Staff Senate Minutes: January 12, 2005

SENATORS PRESENT:  Greg Boyd, Dan Carpenter, Kathy Cartwright, Katie Rice, Anne Cutright, Eric Dvaidson, Zoraida Irizarry, Matt Pederson, Janice Spraker, and Linda Strange

SENATORS ABSENT:     Sandy Bingham-Porter, Tom Leonard, Teresa Sims, and Doug Sloat

GUESTS:                        Julie Benedict, Charles Phillips, and VP Cooley

President Kathy Cartwright called the meeting to order at 1:15pm in the Schahrer Room.

Julie Benedict, our EAC Representative, shared that Tom Morelock, the Director of the Civil Service Systems (SUCSS), will hold an open orientation session at EIU on April 5.  Anyone is welcome to attend.  Julie will be attending a quarterly EAC meeting on January 13 and 14.  The agenda for the January meeting with an attachment concerning the Governor’s Commission on State Pensions was circulated for questions and concerns.

Kathy Cartwright led a discussion concerning a December article from the News Gazette.  The article explains that the “state constitution prohibits reducing pension benefits to participants who are already in the system….the Governor’s Pension Commission’s job is to recommend ways to address the severely under funded pension systems…” and the options that are being reviewed for cost/benefit.  VP Cooley explained some of the background and current events, and he will get new information out as it is available.

The Senators reported the preferences of the constituents in their areas concerning the Holiday Schedule (December 2005 and January 2006).  The majority of constituents selected Option 1: Christmas Day - Friday Dec. 23 and Monday Dec. 26 for holidays, and New Year’s Day - Friday Dec. 30 and Monday Jan. 2 for holidays.  The Senators discussed how the holidays effected university operations and specific departmental needs.  The advisory decision will be forwarded to the administration.

Linda Strange was voted as the Staff Senate Treasurer.  A committee was formed to prepare a letter to representatives in the legislature.  Members are Gregg Boyd, Sandy Bingham-Porter, Kathy Cartwright, and Janice Spraker.  The November minutes were passed.  There were not minutes for December since the December meeting was canceled.

Janice Spraker from the Staff/Faculty Senate Relations Committee requested Senator’s input concerning the Day Care issue that both the Student Government and Faculty Senate are discussing.  It was voiced that a committee researched this a few years ago and who she could contact to obtain background.  Secondly, Senator Spraker shared the Tuition and Fee Committee’s advisory decisions that were decided in December.  The committee is on the Student Government’s agenda for January 19 for their review.  Once passed, the decision will flow through the VP of Student Affairs, the President, and to the BOT.  She shared each of the six fee’s decisions and the justification for each: Student Legal Services, Student Publications, Technology, Health Insurance, MLK University Union, and Health Services.

A letter was submitted to the Staff Senate from Steven Rich, Director of Alumni Services, concerning the opportunity to support EIU through payroll deduction.  Faculty and staff can contribute to scholarships, departments, etc. to continue the excellence of Eastern.  With one suggestion to be included in the letter, the Staff Senate supports this issue.

Dan Carpenter emailed the December 14, 2004 minutes of the Environmental Health and Safety Committee to the Senators on January 11, 2005.  Ann Cutright from the Parking Appeals Committee will be reviewing appeals this afternoon (January 12, 2005).

VP Cooley shared that the Facilities Director Search Committee has not placed the ads yet, on-campus interviews tentatively will be the end of April, and they plan on July 1 as the new Director’s start date.   A search committee for the VP of Student Affairs will be formed with a tentative start date of August 1, and an interim will be named.

The next meeting is February 9, 2005 in the Schahrer Room.  Our meetings are always open and everyone is welcome to attend.  If anyone has any questions or issues that they would like us to ask at our next meeting, please contact one of the Senators.   Senators can be found at http://www.eiu.edu/~stfsenat/members.htm

Respectfully submitted:
Janice Spraker                      

Please email any corrections to: Janice Spraker

Please contact the Staff Senate for further assistance.

Last updated: January 24, 2005

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