CEPAC Meeting Minutes of September 9, 1998

MSU-Bozeman Classified Employees Personnel Advisory Committee Minutes

September 9, 1998

Present: Roll not taken
Absent: Roll not taken

I. Old Business

First meeting of the fall semester. No old business.

II. New Business

1. Introductions were made as new members were present.

2. Reappointments:

President's Committee on Strategic Planning and Budget Committee.
Three names were submitted to Mike; Bluette Phillips, Roz Wortman and Kathy Griffith.
Benefits Committee:
Pam is off. Pete Boharski has 3 years to serve, Patty Gunderson is serving an additional year, John is off. Joe Miller. Carol Bittinger said she would be interested in serving as did Bluette Phillips.

3. Susan Alt stated that she has a commitment to CEPAC. The purpose of CEPAC is communication between it and the administration. Our role is to give input on personnel policies and procedures, be the advocate for classified employees. Some issues presently being worked on by Susan's office has something to do with driver's licenses, tickets etc. Also working on updating the Termination Check-List. Some want to make it much easier, yet most everyone felt it was an employee's responsibility to tend to what needed to be done before leaving MSU employment. Susan is also working on lifting the 5 day LWP rule in connection with sick leave.-----Sharon M. asked that there be an accurate listing of CEPAC members and their terms. This should be put out on the web plus a list of the committies that CEPAC members serve on and who is serving on what committee presently.

4. Cec Mann has retired from the Long Range Planning Committee. This is a 3 year term and their work will be integrated with the Strategic Planning Committee. VPs and Faculty also serve on this committee. Let Connie know if you are interested. Bluette Phillips said she would be.

5. Diane Allen is being replaced by Helen McFaul on the Provost's Calendar Committee to put together the master calendar. There is not a big time commitment for this committee.

6. Connie is so involved with Banner that she is not going to be able to continue as President. Carol Bittinger is going to take over. It was suggested that we have a mentoring program on-going at all times to allow someone new to step into the President's role easily w/o a lot of problems or disruption.

7. Dawn is so involved with Banner that she too is not going to be able to continue as Secretary. Bluette Phillips is taking over.

8. It was suggested, and everyone seemed to agree it was a good idea, to vote for CEPAC committee members in early April so the new members could attend the meeting in May. Otherwise there seems to be too big of a gap when the committee is not fully staffed.

9. University Facilities Planning Board Report: Sheron M. said they have been working for 1-2 years on construction guidelines for future construction on campus. There will be a university design guidelines outline for contractors to look at. If you have any comments or suggestions please submit them to Sheron in writing.

10. Something was suggested in relationship to a term check-list for Susan Alt.

11. The Wellness budget was drastically cut and services have been reduced greatly.

12. In future we will go back to an original plan last year where committee representatives from CEPAC will submit in writing their reports to CEPAC.

13. President Malone arrived for a long, interesting discussion.

Enrollment figures look good.
They are talking about expanded Freshmen seminars
500 of the most at-risk-students are presently being tracked using advisers and mentors to try to stop them from dropping out, or to better understand the dynamics of what is happening to them that makes them drop out
There is talk about lowering the flat-spot and high cost per credit
Things need to be look at carefully
$ wise it is going to be a very difficult year ahead
Representatives in the legislature are not going to be funding-friendly
There may possibly be a 15% shortfall
Key issue is the bonus. He seemed to think because we hadn't heard much about this from legislators that nothing much was made of it.
He promised to be in closer touch with us during the legislative committee sessions.
Helen told Dr. Malone that she thought moral was low due to the inequality of raises. She asked him to be committed to equal raises. She also asked if cutting units was an option to be discussed. Dr. Malone said it is something that comes up again and again but the political system would never allow it to happen.
There has been talk about community colleges coming under the system but he said it wouldn't happen.
Health benefits under the state plan would be losses. No simple answers. It would also mean that 1/2 time employees would not have benefits.
He would like to see more done with professional development opportunities for Classified personnel.
Kathy G stated that the faculty fully appreciates the Classified personnel. She suggested that the President tap into their support to go to the legislature for more money. She also suggested we needed to get Faculty Council to come to CEPAC. Businesses also need to hear that the faculty is on the side of the Classified personnel.
Carol B brought up the subject of raises verses a process called "adjustments" that gets around raises but basically does the same thing.
Ideas that "might be fruitful" to look into: Work place improvements, Health Benefits, Parking, Professional Development
Time was spent discussing the "ramrodding" of athletics"
Dr. Malone said he would come to CEPAC meetings as often as we wanted him to. He would deal with any subject we wanted discussed, and he would provide us with information requested, or see to it that the right person was at the meeting to discuss a particular issue.
Someone asked what would be useful in lobbying the legislature. Dr. Malone said that basically it makes them mad, but it would be better to be up there during the hearings on specific issues to make contacts and wishes known. He didn't feel that writing was nearly as effective as actually meeting our reps in person and letting them know firsthand what we wanted from them.

14. Someone stated they didn't feel that Bozeman had any idea of the economic impact Classified employees have on the area. We are an integral part of the valley and some how we need to make Bozeman aware of our impact. Diane A suggested we get stickers to put on our checks each time we write one stating that we are an MSU Classified employee supporting their business.

15. If you have any suggestions for agenda items get them to Carol B ASAP for our next meeting.

Meeting adjourned..................

And so it goes..... Submitted by Bluette Phillips, Secretary.