CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES PERSONNEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CEPAC)

Key Issues Addressed in 2004-05:

Issue	Summary of Action
SSalary and cost of living	Researched, and presented to the Board of Regents: history of classified pay increases staffing levels local and national cost of living and inflationary benchmarks incidents of staff leaving MSU-Bozeman due to pay relevant recruitment and retention information. Reviewed appropriate documentation (e.g. Compensation Study Report to the Board of Regents Budget Committee 9/40), extrapolating relevant indicators discussed with the Board of Regents. Maintained close contact with Administration efforts to demonstrate salary increase and cost of living needs. Collaborated with CEPAC-equivalent organizations across the Montana University System to produce consolidated presentation materials for the Board of Regents. Presented information to the House Appropriations Committee relevant to their deliberation of the House Bills which would become the State Pay Plan.
P Specific cost of living issues (Gallatin County)	Presented to the Board of Regents the suggestion that addressing extraordinary cost of living circumstances, county by county need not compromise efforts to provide fair compensation across the MUS.
S Staff communications	Continued to research methods to improve communications with the classified staff. Created custom mailing lists and email listservs for target populations Facilitated electronic method of CEPAC membership election Issued email and hard copy announcements to staff on specific issues Responded to numerous individual requests for information and follow-up.
Promotion of staff participation in Shared Governance	Solicited committee representatives from the entire staff Ensured classified representation on all relevant campus and System committees Instigated associated communications protocol Held open meetings with various partners in Shared Governance Encouraged staff input on all campus initiatives Promoted the advantages of Shared Governance across the MUS Regularly attended University Governance Council (UGC) and Steering Committee (UGCSC) meetings and shared information between the staff and council/committee members Lobbied for CEPAC membership of UGC and UGCSC Included staff meetings on the itinerary for the Commissioner of Higher Education’s campus visit, 4/05.
MAP Program	Maintained close contact with the MAP Advisory Committee regarding the progress of the outcomes of CEPAC’s MAP survey.
Third Party Administrator Change	Collected employee questions and concerns, and provided comprehensive reporting of Allegiance’s answers campuswide
Outreach	Held an Open House for all campus employees Provided specific information about CEPAC’s work to classified staff and administrators Offered follow-up to administrators’ offices Held a meeting with a group of MSU-Bozeman staff located off-campus, and offered follow-up on items discussed.
Staff benefits	Collected staff opinions on the Fitness Center remodeling issue, and provided input to the President Maintained contact with Administration on the payroll frequency question Continued to pursue the feasibility of enhancements to the Board of Regents Faculty/Staff Fee Waiver Policy (not to be confused with the Dependent Fee Waiver now in operation). Please see below. Regularly disseminated information and updates from the MSU-Bozeman Benefits, and Inter Units Benefits committees
Service enhancement	Currently in the process of conducting a voluntary comprehensive review of CEPAC’s service. Input solicited from staff, administrators, shared governance partners, the Commissioner/Board of Regents, and CEPAC-equivalent organizations across the MUS. Feedback is being collected, and data analyzed.

Summary of CEPAC Communications and Contact:

The chart below indicates the parties with whom CEPAC communicated in relation to each issue (*= contact made directly, or at University Governance Council Steering Committee meetings)

Issue	Classified Staff	Administration	Faculty Council*	Professional Council*	Personnel & Payroll Services	ASMSU*	Commissioner of Higher Education / Commissioner’s Office	Board of Regents	CEPAC-equivalent organizations across the MUS
Salary and Cost of Living	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Staff communications media	X	X			X	X	X	X	X
Promotion of staff participation in Shared Governance	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
MAP issues	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X
Staff benefits - third party administrator change	X	X	X	X	X		X
Staff benefits – Fitness Center	X	X	X	X		X
Staff benefits – general (including original fee waiver policy)	X	X	X	X	X		X		X
Board of Regents contract drafts	X	X	X	X	X		X		X
Enhancement of CEPAC services	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Reciprocal meeting attendance(s) in FY05	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X

Status of Issues Carried Forward from FY04:

1.Progress ongoing projects: MAP flexible pay options i. Research extent of utilization ii. Explore possibility of further centralized funding Staff Recognition (as per response to President Gamble’s request, 4/04) Supervisor training Twice-monthly checks

1.a Deferred to FY06 goal consideration, bearing in mind alterations to the various components of MAP following bargaining outcomes, spring 2005 1.b Future agenda item 1.c CEPAC is collaborating with Personnel and Payroll Services over training offerings for Fall 2005 1.d CEPAC has maintained communication with Admin & Finance in this regard. Further progress cannot be considered until electronic authorization methods have been established

2.Monitor the progress of projects passed to other agencies: a. MAP issues i. CEPAC MAP survey outcomes ii. MAP supervisor survey b. Enhancements to Board of Regents Faculty/Staff Fee Waiver Policy

2.a Classified representatives on the MAP Advisory Committee regularly communicate progress in this regard. Progress to date has been affected by recent bargaining outcomes and reorganization of MAP-AC is likely 2.b CEPAC continued to research and pursue possible enhancements to this policy and, June 8, deemed it appropriate to take no further action.