EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Present: Bryant, Fuller, Humes, Jackson, Miller, Scheideler, Seikman, Whitt
Absent: Bender, Latta, Prochaska Cue, Swoboda, Zorn
Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2000
Location: 420 University Terrace, Academic Senate Office
1.0 Call to Order
Scheideler called the meeting to order at 3:07 PM.
2.0 Announcements
2.1 Campus Email Policy
Scheideler distributed a copy of the present and proposed All-Faculty and All-Staff list serveremail policy. She asked the committee to examine the policy prior to discussion at the next meeting.
2.2 Discussion with Interim Chancellor Perlman
Scheideler stated that she met with Interim Chancellor Perlman and discussed attendance of the Academic Senate President at the Chancellors Cabinet meetings. She noted that Interim Chancellor Perlman is sensitive to the Executive Committees concerns and that he would consider inviting the Senate President to attend the Vice Chancellors meetings. She pointed out that he wants to meet with her individually on a regular basis. She stated that she would report back to the Executive Committee on these meetings.
2.3 Faculty Committee on the Antelope Valley Project
Scheideler reported that there is no formal administrative committee to work on the Antelope Valley Project, but that John Benson (Director, Institutional Research and Planning) and Michelle Waite (Assistant to the Chancellor for Community Relations) are acting as the liaisons for the campus. She stated that Interim Chancellor Perlman is supportive of an academic coordinating committee. She noted that Interim Chancellor Perlman believes that there is the potential for funding academic interests with regards to the Antelope Valley Project. The committee discussed the possible structure of the committee or interest group.
3.0 Vice Chancellor James Griesen, Student Absence Policy
Scheideler noted that the Executive Committee has been working on a supplemental student absence policy that would add to the Senates policy motion passed in 1983. Vice Chancellor Griesen stated that he presented the supplemental policy to the meeting of the Academic Services Group. He stated that Dr. Earl Hawkey (Director, Records & Registration) suggested some revisions. The committee reviewed the revisions and made several additional changes. Scheideler stated that the language, if approved by the Senate, should be incorporated into the Schedule of Classes and the Undergraduate Bulletin. Vice Chancellor Griesen stated that they would try to insert the wording into these publications as soon as possible. The committee agreed to bring the supplemental policy to the Senate for approval.
4.0 Approval of 10/10/00 Minutes
Humes moved and Whitt seconded approval of the minutes as amended.
5.0 Professor Terry Riordan, Chair, Employee Benefits Committee
Professor Riordan stated that he wanted to meet with the Executive Committee to determine what issues the Academic Senate wants the Employee Benefits committee to address. Scheideler stated that she believed that it was important for the committee to determine what the priorities of the faculty and staff are in terms of benefits and to assess their needs. This information should then be passed on to the University-wide Benefits Committee. Jackson noted that not only should the committee assess the needs of the employees of the campus, they should compare the benefits we are receiving to our peer institutions. Riordan stated that the Employee Benefits committee met and considered health care costs, fringe benefits, tuition remission, and conducting an email survey as its primary priorities for the coming year.
Riordan noted that he has been meeting with Keith Dietz (NU Director of Risk Management & Benefits), and Greg Clayton (UNL Director of Risk Management & Benefits to discuss health care issues. Riordan stated that it appears that the state employees are receiving greater benefits than University employees. He noted that for an employee with family coverage, the state contributes significantly more than the University does. He pointed out that the stop-loss, co-pays and other fees paid by University employees are not being included in total employee cost calculations. He stated that he was told that the state contribution to benefits increased as of July 1, however, he has been unable to determine where these funds were put.
Riordan stated that there appears to be significant interest in a tuition credit transfer benefit. Scheideler pointed out that it would make good economic sense to provide this benefit. Riordan noted that it has the potential for recruiting more students and to help in retaining faculty and staff.
Riordan stated that the Employee Benefits committee would like to conduct an email survey to see what employees feel are the most important benefits for the committee to consider. The Executive committee felt this was an excellent idea and suggested that the survey form could be placed on the Senate web page.
Bryant asked if the domestic partner issue has been discussed at the University-wide Benefits Committee meeting. Riordan stated that it was not discussed while he was there. Bryant asked if on-campus childcare has been discussed as a potential benefit. Riordan stated that this has not been discussed. Humes mentioned that the committee should examine the manner in which mental health benefits are treated as compared to other health benefits. The Executive committee discussed various strategies to raise awareness about the problems with University benefits.
6.0 Unfinished Business
6.1 Letter of Support
Bryant asked the committee if it wanted to write a letter encouraging Interim Chancellor Perlman to submit his application for the position of Chancellor. The committee agreed that individuals could write letters of support, but that the Executive Committee or the Academic Senate should not for fear of discouraging prospective candidates.
6.2 Draft Letter to Raise Funds for the Academic Senate
The committee made further revisions to the letter.
7.0 New Business
No new business was discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, November 1, 2000 at 201 Canfield Administration Building. Respectfully submitted, David S. Jackson, Secretary.
