THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
2007 STAFF SENATE
March 28 , 2007
9:00-11:00
1227 UC
MEETING #3
MINUTES
MEMBERS PRESENT: Michelle Barnes, Rima Berry-Hung, Paul Beteag, Sharon Bingley, Rachel Buzzeo, Shelly Harris, Monica Hetu, Vera Kapulak, Cindy Kecskes, Sandy Kulka, Bernadette, Lis, Sandie Post, Marlene Pruitt, Diane Sigler, Belinda Soliz, Judy Walker
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lori Kornelson, Linda Southward, Judy Wilson
- CALL TO ORDER
- KUDOS-Staff Senate Council would like to thank the Hospitality & Workplace Environment Committees for their hard work on the recent brown bag and the WEC for the Senator window signs.
- ADOPTION OF AGENDA
- STAFF SENATE GUESTS: Robert Behrens and Robert Gassel-The main topic of discussion was around budget. As we approach the new fiscal year, business taxes expire and we need to find new revenue. The 2.5% increase in appropriations has been determined but where will the money come from? Some items are mandatory increases to our budget. The current proposal has been discussed with the Senior Officers/Deans. We do not know what other universities are doing for tuition increases, but we plan for a 5% increase model. Enrollment growth is being watched closely. The numbers look good, but we need to go beyond admitting and get people through the door. Marlene asked about the salary compression and longevity issues brought forth by Staff Senate. Behrens said it has not been brought forward to the Senior Officers and Deans yet. It will be discussed in April 2007. Gassel informed the group that the Governor has issued an executive order to delay one half of our August payment until October. This is a potential issue (if it is not paid, the University is out $1.5 million). Gassel and Behrens are willing to come back after April (May) to discuss the outcomes of the budget meetings.
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.1 Committee Reports:
5.1.1 Benefits Committee – Nothing to report.
5.1.2 Budget Committee – Nothing to report.
5.1.3 UMake a Difference Committee- Vera Kapulak reported that she had received nominations and that the new criteria had been sent out.
5.1.4 Recognition Committee – The Chancellor’s Recognition Awards are on July 17th. It will be a breakfast at the FSC. Publicity started on March 20th and the last day for nominations is June 8th. Gleaners boxes will be available for donations and hospitality committee is working on food.
5.1.5 Voices of Staff – Keith Bruhnsen from Ann Arbor Benefits spoke to the group on the Prescription Drug program. Because we have heard rumors that co-pays for medical are going up, the group asked why can’t the savings from the Rx be applied towards the costs. Response was that because the Rx program is self funded, the two programs can’t co-mingle. Uniquely Michigan website will be easier to navigate. Time off will be looked at (versus PTO) as well as the possibility of donating vacation time to those who do not have as much.
5.1.6 Public Relations Committee – Accomplishments discussed and Renee Lopez helped design a new logo for Staff Senate that adheres to University guidelines. We will have a consistent look with options. The group would like an email address that could go out that comes from Senate and not from individual people.
5.1.7 Leadership and Development Committee – Susan Steele attended the March Senate meeting. Summary of Discussion below.
5.1.8 Hospitality Committee – Refreshments for the March 14 brown bag were $108.86 total. Next events will be the Staff Senate Picnic on 8/15/07. They will be sending out letters to all old vendors, as well as 5 new ones. The new shirts for the Senators cost $156.12 and the vendor provided great customer service.
5.1.9 Workplace Environment Committee – The Heating and Cooling brown bag was not well attended. The Staff Senate Picnic will be on August 15, 2007. Spring topic will be ergonomics in June. We will also see if the Wellness Center would like to participate. The committee is selecting items for “handouts” at the picnic, should be under $2 a piece. The committee also looked at the ‘Great Places to Work” website. Charles Moton is no longer on the committee.
5.1.10 Election Committee – Nothing to report. Judy Walker has agreed to chair the committee.
5.1.11 Communication Committee – Next meeting is on 3/29/07. Susan Gedert asked that any news be sent within 2 weeks. The newsletter will be sent out in April.
- ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION:
6.1 Senate Archive materials – Does anyone have any materials to archive? If so, all Senate members were asked to send any other information for the archive to the chair.
6.2 Faculty Council – The council will attend the April 16th meeting. We are looking for items for discussion. Linda Southward will attend on Vera Kapulak’s behalf.
6.3 Susan Steele, Guest-Susan asked the group for ideas regarding the type of leadership training they would like. The group would like training on how to be a better leader. They would like to develop chair leadership so that at any point, any staff senate member could have the leadership ability to be chair. Ideas will be taken back to the committee and options will be given. Training could occur at the mid year Staff Senate retreat on June 6th. The Leadership Institute conducted by Robert Behren’s office was brought up as a potential training program. True Colors was also mentioned. Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Organizational Scholarship was also brought up.
6.4 Brown Bag/Dining Services- The presenters at the Brown Bag were good. The room set up was nice. However, the items ordered were not delivered. We ordered healthy snacks and received non healthy items. We also ordered the larger water bottle and received the smaller ones. We asked for assorted teas and received two pitchers of raspberry tea that was not good. We were charged a high gratuity and received poor service. Recommendation amongst the group was to have functions elsewhere. It’s gone beyond the hospitality committee. The group would like to put together a memo to Stan Henderson and then discuss it with him. The group would also like to hear the experiences that people have had. Discussion around using Park Place also took place.
6.5 Administrative Training- Cindy Kecskes addressed the fact that we need a staff training room on campus, one that is specifically designated for this purpose. The PEC is no longer an option due to the expensive equipment in the room. She recommended Room 1152 AB. A motion was made by Cindy to propose that this become a Staff Senate issue. Vera seconded the item. There was a unanimous vote in favor.
7. Senate Goals – tabled
8. Roundtable – tabled
Respectfully submitted,
Rima Berry-Hung
Vice Chair
- Website maintained by jkwilson@umd.umich.edu
last updated 03/14/2007
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