Staff Assembly Minutes

 
Present: Jean Andrus, Gay Boydston, Emily Burgwyn, Lela Cardona, Nancy Carter, Wendy Crowley, Rebecca Glass, Nancy Grieser, Jack Hesselbrock, Darlene Housewright, Sharon Hudson, Glen Hulme, Roger Ivy, Mary Ruth Jones, Gisele Kates, Mary Kincannon, Kristen Lage, Susan Layne, Joe Laster, Tommy Love, Sharon McAteer, Beth McLaughlin, Victor Neil, Susan Oakley, Vince Pankey, Gabe Perez, Delia Pitts, Clyde Ridge, Becky Roach, Glory Robinson, Mike Russell, Barbara Savak, Bill Senter, John Sweet, , Alison Trinkle, Gail Truitt, , Connie Villela, Veronica Whatley, Sallie Wilmoth,  Bob Seal, John Weis, Mary Lane, David Grebel
 
Absent: Armida Guzmon, Esco Weatherspoon, Sandra Tobias, Jan Fox, Sandra Tuomey
 
The meeting was called to order at 3:34 p.m. Minutes were read and approved as written.
 

Chancellor's Report

 
The Chancellor's Report was given by Dr. Bill Koehler, Provost of the University. Dr. Ferrari had to be out of town.  Dr. Koehler reported that Dr. Ferrari is working with the Cabinet to finalize the budget which will be presented to the Board of Trustees the last of the month.  Dr. Ferrari asked him to stress that resources are limited and there are more requests and more need than the budget can support. Items that are receiving foremost attention are compensation issues, academic initiatives, diversity initiatives, centering primarily on financial aid for students and institutional visibility and marketing. 
 
The academic dean searches have resulted in three appointments, one in Fine Arts, one in Business, and one in Humanities and Social Sciences.  All new deans are scheduled to begin at TCU around July 1st.
 
As part of the budget process, Becky Roach and Ann Sewell are working to reconcile the personnel roster to the personnel budget worksheets.   All  departments will be contacted to help in this process.
 
Carol Campbell, the new Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Services will begin her duties on Monday, March 13th.
 
Dr. Koehler reported that he flew to Omaha Medical Center last week to visit Robbyn Kindle and present her with the diploma.  He was unable to see Robbyn because her condition had deteriorated.  Her family received the diploma and thanked Dr. Koehler and the TCU community for all they had done for Robbyn.  Doctors are doing everything they can to keep Robbyn stable until a transplant becomes available.
 
Presentations
 
Mary Lane introduced Monica Kintingh, Staff Psychologist of  Mental Health Services, who spoke to the Assembly regarding the University's new Suicide Prevention Program.
 
Monica began by saying that suicide affects all of us.  We are the ones that may see students in down times and could possibly intervene if we were aware of the warning signs of suicide.  Monica provided handouts listing the warning signs, first aid hints and a six-step guide on suicide prevention and intervention. 
 
The rate of suicide has stayed the same for a long time, but the number of suicides between the ages of 20-24 years old is higher.  In 1996 there were 30,815 suicides reported and probably over 3,000  unreported.  No one knows how exactly how many deaths related to suicides go unreported due to society stigma.
 
TCU Mental Health Services has five staff psychologists and one psychiatrist available to assist students and staff.  Anyone with a problem can make an appointment between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to be seen by one of the staff psychologists.  Training is available for suicide prevention through Campus Life and the Mental Health Center.
 
 
Committee Reports
 
·       Staff Award ­ Mary Ruth Jones reported that this award would remain for non-exempt employees who show financial need, and need assistance with books and fees while enrolled at TCU.  The award was originally set up and funded for non-exempt staff.  In order to change it to include all staff, each donor would have to contacted-a difficult if not impossible task.  Mary Ruth asked that a motion be made to change the name from "General Staff Award" to "Staff Award".  The motion was made, seconded and approved. 
 
·       Community Services ­ Mike Russell shared that on  Saturday, April 1st ,  from 11:00-4:30 p.m., there would be a campus-wide community service day call "TCU Leaps".  This event is sponsored by Campus Ministries,  and Student Development Services.  They are offering a variety of volunteer activities that day for all students, faculty and staff  who would like to participate.  He encouraged all staff members to attend.  More information is available on the web site, www.tculeaps.tcu.edu    <http://www.tculeaps,tcu.edu/>.
 
·       Election Committee ­ Rebecca Glass reminded everyone that the nomination ballots are due back March 8th.  The committee will be meeting Thursday and Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to count the ballots in the Bass Living Room.  Anyone who would like to help is welcome to attend.
 
·       Parking Committee Report ­  Nancy Grieser stated that the committee is still waiting for a copy of the Master Plan in order to make suggestions for parking on campus.  The committee had an interesting meeting with the Fort Worth City transportation department.  There were several ideas presented to make the streets around campus safer for pedestrians.
 
·       Professional Development Committee Report ­ Barbara Savak reminded everyone of the Brown Bag Session on Thursday at noon.  This session will be on Stress Management.  On April 6th, there is a program planned on Assault Prevention.
 
·       RIB Committee Report ­  The University is now officially under PacificCare Health Plan.  Jean Andrus encouraged anyone who may have a problem with the health care provider to contact Human Resources right away. 
 
Many of the benefit issues the RIB Committee has dealt with have been approved and forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration.  Some issues like the tuition course fee reduction for employees has been approved.  The recommendation regarding paternity/maternity leave for Faculty, is now being considered by the Cabinet. One issue in regard to not having a  limit on the number of academic hours an employee could take during the summer, was denied by the Cabinet.
 
The RIB Committee considers the issue of compensation such a high priority that they tabled several other benefit issues until the issue of salary is addressed. Those issues will be revisited at a later time.
           
Mike Russell moved that the Staff Assembly recommend to the RIB committee an idea for considering a sliding scale for health insurance premiums based on the employee's salary.  The motion was seconded and approved.
 
New Business
 
·       Kathy Smith came to talk to the Assembly regarding the vacation accrual rate for re-hired employees.  She proposed that the vacation accrual rate for re-hired non-exempt employees be based on their original hire date.  She explained that this action would enable the employee to accrue vacation at a higher rate without having to serve another ten years.
 
Currently employees who have worked over ten years can accrue up to one and one-half days vacation per month.  If there is a break in service to the University, the employee upon re-hire goes back to accruing vacation at the one day per month rate, and has to work another ten years before they can accrue vacation at the higher rate.  Re-hired  employees are however, eligible to claim all their previous years employment for service awards.  They also are able to participate immediately in the retirement program without having to wait the two year waiting period.
 
A motion was made by Joe Laster that vacation and sick leave benefits be consistent with retirement benefits upon the rehiring of an employee.  The motion was seconded and approved. 

 
Unfinished Business
 
Mary Lane asked the Assembly to consider again the proposals made last month by Bob Vann.  After some discussion, it was the feeling of the Assembly that the Online Suggestion Box idea really duplicated avenues employees already have for making suggestions.  Monitoring such a system was also seen as a problem.  The Online Clearinghouse Suggestion was referred to Victor Neil, for possibly developing a web site where unused equipment and furniture could be posted by departments.
 
Announcements
 
David Grebel will be chairing a by-laws committee and will be working with Vince Pankey and Becky Roach.  If anyone has any suggestions, please get in touch with him.
 
Beth McLaughlin will be leaving the University to work for CSC .  She hopes to have Virginia Dias of IBR take over the ESL classes.
 
Gail Truitt announced that the housekeepers were going to have a car wash from 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Proceeds from this event will go to help Robbyn Kindel with medical expenses.
 
The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.


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