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CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES
October 11, 2006

Roll Call

Voting Members:
Michelle Larson, Chair
Mary Engel, Chair-elect
Rose Cain
Diane Helgeson
Rich Stafford
Sheron McIlhattan
Dan McGuire
Kristine Mashaw
Non-voting Members:
Kevin Thane
Sue Martin
Darcy Halpin
Beth Littlefield
Cherie Eck
Others Present:
Ron Ramsfield

Apologies for Absence

None were received.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

Mary Engel moved, and Michelle Larsen seconded that the minutes of the September 13, 2006 meeting be approved and the motion passed unanimously.

CEPAC Administration, Budget and Accounting

CEPAC at the Board of Regents' September Meeting, and Associated MUSSA Activity - CEPAC officers described another very successful meeting with the Regents, and with MUSSA colleagues. A report is available at www.montana.edu/staffsenate/bor9-27-06.html. Mary Engel, Chair Elect, also described the day's events from the perspective of first-time attendee.
CEPAC's Shared Governance Activity Shared Governance partners have not met for the last two weeks. However, updates since the last CEPAC meeting are (i) the partners decided that with similar activity in the community, and short time frames, it was not practical to organize legislative debates on campus this month (ii) the Huron Consulting Group report is published at www.montana.edu/cpa/pdfs/huronreport.pdf - an outside assessment of MSU's policies and procedures for distributing Facilities and Administrative funds received from organizations that fund research conducted by MSU faculty. A summary of the report, reviewed by CEPAC today, supports MSU practices and makes recommendations for streamlining current procedures.
General Updates
- CEPAC Chair, Michelle Larsen, has received a memo, supportive of CEPAC's work, from Provost Dooley, following receipt of our 2005-06 annual report.
- President Gamble joins CEPAC at the November meeting, and members were asked to email Sara France with suggested topics for discussion.
Input from Constituents - no new feedback received.
CEPAC role in Streamline bus service fund raising efforts - following last month's presentation on the Streamline bus service, CEPAC discussed Colleen Lindner's request that it consider supporting a contribution from MSU. Sheron McIlhattan proposed a motion that "CEPAC direct Sara France, at the next meeting of Shared Governance partners, to pursue a survey of employees to determine if MSU monies would be considered well spent on the bus system". Rich Stafford seconded and the motion was passed unanimously. In case Faculty and Professional Councils have already pursued other avenues, it was confirmed that CEPAC will survey the classified staff regardless. Sara France will ascertain details of Streamline's funding request to ensure that constituents have appropriate information on which to base an opinion.
FY07 goals - Goals and projects, and their progress updates were discussed:

Goal:	Update:
1. To broaden the involvement of the CEPAC membership in the achievement of FY07 goals, and the execution of planned projects	All members are being invited to each subcommittee meeting. Outreach commitments are being shared (see below)
2. To research how CEPAC might contribute more to the practical resolution of MSU's recruitment and retention situation, and to begin implementing the solutions identified	Goal 2 Subcommittee met 9/6/06 with MSU's Public Affairs Director, and Chief Executive Officer to learn more about the practical functioning of the Montana University System's fiscal management. 9/14/06 CEPAC Officers' meeting with President Gamble gained support for CEPAC's proposal to research recruitment and retention issues in the community context. The President and CEPAC are hopeful of some preliminary information by the time of the November Board of Regents meeting. 9/26/06 Goal 2 Subcommittee meeting with MSU's department of Planning and Analysis to plan the direction of community-based research. Ensuing activities include: studies of employment markets in each university city; review of existing information (eg. Great Falls CoT survey of Bozeman employers; Gallatin Development Corporation, and Census data); consideration of work force demographics. Follow-up activities involving community organizations are also planned.
Project:	Update:
1. Pursue budgeted funds for CEPAC Operations and .75 FTE	CEPAC checking on budget status following last month's Regents' meeting.
2. Maintain and appropriately enhance CEPACS's role as a partner in shared governance; within MUSSA; and in encouraging community collaboration	Each of these items is being actively pursued.
3. Follow-up with outstanding issues from FY06 goals/projects	The list of items was reviewed and actions recorded:

a. reciprocal evaluation of supervisor	pursue further feedback via outreach etc
b. job titles and classifications	gain clearer understanding of issue via Goal #2
c. classified tactics from the Five Year Vision	being actively pursued
d. mentoring for new staff	now a project for CEPAC within MUSSA
e. promotion of the scope of the classified contribution and enhancing employee recognition efforts	research feasibility of outreach reports as Spotlight program features. Professional Council also reviewing employee recognition; pursue via shared governance partnership meetings
f. tracking complete answers to questions raised at outreach	being actively pursued
g. appropriate distribution and utilization of FY06 outreach outcomes	being actively pursued
h. supervisor training	Pooled Resources project
i. recruitment and retention issues	project referred to Goal #2
j. promotion of benefits package	now a project for CEPAC within MUSSA
k. membership involvement	project referred to Goal #1

4. On-going issues:	The list of items was reviewed and actions recorded:
a. Pooled Resources	being actively pursued
b. 360 Review cycle	last review spring 2005. Next review spring 2007
c. departments/groups for FY07 outreach	by random selection
d. select FY07 outreach methods	plan 22 outreach visits for the year - with each CEPAC voting member attending at least two.
e. progress the Supporting Student Success button initiative	pursue suggestions already submitted
f. Regent visits to campus	pursue feasibility of coordinating with Pooled Resources launch activity

Committee Reports

CEPAC-nominated committee representatives have scheduled agenda time at each meeting to personally report on their committee work. CEPAC believes maximum communication to greatly benefit the staff and campus, and so also maintains on-line reporting as well as personal contact.

Below are summaries of reports given at today's meeting, with full information available by clicking on the name of each committee:

University Facilities Planning Board - Sheron McIlhattan reported on the MSU Tomorrow project, and presentations scheduled in the SUB yesterday and today. Other UFPUB business included voting on the site for the academic building, adjacent to the AgBioscience building.
Parking and Transportation Committee - Sue Martin reported that the Committee's first activity was to study its schedule of deadlines. Priority activities include reviewing the parking fee, and fine, structures.
Provost-Sponsored Classified Luncheon Steering Committee - Beth Littlefield reported on the high attendance at the September 27 luncheon, and the good reviews received thus far.
Recreational Sports Advisory Committee - Darcy Halpin reported that Intramurals will be renamed "ASMSU Recreational Sports and Fitness" and that the associated facility will also be renamed. Construction is making slow progress and, meanwhile, the cost of using the facility has been reduced. Locker rooms are currently shared with students.

Sheron McIlhattan reported that University Business Service procedures workshops will be held on October 17th and 19th. Schedules have not been printed this year, but circulated via email.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 11:00 am.

NEXT MEETING: NOVEMBER 8, 2006 IN SUB 106E, AT 9:00AM