TCU Staff Assembly Meeting Minutes
May 6, 2003

Members:  Jean Andrus, Chris Arreguin, Ruben Ayala, Ross Bailey, Karen Baker, Emily Burgwyn, Jackie Callanan, Alice Carter, Nancy Carter, Rafael Chavez, Carlene Coover, Dan Dehart, Marilyn Eudaly, Roger Fisher, Terri Gartner, Rebecca Glass, Julie Graver, David Grebel, Nancy Grieser, Josh Harmon, Ida Hernandez, Jack Hesselbrock, Dorothy Holland, Sharon Hudson, Pam Hughes, Pamela James, Jacobo Juarez, Mary Kaszynski, Mary Lane, Joe Laster, Tommy Love, Debbie Mar, Jake Martinez, Valeria McDougle, Tara Pope, Barbara Savak, Kathy Smith, Emily Sullivan, DeVonna Tinney, Hao Tran, Darron Turner, Juan Varela, and Esco Weatherspoon.

Guests:  Chancellor Michael Ferrari, Vice Chancellor Don Mills, Faculty Senate members Nadia Lahutsky, Peggy Watson, Sharon Fairchild, Carolyn Cagle, and Andy Fort, Student Government Association members Chelsea Hudson and Brad Thompson, human resources employees John Weis, Pat Jolley and Shari Barnes, chancellor’s office employees Mary Nell Kirk and Jean Walbridge, Diane Foucault of extended education, Nowell Donovan of geology, and Bob Seal from the library.  Also present were new members of the Staff Assembly and several staff members from the office of residential services.

Absent:  Victor Baeza, Jonathan Brown, Kay Edmondson, Laurie Fetter, Ervey Garcia, Marshall Gordon, Maria Leyva, Dennis Odom, Donna Shepherd, Alison Trinkle, and David Yale.

Welcome:  The meeting was called to order at 3:33 p.m.  Chair Karen Baker welcomed guests and reviewed the agenda.  Baker introduced Chancellor Ferrari and past Staff Assembly chairs Mary Lane, Jean Andrus, and Bob Seal.  She recognized representatives from the Faculty Senate (Nadia Lahutsky, Peggy Watson, Sharon Fairchild, Carolyn Cagle, and Andy Fort) and the Student Government Association (Chelsea Hudson and Brad Thompson).

Minutes:  The April minutes were approved.

Election:  Ballots were submitted for election of officers for 2003-04.

Baker thanked other people who have supported Staff Assembly in the past year:  Skiff reporters Amy Johnson and Sarah Chacko and members of the human resources staff--Pat Jolley, Shari Barnes, and John Weis.

Chancellor’s Remarks:  In his remarks, Chancellor Ferrari commented how much he has enjoyed his five years at TCU.  He recognized the recent accomplishments and acknowledged the challenges that remain.  TCU’s spring class consists of more than 1200 graduates, the largest ever, and TCU received a record number of applications.  He outlined several accomplishments of the Staff Assembly:  the heightened awareness of the contributions of staff to the university, equalized retirement benefits for all staff members, more staff serving on university committees, involvement of staff in the Reading Frogs program, mediation, and the creation of the Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service.  He pointed out the strong ties among the Staff Assembly, the Faculty Senate, and the Student Government Association, ties that are unusual in universities.  Baker thanked Chancellor Ferrari for his support of the creation and activities of the Staff Assembly and also thanked Vice Chancellor Don Mills for his support.

Committee Reports:  Committee chairs gave brief reports about the accomplishments of their committees throughout the past year.  While many of these activities have been covered in minutes from previous meetings, here are some highlights:

• Nominated 60 staff members to serve on 18 University committees.
• Coordinated staff participation in 10 different service projects, including TCU Leaps and RADKids, and participated in activities with Rise School children.  The Reading Frogs program was particularly successful, with approximately 600 volunteer hours committed.
• Created the Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service.
• Considered a paid-time-off (PTO) proposal, which was not recommended.
• Considered revising the funeral leave policy, which is still under review.
• Presented two professional development seminars for staff.
• Coordinated Spanish class for staff members and endorsed ESL classes.
• Added photographs of representatives and several new pages (many in Spanish) to the Staff Assembly website.
• Supported the Wellness Fair with a financial donation and Spanish translators.

Baker thanked committee chairs and recognized the finalists for the Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service.  Baker then thanked her co-workers in residential services, especially Roger Fisher, and Mary Nell Kirk and Jean Walbridge in the chancellor’s office for their support of Staff Assembly this year.  Fisher presented Baker with flowers.

Chair’s Report:  Baker introduced new delegates and recognized departing delegates of the Staff Assembly.  Baker referred attendees to the annual report which summarizes accomplishments for the year:  http://www.staffassembly.tcu.edu/annrpt2003.htm.  Because some business is not complete, a meeting has been called for June 3 at 3:30 p.m. in the Justin Boardroom to continue discussion on the funeral leave policy and the bylaws revision, to initiate discussion of the possible increase in parking fees, and to discuss changes to the conflict resolution policy. 

Farewell to Chancellor Ferrari:  Former Chair Jean Andrus described the creation of the Staff Assembly, which was encouraged by Chancellor Ferrari.  When Ferrari arrived on campus in 1998, he was approached by representatives from the Office Staff Personnel organization with two goals:  equity in retirement benefits and the creation of an inclusive representative group of all staff.  He encouraged them to explore possibilities, and the result was the creation of the Staff Assembly. (Both goals have been met:  the retirement benefit is equalized as of FY04.)  Andrus and Baker thanked the chancellor for his support of Staff Assembly, and Baker presented him with a geode on a plaque. 

Baker thanked Nowell Donovan for the geode and Barbara Standlee for creating the table tents used at the meetings.  She recognized the members of the executive committee and thanked them for their work this past year. 

Elections:  Election results were announced.  Officers for 2003-04 are David Grebel (chair), John Butler (chair-elect), Alice Carter (secretary), and Emily Burgwyn (assistant secretary).  Historian, parliamentarian, and committee chairs will be appointed soon.

Passing of Gavel:  Baker presented the gavel to incoming chair David Grebel, who thanked Baker for her work as chair and presented her with a gift.  Grebel thanked those who have served in the past.  His goals for the Staff Assembly are to continue to serve as a voice for staff members about compensation and benefits, to involve employees in community service to TCU and Fort Worth, and to mentor one another in continuing leadership development.  He introduced Diane Foucault in Extended Education, who will support him as he takes on the chair’s responsibilities.

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m. and attendees enjoyed refreshments at a farewell reception for Chancellor Ferrari.  Piano music at the reception was provided by Xiao-feng Wu.