Staff Assembly Meeting Minutes
March 2, 2004
Members: Chris Arreguin, Ruben Ayala, Lois Biege, Gay Boydston, Emily Burgwyn, Jackie Callanan, Alice Carter, Terri Chanlatte, Brad Davis, Dan Dehart, Craig Elders, Roger Fisher, Rebecca Glass, Julie Graver, Mesina Gray, Nancy Grieser, Josh Harmon, Sharon Hudson, Mary Kaszynski, Mary Lane, Tommy Love, Debbie Mar, Valeria McDougle, Kevin O’Connell, Gabriel Perez, Tara Pope, Melinda Rubenkoenig, Barbara Savak, Emily Sullivan, DeVonna Tinney, Juan Varela, Shawn Wagner, Esco Weatherspoon, and Paula Work.
Guests: Karen Baker from the Chancellor’s Office, Ralph Carter of Political Science, Jane Kucko of Design, Merchandising and Textiles, John Weis of Human Resources, and Skiff reporter Marco Lopez.
Absent: Ross Bailey, McLeod Baker, Jonathan Brown, Nancy Carter, Rafael Chavez, Randy Cobb, Carlene Coover, Kay Edmondson, Marilyn Eudaly, Ervey Garcia, Rocio Garcia, David Grebel, Kay Higgins, Dorothy Holland, John Householder, Pam Hughes, Joe Laster, Maria Leyva, Amy McDurham, Paula Perez, Donna Shepherd, Tracy Syler-Doctson, Hao Tran, Darron Turner, Robert Vann, David Yale, and Richard Yantis.
Welcome: In the absence of Chair David Grebel, Chair-Elect Emily Burgwyn called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m.
Minutes: The February minutes were approved as submitted.
Undergraduate Experience Subcommittee: Jane Kucko of Design, Merchandising and Textiles and Ralph Carter of Political Science represented the Undergraduate Experience Subcommittee of the Strategic Planning Initiative. Other committee members are Barbara Brown Herman, Don Mills, and Larry Adams. The subcommittee is gathering input from various TCU constituencies to answer these questions: What should be the hallmarks of the TCU undergraduate experience? How does the TCU undergraduate experience relate to the university’s mission? Specific qualities mentioned by Staff Assembly members included:
· Global experience and the study abroad program
· Community involvement and the coordination of community service to make the maximum impact
· Sense of community at TCU
· Opportunities for students to explore politics, religion, and other areas of life that define who they are and what their place is in the world
· Strong academic environment
· Residential experience
· Bi-lingual ability
· Leadership training
· Emphasis on personal responsibility
If members have other suggestions, please contact a committee member.
Chancellor’s Report: On behalf of Chancellor Boschini, Karen Baker discussed the Chancellor’s Staff Award for Outstanding Service. Created by the Staff Assembly, the award is administered by the chancellor’s office. Nominations will be solicited in April with a deadline of May 1. Nominations will be forwarded to each nominee’s vice chancellor, who will then select the nominee from that division. The chancellor will make the final decision and present the award at the opening luncheon in August. Baker reported that the nomination form will be available in both English and Spanish, and that nominations may be made in either language. A gallery will be created to house photographs of the recipients, but the location has not been decided.
Committee
Reports:
Community
Service Committee:
Family Education Session: Tara Pope reported that a family education session was held March 1. More than 100 employees and their high-school-aged children attended to learn about the process of college admissions, financial aid, and the Upward Bound program. The goal of the session is to encourage college attendance.
Community Service: An Easter Egg hunt with KinderFrogs students will be held in April.
Executive
Committee:
Budget Advisory Committee Recommendation: The Staff Assembly, along with the Faculty Senate, recommends that a new university committee be created: the Budget Advisory Committee. This committee already exists, so this is a request to make it a formal, permanent committee. The goal of this committee is to advise the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration about the annual operating budget as it is being developed and to clarify the process to employees by reporting regularly to the Staff Assembly. Staff Assembly will have three representatives on the 10-person committee: the Chair-Elect and two other representatives (one exempt and one non-exempt). One of these three people will co-chair the committee. Members will include three at-large seats appointed by the Chancellor in consultation with the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration in order to achieve balance of constituent perspectives. It is anticipated that student representation will be selected during this process. This proposal has the support of Carol Campbell, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. Please forward any concerns or questions to Emily Burgwyn. The Assembly will vote on this recommendation at the April meeting.
Staff Compensation Task Force: In December Staff Assembly Chair David Grebel formally requested the Chancellor to appoint a comprehensive compensation task force. Thirteen employees were invited to serve on the Staff Compensation Task Force, whose charge is to recommend a long-term compensation policy. Carol Campbell, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, will chair the committee, which has not yet met.
Human Resources
Update:
Health Care Consortium: John Weis of Human Resources reported that TCU is considering joining a consortium of 22 independent colleges and universities in Texas for the purpose of obtaining health care coverage. Weis and Carol Campbell have been involved with the creation of the consortium. TCU will likely make the decision whether to move forward with this consortium within the next 45-60 days. This will be based on a number of factors including the potential for long-term cost savings. TCU will remain self-insured.
Benefits Changes for Temporary Employees: Employees will soon receive information about the tuition and benefits changes for temporary employees. These changes were announced several months ago, and they go into effect on June 1. Weis reported that fees for employees and dependent children will remain the same for 2004-05 as they were in 2003-04.
Long Term Care Insurance: Weis reported that long-term care insurance from John Hancock will soon be available to employees. Several meetings will occur in March to inform employees about this voluntary option. Enrollment will be in March and the program will be effective May 1.
Elections Committee: Craig Elders reported that paper ballots will be mailed this week for Staff Assembly elections.
By-Laws Review Committee: Josh Harmon recommended three proposed by-laws changes. In summary, the past-chair will become part of the executive committee; the chair will make an annual financial statement available to Assembly members; and a new member orientation session will occur prior to the first Assembly meeting each fall. Members are encouraged to read the hand-out and be prepared to vote on these changes at the April meeting. Harmon reported that his committee had considered term limits but decided not to recommend them at this time.
Committee on Committees: Nancy Grieser reported that officer elections will be soon, so Assembly members should begin thinking about nominees.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 4:34 p.m.