PRINTED ON CEPAC LETTERHEAD

INVITATION

Please help celebrate the advent of the CEPAC office

And learn more about our work:

OPEN HOUSE

CEPAC Office

Guest Room B, Hannon Hall

994 6895

Thursday, December 9^th noon – 3:00 pm

Everybody welcome

Coffee, cookies and other goodies!

It is with great pleasure that the Classified Employees Personnel Advisory Committee (CEPAC) announces the October 1, 2004 establishment of a professional office with part time administrative support. Though CEPAC has been in existence since 1976, our activities have significantly increased over the last couple of years. CEPAC now stands on the threshold of its potential as it takes its place as a full partner in shared governance. Help us celebrate this recognition of the wide-reaching benefit of our work by attending our Open House on December 9^th .

How to contact CEPAC:

Guest Room B, Hannon Hall (on the corridor behind the reception desk)

Monday-Thursday 7:30 am – 4:30 pm. Telephone: 994 6895

Sara France, Administrative Associate, sfrance@montana.edu

and our web site at www.montana.edu/staffsenate.

Here’s a summary of CEPAC’s recent activities (as of 12/1/04):

Activity	CEPAC’s Action	Current Status
Ensuring an active network of classified representation on campus committees	Nominating classified representatives to the President’s Office to ensure full staff engagement	Regular feedback and input to CEPAC from CEPAC-nominated representatives on 20 campus committees, task forces, and tactical teams.
Improving communications with classified staff on campus	Expanding CEPAC’s web site. Collaborating with ITC to enhance the classified listserv. Working with local representatives for outreach in areas of low IT usage.	Invaluable Web resource to all campus employees: www.montana.edu/staffsenate Effective email announcements. Provision of hard copy flyers and word of mouth announcements with corresponding regularity with email.
Building a collaborative relationship with classified organizations across the MUS	Establishing regular communications. Encouraging in collaborative presentations to Board of Regents	CEPAC hosts a listserv, initiated conference calling, and participates in regular meetings with CEPAC-equivalent MUS groups. Communications cover any issue, but specifically classified agenda time at Regents’ meetings.
Building a collaborative relationship with MUS organizations and beyond	Increasing classified exposure outside MSU-Bozeman	Hosted a meeting with Commissioner Stearns; corresponds with Board of Regents
Representing classified concerns at the system level	Regularly participating in MUS Labor Management Committee business	CEPAC holds the labor co-chair of the MUS Labor Management Committee (MUS-LMC).
Facilitating communication and cooperation between key campus organizations	Dovetailing efforts to pursue common interests with Faculty Council, Professional Council, ASMSU	Lead the campus-wide collection and dissemination of information regarding the change of Third Party Administrators. Regularly participates in Steering Committee, and related, meetings. Shares information with, and encourages input from, students and Councils.
Lobbying for improved working conditions and professional welfare of staff	Pursuing MAP survey outcomes; Regents Fee Waiver Policy enhancements; salary and cost of living issues	CEPAC was instrumental in initiating the distribution of centralized bonus funds, was involved in the formation of the MAP Advisory Committee, is presenting fee waiver issues to MUS-LMC, and received high commendations from President Gamble, Commissioner Stearns, and Regents regarding its salary/CoL presentation 11/04