Staff Senate Meeting Minutes

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
2006 STAFF SENATE
MARCH 22, 2006
9:00-11:00
1227 UC

MEETING #4

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT: Marlene Pruitt, Diane leach, Amy Kazanowski, Laura Drabczyk, Michelle Barnes, Diane Sigler, William Romej, Judy Walker, Shelly Harris, Paul Beteag, Linda Southward, Bob Crocker, Sandy Kulka, Cindy Kecskes, Lori Kornelson, Sharon Bingley, Betty Greco, and Judy Wilson

MEMBERS ABSENT: Vera Kapulak

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

3. Visitor – Sandie Post from Agenda for Women attended regarding their survey and report to chancellor about the sexual harassment problems on campus. A new letter was sent to the chancellor because his answer to the problems are not fixing the problems. The chair asked Sandie for a copy of the chancellor’s letter to them and a copy of their response letter to the chancellor.

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS:

4.1 Meeting with Faculty Senate – The chair is working with Faculty Senate Secretary to reschedule the meeting for May.

4.2 Staff Senate Brochure - Laura Drabczyk made a motion that for the time being the Mission Statement Committee continue to work on the mission statement and that we use the current mission statement in the Staff Senate brochure, seconded by Judy Wilson. Vote: Unanimous.

4.3 Meeting with Chancellor March 28 th – The chair and vice-chair will attend this meeting. They will be discussing the dependent tuition scholarship program and the need for a letter to all deans, directors and departments supporting Staff Senate members. If anyone has anything else they would like discussed, please send an email to Bill Romej.

4.4 Committee Reports:

4.4.1 Workplace Environment Committee – The committee will be discussing brown bags and a small gift to staff. They will also look into heating and cooling problems in the UC that require space heaters and coats. Since Cindy has pens and other items that need to be stored somewhere besides her conference room, it was suggested that the chair contact Kate Pepin and ask for a locked cabinet. Betty Greco will check to see if she has anything available in the FCS. She will let Cindy know.

4.4.2 Hospitality Committee – The committeewill meet soon.

4.4.3 Benefits Committee – Jeff Evans met with the committee and told them they are to stay away from the word benefit when talking about the dependent tuition scholarship program.

4.4.4 Budget Committee – Nothing to report.

4.4.5 UMake a Difference Committee – Nothing to report.

4.4.6 Recognition Committee – The Senate website has been updated. The new staff award has been eliminated and the team award has been limited to $5,000. A new award has been added called the Chancellor Community Service Award.

4.4.7 Voices of Staff - Asked that the University include in the Dental RFP that dentist have a sticker in their office to display when they accept Option 2. Committee asked that retirees be offered options 2 and 3. Medicare part B has been removed as a retirement benefit. Linda will talk to our benefits committee and ask what we can do to support the retirees.

5. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION:

5.1 Dependent Tuition Scholarship Program – The chair received a draft copy of the program guidelines from the director of admissions. This program covers dependent children only at the undergraduate level. Marlene Pruitt passed out version 1 and version 2. A motion was made by Sandy Kulka, seconded by Linda Southward, to use version 2. Vote: Unanimous.

5.2 Longevity Compensation – Committee will be meeting again soon. They will change the name to longevity recognition instead of longevity compensation.

5.3 Food Service Committee – So far no committee has been created. The Senate agreed with Vice-chancellor Henderson’s suggestion that this committee be created at the Senate’s last meeting. Apparently he has now changed his mind. If the chair hears anything about this committee he will let the Senate know.

5.4 Voices of Staff Committee – Linda Grimm has resigned from the Voices committee. Marlene Pruitt has volunteered to replace her, but is worried about their meeting times. Linda Southward noted that the meetings are held in Ann Arbor once a month sometimes more and meet with President Coleman three times a year. The vote was unanimous to recommend Marlene to replace Linda Grimm.

5.5 Flint Senate – The chair noted that the Flint Senate is set-up differently then we are. The chair will contact them and suggest a summer meeting with us going there.

5.6 Leadership and Development Committee – Cecile Aitchison has agreed to chair the committee. Laura Drabczyk, Judy Wilson and Michelle Barnes will also serve on the committee.

6. Roundtable – Interviews for the Provost’s position will be coming up. Every Senator is encouraged to attend. Everyone was reminded that “Bring your Child to Work” day is April 27. It was noted that the Regents will be visiting campus this spring. The Senate should add this as an item to its agenda for the April meeting. Diane Leach agreed to send individual thank you letters to those who helped get the dependent tuition scholarship program for campus.

7. Future Meetings:

Council: April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 8, December 6

Senate: April 26, May 24, June 28, July 26, August 23, September 27, October 25, November 15, Retreat Dec 13

Respectfully submitted,

Judith K. Wilson
Secretary