THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
STAFF SENATE
(NORMAN CAMPUS)
Wednesday November 21,
2012
Chair Chris Cook called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. in the Sooner
Room of the Oklahoma Memorial Union.
Officers present – Chris Cook, Chair; Cathy Trujillo,
Recording Secretary
Officers
absent – Amanda Pai, Chair-Elect; Fran Stephens, Immediate
Past Chair
Staff
present – Melissa Lane, Administrative Coordinator
Representatives present – Hourly Employees Council: David Houck, Cecilia
McEwen, Laura Shoopman, John Bishop, Sena Golden, David Kizer; Informational
Staff Association: Connie Smith, Priscilla Crawford, Bruce Alcock, Elaine
Bradshaw; Organizational Staff Council: Nancy Matthews, Chris McNabb; Administrative
Staff Council: Jennifer Doughty, Robbie Wahnee
Representatives absent — Hourly Employees Council: Carolyn Taylor, Cindy
Simpson, Linda Smith, Jack Shoopman, Carmen Eppler, Kim Haddad; Informational
Staff Association: Gordan Carrie, Shawn Gralla; Organizational
Staff Council: Reta Tarver, Jackie
Downing, Betty Love, Justin Daniels
Guests present — Debbie Copp
SPEAKER
Brian
Ringer, Judy Robinson, and Leney Ellisor
from Student Media
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF September 19, 2012
On motion by Connie Smith,
the minutes of the September 19, 2012, Staff Senate meeting were accepted.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF October 17, 2012
On motion by Connie Smith,
the minutes of the October 17, 2012, Staff Senate meeting were accepted.
CHAIR’S COMMUNICATIONS
Chris met with Nick Hathaway, Vice President for Executive and
Administrative Affairs they discussed state appropriations, and sequestration
or planning for the "Fiscal Cliff". Nick indicated that planning is
underway, but there isn't much to go on at this point.
Chris attended the Faculty Senate meeting November 12th, where, President
Boren spoke to the faculty on the State of the University. As with his
presentation to Staff Senate, his remarks focused on the achievements of
the University in trying times, and the importance of state appropriations to
not only higher education, but common education as well. He did
acknowledge compensation as an area he'd like to improve. The Faculty Senate
later took up the Staff Senate resolution supporting Domestic Partnership
Job Protection Benefits. They are voting
next month to add Faculty Senate support for our resolution.
REPORTS FROM MEMBER GROUPS
Administrative
Staff Council: President Jennifer Doughty reported that they
briefly discussed the menu plans for Staff Week and the upcoming holiday meal. Danny Hilliard came and spoke to the group
and explained the role of the University and how it is impacted by state and federal
legislation.
Hourly
Employees Council: Representative Laura Shoopman reported that students from the IBC, (Integrated
Business Core) presented their products for sale. They filled the Group 6
vacancy and continued to add volunteers to the committees. They discussed their
holiday project, which is to donate to the Help
yOUr Neighbor
Fund that supports OU employees that have sustained a loss due to recent
fires. They will also support the Norman
Backpack Program to aid needy local children. They will sell raffle tickets for chances to
win a football signed by Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops. The drawing will take
place at their meeting on Wednesday, December 14.
Informational
Staff Association: Representative Priscilla Crawford reported that they enjoyed an
interesting presentation from Master Police Officer/K-9 Handler Greg Vollmer,
and K-9 companion Caesar. ISA approved appointment of Kendall George to the ISA
Council, discussed recent changes in leave policy, and decided to participate
in the Citizens Advisory Board Secret Santa program. They will seek
participation in other charity events during Spring Semester. Priscilla
Crawford volunteered to help set up the Staff Week art show.
Organizational
Staff Council: Representative
Nancy Matthews reported that Doug Myers gave an update on all the great things
going on in Parking & Transportation. They are still working on the new OSC
website, but the OSC Facebook page is now live. They kicked off the fall
fundraiser on November 1st and decided to support Big Brothers Big
Sisters and the Center for Children & Families, Inc. The information
gathered on the initiative to incentivize blood donation was passed along to
members of the Staff Initiatives Committee.
They also distributed a call for nominations of OU families that could
use extra support during the holidays.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Awards
Committee: By email Chair Liz Cooley reported that they met
last week, decorations, flowers and entertainment are set. Budget has
been sent to Melissa. The committee will not meet again until January.
Communications
Committee: By email Chair Gina Powell reported that they completed
the newsletter to announce the Staff Senate Member Groups. The committee also
discussed the possibility of creating a Facebook page that all committees could
post notices concerning Staff Senate. The committee will not meet in
December.
Staff
Initiatives Committee: Chair Dan Hough reported that they discussed
three items: 1.
Robert's Rules of Order training -- committee member Kristi
Wright talked to Communications Department Chair Michael Kramer who is willing
to work with HR to teach the course.
Eric Sourie says he will follow-up with HR. 2. Car
Pooling -- Doug Myers, Parking and Transit Director, attended the meeting and
updated us on carpooling plans. The
University has joined www.getaroundok.com so that faculty/staff and students can register with the system
to find carpooling partners. Doug also
mentioned that it will permitted for staff who are in a car pooling group to
share a parking pass (although it will need to be purchased by an
individual). They will be publicizing
the system after return from Winter Break.
They will try this for a year and see how it goes. He does not see the need for reserved carpooling
parking spots at this time. Also, Doug
mentioned that staff/faculty will be able to purchase individual daily parking
permits (up to 10 at a time at $3/day) for those who usually do not drive to campus but may want to when weather,
etc. makes driving more preferable. That
program will also start after Winter Break.
3. Using paid leave time for
blood donations -- OSC member Cindy Clark mentioned that her group is interested
in looking to see if the University could allow staff to donate blood at
on-site drives without needing to use paid leave time. Cindy will do some research on policies at
other institutions and work on a proposed policy change.
Staff
Week Committee: By email Chair Terri Smith reported that they
voted on the theme. This year’s theme is “OU Staff-Celebrating Sooner
Spirit”. They have sent out the call for logo to staff members and
should be voting on the logo at the next meeting. They discussed the concession
fundraising and that they would be circulating an online survey to make sure
they have enough volunteers to cover the stand for the games they will work.
They now have the schedule of events/days for Staff Week, which follows past
events, Monday-Bingo, Tuesday-Awards/Art Show, Wednesday-Health Fair,
Thursday-Craft Fair and Ice Cream Social, Friday-Picnic. They are in the beginning stages of planning
all the venues/logistics.
REPORTS OF SPECIAL (AD HOC) COMMITTEES
Employee
Benefits Committee: Debbie Copp reported I.
Health Care Reform Presentation: The Health Care Reform discussions are all
around us and can be quite confusing. Our HR staff is monitoring closely what
additional impacts, if any, pieces of that legislation will have on the employees
at OU. The first impact is that limits were put on the amount a person could
hold out on a Flexible Spending Account, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Also effective
on Jan. 1, 2013, women’s health screenings will be provided as part of our
health care. Other changes are on the horizon; but right now there are too many
things that are still being worked out. HR will continue to monitor and will
share with EBC. They shared a website with us that is
a good source on unbiased, un-politicized information on Health Care Reform. It
is from the Kaiser Family Foundation and here is the link: http://healthreform.kff.org/ II. Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Review of the program is underway
including how many visits a person can make at no charge to the individual. The
plan is to expand the number of visits when EAP involvement is required for an
employee to keep their job. Other situations also may get an expanded number of
covered visits. There will be more to come on this one as well. III. Enrollment/Dependent Attestation:
Enrollment seemed to go very well with few complaints (let me know if you all
hear of any and I will pass it on to the HR folks). Please remind those you
represent and interact with on campus that in late January or early February,
anyone who covers a dependent or spouse on our health insurance will be asked
to verify the eligibility of that person to be on the plan. This is being
required since OU is now paying a portion of that coverage.
OTHER REPORTS
The
following reports were linked to the October agenda:
Staff Senate Foundation account report
Minutes of Employment Benefits Committee meeting
for May 2012
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further business, the meeting
adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: December 19, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Lane
Administrative Coordinator
Cathy Trujillo
Recording Secretary