Minutes for September 2007

Thursday, September 20, 2007, 2 p.m.
Avaya Auditorium - ACES building

Members Present

Timothy Barber, Sharon Bernard, Craig Blaha, Benjamin Bond, Linda Breining, Layne Brewster-Smith, Johnnie Conley, Tommy Downey, Vickie Drake, Lara Eakins, Nelson Fahlund, Danielle Fournier, Lisa Gentry, John Goutier, Chrissi Guerrero, Phillip Guerrero, Bretna Hackert, Martha Harrison, Janice Hejl, Sarah Hickey, Sara Jackson Watson, Emil Kresl, Vicki Kullberg, Shelton Lewis, Debra Madden, Gary Martt, Cindy May, Jennifer McClain, Michael McFarlin, Domingo Morales, Rita Moreno, Joyce Moyer, Linda Overton, Eric Patkowski, Elaine Rafferty, Ben Rodriguez, Christopher Scherer, Mark Smyth, Allison Supancic, Meredith Taylor, Barbara Thompson, Mindy Thompson, Robert Walker, Erin Waneck, Leigh Ashley Williams, Blake Willms

Members Absent With Notification

Denise Berry, Steven Brahm, Greg Browning, Drew Carls, Dreya Johannsen, Troy Johnson, Rebecca Ledbetter, Pamela Owen, Monica Pena-Mercado, Janet Reed, Dixie Terry

Members Absent

Antonio Alfau, Emily Barrett, Joe Barroso, Gus Castellanos, Bob Hemby, Richard Lee, Martha Ramey, Felix Sanchez Jr., Henna Tayyeb, Evan Turner, Helen Wormington, Denise , Vicki Nguyen-Student Rep

Meeting commenced at 2 p.m. with quorum present.

Chair:

• Introduces Ted Hibler, General Manager, AT&T Executive Education &Conference Center, FLIK International, Inc.

Ted Hibler:

• AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center will be used to provide a world-class learning environment for academics and business professionals. The center will enrich the university by hosting conferences, seminars and continuing and executive education programs.
• Along with this new building comes 525 new parking spaces (currently for clients only), 297 Guestrooms, Meeting Spaces with high-tech A/V, Ballroom, courtyard with gardens, swimming pool, Wi-Fi, several classrooms (tiered and breakout), and three restaurants.
• What is presently The Campus Club will become one such restaurant (The Carillon). They will close the current Campus Club and all employees will be given the opportunity to apply to work at the new location. The other two restaurants include a cafeteria-style facility and a sports bar.
• This is a market driven facility.
• Priority registration will be given to those groups that book 25 rooms or more and therefore the center may be less accessible to the university community such as departments, administrative units and employees.

CHAIR:

• Thanks Ted and introduces Richard Finnell.

Richard Finnell, editor On Campus

• Distributes handout with mission for Our Campus.
• Geared toward faculty and staff including their organization’s minutes, listings of such meetings and columns from their officers. Feature stories and news stories pertinent to university staff and faculty as well as honors, awards and other recognition earned by campus employees will be highlighted.
• Contact: Richard A. Finnell, editor (512)232-2214

CHAIR:

• Thanks Richard and introduces Julien Carter, Associate Vice President for Human Resource Services.

Julien Carter

• Distributes handout pertaining to new policy.
• HRS is reviewing ALL of the university policies and, as changes are made, they will be brought to UTSC’s attention.
• Discipline and Dismissal of Classified Employees (Draft) - This is mainly to clarify the wording "at will employee". Classified employees do not have tenure.
• The model policy states there must in fact be a valid reason for dismissal and sets the guidelines for discipline and dismissal which each institution of the University of Texas System shall follow. This policy will not give rights to employees that are contrary to the employment-at-will doctrine.
• Other changes include the appeal process, which is somewhat “simplified”.
• The hand out is a draft and not to be circulated until approved by HRS. The Executive Committee will meet with Julien to discuss the concerns from the Council over the draft.
• Future reworks include flex time and tele-communication

Q&A

Joyce Moyer 462: How many people are going to be let go at the Campus Club?

Campus Club administrators have worked out with FLIK to hire some of the employees, however, about 5 to 7 were not placed. Staff Council has recommended that HRS offer various training to staff that were laid off, making them more marketable in the job market. Training on *Define, and other skills necessary for several jobs on campus were proposed.

Eric Patkowski 291: Were the people from the Campus Club outsourced?

We try to work out if the employee wants to work for the new entity and get them something comparable to what they had at the university. Otherwise it is a layoff and they are able to apply for positions with the University of Texas Systems under SCP.

Chair: What does SCP mean?

Special Consideration Program

Chair: What does that look like, what services do you provide?

We offer sit-down interviewing training as well as resume writing aid. Applications are flagged for hire.

Linda Breining 251: “At-will” any reason or no reason at all. Does the model policy include PMP?

JC: No the PMP is different but we believe we need to coordinate those to coincide with each other. The Model Police does not mention the PMP.

Chris Shear 511: What is the difference between 6 month probation and “at-will?”

During the 6 month period you do not get an appeal and must have cause after 6 months.

Chair: What is the difference between “at-will” and right to work?

Right to work states only means that you don’t have to be in a union if you don’t want to.

Mark Smyth 451: Since the Campus Club falls in my district, have they been notified of the coming closure?

All workers have been notified months in advance and all have met with Flick (the new management company)

How does the University feel about people who are not given official notice that their jobs will end.

They are supposed to be given 60 days notice. If you can, give me more detail afterwards because that is our policy and practice.

What determines “classified”?

JC: will give a list to Erin

Chair: Thanks Julien Cater

Change in order of Agenda

Quorum Present

By-Laws Chair Eric Patkowski (handout pertaining to new changes)

• Motion moved for Discussion (past)
• Joyce Moyer 462: this gives the Issues Committee a lot of power.
• No, all it is doing is adding a definition to the glossary.
• Debra Madden 382: : We believe this is a conflict of interest to help constituents draft their issues. District Reps should do any tweaking before turning in with the author of the issue.
• Erin 692 Explained that as chair, the Issues Committee was invited to discuss viewpoints with the executive committee last summer and no one responded by email or in person to discuss. Any changes to what the purview of the issues committee is would require a bylaws change and vote of the council.
• Motion to vote on definition
• Vickie Drake 130 2nd Motion
• Motion passed to accept changes

Issues Committee Chair Debra Madden 382 Proposals for the month

Proposal #1: 2007-1, Establish Equity of Criminal Background Checks for Faculty and Non-Faculty

• Vickie Drake 130 motioned to investigate and report
• Chris Shear 511, 2nd motion
• Motion passed to investigate and report

Proposal #2: 2007-2, Disparities in the Amount of Premium Sharing the University Pays for Employee

• Chris Shear 511 moved to not validate due to addressed in the past
• Vickie Drake 130, 2nd Motion
• Motion passed not to validate

Proposal #3: 2007-3, Bylaw Change for Election of Officers

• The Chair opened the floor to discussion. Sharon Bernard explained that continuity in leadership was important. Chair stated that the previous chairs had all served two terms and that it could be a mistake to not let the council chose their leadership every year. Be re-electing their chair they are giving a vote of confidence in that individual, and allowing new members to vote as well.
• Erin Moved to not pass
• Vickie Drake 130, 2nd Motion
• Motion passed not to validate

Proposal #4: 2007-4, Recycled Paper

• Discussion ensued. Recycled paper is not always available and will not function in some printers. It is also more expensive and therefore can be cost prohibitive.
• Danielle Fournier 210 moved to not validate
• Chris Shear 511, 2nd
• Motion passed not to validate

Proposal #5: 2007-5, Staff Council Committee Assignments

• Chair opened for discussion. Chair stated that summers are difficult with vacations. The chair of the Committee on Committee’s was on vacation so the assignments were delayed. She also indicated that the Faculty Council doesn’t meet in the summer, so it is not unusual that assignments may take a while. This year however was an exception. Someone suggested that we could at least make assignments for current members beforehand, while new members could be assigned later.
• Chair opened for discussion
• Discussion led to an agreement for further discussion at the retreat
• Proposal still open

Proposal #6: 2007-6, Staff Council Historian

• The importance of having a formal position to keep records was emphasized. A way of keeping records and organizing them was important.
• Vickie Drake 130 move to pass
• Mark Smyth 451, 2nd
• Motion passed

Proposal #7: 2007-7, Insurance Benefits for Foreign nationals without US Citizenship or Residency

• -Danielle Fournier 210 recommended move to be Insurance Committee
• Vickie Drake 130 moved to investigate and report by Insurance, plus right letter to HR
• Chris Shear 511, 2nd Motion
• Motion passed to investigate and report with letter

Chris Shear 511 will give another tour of facilities in October of the control room.

Chair ask for any new business

Secretary asked to accept the July and August Minutes

• moved to pass
• 2nd motion
• Motion passed

• Alison Supancic 422 chosen to represent the UTSC on the Safety Committee. JC will send the Safety Rules to Erin
• Police Oversight Committee—member not selected by the President at this time.
• Joyce Moyer 462: What happening about the canvass covering the walkway by the NOA building?
• Facilities chair is absent. Danielle will look into it.
• Sharon Benard 220: Would like to stop all the presentations and hear reports from each Chair at each meeting.
• Chair explained that the Executive Committee had voted last year to have the group from the AT&T center come and they estimated their presentation would take 15 minutes. There was debate about whether to have the presentation at the UTSC, however, there are several staff that plan events that will utilize this facility, so it seemed appropriate. It was duly noted that the committee chairs need to present monthly even if they have no advancement in their issues.

Chair

• Erin motioned to adjourned
• 2nd
• Passed
• Thank you everyone for coming

Meeting adjourned at 3:36 p.m.

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