Meeting Minutes

Staff Representative Group Meeting Minutes – October 6, 2005

609 Aderhold Hall

Present: Dean Castenell, Shea Ray, Freita Strickland, Mike Gorman, Julie Range, Melinda Dalton, Holly Coder, Susan Christopher, Angie Callaway, Caroline Wooten, Marianne Roberts, Salli Park, Laura Patrick.

Dean Castenell was present to address the SRG and to answer questions.

The Dean touched on several topics and answered questions regarding staff compensation, promoting reclassification, additional staff, space issues and the importance of the SRG in the process of rebuilding unity within the College post-reorganization.

The Dean mentioned that there would be fairly good-sized merits, potentially 4-6 percent, for this coming year due to a good economy. He would like to see merits more closely tied with work performance and is mindful of people who go above and beyond but their merit increases do not match their performance. He is trying to figure out ways to get more money for the staff and one of the ideas was to promote reclassification. He would like the SRG to provide him with good, constructive criticism on reclassification and he will bring the issues to the Council meetings. The Dean understands that there are still challenges as to who does what in the College and mentioned the needs for additional staff with increased faculty hires between this year and next year. The College hired 14 new faculty members this year and plans for 18 new faculty next year and he would like input regarding staff hiring.

He also addressed space issues within the College. He has petitioned the Provost for a re-design or a new building and the University is looking at how space is currently being used to make a decision. Another option that surfaced regarding the space issue was to better utilize current and emerging technologies in conjunction with flex-time. The Dean mentioned the importance of the staff having an equal voice in the College but warned that silence can be interpreted as contentment. He stressed that the SRG should present facts associated with concerns and avoid hearsay and speculation.

Old Business:

1. Minutes from last meeting were approved.

2. Standing committee and ad-hoc committee members were announced and Chairpersons were selected or volunteered as follows:

Safety Committee

Chair: Susan Christopher

Members: Barbara Galvond, Holly Coder, Lisa Vanderkooi, Cindy Williams.

* Two people needed from each floor in Aderhold and at least one each at the Ramsey Center and Rivers Crossing.

1. Update the COE Safety Manual
2. Establish Safety Contacts for each floor and maintain contact list
3. Needs and concerns as they arise

Newsletter Committee
Chair: Julie Range
Members: Melinda Dalton, Caroline Wooten, Freita Strickland, Mike Gorman

1. Publish SRG Newsletter twice a year (fall & spring)
2. Needs and concerns as they arise

Staff Awards Committee
Chair: Salli Park
Members: David Avin, Susan Christopher, Laura Patrick, Shea Ray

1. Host the COE Staff Awards for Excellence annually
2. Needs and concerns as they arise

Ad-hoc Committee:

Social Committee
Chair: Caroline Wooten
Members: Shea Ray, Susan Christopher, Laura Patrick, Melinda Pass, Cindy Williams, Dee Palmer, Holly Coder.

1. Host quarterly socials for COE staff.
2. Needs and concerns as they arise

The Halloween Social at River’s Crossing is October 25 from 12-2. Parking Services will not ticket at River’s Crossing during the event. Staff are encouraged to take the bus or carpool to the event as parking is limited.

New Business:

Committees will begin reporting at the next SRG meeting. Shea reiterated that the committees are open to ALL COE staff members.

The new SRG website is receiving a make-over and should be completed soon. Pictures of the new SRG will be taken at the next meeting and other information will posted on the new site.

Next meeting will be on November 10 at 10:00 a.m. in G23 Aderhold.

Meeting was adjourned.