Draft Minutes
Annual Meeting
Monday, June 6, 2005
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Butrovich Building – Regents’ Conference Room 109, Fairbanks Campus
1. Call to order and roll call
Members Present:
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Current Members Lisa Sporleder, President 2002-04 and 04-06 Betty Dupee, Vice President, 2004-2006 Vince Yelmene, 2005-2007 Bess Rounds, 2004-2006 Michael Simmons, 2004-2006
New, Incoming Members Nikki Blake, 2005-2007 Tami Choquette, 2005-2007 Larry McGrady 2005-2007 Mike Molnia 2005-2007
Others Present:
Hans Gunderson, Admin. Coordinator, System Governance Mike Humphrey, Benefits Director Jim Johnsen, Vice President for Faculty and Staff Development |
Lori Merdes, Secretary, 2004-2006 John Mitchell, Past President 2003-2005* Lisette Richmond 2003-2005* Kenneth Coon 2003-2005* Alicia Wyse, Alternate * Carol English, Alternate * * Members whose terms as members ends June 30, 2005
Isabel Martinez, 2005-2006 Barb Rusher, Alternate
Valerie Amarallis, Manager, Statewide Financial Systems Mike McGraw, Statewide Budget Development Director |
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2. Adopt agenda
MOTION: passed without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to approve the agenda for the June 6, 2005 meeting. This action is effective June 6, 2005.”
3. Approve Minutes of May 11, 2005 Meeting
MOTION: passed as amended without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to approve the minutes for the May 11, 2005 meeting. This action is effective June 6, 2005.”
4. Public Comments
There were no public comments.
5. Guest Comments
Lori Merdes said that with the IT merger coming into play, that SAA is a good venue for polling customers. UAF has taken the initiative to put together a council that actually comes in and talks about the customer’s perspective. IT has not had that feedback from the statewide group and SAA might want to provide feedback as IT moves forward to implement the merger as to what the customers need outside of IT. One member said there should be a department set up within IT to address customer needs. The UAF council is made up of staff, faculty and administrative people and two IT people, primarily customer-oriented to give feedback. Over the course of the next twelve months, perhaps SAA could set aside time to address customer needs. Lori volunteered to help formulate a draft for SAA input at the next meeting. Lori will send email to statewide employees asking them to provide input to their SAA representatives, and notices of informational meetings will be posted around the Butrovich Building.
This will be an ongoing agenda item for each SAA meeting this fiscal year.
New members were asked to say a few words about their perspective of governance and visions for the coming year.
6. Election of Officers
MOTION: passed without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves that all outgoing and incoming SAA members are allowed to vote at the June 6, 2005 meeting. This action is effective June 6, 2005.”
The Statewide Administration Assembly re-elected Lisa Sporleder as President for the 2005-2006 term. Lori Merdes was elected Vice President and Isobel Martinez was elected secretary.
7. Adopt Calendar 2005-2006
http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/calendar/
MOTION: passed as amended without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to adopt the meeting calendar for 2005-2006.
Wednesday,
July 13, 2005
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Monday, June 5, 2006, on-site, 9 am - 2 pm; Annual Onsite Meeting (Butrovich
Room 109)
This action is effective June 6, 2005.”
8. Status of 2004-05 SAA budget and Draft 2005-2006 Budget
The SAA budget status for this year and draft 2006 budget was discussed.
MOTION: passed without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to approve the purchase of upgrades for System Governance office equipment. This action is effective June 6, 2005.”
9. Orientation of New Members, Review Handbooks
Lisa Sporleder conducted orientation for new members and explained the handbook. It was noted that the calendar in the handbook did not match the calendar approved in item 7 above. Adjustments were made and new copies printed.
10. Staff Alliance Update – Sporleder
Tuition waivers for seniors
Memo from President Hamilton: see p. 2
http://gov.alaska.edu/net/2005-04-12.tuition-adj-notice-ay2007-2008.pdf
Backup Data
http://gov.alaska.edu/staff/tuitionwaiverpolicy.pdf
http://gov.alaska.edu/net/2005-04-22.tuitionsummarymemo.html
http://gov.alaska.edu/net/2005-04-18.senior_citizen_tuition_waiver.pdf
Lisa Sporleder gave an overview of recent Staff Alliance activities, including the Alliance reaction to administration’s proposal to eliminate senior citizen tuition waivers.
11. State of the University Budget and Lands
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Mike McGraw, the new statewide Director of Budget Development, was introduced. He said the university general fund operating budget increment of $17 million was one of the largest in the history of the university. However, with healthcare and retirement cost increases, this is not a large increment. Of that amount $16.8 is going forward for salary and benefits. The university is still facing significant increases next year and the FY07 legislative session could be rough. Human Resources is looking at how we can mitigate these costs.
The lands bill passed. The 90,000 acres selected in the Nenana Basin could have gas on the land, and if the 250,000 acres of federal land comes through, it is going to be an uphill battle as Alaskan land is valuable to every one not in Alaska.
12. Per Diem Update
Valerie Amarillas said the university recently underwent a travel audit. Travel administrators are now reviewing the travel regulations. SAA wants same-day travel per diem reinstated. Vince Yelmene commented that he was disappointed to learn that after a 15-hour one-day trip to Kenai on university business that he was denied per diem. Amarillas responded that this was being looked at. Meanwhile, employees can request per diem, get it pre-approved by their supervisors and Randy Weaver. Amarillas asked SAA to look at the travel regulations and suggest changes.
13. Retirement Update
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session=24&bill=sb141&submit=Display+Bill+Root .
Jim Johnsen commented that the 2% $1.8 million salary grid increase is going forth, even with the legislature not fully funding the university operating budget.
Senate Bill 151 passed, allowing the university to form its own retirement plan. The bill also eliminates the PERS/TERS elected boards and replaces them with a governor-appointed board. See Johnsen said that the new university retirement plans would include a health care benefits component. The first step is to allow executives and faculty to move to the current optional retirement plan. Usually this is offered only at time of initial employment. The university is also looking at initiating a vesting period for receiving the employer contribution to ORP.
Lisa Sporleder asked that a retirement update session be held June 17 to appraise everyone about the retirement bill. [Nothing new transpired. The session was not held.]
14. Benefits, Wellness Update
http://www.alaska.edu/hr/benefits/ua_choice/index_ua_choice.xml
Mike Humphrey said that open enrollment is over and that next year, open enrollment will be done on line. Blue Cross will be sending out new benefits cards for all staff and that employees should destroy the old card after receiving the new one.
Given new optional governmental changes to the flex plan options, the change would allow people charge to the previous year. Humphrey is in conversations with the vender and reported that they are not yet ready to comment on this matter.
The wellness committee is moving toward choosing a program from Summex, who is being contracted by Blue Cross. Once that is chosen, programs will be brought to the committee and the communication role out can begin.
Betty Dupee asked if there were ways in which the university can work with the community to tap into the resources such as healthcare fairs.
15. ITS Security Policy and Agreement Review
http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/SW-IR-rules31Jul03.pdf
http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/ITS-IR-Agreement-2004-06-18.pdf
Mike Simmons strongly recommended that a one-page user guideline be prepared. This item was placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
16. Other Items of Interest
Jodi Bailey asked if administration was planning to address the upcoming deployment of armed forces personnel to overseas duty, saying that she asked for time off to spend with her significant other prior to his deployment and was denied by her supervisor. Johnsen was emphatic that administration was very open and sensitive to the needs of persons who have family members in the armed forces and asked if there is other staff who have had similar difficulties. Several members responded that they had, or had heard of other employees who have had difficulties. Johnsen said that administration will issue an email directing that employees be allowed time off to spend with their armed forces family members.
Johnsen advised that the university is moving closer to being able to take online applications for university jobs.
Isabel Martinez reported that the Staff Giving Campaign was in full swing; that she and Lori Merdes were on the campaign board and that the wrap-up event is going to be in June.
17. Special Orders – Awards to Outgoing Members
Awards were presented to outgoing members. A special plaque was presented to Lisa Sporleder for her leadership of SAA this past year.
18. Agenda Items for the Next Meeting – Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Agenda items may include, but may not be limited to: ITS security policy and agreement review, IT merger, post Board of Regents update, retirement update, wellness program update
19. Member Comments
There were no additional comments.
20. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:35pm.