PRINTED ON CEPAC LETTERHEAD

Bonnie White, Chair

Student Health Service

Montana State University-Bozeman

Bozeman, MT 59717

406 994 5573

March 10, 2004

Dear University Planning, Budget & Analysis Committee members:

The Classified Employees Personnel Advisory Committee (CEPAC) is charged by the President to facilitate staff/administration communications, and to advise on the improvement of classified personnel management.  In fulfilling this responsibility, CEPAC works closely with the classified workforce, meets regularly with Personnel & Payroll Services and President Gamble, maintains active representation on various committees (from those with local, specialty interest to those at the State level) and utilizes Board of Regents’ agenda time once per quarter.  Consequently, CEPAC has developed an effective dialogue throughout the university system which provides us with well substantiated information regarding staff needs.

Drawing from our work this year, and CEPAC’s interest in campus issues generally, we would like to present three highly credible sources demonstrating one need in particular: that of training and development for classified staff.  Specifically, in this instance, for employees in a supervisory capacity:

1. CEPAC’s December 2003 MAP Survey (available at www.montana.edu/staffsenate/mapsurveypage.html) in which 39% of MSU-Bozeman’s MAP-covered classified employees participated.  One of the messages most strongly delivered through the survey is the inadequacy of supervisor training.

2. President Gamble.  At a meeting with CEPAC officers in January (www.montana.edu/staffsenate/drgjan29.html), Dr. Gamble recognized the supervisory responsibility commonly placed on the untrained classified staff member, and spoke of the need to commit to adequate training and development.

3. The MSU-Bozeman Vision Statement, or Five Year Plan. (www.montana.edu/upba/pdf/vision.pdf).   Section II, D states “Faculty and staff will have increased access to professional development programs. … The University also will have implemented a staff training and development program for the purposes of improving the quality of support services, providing career growth opportunities, and improving employee recruitment and retention.”

CEPAC is encouraged to see that the staff and the upper administration have independently raised the same issue.

Personnel & Payroll Services’ achievements in implementing the MAP program, without additional FTE, are impressive.  CEPAC is confident that adequate instruction in this area will continue to be offered.  However, the training issue at hand reaches beyond MAP:  there is a population of supervisors largely unsupported in its leadership responsibility in terms of training and educational support. 

While aware that the University’s budget is thinly spread, CEPAC acknowledges that quality training and development programming cannot be provided without funding.  We would stress, however, the vast potential return from any reasonable investment UPBAC might make in this area: the substantial gain experienced by a large number of classified supervisors and supervisees. 

In light of these statements, CEPAC urges UPBAC to commence achievement of Section II, D of the MSU-Bozeman Vision by including a base increase in Personnel & Payroll Services’ budget, beginning in FY05.

Sincerely,

Bonnie White

CEPAC Chair

Signed by Bonnie White, CEPAC Chair, on behalf of the Committee:

Eileen Baker                                                     Matthew Blazicevich

Ray Byerly                                                       Sara France, Secretary

Ellen Huber                                                      Daniel McGuire

Robert O’Driscoll, Vice Chair                           Richard Patera

Sharon Pielaet                                                  Clara Sprague