MSU-Bozeman Classified Employees Personnel Advisory Committee Minutes

February 11, 1999

• Present:   Diane Allen, Susan Alt, Carol Bittinger, David Eklund, Jennifer Fennema, Kathy Griffith, Darcy Halpin, Lloyd Hansen, Jenny Knickerbocker, Dianne Kramarich, Helen McFaul, Bluette Phillips, Nancy Topel, Sharon Townsend, Dawn Watkins, and Brenda York, and
  

• Absent:   Jill Allison, Pete Boharski, Donna Gollehon, Patty Gunderson, Connie Hupka, Roberta Kerr, Sharon McIlhatan, Joe Miller, Larry Miller,
  

I.  Old Business

• Last month's minutes were tabled.
  
• MPEA Negotiations:
  
  • Proposal by MPEA: 4% + .40/hour, 2% longevity with 3d and 4th increments, $15 1st year insurance, $10 for 2nd year
    
  • Meeting with Board of Regents and Commissioner of Higher Eds' negotiator. "There is frustration".
    
• Board of Regents Meeting:
  6 Campus reps met to decide what to say to the regents. UM & MSU are the only 2 campuses with organizations. Other campuses felt lost. Reps then met with MPEA reps, but MPEA only wanted to discuss salary. The group felt there was much more to it than that, not for short term but long term. The Board of Regents only planned to meet to plan future meetings. It was apparent they knew little about the classified structure. Each campus explained their structure. Someone needs to go to the Board of Regents meetings. Carol B will go to the one in March. Ag stations and extension services need to be part of this. Regent Roehms was VERY positive. Carol B. had a conversation with Mike Malone following the meeting and told him that if the BOR only accepted the state plan it would not be acceptable to us. We need something tangible now! Mike had not talked to Pat Davidson and Crofts. but planned to talk to Crofts today. Davidson was out of town until next Wed.
  All of us should be writing to Mike Malone and Crofts. Use the worlds 'tangible' and 'fair and equitable'.
• Appointments:
  
  • Sexual Discrimination Appeals committee : Helen McFaul and Dan Wise
    
  • Interim Provost Search Committee: Pat Chansley
    

II.  New Business:
It was decided that an employee distribution list for email needs to be established. We need to pursue making sure that everyone has access to a computer for email, everyone has an email address, and everyone has the opportunity to attend email training.

III.  Standing Committee Reports

• Affirmative Action - Darcy Halpin: no report
  
• Benefits Committee - Pete boharski, Paty Gunderson, Joe Miller: no report
  
• Employee Wellness - Diane Allen: no report
  
• Long Range Planning Committee - Kathy Griffith:
  

  President Malone has asked the Long Range Planning Committee to identify goals in distance learning for MSU-Bozeman. Following are some of the concerns the committee had at the January 29, 1999 meeting.

  • There seems to be a perception that distance learning is an inexpensive way to provide education. This is not the case.
    
  • How does one estimate the true cost of distance learning? Faculty time must be considered for course development and implementation, as must the replacement cost of equipment used to deliver courses.
    
  • There is evidence of a high attrition rate for distance delivery courses. Students may underestimate the time and ongoing commitment required for such classes.
    

  Ways to distribute the cost of distance classes needs to be evaluated. There are some people on campus who might be able to give insight into the costs: Kim Obbink, David Todd, Pat Butterfield, and George Tuthill are a few.

  How will MSU respond to distance learning?
  

  • MSU may decide to serve niche markets in areas of expertise for which MSU is best suited.
    
  • Should distance learning programs be self-supporting through grants and/or tuition? A suitable statement may be that, "The additional costs of distance learning will not come out of the existing instructional budget."
    
  • Cost and quality of distance learning opportunities appear to be primary issues for MSU.
    

  It was agreed that Jon Waith, Chair, will contact several people to ask them to address issues related to distance/distributed education, particularly the issues of associated costs. The LRPC will then draft a statement regarding where MSU should aspire on distance education, hopefully before the March Board of Regents meeting.
  

  The Long-Range Planning Committee will meet Friday, February 12, from 2:00 to 3:30.
  

• President's Committee on Strategic Planning - Roz Wortman: no report
  
• Provost's Calendar Committee - Helen McFaul: no report
  
• Traffic Appeals - Jill Allison, Bluette Phillips: no report
  
• University Planning Board - Sheron McIlhattan: They hope to finalize document by May 1. Input was received from many sources including Planners from Bozeman and other campuses.
  

  Next CEPAC meeting is March 10 in the President's Conference Room in Montana Hall.
  

Bluette Phillips