Staff Assembly Minutes
Present:
Judy Alter, Jean Andrus, Ross Bailey, Karen Baker, Gay Boydston, Chris Briones,
Emily Burgwyn, John Butler, Carlene Coover, Wendy Crowley, Roger Fisher, Rebecca
Glass, Nancy Grieser, Jack Hesselbrock, Dorothy Holland, Sharon Hudson, Harriet
Hunt, Roger Ivy, Donna Jackson, Mary Kincannon, Mary Lane, Joe Laster,Tommy
Love, Sharon McAteer, Melissa McInnis, Susan Oakley, Milton Overton, Joan Owens,
Vince Pankey, Clyde Ridge, Becky Roach, Barbara Savak, Bob Seal, John Sweet,
Veronica Whatley, Sallie Wilmoth, John Weis, Lisa Winter.
Guests:
Leah Keyes, Bob Bolen, Cheryl Wilson, Mary Ruth Jones, Tara Pope, and
Janie Christie and Bennie Winkfield from FWISD.
Absent:
Lela Cardona, Nancy Carter, Larry Erwin, Marilyn Eudaly, Armida Guzman, Glen
Hulme, Jennifer Lowrance, Janett McTaggart, Monica Martinez-Ray, Donny Meyer,
Gabriel Perez, Sandra Tobias, Gail Truitt
The
meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m. Minutes were read and approved as
written.
Jillanne
Johnson was introduced as the reporter from the Skiff who will be covering Staff
Assembly meetings this semester.
Carlene
Coover will be taking over the Assembly Web page.
Monica
Martinez-Ray has left TCU, therefore will no longer be a member of the Assembly.
In
the absence of Chancellor Ferrari, Vice Chancellor Carol Campbell brought the
Assembly up to date on the tuition issue, stating that the Trustees seem
positive about changing from hour-based charges for tuition to single-price.
Also,
she stated that the Cabinet is viewing requests for Budget monies.
Program
Bob
Bolen, former mayor of Fort Worth, and Special Advisor to the Chancellor, spoke
to the Assembly about the TCU presence at Alliance Corridor.
He stated that TCU’s presence there is both an opportunity and a
challenge
Committee
Reports
Staff
Awards—Mary Ruth Jones announced that three awards totaling $1020 have been
awarded this year. The award is now
endowed. Announcement of applying
for the award will be made on March 4.
Professional
Development—Mary Kincannon announced a program on ergonomics will be presented
some time in March.
Policy
Review—Glen Hulme was unable to attend and will give a report at the next
Assembly meeting.
Parking—Nancy
Grieser reported that next year freshmen will be allowed to park in the Ranch
Management lot only. Also, Nancy
will be on a committee, headed by Vice Chancellor Edd Bivin, looking into
parking on campus. She
stated that employees must realize that parking costs, and there will probably
be more perimeter parking, perhaps with shuttles.
Susan Oakley announced that at the request of Fred Oberkircher, Hollis
Dyer was added to the University Parking Committee.
Community
Service—Mary Lane reported on several possibilities for community service, and
presented Janey Christie and Bennie Winkfield from FWISD who spoke to us about
programs within the school system in which individuals or groups could
participate. They were very excited
about the possibility of the participation of TCU employees.
A recommendation was made that the Staff Assembly work with FWISD in
establishing volunteering within the local schools.
The recommendation was approved.
Old
Business
At
the December meeting, Roger Ivy inquired about the status of equalization of
vacation time for non-exempt staff. This
recommendation from the RIB Committee had been sent to the Cabinet and was
rejected by them.
New
Business
Ross
Bailey appealed to the Assembly to get the word out about good sportsmanship at
athletic events.
Jean
and Sharon Hudson presented a report concerning the salary/benefits letter that
went to all deans, vice chancellors, and budget managers.
In answer to an inquiry by the Provost about preference of how
compensation money should be directed, a questionnaire went out to all Staff
Assembly members. The overwhelming
response to the questionnaire showed that members want the money directed toward
salary increases. Based on the
results, the Executive Committee prepared a letter to send to the Chancellor
that served as their recommendation. The
letter “recommends that salary increases (with the emphasis on correcting
compression problems) be first priority” for the 2001-2002 budget, and “that
the University raise non-exempt retirement benefits 1% each year over the next
three years to reach full equity with exempt staff.”
The motion to send the letter as a Staff Assembly recommendation was
unanimously approved. Jean thanked
the Executive Committee and John Weis for their work on this matter.
Announcements
Bob
Seal reported on the SACS Reaccreditation process which has just started.
It is a three year process. Bob
is vice-chair of the Committee overseeing the process, and he announced that
Mary Lane is on the Steering Committee.
Mary
took this opportunity to let the Assembly know about the services the Writing
Center is offering to Faculty and Staff.
Jean
let the Assembly know about a Decree of Appreciation for Dedication to TCU which
mentioned Assembly members John Butler, Jennifer Lowrance, Bob Seal, and Lisa
Winter.
Next
month’s program will be presented by Leo Munson-Distance Learning, and Larry
Adams-International Programs.
The meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.