01-05-2010

SAEC Meeting

January 5, 2010

Members present:  Rodolfo, Marcia, Erik, Bill, Angela, Anne, Tim, Connie

Meeting with Thayne next week:

  • He has a presentation to make regarding size of the university
  • Has updates on CARES
  • The meeting will be 1.5 hours, 10:30 - Noon
  • Wants to respond to questions or issues we have.  What are they? He wants to have them in advance.  We need to have a variety of people ask the questions/raise the concerns...not just one or two.
    • Anne:  Question regarding the Budget process
      • Budgeting question regarding Spring enrollment?  Follow-up to a budget question.
    • Winter break?  Decisions being made at VP level regarding who gets break with pay and who doesn't.
    • Tim:  Plant staff policy on having to fill out time cards for "appreciation events".  May be a follow-up for employee manual discrepancies.
      • It is a gain for Plant to have the policy regarding 2 hours.
      • History of events goes back to President's office funding but we have been doing it as SA for at least 3 years.
      • Time off to attend is not just a Plant issue.
    • Marcia:  Employee manual.  In past years we would always have staff members be a part of updating the manual.  As president she was asked to assign two people to the task of updating the manual.  The request came from HR (Thayne was over HR).  Did she make that up? 
      • Angela:  Simple question should be status of Employee Manual.  Publication differences, participation differences,
    • Open with a few comments.  Reminder of what Staff Assembly attempts to do - Bill?
    • Anne:  Question regarding secrecy of salaries...why do we need to know?  Might be more about the formula on how it is determined. 
    • Topic about compensation?  Pay for performance? 
      • It has been made clear there is no money for raises.
    • Bill - Winter break
    • Angela - Employee manual
    • Marcia - Performance management
    • Rodolfo - Cares Initiative (Follow up)
    • Erik - Staff Communication/Inclusion
    • Workload might be included in report on optimum size.  There has been a significant change.  Include that in Winter Break
    • Karen - Climate study

Rodolfo - 3 people are coming for AVP candidates visits

  • Jan 21 - 22/Bruce Congdon
  • Jan 28-29 - Leal Noland
  • Feb 4-5/ Patricia Killen
  • Identify two to three pockets of time when we could meet with the candidates - 60 minutes, open meetings

Tim - Committee for sustainability

  • We pass a resolution to become a member of .... American College climate committee?  Quarter million dollars to implement the program.  Outside influence.
  • Agreed to take following steps:
    • Comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality
    • Within two years develop a plan, sign a document to become climate neutral
      • Adopt energy efficient appliance purchase policy/must have energy star
      • Practice a waste minimization plan, recycling programs, etc, etc
      • LEAD buildings cost 1/3 more buildings and then you have to pay to have it certified as a LEAD building

Angela:  Pet Policy being crafted and brought to cabinet soon?  Some employees are very concerned pets may be banned.  Risk Management Committee brought it up in the past.

  •  
    • Risk Management Comm asked that a policy be developed
    • Given to HR to write; will be done soon and brought to the Cabinet
    • CM indicated "it won't be popular"  
    • SA was not included in the discussion
    • Do all voices get to be at the table?
    • Faculty Senate?

Treats at meeting next week?