Staff Assembly Meeting Minutes
Oct. 1, 2002

Present: Jean Andrus, Chris Arreguin, Ruben Ayala, Victor Baeza, Karen Baker, Hao Brown, Jonathan Brown, Emily Burgwyn, Jackie Callanan, Alice Carter, Nancy Carter, Rafael Chavez, Carlene Coover, Dan Dehart, Kay Edmondson, Marilyn Eudaly, Laurie Fetter, Roger Fisher, Terri Gartner, Rebecca Glass, Julie Graver, David Grebel, Nancy Grieser, Ida Hernandez, Dorothy Holland, Sharon Hudson, Pamela James, Jacobo Juarez, Mary Kaszynski, Mary Lane, Tommy Love, Debbie Mar, Jake Martinez, Valeria McDougle, Dennis Odom, Tara Pope, Barbara Savak, Kathy Smith, DeVonna Tinney, Gail Truitt, Juan Varela, Esco Weatherspoon, David Yale

Guests: Chancellor Michael Ferrari, Amy Johnson (Skiff reporter), Don Mills, Bob Seal, Paid Time Off Focus group

Absent: Ross Bailey, Marshall Gordon, Jack Hesselbrock, Pam Hughes, Joe Laster, Emily Sullivan, Alison Trinkle, Darron Turner

The meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. Chair Karen Baker made brief opening comments and welcomed visitors.

Chelsea Hudson, president of the Student Government Association, brought an update of SGA activities. She said the SGA supports current efforts to provide affordable on-campus daycare, a health fair at the newly renovated recreation center, a mentoring program and a collaborative community dinner scheduled for October 31. Hudson reported that all of Intercom will attend the Board of Trustees meeting and there is a University Retreat planned in Granbury.

Baker reviewed the agenda.

The minutes were approved as written.

Chair’s Report: Baker said she appreciated people attending the called Assembly meeting Sept. 24 regarding the Chancellor search. She reminded representatives about the Joint Meeting with SGA and Faculty Senate Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. in the Reed Hall Faculty Center. Baker asked people to read the goals the executive committee had summarized.

Chancellor’s Remarks: Dr. Ferrari announced that fall enrollment was 8,074, and there is a growing graduate enrollment and minority enrollment. Current notable projects include the dedication of the Tucker Building as well as the continuing construction of the Smith Hall and the renovation of the Recreation Center. Ferrari thanked faculty and staff for being accommodating and helpful. He announced there are some transitions at Brite Divinity School due to the resignation of its dean. According to Dr. Ferrari, some of the challenges this year are the core curriculum and the operating budget. Dr. Ferrari suggested paying attention to what happens in Austin and Washington DC concerning financial aid because this will affect TCU’s ability to attract students.

Misc.: Baker announced there will be Wellness Brownbag lunch seminars. She also said that anyone who is a member of Mortar Board Honor Society should contact her.

Program: Baker introduced Dr. Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs. Mills gave a presentation regarding the characteristics of the freshman class. He said the better we know our customers, the better we can serve them. He said students are looking for an emotional, connective experience when they come to TCU. Mills said TCU has high-quality faculty and staff and the "most important thing we can do is invest in people."

Baker announced the Assembly’s scheduled December visit to the renovated Recreation Center.

Committee Reports:
Community Service - Julie Graver announced that on Sept. 11 a group of faculty and staff read "America the Beautiful" to local schoolchildren. The Reading Frogs program has started with 30 staff and 50 students participating. Contact Mary Lane or Robin Williamson to participate. Graver said 15 staff and faculty participated in TCU Leaps. She asked for volunteers to go with children from the Rise school to Colby Halloween. She announced there is a free RAD class for women and one for children. For more information, contact Julie Graver.

Policy Review - Marilyn Eudaly announced the committee is gathering input about the current funeral leave policy and responses to the paid time off proposal.

Professional Development - Alice Carter announced the committee is exploring having either Ben Alexander or Don Mills speak in the spring regarding TCU’s marketing practices to new students. They are still developing speaker ideas for the fall and might do something regarding benefits.

Election - Emily Burgwyn reported the proposal for the Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service has been revised and returned to the Chancellor for presentation to his Cabinet for their consideration.

Traffic & Regulations - Nancy Grieser said that parking is gradually moving to the perimeter of campus. She said it would cost $200,000 to upgrade shuttle service. A shuttle bus and parking garage are still being investigated.

Daycare - Nancy Grieser said several members of the current committee visited Motorola which has a subsidized daycare center. She reported that Baylor does not have a daycare, but UTA and UNT do.

Human Resources Update:
Pat Jolley - Reminded representatives about the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP). These are services available and paid for by TCU. Jolley announced there is a current 3.5% participation rate. Health insurance rates will be finalized by the end of October and individualized compensation statements will be sent out.

Paid Time Off Focus Group Presentation:
Nancy Styles led a presentation of the findings of the group that included four Assembly representatives among its membership of four exempt and seven non-exempt staff members. In May 2001, an HR survey found there was satisfaction with TCU’s current leave policy but a noted interest in a Paid Time Off Policy emerged from survey results. HR appointed a focus group in April 2002 to study the feasibility of the PTO concept for TCU. After much discussion and fact gathering, the group concluded the PTO concept would result in loss of time for staff during transition from the current system to a PTO plan. While they did not recommend the PTO concept for TCU, they did present possible changes to the current system which include (in part) the provision of earlier and more frequent milestones based upon years of service, the elimination of personal leave which they maintain is not applied equally throughout the University, and equalization of leave benefits for exempt and non-exempt employees at the 15 year mark. Representatives were given information regarding proposed changes and were asked to solicit input from co-workers for referral to the Staff Assembly Policy Review committee by October 15. The committee will study the PTO proposal and submitted comments and bring a recommendation to the Assembly at a later meeting.

Baker thanked the focus group for their hard work.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.