Staff Assembly Meeting Minutes
February 4, 2003

Present: Jean Andrus, Chris Arreguin, Ruben Ayala, Victor Baeza, Ross Bailey, Karen Baker, Jonathan Brown, Emily Burgwyn, Jackie Callanan, Alice Carter, Rafael Chavez, Carlene Coover, Kay Edmondson, Marilyn Eudaly, Laurie Fetter, Roger Fisher, Ervey Garcia, Terri Gartner, Rebecca Glass, Julie Graver, David Grebel, Nancy Grieser, Josh Harmon, Jack Hesselbrock, Sharon Hudson, Pam Hughes, Pamela James, Mary Kaszynski, Joe Laster, Tommy Love, Debbie Mar, Jake Martinez, Tara Pope, Barbara Savak, Kathy Smith, Emily Sullivan, DeVonna Tinney, Hao Tran, Darron Turner, Juan Varela, Esco Weatherspoon, David Yale

Guests: Director of Self-Study Program Dr. Bonnie Melhart, Assistant Provost Dave Edmondson, and Skiff reporter Sarah Chacko

Absent: Nancy Carter, Dan Dehart, Marshall Gordon, Ida Hernandez, Dorothy Holland, Jacobo Juarez, Mary Lane, Maria Leyva, Valeria McDougle, Dennis Odom, Donna Shepherd, Alison Trinkle

The meeting was called to order at 3:34 p.m. Chair Karen Baker made brief opening comments, welcomed visitors and reviewed the agenda. The December minutes were approved.

Chancellor's Remarks:
Dr. Ferrari reported on the decisions resulting from the January meeting of the Board of Trustees. The Board approved a 2003-2004 operating budget of $230 million. Tuition was raised 7.9% and room fees were raised 6%. There was a $1.6 merit pool allocated for faculty and staff resulting in a 2% merit pool. Funds were also approved to complete the effort to equalize retirement benefits for all staff (effective June 1, 2003, TCU will contribute 11.5% to all eligible staff's retirement funds). Another $2.2 million was allocated for health insurance and worker's compensation. Chancellor Ferrari said there was $1.7 million in deferred expenses resulting from delays in filling vacant positions. Dr. Ferrari announced TCU's tenth chancellor, Dr. Victor Boschini, current president of Illinois State University. TCU is preparing for the reaccredidation visit later this month. According to figures maintained by Admissions, there is an increase in the number of male applications as well as those by minority populations. TCU will be supporting the Health Wellness Fair February 6 from 11 a.m. -7 p.m. by allowing staff release time to take advantage of a variety of health screenings. Ferrari said he had received the nominations for the Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Service, and the winner will be recognized in April at the Service Recognition event.

Updates of Campus Business:
Dr. Bonnie Melhart, Director of the Self Study, reported that the SACS site visit will be February 25-27. She encouraged staff members to wear nametags during this time so that guests could make inquiries as needed. The team will be verifying information in TCU's report. They may also interview faculty and staff during their visit. There will be a forum about the visit February 18, 4:00 p.m.

Amy Goodson, Planner for Wellness Explosion/Health Fair - Amy is a senior at TCU and an assistant to Rachel Julian, Director of Fitness & Wellness at the University Recreation Center. Amy shared information about the Health Fair scheduled for February 6. She said the purpose of the fair was to promote wellness - which incorporates physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

David Edmondson, Assistant Provost for Information Services, reported information about TCU's efforts to address increasing arrival of SPAM over TCU's e-mail network. He said TCU has a new program that started in mid January. This program tags e-mails that are considered SPAM. If a recipient receives an e-mail incorrectly tagged as "SPAM," Edmondson should be notified. In mid February, those e-mails considered SPAM will be blocked from users of the TCU e-mail system. The recipient, nor the sender, will be aware the e-mail was not received. He reported such efforts reflect TCU's commitment to control and better manage resources.

Josh Harmon - He brought information about the TCU portal. He said the portal will allow users to personalize information from TCU - such as customized links on one page. This will be particularly helpful during University travel. (My.tcu.edu) is a reference point for the portal.

Report from Policy Review Committee:
Hao Tran and Sharon Hudson, co-chairs of the committee, reported the committee's recommendations regarding the proposed PTO plan, funeral leave and short-term disability. The committee moved the Assembly not recommend the proposed PTO proposal for three reasons - 1) the level of satisfaction with the current leave policy, 2) concern over the loss of personal leave, and 3) concern that it wasn't equitable for exempt and nonexempt staff.

A verbal vote was taken, and the committee's recommendation that the Assembly not endorse the proposed PTO proposal passed.

In regard to proposed changes to the current funeral leave policy, the committee stated current policy, then made proposed changes for consideration by the Assembly and all staff. "Spouse" was added to the list of people considered immediate family. To allow adequate time for discussion, Karen Baker asked representatives to gather opinions from their areas and come next month to discuss the proposal. If the Assembly endorsed the proposed changes to the funeral leave policy, the recommendation would be sent to the University's Retirement, Insurance, & Benefits Committee for their consideration. To see the proposed changes in funeral leave, go to <http://www.staffassembly.tcu.edu/Funeral.htm> .

Karen Baker reported that Dr. Victor Boschini, incoming chancellor, had emailed her and asked that she pass along his words of introduction to the Staff Assembly. During Dr. Boschini's visit to TCU, the Executive Committee of the Staff Assembly and past chairs of the Assembly, had lunch with Dr. Boschini. David Grebel remarked that he thought Dr. Boschini had the ability to listen and be engaged. Karen Baker remarked that she had the opportunity to share information about the Staff Assembly during prior interviews with Dr. Boschini.

Committee Reports:
Budget Advisory - Jean Andrus remarked that this committee's task was completed.

Community Service - Julie Graver announced the kid's RAD program was in progress. The committee is considering planting another tree on campus for Arbor Day and planning the Easter Egg Hunt for the RISE School. Graver is serving as the campus-wide captain for Race for the Cure. Applications for the race are available through Graver.

Reading Frogs - Mary Lane asked Karen Baker to announce there are 41 Reading Frogs for the spring semester. Lane is also working on a document for Chancellor Ferrari regarding the year long trial for the Volunteer Time Off program. It will conclude the end of April 2003.
Childcare - Pam Hughes announced the committee had not met.

Committee on Committees - Barbara Savak said the committee was considering an online survey to gauge staff interest in serving on a university committee.

Elections/Chancellor's Staff Award - Emily Burgwyn said that Staff Assembly membership nominations will be sent February 28. The final ballot will be available on-line. If staff opts not to use the on-line voting method, a paper ballot will be sent by personal address. There will be 30 open positions on the Assembly. She encouraged representatives to encourage participation and seek out interested individuals to be on the Assembly.

Professional Development - Alice Carter said the employee's ESL class meets in room 247 of the Rickel on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:45 pm, from now through March 6 and from April 1 to May 8. This semester the class is meeting, but there are fewer students than we had in the fall. We would like to encourage all employees who are interested to visit the class or give Cathy Hutcheson a call at 7485. A membership in the Recreation Center is not required to enter the building for the ESL class. May 1 is the deadline for the financially based Staff Award for Books and Fees. Carter reminded people that the FAFSA deadline (required for the award) is March 1. The spring professional development program will feature Ben Alexander and Dr. Don Mills discussing how TCU is marketed to prospective students.
Bylaws Review - Karen Baker reported the Bylaws committee hopes to present something in March to the Assembly.

Chair's Report:
Baker reported that the Chancellor had responded to the letters sent by the Assembly in regard to compensation/benefits as well as the fee for staff use of the Recreation Center. Copies of the letters were included in each members' packet. The Executive Committee is scheduled to meet with the Chancellor in March. Baker and David Grebel attended the inauguration of Brad Thompson, new president of SGA, and other SGA officers. Baker has been attending joint meetings with Thompson and Dr. Peggy Watson, Chair of the Faculty Senate. The Staff Assembly committed $250 to the Health Fair and also arranged for translators. The Executive Committee is preparing a document for the new chancellor which will provide a brief history of the Assembly and its recent accomplishments. The March meeting has been changed to the Justin Board Room and will feature a benefits presentation by Human Resources. The April meeting will feature Vice Chancellor Carol Campbell on the approved budget. She thanked Mary Kaszynski for providing refreshments. She said that Assembly member Donna Shepherd is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and urged Assembly members to offer encouragement during her recovery.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.