Committee Reports
UT Staff Council Meeting September 18, 2003

Issues Committee

Issues Summary
UT Staff Council Meeting September 18, 2003

2003-17: New UTSC Member Orientation - Glen Worley

Objective – Prepare orientation materials for new members of UTSC; explain how issues are submitted and treated; meeting etiquette (e.g. identify yourself whenever speaking); how to use group e-mail or communicate to constituents. (perhaps a cheat sheet on parliamentary procedure?)

Reason – New members of UTSC should have some sort of document that outlines basic responsibilities and obligations of membership in Staff Council.

9/12/03 Accepted with referral to the Communications committee w/recommendation from the ExComm that this be web-based, available to be printed by new UTSC members.

2003-18: Family Med Leave & Sick Leave Hours - Greg Murphy

Objective – To change UT-Austin policy so employees may retain some of their accrued sick leave (2-3 days worth?) when taking time off under the Family Medical Leave Act. Employees could increase their Leave Without Pay during FML by the same amount of sick leave they want to reserve.

Reason – Currently UT Austin employees going on FML “must exhaust all applicable sick leave and vacation. Once that is exhausted, the employee will be placed on Leave W/o Pay for the remaining 12 weeks.” Since employees almost always take FML because of a health issue, many may need to take some additional time off upon their return to work, and since they have no sick time to use, this is not easily done. The Federal policy does not appear to require that all leave time be taken first, so this would seem to be a UT-Austin policy that could be examined and possibly changed.

9/12/03 Accepted with referral to Comp & Class for research.

2003-19: Limited Expansion of Sick Leave Pool Uses - Johnnie Conley

Objective - Access to the sick leave pool for people who are suffering from pain and/or a debilitating condition and are in need of hospitalization for surgery or treatment. This would be on a case by case basis and with a doctor's input.

Reason – Staff member is suffering from a degenerative condition in her knee, which is a chronic disease causing deterioration of the joint cartilage (the softer parts of bones, which cushion their connections to each other) and the formation of new bone (bone spurs) at the margins of the joints. This is a serious condition because the dead areas of bone do not function normally, are weakened, and can collapse. (Note from Didi – Staff member was denied sick leave pool for her surgery & 6 week recovery, as this is not "catastrophic".)

9/12/03 Accepted with referral to Comp & Class for research.

2003-20: Paying for Temporary Disabled Parking - Johnnie Conley

Objective – Exemption from paying for a temporary on campus disability permit while paying for regular on campus parking.

Reason –I am paying for a space in a parking garage and I don't want to lose my space. It just seems like overkill that I should have to pay for a temporary disabled parking permit for on campus parking also. I would rather continue to pay for my garage space which is already a stretch for me. I know that I am not the only person dealing with this type of problem.

Withdrawn – Didi phoned Parking and found that they do NOT charge a UT permit holder for a temporary disabled. Relayed this info to J. Conley.

2003-21: Staff Education Benefit - Philemon Brown

Objective – Revise the standards for how staff apply to UT to be eligible for the SEB.

Reason – Staff member wanted to take a course through the SEB, but was denied admission to UT (as a transfer student). He has a Bach. Degree in Engl Lit & a Master's in Counseling from other institutions, but must compete (based on undergrad g.p.a.) with all transfer students applying for admission. He was subject to the $50 admissions application fee and $20 for transcripts from his other schools. Also, deadline for fall semester is March 1; staff members may not be able to predict their future workload this far in advance to know if they can take the time for the SEB class.

9/12/03 Accepted with referral to Misc. Benefits w/recommendation to contact Philip Dubov/Phil Gavenda - who have extensive knowledge regarding this process.

2003-24: No H.R. staff at UTSC general meeting - Bert Herigstad

Objective – Unless a UTSC representative, no Human Resources staff will be in attendance at a UTSC general meeting. I recommend a HR designee be reachable by phone during UTSC general meetings.

Reason – 1. Their presence may limit full and frank discussion by UTSC reps. 2. I have been told they are there to answer questions; however, in the meetings I have attended, they have never been asked a question! This would save the time and effort of existing HR attendees and allow free internal discussion.

9/12/03 Accepted. Executive/Issues Committees feel that the HR rep is often helpful during meetings and should continue to attend. UTSC meetings are open meetings. ExComm would like to present this as a resolution for immediate vote by Staff Council at Sept. meeting.

2003-25: Attendance at HR Forum mtg by UTSC rep - Bert Herigstad

Objective – Attendance at HR Forum meetings by a UTSC rep. This representative would report back to the UTSC.

Reason – The HR Forum meeting provides information on vital current and future HR issues affecting staff. Advance notice would be helpful to UTSC reps in 1) advising their constituents and 2) allowing for UTSC feedback to H.R.

9/12/03 Accepted and referred to Communications.

2003-26: Expansion of SEB - Kathy Guajardo

Objective – Expand SEB to include extension, audit class, continuing education, and telecampus so that the benefit is available to all staff not just the few that are admitted which we know is a very exclusive club.

9/12/03 Accepted and referred to Misc. Benefits. (* Didi is looking over previous Issues to see if this has not already been addressed.)