Commission  Communiqué, which is an overview of the recent HEPC meeting held April 19^th. There are several procedural rules, which have been approved and several that still have a comment period available to respond with any concerns or comments.  Anyone with comments may contact Stephanie via e-mail or comment directly to the Central Office.   These applied to the following:            

Ø       Series 29 – Travel

Ø       Series 30 -  Purchasing

Ø       Series 31 – Ethics  

Stephanie also made available the dates scheduled  for ACCE FY 2002-03.  She noted that several may conflict with Staff Council meetings and again would address Council to change those dates that coincide at the appropriate time. 

After the Policy Commission meeting they approved Salary Guidelines for 2003 with an amendment made from the floor by Amy Pitzer.  The change regarded page 2 section G  -- Classified Employees.  It was recommended that we change organization  to HEPC and to read as follows with the change: 

 Classified Employees shall be compensated based on the salary goals established by the institutional board or HEPC.  Institutional plans for moving classified employees to the zero step should continue so that all current and new employees are being paid at the zero step, or above, by FY 2005.

Stephanie noted the guidelines are very general overall.   Time frame has not really been set as to when notification of raises will be distributed, but hopefully will be before July 1.  Approval has been given also for increase in tuition fees, which will generate more funding as well.  Marshall also was recipient of Peer Equity money.   Stephanie distributed handouts regarding the Funding Allocation for FY 2002-03, which addressed the following: 

Ø       Peer Equity & Minimum Funding

Ø       Base Budget Cut and Partial Base Restoration

Ø       General Revenue & Lottery Fund

Ø       Health Sciences

 Any questions or concerns should be directed to Stephanie and she would try to answer our questions or get back to us with the correct information. 

Student Conduct & Welfare: Leah Tolliver:  Leah reported at past meeting the committee discussed taking appropriate actions to provide counseling to those in crisis.  With the recent incident involving the death of  a student on campus the committee wanted to reinforce that services are always available through the Counseling Center.  That  students can talk with Counselors to relieve stress or resolve a situation that they may be confronted with.  Their main goal is to respond with appropriate action when necessary but also to let the student body know they have assistance available to them. 

Jim Stephens, Director, Human Resources:  Mr. Stephens reported that individual quarterly balance reports with leave balances as of the end of March have been printed and will be distributed before the end of the month. 

Open enrollment period for PEIA and Mountaineer Flexible Benefit continues through Friday,  May 3, 2002.  Mr. Stephens advised that if you are not making any change in PEIA insurance and you  (and your family if covered) are not tobacco users, you need to complete and turn in your PEIA transfer form with just the tobacco-free affidavit completed.  If you are a non-tobacco user and do not return the transfer form with this affidavit completed, you will be moved to the tobacco-user premium. If you are a tobacco user and you are not making any other changes in your PEIA coverage, you do not necessarily have to complete and turn in your transfer form because you will default to the tobacco-user premium.  The tobacco user premium for PEIA PPB is approximately $240 per year higher than a non-tobacco user.  

Anyone having misplaced your PEIA transfer may visit the Human Resource office and complete a replacement form.  Also some forms are available that can be used just for the tobacco-free certification. 

Mr. Stephens was addressed with the question regarding  Connections.  It was noted that in the past this was mandatory  for all employees, as well as new hires,  to attend this class. Does the Human Resource Office plan to implement this mandatory training again?  Mr. Stephens advised that he is reviewing this issue and hopes to begin scheduling sessions starting  in the new FY period.  

Question presented by Stephanie Neal regarding  PEIA.  With PEIA increasing she wondered if our insurance could be split and a certain amount withheld each pay period instead of one lump sum taken from our check on the 15^th.   This next expected increase would probably cause great  hardship on many low scale employees.  Having the payment withheld in two installments could ease this problem somewhat for many.  Mr. Stephens agreed this alternative should be considered and he would look into this, but withholding in one payment could possibly be an auditor’s requirement.  Mr. Stephens will report back to us hopefully at next Council meeting. 

Question was addressed to Mr. Stephens regarding the recent ad placed in the Herald Dispatch for invitation to bid on carpentry work on the campus of Marshall University.  Mr. Stephens advised that he had spoken with Mr. Layton Cottrill and this issue had been resolved.  All carpentry work would be continued through the employees of the Physical Plant.

New Business:  Dianne Annestis: Research Assistant, III,  - MU SOM  Carla Cook asked that Dianne be allowed to address Council regarding concern of the new Biotech Building and the impact this could place on staff of the MEB.  Dianne presented letter to staff council relating areas of concern discussed in recent meeting with Dr. Howard Aulick, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education. 

Concerns reflect in the building of this structure, the subsequent relocation, and ramifications this places on all members of the MEB, as well as staff  jobs that will be lost as a result of this plan.  Other areas of concern regard students getting from classes to labs – traveling from one campus to another as well as the same concern for faculty.  Time frames for students and faculty to get from one campus to another to attend class, teach class, prepare for labs, etc….are just one of the facets that will have to have some kind of resolution in order for this to become workable.  So many areas have not been addressed and staff feels a more in-depth look at some of the areas as well as further input from students, staff and faculty are greatly needed. 

The staff of MEB therefore,  request that Council review this matter and provide a letter of  support in regards to concerns mentioned above;  that this letter be attached and copies forwarded  to members of the “Biotechnology Bldg. Steering Committee” which is comprised of: Dr. McCowan, Dr. Denman, Dr. Bragen, Dr. Aulick, Dr. Gross and Dr. Meadows as well as President Angel and any other person deemed appropriate.  

President Barrett asked that Sherri Noble possibly address this issue at the next Board of Governors meeting and bring back any information available and Council review this matter at the next Executive Committee meeting.  

Dianne thanked Council for allowing MEB to voice concern and bring this matter to Council for support. 

President Barrett reminded  everyone of the upcoming Awards Luncheon scheduled for May 15, 2002 in the Don Morris room of the Student Center and hopes that everyone will make an effort to attend,  if schedules permit. 

With no further business meeting adjourned at 3:40 pm.