THE
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
STAFF
SENATE
(NORMAN
CAMPUS)
Wednesday
December 17, 2008
Chair Linda McCarty called the meeting
to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Scholars Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
Officers present — Linda
McCarty, Chair; Diana Fitzpatrick, Chair-Elect; Beth Gatewood, Immediate Past
Chair; Elaine Bradshaw, Recording Secretary
Staff present —
Barbara Perry, Administrative Coordinator; Melissa Hosler, Administrative
Coordinator
Staff absent — KeYonna
Wynn, Student Assistant
Representatives present —
Hourly Employees Council: David Houck, Linda Smith, Tim Winkelman, Bobby
Hardcastle, Donna Stephens, Carolyn Irons, Mary Peters, Troy Schmidt, David
Kizer; Informational Staff
Association: Michael Goodwin, Chris Cook, Debbie Copp, Debi Gentis, Dan Hough; Organizational
Staff Council: Sandi Emond, Fran Stephens, Tami Kinsey Nancy Matthews; Administrative
Staff Council: Robbie Wahnee, Terri Sarsycki; Margaret Vennochi, College of
Earth and Energy
Representatives absent — Hourly
Employees Council: Connie Hall, Kim Haddad, Cindy Simpson; Informational Staff
Association: Dick Trim; Organizational Staff Council: Cathy Trujillo, Luanne
Howk
Guests present — Nick
Hathaway, Administrative Affairs; Lezlie Pilkington, Administrative Affairs; Dennis
Aebersold, Information Technology; Nick Kelly, Benefits
UPDATE ON I.T. ACTIVITIES FROM VICE
PRESIDENT FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER DENNIS
AEBERSOLD
Dennis Aebersold talked about last
year’s accomplishments and the goals for the upcoming year. Last year the new super computer,
Sooner, was ranked in the Top 10 in super computers for Higher Education, it is
the fastest in Oklahoma, and will be able to help greatly in weather
forecasting. For two years in a
row The University of Oklahoma was ranked in the Top 10 wired Universities. Dennis explained that the main
reason we are all here is for students and research, so they are trying to
customize student areas to fit the student’s needs. The computer lab in the Union, by Baird Lounge is now set up
for what the students said they needed and wanted. I.T. will continue to update at least two labs a year based
on what the students say they need in those areas. The top 6 things that they are looking to improve in the
upcoming years are learning spaces, the network, data storage, security,
wireless capability, and payroll.
Questions arose about Spam and how it was being stopped. Dennis said that it is an ongoing
process that is monitored hourly but in the last two years has improved 66%
being caught to now 90% being caught.
Nick Key will be at the January 21, 2008 meeting to talk more specifics
about oZONE.
UPDATE ON RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE
ISSUES FROM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES NICK KELLY
Nick Kelly spoke about the new
updates on healthcare for retirees.
The new program must be sustainable and affordable over time, while also
staying competitive with other Higher Education Institutions. It is common for the combination of age
and years of service to qualify for the retirement benefits. There are three ways to retire, 25
years of service, age 62 and 10 years of service, or the Rule of 80. The Committee recommends these 5
groups: 1. Current Retirees – no changes, 2. Employees currently eligible
to retire or will be eligible before 1/1/2014 (or within 5 years of adoption),
3. Employees eligible to retire between 1/1/2014 and 1/1/2019 (or within 10
years of adoption), 4. Employees eligible to retire 1/1/2019 (or 10 years from
date of adoption and later), 5. Employees hired on or after 1/1/2008
will receive no University contribution.
Employees DO NOT have to retire early to preserve their benefits. There will be no charge for
approximately 2,000 current employees and 1,400 retirees. This plan will reduce OU’s future
liability by 35%, from 589 million to 364 million and will have very limited
impact on annual University employee’s expenses in the next 10-12 years. There is a website from the University
of Oklahoma home page under healthcare options that will show the five
different groups and the cost matrix.
The Committee will meet one more time before presenting the final
recommendations to President Boren in early 2009. If approved by President Boren then it will be presented at
the March OU Regents Meeting. Questions
were asked about the percent of employees affected by the changes. Nick said that only about 25% in group
2 and 3, 50% in group 4. Emails
and comments will be accepted for the next three or four weeks.
CHAIR’S COMMUNICATIONS
Linda said she had not
met with Nick Hathaway. Nick was
present but did not have anything that he needed to discuss with the members.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF
November 19, 2008
On motion by Nancy Matthews, the minutes of the November
19, 2008, Staff Senate meeting were accepted as written.
OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS
Hourly Employees Council: President David Houck said HEC met on December
4, 2008. This meeting served as
their Christmas Luncheon, so the meeting was very brief and there was no
significant discussion. They collected
over $500 for Adopt a Child Program.
David wanted to thank those who shopped for the children sponsored,
Diana Fitzpatrick, Brandie Wright, Linda Smith, and Donna Stephens.
Organizational Staff Council: President Sandi Emond said OSC met on December
4, 2008. Nick Kelly was the guest
speaker and did an overview of the retiree insurance similar to the
presentation today.
Representatives from Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Center for Children
and Family attended the meeting where they received presentations from
OSC. The group brought toys for
the four children for the Secret Santa Program. They raised over $1100 for their OU Holiday family and had a
potluck luncheon.
Informational Staff Association: Vice President Chris Cook said ISA met
December 3, 2008. It was a short
meeting with discussion about current and future insurance coverage. The group raised $212 for the Secret
Santa Program. They discussed
having a potluck luncheon the following week, but plans could not be
confirmed. The majority of the ISA
members went to the University Club with toys and also participated in the
Secret Santa Program there.
Administrative Staff Council: President Robbie Wahnee said ASC met December
16, 2008. The group collected $462
for their OU Family. With some
left over funds they purchased mobiles for The Children’s Hospital. They had a luncheon as well. They are gearing up for next semester
with their focus on leadership.
Dean Paul Bell will be the speaker at their January meeting.
STANDING
COMMITTEES
Awards
Committee: Chair Dan Hough said
the meeting was cancelled due to bad weather.
HEC
Communications Committee: Subcommittee
Chair Troy Schmidt said the HEC newsletter, Hourglass went
out. He wanted to thank Brady
Wright and David Houck for their efforts.
Troy said that they welcome stories or any input of all types for future
newsletters.
Personnel
Policies Committee: Chair Margaret
Vennochi said PPC met on December 3, 2008. Theta Dempsey was their guest speaker and spoke about
carpool options for the future.
OU Staff
Week Committee: No report
Employment
Benefits Committee: No report
CORRESPONDENCE
REPORTS
The
following reports were linked to the December agenda:
Staff Senate
Foundation account report.
Minutes of
Employment Benefits Committee meeting for October and November 2008.
NEW BUSINESS
Linda introduced Melissa Hosler as
the new Administrative Coordinator, replacing outgoing Barbara Perry.
MISCELLANEOUS
Debbie Copp
announced the Sullivan Family Concert for Monday night December 22, 2008 at 7
pm. Admission is free and a hat
will be passed. Benefits will go
to the Women’s Resource Center.
ADJOURNMENT
As there was
no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR
MEETING: January 21, 2009
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa
Hosler
Administrative Coordinator
Elaine Bradshaw
Recording Secretary