OPERATING STAFF COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES 4/08/04

8:30AM – Holmes Student Center 406

Present: Judy Burgess, Gay Campbell, Michele Crase, Marcia Dick, Linda Jennings, Theresa Kinniry, Joe Koch, Jay Monteiro, Donna Smith, LaRonda Thuestad, and Rachel Turner.

Absent: Elizabeth Buck, Sara Clayton, Glenda Jones, Dena Olson, and Andy Small.

Guests: Tim Griffin and Nancy Schuneman.

I. Call to Order

The regular meeting of the Operating Staff Council was called to order at 8:35 a.m. on Thursday, April 8, 2004, by Vice President Linda Jennings.

II. Approval of Agenda

A motion was made to accept the agenda with “Bylaws” added to New Business. The motion was seconded and passed.

III. Approval of Minutes of March 11, 2004, Meeting

A motion was made to accept the minutes with “Liberty Bell” changed to read “Victory” Bell. The motion was seconded and passed.

IV. Treasurer’s Report

Copies of the treasurer’s report for the nine-month period ended 3/31/04 were distributed for the Council’s perusal. Motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded and passed.

V. Announcement/Correspondence

1. Jennings distributed copies to the Council of their scheduled meetings for FY05 that showed date, time, and place.

2. Jennings reminded the Council that election ballots had to be returned by April 16, 2004, and encouraged each council member to get their constituency to vote.

3. Jennings announced that the Northern Staff News had been distributed to the campus community, as had the StaffFest 2004 flyers.

4. Jennings passed around copies of the following memorandums and announcements:

· Memorandum from Steve Cunningham, Associate Vice President, Enterprise Planning and Human Resources, regarding changes in State Universities Retirement System Retirement Procedures and Rulemaking Activities,

· Invitation to the NIU Campus Child Care Open House on April 23, 2004, from 10:00-3:00,

· News Release concerning the RedBall Project that questions and celebrates the environments we have built for ourselves,

· Agenda for the March 25, 2004, University Benefits Committee,

· Thank you note from Ada Hetland,

· Items from the February and March 2004 Secretarial Advisory Council meetings,

· Annual Secretaries’ Day Breakfast Seminar on Wednesday, April 21, 2004, 7:45 – 10:00 a.m. in the Regency Room of the Holmes Student Center, in conjunction with Administrative Professionals’ Day,

· March 7, 2004, OFFSET/WINDFALL Newsletter with the flyer to support the Social Security Fairness Act of 2003, and the

· Proposed composition of the Search Committee for the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics from the University Council meeting.

5. Donna Smith passed around the February and March 2004 Illinois State University Newsletter, Open Line.

VI. Committee Reports

A. Personnel/Staff Developments/Benefits. No report.

B. Elections and Appointments

Jennings passed around the list of vacancies that the operating staff will need to fill for the Committees of the University 2004-2005. There is one vacancy on each of the following: Campus Parking Committee, a three-year term; Campus Security and Environmental Quality Committee, a two-year term; Computing Facilities Advisory Committee, a three-year term; Libraries Advisory Committee, a three-year term; Parking Appeals Committee, a three-year term; and a replacement for Rita Reynolds who served on the Unity and Diversity Committee and the President’s Commission on the Status of Minorities. Jennings will advertise for all the vacancies.

C. Public Relations. No report.

Joe Koch said the next committee meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2004. Jay Monteiro reminded the Council that articles are always needed for the Newsletter.

D. Visiting Committees/Guests

Nancy Schuneman, Staff Secretary at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies and co-chair with Michele Crase of the OSC Outstanding Service Award Committee. Schuneman reported that this year the committee received 37 nominations for the award. Schuneman stated that she and Michele Crase attempted to deliver letters to the four award winners on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. Winner’s names will not be released to the campus community until everyone has been contacted. The committee plans to meet again in mid-May to clarify procedures for ranking and nominations in order to help next year’s committee. This year’s winner’s are as follows: Lilli Ann Bishop, Speech Pathologist in the department of Communicative Disorders; Joyce Chaney, Human Resource Assistant Manager for Student Housing and Dining Services; Amy Polzin, Staff Secretary for Geology and Environmental Geosciences; and Lynn Slater, Program Administrative Assistant for the department of Music.

E. EAC. No report.

F. UAC. No report.

G. University Council

Koch reported that the University Council met on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. The President reported that he and his family would discuss his nomination for President of the University of Tennessee and determine if he should take the next step. Recent reports from the state show preliminary state budgets are off anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion. Budget hearings for NIU are set for April 22, 2004, but Peters said he doesn’t anticipate a resolution until around Memorial Day. Peters has the feeling that legislators have discovered that Higher Education has had quite a bit of damage from the budget cuts.

A new transportation bill comes from the House about every 4-6 years, just like the agricultural bill. At the present time, NIU is in line for about $14.4 million for the next six years starting after the new federal fiscal year, which is October 1^st. This money would be for the infrastructure and roads on the west campus. At the March 18, 2004, Board of Trustees meeting student fees were raised by 6% and room and board fees were increased by 9%. All sabbaticals were approved.

A new study by the Illinois Board of Higher Education will look at the productivity of higher education, reported Patricia Henry, president of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the IBHE.

The proposed composition of the search committee for a new athletic director was approved. The committee will consist of 12 members and will be monitored by the chair of the Board of Trustees and President Peters. The Council thanks Bev Espe, President of the SPS Council, for taking the microphone and pointing out to the University Council that there were no provisions made for a representative from either the operating staff or the supportive professional staff.

The Rules and Governances Committee reported that the grievance policy package is in committee and they will be accepting comments through March 12, 2004, by email to Professor Carol Minor in Counseling, Adult and Health Education.

H. Special Events Committee

LaRonda Thuestad reported that the flyers had been distributed to the campus community and she has already had some response.

VII. Old Business

A. Wellness Fair

The Council felt that things went well. Theresa Kinniry announced the winners from the 2004 Wellness Fair. Kinniry reported that all six winners were happy with their prize. Prizes were: $64.00 in the 50/50 drawing, NIU t-shirt, Walkman CD player, boom box, DVD player, and a color television.

B. Council of Councils Meeting. No report.

VIII. New Business

A. Bylaws and Constitution Revision.

Smith reported that the Council needs to make a change in the section of the bylaws that deal with OSC representation on the University Council. Smith distributed a copy of these changes showing deleted portions with a line through them and additional wording in bold. Smith double-checked the committees and commissions in the bylaws and determined they are still current. Smith proposes this as the first reading and wants any suggestions or changes from the Council by May 6, 2004.

IX. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 a.m. Motion seconded and passed.

Gay Campbell

OSC Secretary