CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Roll Call

• Voting Members:
• Michelle Larsen, Chair
• Mary Engel, Chair-elect
• Diane Helgeson
• Sheron McIlhattan
• Kristine Mashaw<
• Bob Monnin
• Rose Cain
• Non-voting Members:
• Beth Littlefield
• Kevin Thane
• Sue Martin
• Others Present:
• Ron Ramsfield
• Allen Porter

Apologies for Absence (received after the meeting)

Minutes of the Last Meeting

CEPAC Administration, Budget and Accounting

1. MSU Within the Community Context. After collating and examining all the research, and with valuable input from a variety of people, the study's full report was approved by the Recruitment and Retention Subcommittee and CEPAC members and published on-line on January 22. The URL has been sent to the Commissioner of Higher Education, the Board of Regents, the MUS Director of Labor Relations, President Gamble, the President's Executive Council, Shared Governance partners, the classified staff, MUSSA member organizations, contributors to the research, and upon request to MPEA. CEPAC officers will meet with President Gamble in February to discuss how the report's recommendations will be pursued. CEPAC (and MUSSA) are scheduled to meet the Board of Regents during the February 28-March 2 meeting in Helena. Input from a staff member giving feedback during the report's draft stages recommended a brief presentation for the benefit of the staff. CEPAC members at today's meeting enthusiastically supported this idea and asked Sara France to make arrangements. It was recommended that mid-afternoon towards the end of the week might be the best time for food service, custodial and skilled crafts workers, and should be available to others as well. Kevin Thane commended the report but felt that it could have gone further. Particularly in making more specific recommendations. Limitations of CEPAC's jurisdiction were discussed, but it was agreed that CEPAC wishes to remain involved in the pursuance and direction of report's recommendations.
2. Shared Governance Activity - having discussed potential testimony with its shared governance partners, CEPAC attended the public comment forum offered by the Education Subcommittee during the 2007 Legislative session, on January 23. The Subcommittee was considering aspects of the Montana University System (MUS) budget, including the Governor's proposed College Affordability Plan. In previous meetings, the Subcommittee had acknowledged implications of the State's reduced percentage share of MUS funding and so it was unnecessary for CEPAC to detail this topic. Rather, shared governance support of student success was the focus, citing support for an executive budget that enables more students to enroll in college, and stay enrolled, and the resulting benefits to the State. CEPAC's presence at the forum was noticed by students in various capacities, local and MUS administrators, and other participants; and the worth of the CEPAC contribution has been acknowledged in several ways.
3. CEPAC Montana University System Staff Associations (MUSSA) Activity - the needs assessment for the Pooled Resources professional development and training facility for classified staff will go live on January 29. Every classified employee of the Montana University System will be invited and encouraged to participate, along with some other departmental contacts. Each of the eight campuses is also circulating information and statements of Administration and Board of Regents' support, to faculty, professionals and administrators so as to provide a clear understanding of Pooled Resources and to promote full participation across the MUS. Training resources, in line with the staff's priorities, made evident in the needs assessment, will be made available via the Pooled Resources web site later this semester. Launches of the facility, coordinated on each campus, are slated for the end of March/beginning of April.
4. Supporting Student Success - the next phase of the button campaign has been orchestrated to coincide with MSU Friday (a recruitment event for prospective students and their families) on January 26. CEPAC has delivered buttons, posters and shared governance bookmarks to departmental contacts and class facilitators (from a long list provided by MSU Friday organizers) in the hope of achieving widespread visibility for the campaign on Friday. An announcement has also been submitted to MSU Today.
5. Review of CEPAC Goals and Projects - due to shortness of time, little discussion was held before deferring the topic to the February meeting. It was agreed, however, that further outreach visits would be encouraged for this semester and Sara France will pursue appointments with departments interested in hearing from CEPAC.
6. General Updates
   • Streamline bus fund raising - CEPAC is looking forward to seeing the final draft of MSU's transit-related survey, and subsequent confirmation of whether or not it's necessary to administer two versions.

   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 that UFPUB has received the required periodic report from the Parking Committee (which is an UFPUB subcommittee). A discussion of parking and transit issues ensued. Next, Sheron reported that UFPUB is also considering standardizing signage inside campus buildings. The Sculpture Committee is to be re-instated and Sheron suggested CEPAC inquire whether a CEPAC-nominated member would be appropriate. Sara France will contact Bob Lashaway.
   • Parking Committee - Sue Martin reported that CEPAC was on the Committee's agenda later today to speak about the MSU Within the Community Context research, vis a vis parking, and about parking issues from the classified perspective. On anther topic, the Committee is recommending significant increases in parking fines.
   • University Governance Council - meets today at 4.10pm. Doug Young, Chair of the MSU Benefits Committee will speak about the MUS benefits plan and the scheduled process to receive bids for its third party administration.
   • Provost Sponsored Staff Luncheon Committee - Beth Littlefield reported that participant feedback had indicated a preference for increased networking and discussion at the Provost-sponsored luncheons. The Luncheon Committee has offered the Spring event to the CEPAC-led team which is exploring the feasibility of a staff mentoring program on campus. Invitations to the classified staff will be issued soon.

   At 11:05 am, there being no more time, Rose Cain moved that the meeting adjourn. Diane Helgeson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.