Draft Minutes

 

Thursday, April 7, 2005

10:00 am - 12:00 noon by video conference

Fairbanks location:  Butrovich Building – Sherman Carter Conference Room 204

Anchorage location: ULB Videoconference Room

 

1.          Call to order and roll call

 

            Present:

 

            Lisa Sporleder, President

            Lori Merdes, Co-Secretary

Vince Yelmene

Kenneth Coon

Larry McGrady

Jodi Bailey, alternate

Alicia Wyse, alternate

           

            Absent, excused:

 

Juli Gillispie, Vice President

Lisette Richmond

 

Absent:

 

Betty Dupee, Co-Secretary

John Mitchell

Bess Rounds

 

Others present:

 

Pat Ivey, Executive Officer, System Governance

Hans Gunderson, Administrative Coordinator, System Governance

Amy Gould, Statewide Human Resources

Mike Humphrey, Director, Benefits

 

2.         Adopt agenda

 

MOTION: passed without objection

 

“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to adopt the agenda for the April 7, 2005 meeting.  This action is effective April 7, 2005.”

 

3.         Approve minutes of March 9, 2005 meeting

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/minutes/2005-03-09.html

 

MOTION: passed without objection

 

“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2005 meeting.  This action is effective April 7, 2005.”

                                                                                               

4.         Public Comments

 

There were no public comments.

 

5.         Staff Alliance Update

 

Sporleder reported that Staff Alliance members got back late last night from the annual Staff Alliance Cookie Brigade in Juneau.  Staff Alliance was in Juneau Tuesday and Wednesday.  On Tuesday, Staff Alliance held its regular meeting.  On Wednesday, the Alliance delivered cookies to all of the legislative offices and Alliance members met with their own senators and representatives.  Pete Kelly gave an overview of how things were going in the legislature and appears to be confident that the university will get what it needs, except for the money for PERS and TRS contributions.

 

6.         Legislative Update

 

It was reported that the campaign to get the word out to the legislature to fund the university did help.

 

7.         Benefits Update and Open Enrollment Update – Mike Humphrey   

 

Mike Humphrey said the state is facing a $5.7 billion dollar and rising PERS/TRS deficit. If increases continue at this rate (5% per year), for every dollar paid an employee, the employer will have to pay $.50 for PERS and $.60 for TRS before the PERS/TRS deficit is resolved.

 

Representative Mike Kelly is working with three pieces or legislation to address the issue. The university is working on a piece of separate legislation which would expand the defined contribution program which executives and faculty can currently buy into.  The university is also starting to look over the entire retirement program.  The funding ratios are not getting any better.

 

8.         IT Merger Update – Steve Smith

 

Steve passed out a draft organization chart and said that by mid April a second draft will be made available and at which time he will ask for comments. It has been seen by three groups previously and will be presented to the Chancellor Jones and President Hamilton tomorrow. In terms of impact on statewide, this is not something where staff will be cut, though some positions may be moved to different locations. In some cases there will be new positions. Smith, with HR, is looking at how positions will change, if positions will just be moved and changed internally, and whether or not the positions must be reannounced and opened up for recruitment. Lori Merdes has been reassigned as the consolidation coordinator.

 

 

9.         Elections Update - Kenneth Coon

                http://www.alaska.edu/itmerger/

 

Coon said the elections process is underway; nominations have been received and he is in the process, with the help of Gunderson and others, of obtaining photos and bios.

 

10.        Employee Luncheon Update: Fairbanks, April 20; Anchorage April 21 – Amy Gould

 

Amy Gould said that President Hamilton could not be present on the above dates.  SAA requested that Gould seek alternate dates for the employee luncheon when President Hamilton could be present.  Gould said there was a larger variety of foods this year as well as $4,000 in door prizes.

 

11.        Make Students Count Nomination

 

SAA received one nomination for the Make Students Count Award.  SAA moved by acclimation to send the nominee forward to President Hamilton, indicating that the sole nominee was very deserving of this award.

 

12.        March of Dimes Walk America May 14, 2005 Pioneer Park Update - Isabel Martinez           

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/2005-02-11.walkamerica.html

 

Isabel Martinez reported that five walkers had signed up.  Ten beanie bears have been sold and a luncheon fund-raiser was planned.

 

13.        Other Items of Interest

 

            There were no other items of interest.

           

14.        Agenda Items for the Next Meeting – Wednesday, May 11, 2005

 

Agenda items for the next meeting are due by the end of the day on Monday, May 2, 2005. 

 

15.        Member Comments

 

            There were no additional member comments.

 

16.        Adjourn

 

            The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:45am.