1. Supervisor Training - Bob O'Driscoll reported on a meeting between Personnel and Payroll Services and CEPAC on May 11 at which input, ideas and suggestions were exchanged. Some training offerings will be available in the Fall. Sara France reported that supervisor training has been suggested, by CEPAC-equivalent organizations across the State, as a topic for the Regents' presentation in July. The matter was further discussed with President Gamble (see below).
2. Venue for FY06 CEPAC meetings - Sara France reported the resolution of the difficulty in finding a room for FY06 meetings. Meetings will continue to be held on the second Wednesday of the month, from 9-11 am, generally be in the SUB. Notification of the venues will be publicized as appropriate. Sara respectfully requested that the August 2005 meeting to be moved from August 10 to the 17th (or for a member preferred to take Minutes on the 10th) as Sara is on leave on the 10th. CEPAC agreed to the date change to 8/17.
3. CEPAC "bulletin" for circulation in June - Sara France had circulated draft materials (a cover letter, notification of committee rep vacancies, summary of FY05 CEPAC activities) and outlined the options for their distribution. CEPAC instructed Sara to send all the materials, by mail to Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance employees, and via e-mail notification of the URL of the same information, to all classified staff.
4. Board of Regents Faculty/Staff Fee Waiver Policy - Sara France followed-up on CEPAC's April 13, 2005 request for more information on this subject. A discussion ensued and CEPAC deemed pursuance of a pro-rated benefit for part-time staff an inappropriate use of the Committee's limited time and resources, as compared with efforts of benefit to a greater proportion of employees (e.g. cost of living issues). It was agreed that no further action would be taken on this project.

GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Concerns Raised via the Comments Box - no new concerns received.
2. July Board of Regents Meeting - Sara France reported that the Regents are holding a planning retreat in July, the month in which classified staff usually have agenda time. Regent Mercer had offered classified staff to continue to meet, but the scheduled time had been moved from 12.30 pm on the Thursday of the meeting to 7 am on the Friday. Sara understood that the Commissioner of Higher Education had offered to cover overnight expenses. CEPAC officers have been in regular contact with CEPAC-equivalent organizations across the State regarding the content of a breakfast presentation on July 15.
3. Future agenda items - no discussion was had on these topics, but Bob O'Driscoll reminded CEPAC that it would soon be time to formulate goals for FY06

CEPAC BUDGET AND ACCOUNTING

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Dawn Watkins reported that Allegiance had been supplied with the information they require for the July 1 change of third party administrator. Dawn understands Allegiance is hoping to issue informational packets to employees around June 17. Allegiance has agreed to utilize generated IDs upon request. Application forms for this are available from Personnel and Payroll Services.

Mark Reinholz reported that the Strategic Planning Committee had been asked, by UPBAC, to set up and oversee a committee for information technology. Please send ideas for the make-up and scope of such a committee to Mark.

ITEMS TO PROGRESS

MEMBER RECOGNITION

Sara France was also recognized with a plaque for Excellence in Service, presented by President Gamble.

SPECIAL BUSINESS - visit with President Gamble

Next, the President updated CEPAC on the progress of the draft policies for Board of Regents' professional contracts, and much discussion took place around the issue. He remarked that a perception exists that there is no structure to the way in which Regents' contracts are applied and used in Bozeman, but we are using a defined and functional policy. This will be shared as the drafting process continues and the issue comes before the Regents again in September. Bob O'Driscoll referred to CEPAC encouragement of fair and equitable reward, and discussion turned to philosophies across the MUS. Sara France spoke of CEPAC's support for the maintenance of flexibility in the use of professional contracts, and how the production of the current drafts has highlighted inadequacies within the classified pay scales and titles. President Gamble considered these remarks as fair, and suggested that CEPAC meet with Professional Council to exchange each group's perspective, and for CEPAC to review Leslie Taylor's summation of information related to this issue. He acknowledged CEPAC's voicing of respect for other organizations' views and efforts with respect to the current process.

President Gamble openly raised the subject of his recent 360 review. He thanked CEPAC for its input, and described the review as positive and generally complimentary. He spoke of how comfortable he feels working with the staff, faculty and students, and what a good fit MSU is for him. President Gamble mentioned that he is now addressing a concern of Northern, Great Falls and Billings regarding confusion about the relationship between the MSU campuses, having previously been waiting for input from the Regents.

The conversation then turned to salary and cost of living issues and, again, much discussion took place. In summary, the President continues to be concerned about salary inequities and cost of living issues, and is grateful for supportive, Shared Governance activity in this regard. He referred to the "Bozeman 20:20" (http://www.bozeman.net/planning/MstrPln/2020Text/2020Intro.htm) plan and cited extraordinary growth predictions for the city over the next 10 years.

A general discussion followed related to parking, construction and other campus improvements/activities. Among other suggestions, Sue Martin offered that outside vendors be rented space within new constructions, to help defray building costs. Mark Reinholz also recommended more comprehensive commuter bus services within Bozeman and the surrounding area.

Bonnie White raised the issue of supervisor training, and President Gamble reiterated his support and long-time encouragement for creation of suitable offerings. The role of resource and revenue was acknowledged, as well as the potential for sharing expert personnel across the campus, and university system.

Sara France briefly referred to CEPAC's recent voluntary 360 review as in-keeping with the President's encouragement of assessment and accountability, and the staff's request for opportunity to evaluate organizations and persons impacting them. Sara undertook to provide the President with a copy of the review's outcomes in due course. Discussion reflected the importance of assessment (smaller measures indicating how well we are performing) and accountability (broader measures, reflecting what we are doing beyond campus) to improvement and growth.

At 11.20 am, there being no further available time, Bob O'Driscoll thanked the President for attending, and the meeting adjourned.