3-2-2005

Staff Assembly ExecutiveCouncil Minutes

March 2nd, 2005

1898 Conference Room 12:00 –1:00 p.m.

Members Present: Marcia Bertholf, Krystal Burns, Mary BethCharleboix,  KarenFranks-Harding,  KimGieber, Linda Sue McClure, Brady Nielsen, Angela Ruff, CraigSchafer, Erin Shields, Trevor Werttemberger.

Guest Speaker: Father Robert  Spitzer, S.J.

Called to order at 12:00 p.m. by  President KrystalBurns.

Approval of the minutesfrom February 16^th..

The Pay for PerformanceSystem - Father Spitzer explains that Thayne will begin todiscuss the Pay for Performance System with the StaffAssembly.  TheUniversity is interested in this as a long range plan for thefollowing reasons:

                 A)   We are the only University in our league of peer institutions thathas no “pay for performance” system, and we need to get into stepand see that we are doing the best practices.

                 B)    In general, “pay for performance” is beneficial to people who’sperformance is average or above average.  These people are overallsatisfied with the system.

Key Elements about the“pay for performance” discussion that Father Spitzer wants us tokeep in mind:

A)   No one is forcing anyone to do anything at this point. This is adiscussion to review the “pay for performance” system.

B)    Funding level will stay the same.

C)   This is not about satisfaction level. The University is verysatisfied with the performance of its employees.  This is about being on stepwith our peer institutions.

Angela addresses thefollowing concerns:

A)   â€œWe would like the narrativeof this discussion”  - Father Spitzer invites thestaff assembly to be present.

B)    â€œWhat is the process fordetermining the non-cupa base pay rate?  The Base is nottransparent.” – Father Spitzer explains that the base levelsare coming from the survey we use, and that concern should be takenup with H.R.

           1) Linda Sue comments that “when an employee talksto H.R. about this subject, they are instructed to gothrough their supervisor.  It is difficult for astaff member to get information about the survey.” –Father Spitzer says he will   talk to Steve Doolittleabout this, because the survey practices should be open forall employees who wish to see it.

C)   â€œThe premise is that thebudget dollars are not flexible now for salaries.  But if we cap it, orreadjust it, it is being flexible, whenever we need to makebudget.” – Father Spitzer explains that the reason for the capis that Gonzaga is the only school who ever gave 25-32% payincreases in one year. The board was appalled.

D)   â€œIf the adjustment is below50% for non-cupa, it raises a question because we know salaryamounts can be flexible.” – Father Spitzer comments that allcaps will be removed if we move to base pay.

E)    Linda Sue brings up the point, “ In order to go to pay forPerformance, we need to improve trust levels with the staff.  Often, supervisors refuseto attend the leadership training programs.  Without supervisorevaluations, how do we know that the “pay for performance” is fair– Father Spitzer assures that practices will be engineered intothe system, and Thayne will work to find a satisfactorysolution.

Other Concerns andQuestions for Father Spitzer:

A)    Angela asks, “Are youlooking at cutting tech. support or training to move ahead? –Father Spitzer assures us that money is always made available forstaff education. Programs start out as temporary, and if we find out that they are agood thing, they become a line item and receive permanent funding. 

B)    Marcia asks, “Are staffgoing to be involved in the strategic planning and visioningcommittee? – Father Spitzer responds with yes, two members ofstaff will be on each committee, and phase three will consistsolely of staff. He closes by commenting that it is nice to seethings improving from everyone’s collective work.

Meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. Next meeting March 16, 2005

By virtue of the bylaws,all Staff Assembly meetings are open unless otherwise designated bythe Executive Council. Everyone is welcome to attend. Meetingsoccur every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 12PM – 1PM inthe 1898 Room of the Administration Building. 

Email address: staff-assembly@gonzaga.edu