CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Roll Call

• Voting Members:
• Mary Engel, Chair-elect
• Diane Helgeson
• Sheron McIlhattan
• Kristine Mashaw
• Bob Monnin
• Dan McGuire
• Rose Cain (at 9.45 am)
• Non-voting Members:
• Beth Littlefield
• Kevin Thane
• Christina Riffle
• Carol Shannon (at 10 am)
  Others present:
  
• Sara France

Apologies for Absence

Minutes of the Last Meeting

CEPAC Administration, Budget and Accounting

1. Board of Regents' Meeting. Mary Engel reported on her attendance (along with Michelle Larsen and Sara France). The MUS Staff Associations (of which CEPAC is a member) met before and after their scheduled agenda time with the Regents. Further details of CEPAC's research: "MSU Within the Community Context" was presented. The Regents were interested in the information, and in recruitment and retention issues across the MUS and confirmed that they needed no more data. They referred the issues to the OCHE Recruitment and Retention Task Force and requested a full report and suggested solutions, from the Task Force, at the September Regents' meeting. Mary and Sara also attended the Staff and Compensation Committee meeting on March 1 at which a similar discussion took place between the Committee and University executives.
2. OCHE Recruitment and Retention Task Force. Sara France (one of the Task Force members from MSU) reported on its first meeting March 16.
3. Shared Governance Activity - CEPAC meets with representatives from Faculty and Professional Councils and ASMSU each week during the academic year. The main focus of recent discussion has been recruitment, retention and salary issues. Notes from the meetings are available at www.montana.edu/staffsenate/ctteerep-ugcsc.html.
4. CEPAC Montana University System Staff Associations (MUSSA) Activity - Inventory for the Pooled Resources professional development and training facility for classified staff is being solicited. Response has been disappointing, due to staggered spring breaks across the MUS and pressures of work for MUSSA members. MUSSA will conference by telephone next week to review the inventory's progress in light of the facility's launch later this semester.
5. Review of CEPAC Goals and Projects - CEPAC members have conducted some very valuable outreach meetings this semester. However, pressures of work have not allowed as many as last year. Meanwhile, CEPAC has conducted several surveys and interacted with staff directly in different ways (e.g. the Provost-sponsored luncheon).

   CEPAC's 360 review will be conducted next month.

   The team exploring mentoring options meets on Friday to review the wealth of input from staff via the Employee Experience Survey. Recommendations to follow.

6. Budget/Administration. CEPAC members will consider an appropriate user for, or place to lodge, the recently replaced CEPAC computer with the aim of affording maximum CEPAC-associated usage for this machine.
7. Communications from Constituents. An anonymous suggestion regarding parking had been received, apparently from a faculty member. It related to student vehicles that aren't used during the semester being parked in remote lots. It is a concept that has already been lodged and CEPAC will note that it's been raised again. CEPAC will also pass the senitment on to Faculty Council.
8. CEPAC Membership Elections. Electronic elections (classified professional and secretarial clerical categories) will commence April 4. Hard copy nominating ballots (skilled crafts and service maintenance categories) were mailed March 16. One service maintenance nomination and no skilled crafts nominations have been received. CEPAC members asked Sara France to re-issue the ballots and existing members will do all they can to encourage nominations.
9. Transit Survey. A brief discussion was held with regard to the outcomes of the University's recent transit survey. Sara France was asked to convene a special meeting, following which input will be provided to the President, as requested.

   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 UFPUB activity: suggested location for the proposed athletics indoor practice facility; Gaines lecture hall addition funding; SUB remodel - timelines and temporary food service arrangements; H and PE and Black Box updates; bike rack locations and proposed review of the "walk don't ride" policy for pedestrian areas of campus. Sheron suggested that CEPAC collect input from the staff about bicycle related issues including the "walk don't ride" policy. A short discussion ensued and it was agreed that the matter would be referred to tomorrow's Shared Governance partners' meeting as it affects all employees and students.
   • Benefits Committee - Christina Riffle (newly-appointed CEPAC representative) reported on her first Inter Units Benefits Committee, and local Benefits Committee, meetings. She announced CHOICES help sessions for campus April 26 and May 1 (notices will be sent). A general discussion took place about the shortness of time between distribution of CHOICES workbooks and enrollment deadlines.
   • Office of Facilities Services Advisory Committee - Carol Shannon reported from draft minutes of the last meeting (unfortunately she had been unable to attend). The notes touched upon the appointment of the new Facilities Budget Fiscal Manager; white paper recycling and review of recycling practices in general; reallocation of the space that used to be occupied by the ASMSU auto shop; review of key distribution and the possibility of Facilities Services taking over the responsibility; custodial vacancies; problems associated with brakes on small maintenance vehicles. The committee meets again later today.
   • International Programs Committee - Judy Van Andel had submitted a report from the March 19 meeting and some suggestions for involving staff in MSU's "internationalization plan". These were discussed and members were enthusiastic. Sara France was asked to circulate the discussion list to CEPAC members with Judy's email address, and the members undertook to send their individual input direct.

   At 11:15 am, there being no more time, the meeting adjourned.