THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

 

STAFF SENATE

 

(NORMAN CAMPUS)

 

Wednesday November 19,  2008

 

 

Chair Linda McCarty called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Governors 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; KeYonna Wynn, Student Assistant

 

Representatives present — Hourly Employees Council: David Houck, Linda Smith, Bobby Hardcastle, Carolyn Irons, Mary Peters, Donna Stephens, Cindy Simpson, Troy Schmidt, David Kizer, Kim Haddad, Tim Winkelman; Informational Staff Association: Michael Goodwin, Chris Cook, Dick Trim, Dan Hough, Debbie Copp; Organizational Staff Council: Sandi Emond, Nancy Matthews, Fran Stephens, Cathy Trujillo, Tami Kinsey, Luanne Howk; Administrative Staff Council:, Terri Sarsycki

 

Representatives absent — Hourly Employees Council: None; Informational Staff Association: Debi Gentis; Organizational Staff Council: None; Administrative Staff Council:  Robbie Wahnee

 

Guests present — Lezlie Pilkington, Administrative Affairs; Margaret Vennochi, College of Earth and Energy; Vickie Shoecraft, Physical Plant; Sue Anna Miller, Physical Plant

 

CHAIR’S COMMUNICATIONS

 

Chair Linda McCarty said she had met recently with Vice President for Executive and Administrative Affairs Nick Hathaway.  They discussed insurance matters and the addition of doctors, primarily the addition of pediatricians.  Linda said some doctors had not signed up because they did not meet Blue Cross/Blue Shield standards because of the size of their waiting rooms, or the software packages they used and other general office issues.  Linda announced that a date had been confirmed for the Awards Ceremony, Wednesday, April 22, 2009.  She said Staff Senate was asked to select two staff nominees for the Search Committee for the Dean of Fine Arts.  The Executive Committee nominated Teri Lodes and Rhonda Moore as nominees for that search committee.  Linda announced that the change to the extended sick leave policy was approved by the Board of Regents and became effective November 1.  Previously, an employee was required to use 56 hours of paid leave before accessing extended sick leave.  That requirement has now been reduced to 40 hours.  Linda said Organizational Staff Council representative Debbie Hubbard had resigned her position on that council due to illness, and Luanne Howk has replaced her.  Linda said she had received an email from Burr Millsap and he had asked Linda Berardo to serve as a liaison between the Norman Campus Sustainability Committee and Staff Senate.  This committee will deal with the goals of the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment and will encourage energy conservation on the Norman campus.   Staff Senate will ask Linda Berardo for an update on this committee at a later meeting. 

 

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 15, 2008

 

On motion by David Kizer, the minutes of the October 15, 2008, Staff Senate meeting were accepted as written.

 

OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

 

Hourly Employees Council:  President David Houck said HEC met on November 12.  The group is participating in the Adopt-a-Child program this year.  They are sponsoring a three-year old girl and a five-year old boy.  They formed an ad hoc committee to handle the shopping responsibilities.  The group changed the time and location for their December meeting to accommodate their Christmas potluck luncheon.  It will be in Room 261 Craddock Hall at 11:30 on December 10.  Everyone is invited.  HEC meetings are open.

 

Organizational Staff Council:  President Sandi Emond said OSC met on November 6. Guest speaker Kris Glenn from Parking and Transportation Services spoke about parking issues and the Fill the Trolley campaign.  Sandi said OSC is participating in the Secret Santa Program.  They have had such overwhelming response for the two children which they are sponsoring that they were able to request two more children to sponsor.  Luanne Howk replaced Debbie Hubbard as an OSC rep.  The group will make donations to Big Brothers/Big Sisters and CCFI at their December meeting.

 

Informational Staff Association:  President Michael Goodwin said ISA met on November 5.  The group discussed the future direction for the Communications Committee.   They would like to see the committee remain active.  They submitted the budget for the Staff Week art show.  ISA will have a potluck luncheon in December.  ISA sent out a flyer requesting art work for a new logo.  They are participating in Secret Santa.

 

Administrative Staff Council:  Vice President Terri Sarsycki said ASC met November 18.  ASC had speaker Melinda Howard from the Health Sciences Center speak to them on Strategic Leadership.  They discussed their holiday project and are doing Secret Santa, sponsoring four children.  They will have their potluck luncheon on December 16. 

 

STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Awards Committee:  Chair Dan Hough said he had nothing to report other than that the awards ceremony had been scheduled.

 

HEC Communications Committee:  Subcommittee Chair Troy Schmidt said they are working on an edition of the Hourglass newsletter and hoped to have a newsletter out before Christmas.

 

Personnel Policies Committee:  Chair Margaret Vennochi said Personnel Policies Committee would meet on December 3.

 

OU Staff Week Committee:  Committee Member Carolyn Irons reported on the winners of the Staff Week theme and logo contests:  Donna Epperson submitted the winning logo and Cathy Baird submitted the winning theme.

 

Employment Benefits Committee:  Debbie Copp said an email had just been sent out containing the first draft for retiree medical benefits. 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

REPORTS

 

The following reports were linked to the November agenda:

 

Staff Senate Foundation account report.

 

Minutes of Employment Benefits Committee meeting for September 18, 2008.

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Linda said Nick Kelly will attend the December 17 meeting to address the retiree medical insurance report, and Dennis Aebersold will attend  to brief the group about IT activities for the current year as well as next year. 

 

Linda announced that Administrative Coordinator Barbara Perry would be retiring at the beginning of the year.  The December meeting will be Barbara’s last meeting with Staff Senate. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Barbara Perry

Administrative Coordinator

 

Elaine Bradshaw

Recording Secretary