Professional Staff Senate Minutes
June 4, 2004
Present: Derek Anderson, Brandon Eckmann, Eddie Elfers, Dave Graber, Dorothy Weber, Mitch DeBoer and Lin Brummels
Absent: Cheri Polenske
Guest: Gretchen Bauman
Minutes of May meeting: motion to approve/Eddie, second/Dave, motion carried
Gretchen Bauman, HR Office, presented an outline of an Orientation Program for all new WSC employees. This orientation would be conducted by the HR Office on the first day of the new employees employment and would not replace any orientating conducted by that employee's direct supervisor.
Committee Reports:
- Mentoring - No report, Lin Brummels will continue to chair this committee
and plans to call a meeting soon
- Social - Brandon Eckmann will chair this committee - contact Jason Barelman
and Terri Heggemeyer for ideas for social events.
- Recognition - Mitch gave background information about the annual Professional
Staff Recognition program. Derek Anderson will be the new chair of this
committee. Gretchen Bauman volunteered to work with Mitch and Derek on
the 2004 recognition event. The HR Office will provide framed certificates
for employees who have reached certain benchmark dates of employment (10,
15, 20, 25, 30 or 35 years). This event will be scheduled in early to
mid August.
- Continuing Education - Several favorable comments were made about the
Book Binding demonstrations last month - thanks to Stan Gardner. Dave
Graber will chair this committee. Ideas for educational programs are welcome.
- Membership - No report
- Hospitality - Cards were sent to several people during May. There is
$150.27 in the Hospitality fund. Dorothy Weber will continue to chair
this committee and combine the duties of the Treasure until such time
as other funds are made available to the Senate.
- Policy - No report
- Communication - Eddie Elfers will chair this committee.
Officers for 2004-05
Lin Brummels was re-elected as Chair
Dave Graber was elected as Chair-elect
Dorothy Weber will serve as both Treasurer and Hospitality Committee Chair
Cheri Polenske will continue as Secretary
Annual Recognition Event: More information will be coming from the Recognition Committee planning the summer event.
Program Viability: Dave Graber distributed copies of the Viability Statement from the faculty contract and Board Policy 4200 concerning Program Review. These documents can be used to evaluate the proposed Professional Staff Program Review policy. The Professional Staff union wishes to stay involved in this discussion. The final draft of the proposed policy will need to be evaluated to make sure that it doesn't conflict with the professional staff union contract. Lin will forward the latest draft of the proposed policy to the membership for another review over the summer. We are hoping to finalize the policy and present to Dr. Collings in early fall.
Policy Committee: A question was asked about the purpose of the Policy Committee: The original idea of the Policy Committee was to provide a liaison between the WSC administration and the Professional Staff Senate. Although all members of the Senate have a stake in policy changes that effect professional staff, the policy committee chair would focus on policy issues.
Policy Issue: An example of a policy that concerns professional staff is the one providing guidelines for taking classes. According to our understanding, only professional staff covered by the union are required to pay fees when taking a class for $1.00. All other categories of WSC employees are governed by Board Policy and do not face that requirement. The Professional Staff Senate will pursue finding more information about this issue and lobby to remove that requirement for professional staff.
Additional policy changes are being proposed by the HR Office regarding the change over from the old Administrative Services office to the new HR Office. Gretchen Bauman will present those proposals to the Senate as they are formulated.
Wildcat Well Done Award request: A request as made to recognize a professional staff by presentation of a Wildcat Well Done Award. The Senate unanimously agreed to present the award to the deserving staff member in June 2004.
The July meeting will not be held due to conflicts with the July 4th holiday. The August meeting will be 8/6/04 at 9:30. Location will be announced.
Respectfully submitted
Lin Brummels for Cheri Polenske
6/4/04
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