Staff Assembly Minutes
December 4, 2001

Present: Angelica Acosta, Judy Alter, Jean Andrus, Victor Baeza, Karen Baker, Chris Briones,  John Butler, Emily Burgwyn, Lela Cardona, Alice Carter, Nancy Carter, Rafael Chavez, Carlene Coover, Kay Edmondson, Marilyn Eudaly, Laurie Fetter, Terri Gartner, Rebecca Glass, Marshall Gordon, Julie Graver, Nancy Grieser, Ida Hernandez, Jack Hesselbrock, Dorothy Holland, Sharon Hudson, Harriet Hunt, Donna Jackson, Pamela James, Jacobo Juarez, Mary Kaszynski, Mary Lane, Joe Laster, Debbie Mar, Dennis Odom, Tara Pope, Barbara Savak, Bob Seal, Kathy Smith, DeVonna Tinney, Alison Trinkle, Esco Weatherspoon, John Weis.

 Guests:  Dave Edmondson, Terrie Harbour, Stephanie Polly.

 Absent: Ross Bailey, Chris Erwin, Roger Fisher, Roger Ivy, Jennifer Lowrance, Christen O’Neal, Milton Overton, Joan Owens.

 The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. Minutes were approved.

Dr. Ferrari brought us up to date on the state of the campus.  The Fall semester end is drawing near and Commencement will be the highlight of this semester.  Progress is ongoing in several areas—work on the Core Curriculum; applications for admission are ahead of last year; the Self-study is progressing; the Administration is ever mindful of priorities of the Staff Assembly (next Trustees meeting is January 24-25); and we are all trying to keep the momentum going at TCU!  The new student enrollment for 2002-2003 may be held down in order that student-teacher ratio not be increased. 

The Faculty Senate Chair, Carolyn Cagle and the Student Government Chair, Chelsea  Hudson will be invited to attend the February Staff Assembly meeting.

Yolanda Hughes of the TCU Toastmasters spoke to us as part of our new “Did You Know” portion of the meeting.  She informed us of the purpose of Toastmasters and told us that the TCU meetings are held at noon Tuesdays in room 211 of the Student Center.  She encouraged all interested to attend.

Committee Reports

Community Service - Mary Lane reported that we now have 35 Reading Frogs.

Committee on Committees - Rebecca Glass reported this committee is working on updating the process for staff appointments to University Committees.

Policy Review - Sharon Hudson distributed and went over the recommended policy/guidelines for TCU employees to volunteer in the community.  It was voted to have recommend a year’s trial (30 yea, 3 nay)

Web Page - Kathy Smith told us the latest about the web page and that the address is www.staffassembly.tcu.edu.

Professional Development - Jean Andrus reported on great attendance at the Fall Program, and announced that the Spring Program will be held on February 19, with Chuck Ward speaking about “It’s All About Time.”

Election - Carlene Coover announced that the committee is working on developing a method for on-line voting.

Parking - Nancy Grieser had no report.

Incentive Awards - John Butler thanked Human Resources for their preliminary work toward this report.  He then went over the report his committee distributed.  The report was sent to the Cabinet and Dr. Ferrari.

We then adjourned at 4:55 to enjoy a Christmas reception and to listen to Yuri Blinov’s beautiful piano entertainment.