Staff Assembly Minutes
Present: Jean Andrus, Gay Boydston, Emily Burgwyn, Nancy Carter, Jan Fox, Rebecca Glass, Nancy Grieser, Jack Hesselbrock, Elena Hicks, Darlene Housewright, Sharon Hudson, Roger Ivy, Mary Ruth Jones, Gisele Kates, Mary Kincannon, Kristen Lage, Susan Layne, Tommy Love, Sharon McAteer, Beth McLaughlin, Susan Oakley, Vince Pankey, Gabe Perez, Clyde Ridge, Mike Russell, Barbara Savak, Bill Senter, Sandra Tobias, Alison Trinkle, Gail Truitt, Sandra Tuomey, Connie Villela, Esco Weatherspoon, Veronica Whatley, Sallie Wilmoth, Bob Seal, John Weis, Mary Lane, David Grebel
Guests: Ben Jenkins, John Singleton, Sharon Contreras, Pat Jolley, Shari Barnes, Stuart Youngblood, Marilyn Eudaly, Andy Fort
Absent: Lela Cardona, Wendy Crowley, Armida Guzmon, Glen Hulme, Joe Laster, Victor neil, Delia Pitts, Becky Roach, Glory Robinson, John Sweet
The meeting was called to order at 3:40 p.m. Minutes were read and approved as written.
Chancellor's Report
Chancellor Ferrari reported that at the Spring meeting of the Board of Trustees the University's budget for 1999-2000 was approved. This budget was increased by approximately $10 million over last year's budget, but still fell short of meeting all the demonstrated needs for the coming year. As he outlined in the Chancellor's Update on April 3rd, the majors budget categories highlighted were, strengthening academic programs, faculty/staff compensation, scholarships and financial aid, institutional marketing efforts, an array of student services, physical plant support and reducing debt on special projects approved this last year.
Approximately one-third of the new money was dedicated to personnel expenses for salaries and benefits. The institution has taken a major step toward making an adjustment in starting wages for non-exempt staff from $5.73 per hour to $7.25 per hours effective June 1st. Increasing other starting salaries also has been addressed by the implementation of a new classification system of positions based on skills. This new system will be much more streamlined and flexible than in the past. It will remove some artificial caps and barriers and provide a way for individual's contributions to be recognized and rewarded. There is still room for improvement in this area and there will be continued commitment toward that effort with about $400,000 allocated in next year's budget. A merit adjustment pool for continuing salary improvements of about $500,000 has also been established for non-exempt staff who did not benefit from the starting wage increases. A 4% merit pool was also established for faculty and exempt staff. Salary letters are targeted to go out by May 1st.
At the end of this contract year the University anticpates another major increase in health insurance. Another $250,000 of the budget has been reserved for these anticipated health insurance premiums.
Given the tightness of the budget, and the importance of the
wage and salary issue, equalizing vacation benefits and increasing
retirement benefits for non-exempt staff has unfortunately been
put on hold for the time being. These issues will not be forgotten
and could be addressed even in the coming year if there is good
news forth coming on revenue increases.
Approximately $7 million has been designated for physical plant
improvements and repairs this next year. Additional square footage
increases over the last five years and the number of new projects
underway, continues to be a challenge to keep up with all the
costs. Some projects may have to be deferred, based on projections
of the physical plant staff. $2 million has been designated this
year toward retiring debt on facility improvements and residence
hall expansions and other projects already underway.
$1.25 million has been set aside as a reserve and represents less than 1% of the total $169 million dollar university budget.
The Tucker Technology Center now has over 16 million in hand of the 25 million project. This is the largest single effort ever undertaken by the University. The last six months has seen a great improvement in the funding efforts and this is credited to the generosity of Alumni and the hard work of the Advancement Staff. Breaking ground on this project will probably begin in July.
Consultants have been hired to assist with design and cost analysis of improvements to the Student Center and the Rickel facility. This project will require more study and represents some significant financial challenges in the future.
Enrollment for the Spring is up slightly over this time last year and Fall admissions demonstrates a high level of interest in the University from all over the country and the world. International student applications are up dramatically.
All other projects such as the Foster residence hall and the graduate housing project at McCart and Sandage are all proceeding on schedule. The Commision of the Future hopes to have all recommendations from 17 task forces in by June 1st. At that time a small group of faculty, staff and students will be formed to review all the recommendations before they go forward to the Board of Trustees.
A new initiative being considered is establishing a laboratory school at TCU for children of Down syndrome. Rise School is a nationally based methodology for educating Down syndrome children ages one to five. There is a substantial need for this kind of educational facility within the county. A donor has made a significant donation of 1.5 million toward the operations and endowment of a Rise school at TCU. This school will be highly beneficial to not only the children involved but to School of Education and other disciplines as well and will be a wonderful addition to the University.
Sharon Contreras of the School of Business raised the question of salary compression in light of the new salary ranges being implemented. Chancellor Ferrari deferred this question to John Weis of Human Resources.
John Weis reported that the new salary plan will do away with the six pay grades and instead have three bands in a broad banding approach. These three bands will all have new minimum salaries. Band I minimum will be $7.25 per hour, Band II will be $8.50 per hour, and Band III will be $10.50 per hour. Anyone below those levels currently classified within one of those bands will be brought up to the minimum of that band. There is a 5% adjustment pool for those people who do not share in the increase to the minimum within their band.
Nancy Griser of Residential Services and Gail Truitt of Residential Housekeeping both expressed their thanks to the Administration and Human Resources for their efforts in addressing the salary issues and implementing the salary scales.
Presentations
Human Resources
John Weis and Pat Jolley of Human Resources were introduced to further explain the Broad Banding salary program for non-exempt staff. All this information will be available on the new Human Resources web page around April 15th. The Broad Band program, which will be effective June 1st, is fairly common in industry but somewhat unique to higher education. Current jobs have been grouped into job families and then these families have been moved into one of three bands. Each band has a new minimum salary level assigned. This program moves away from a job based program, to a competency based program where knowledge, skills and abilities required. This will bring much greater flexibility and adaptability in compensation.
Jan Fox asked how the new program will affect new hires and the supervisor's ability to begin pay at more than the minimum rate. John Weis remarked that by raising the minimums, TCU will now be at 80% or above the market rate as we hire in at these levels. He also indicated that there will be some provisions in place for hiring above the minimum based skills and competency, which should help in recruiting for specific jobs.
Student Government
Ben Jenkins, President of the Student Government Association, presented a new program called "Main Event" for students. This program attempts to get students to interact with faculty and staff outside their normal routine. All faculty and staff are encouraged to come and participate in "Main Event" which will meet very other Wednesday in the main cafeteria from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Another program being developed for next semester is "Bring Your Own Brain" forum. This will have a discussion format and will cover current issues.
International Student Program
John Singleton, Director of International Student Services, currently works with some 440 international students as well as approximately 100 that have graduated who are working for one year. All of the immigration paperwork is done for all of the international students through this office. International students represent approximately 5% of the TCU student population. The top countries sending students to TCU are Japan, China, and Mexico. The most popular academic schools of choice are the MBA program through the Neeley School of Business, and then Music Program. All students are interested in receiving a cultural experience as well as an academic education.
The International Student office provides a wide variety of services and programs for students. The office acts as a go-between for students with government agencies and helps students acclimate to society through an orientation program at the beginning of the Fall semester. The office provides educational programs that sends international students out into the community. Through the Friendship Family program the international student can stay with a family over holiday breaks. Tax seminars, an International Week, film and lecture series all help integrate international students into the TCU campus and the community. The most innovative program currently being offered is the IEP, or Intensive English Program. Students can take this on-line program from almost any country in the world. Many of the international students come with dependents and the office is currently working to develop a program for those children or wives that will give them a way to participate in the university setting. The International Foundation brings together U.S. and international students by similar interest to work together on specific tasks, which helps raise awareness of internationals on campus.
The main issues affecting the international students are, isolation, housing, transportation, communication and retention.
Committee Reports
Election Committee Rebecca Glass reminded everyone that election ballots are due April 5th. Ballots will be counted Thursday, April 6th, and Friday, April 7th. As soon as the election is complete, officer nominations will begin. Officers for next year will be elected at the May 2nd meeting.
Professional Development Committee Report Barbara Savak reminded everyone of the Brown Bag Session, Thursday at noon on Assault Prevention. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
New Business
Mary Lane introduced Shari Barnes, Director of Employee Relations, and Stu Youngblood, Management Professor of the Neeley School of Business.
Dr. Youngblood and Shari Barnes have been working with the Policy Review Committee on a new grievance policy for the University. The Conflict Resolution Policy is being developed to improve upon a program Human Resources already has in place. This procedure is designed to encourage the prompt and informal resolution of disputes through mediation and the use of an Ombudsperson. A peer review board constitutes the final step in the process for all disputes except those involving employment dismissals that are appealable to the Chancellor. This policy has been endorsed by the Affirmative Action Committee of the University.
Announcements
Mary Lane thanks Pryia Abraham of the Skiff for her coverage
of the Staff Assembly meetings.
Mary also reminded everyone of Dr. Robert Penske, U.S. Poet laureate,
who would be on campus this week. She also encouraged everyone
to fill out the survey in the latest issue of TCU this week.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:13 p.m