STAFF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

3/18/08 - 10:00 A.M. - LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM #230

 

Attending: Mary Ann Braden, Angie Clark, Lesley Deal, Cari Edwards, Angela Farnsley, Diane Fuchs, Ethel King, Regina McCarty, Connie Schnieders, Loretta Seals, Leslie Turner, Alice Watson, Mary Ann Wild

 

Excused Absence: Kim Draughn, Charlotte Dubois, Linda Haskins, Diana Holman, Stephen Miller, Lisa Stark, Cynthia Stevenson, Debra Voyles, Kim Wells

 

Unexcused Absence: None

 

President Diane Fuchs opened by introducing Melissa Hill of Accounting Services to speak to the council regarding our list of businesses who offer discounts to IU Southeast staff. Melissa asked if we would agree to give her ownership of our list so that she can contact businesses listed about offering discounts to students, as well as faculty and staff, with the UCard. She also offered to send us the list for use and send updates as they are made. The consensus of the Staff Council was to agree to Melissa's request.

 

Treasurer Mary Ann Wild presented the treasurer's report. See detail below.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Illness/Funeral/Condolence Policy Committee - Alice Watson

The policy, drawn up by the committee, was distributed. Alice asked if there were questions or suggestions. Leslie Turner again raised the question of sending a card to the family of faculty/professional staff who are deceased. Discussion followed. Angie Clark made a motion that we do send a card to the family of a deceased faculty/professional staff member. Mary Ann Wild seconded the motion. The motion carried with a vote of 8 for and 5 against the motion. The committee will amend the policy to reflect the approved motion, and the full policy will be voted on in the April Staff Council meeting.

 

Blue Ribbon Committee - Regina McCarty

Regina McCarty reported that the BRC has concluded its meetings and submitted recommendations to the Chancellor and Faculty Senate. The BRC recommended that the current classification plan (levels) for biweekly staff be abolished and that benchmarks be used to fix salaries for positions. These benchmarks would be determined after a study is completed by Human Resources of local pay structures of jobs for which IU Southeast competes locally in hiring biweekly staff. The BRC recommended that benchmarks be reinvestigated every 3-5 years. Many thanks to Regina for her hard work on this important committee.

 

CBAG Meeting and Campus Executive Council (CEC) Meeting Reports - Diane Fuchs

The CBAG Committee recommended that the administration continue efforts to keep up with or exceed cost of living increases measured against the CPI. The CEC reported that 122 applications for housing have been received. The Common Experience will have an environmental theme for 2008-09. Several renovation projects are ongoing including painting, carpeting, and a portable dance floor for the Hoosier Room; new roofing for Hillside Hall and Crestview Hall; and carpeting in Crestview Hall hallways. Bids are being received for renovation of the women's bathrooms in University Center. Over 250 students attended an open house last weekend and you can have a new residence hall named for you for only $300,000. President McRobbie will be visiting our campus June 3rd to view the new residence halls.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Gift Certificate Give-Away - Lesley Deal

Steven Clark reported that we have used all of our Buffalo Madison Gift Certificates given to a staff member who registers for the giveaway after reading the online Staff Council meeting minutes. Do we want to continue giving these gift certificates? After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to continue with the policy. The motion carried unanimously. Suggestions for gift certificates included McDonalds and the food service at IUS. Ethel King volunteered to ask the Conference & Catering Director about purchasing gift certificates from the food service.

The Council will make a decision in the April SC meeting about which certificates to purchase.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

IUS Chancellor's Diversity Award & The Campus Calendar - Cari Edwards

Cari Edwards spoke regarding the IUS Chancellor's Diversity Award to familiarize Staff Council with the award. The Diversity Award recognizes exceptional performance at promoting Diversity at IU Southeast.

 

Cari also asked if anyone on Staff Council uses and is familiar with the Campus Calendar. Cari is on a task force regarding training in the use of the calendar. She is available if anyone needs information on the calendar.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Angie Clark noted that April 16th is Campus Beautification Day. She urged everyone to put on your old clothes and help plant flowers. April 17th is the alternate day in case of bad weather on the 16th.

 

Spring Treats are boxed (sorted by office) and are ready to be delivered today. Boxes contain: Bottled water, gum, butter mints, flavoring for water, a hand-painted key chain and a lei. Again, we offer many thanks to the committee (Regina and Lisa) for purchasing and preparing the treats.

With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lesley Deal, Secretary

 

NEXT STAFF COUNCIL MEETING: April 15, 2008, 10:00 a.m., Library Building -

Room 230.