Draft Minutes
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
10:00am – 12:00 noon
Fairbanks location: Butrovich Building – Room 204
Anchorage location: ULB Videoconference Room.
1. Call to order and roll call
Members Present:
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Lisa Sporleder, President Lori Merdes, Vice President Isabel Martinez, Secretary Nikki Blake Tami Choquette Betty Dupee Alicia Wyse for Larry McGrady |
Mike Molnia Bess Rounds Michael Simmons Barb Rusher, Alternate |
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Absent, Excused:
Lisette Richmond
Others present:
Pat Ivey, Executive Officer Hans Gunderson, Administrative Coordinator Pat Pitney, Associate Vice President, Budget and Institutional Research
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2. Adopt agenda
MOTION: passed without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to adopt the agenda for the August 10, 2005 meeting. This action is effective August 10, 2005.”
3. Approve minutes of July 13, 2005 meeting
At the end of the meeting, SAA passed the following motion:
MOTION: passed without objection
“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to approve the minutes of the July 13, 2005 meeting as amended to reflect that Alicia Wyse was present for Isabel Martinez. This action is effective August 10, 2005.”
4. Guest/Public Comments
There were no guest or public comments.
5. Staff Alliance Update
Lisa Sporleder gave an update on the Staff Alliance meetings and retreat with President Hamilton August 8 and 9 including the lengthy discussion regarding senior tuition waivers. The elimination of senior tuition waivers is scheduled for action by the Board of Regents September 20-21. Lisa continued that the university’s general fund budget increment request for FY2007 will be around $40 million. This is a defendable number with the rising cost of health care and the PERS/TERS issue. President Hamilton commented that the university needed to prepare Alaska for the next boom and insure that it is Alaskans who get those jobs.
6. Senior Tuition Waivers
6.1 Draft Regulation
http://www.alaska.edu/bor/contents/pt5.xml
The rough draft of the proposed regulation was presented below. This item was placed on the SAA agenda for final action on September 14.
Tuition waivers for Alaska residents 60 years of age and older who register on a space available basis and whose tuition is waived under Regents Policy 05.10.08.B, may not be enrolled to meet the minimum number of students required in order for a class to be taught. Classes must first be filled with the minimum number of tuition-paying students in order to be taught, after which tuition-waived students under this section may be registered.
This item was scheduled for action on September 13.
6.2 Fees Other Than Tuition Paid by Tuition-Waived Seniors
http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/2005-8-9.senior-tuition-waiver-fee-revenue.eml.pdf
SAA reviewed with Pat Pitney the non-course related fees paid by tuition-waived seniors. About $60,000 systemwide is collected in fees from seniors using tuition waivers, but only about $2,000 of that is for non-course related fees. The rationale for the recommendation to eliminate the waivers is that the university is facing a grim budget picture and the senior population is expanding with the baby boomers hitting retirement age. Pitney said that seniors are the largest holders of wealth in the country and most able to pay. Several ideas for saving the program were discussed including raising age requirement to 65 and initiating needs-based scholarships for seniors.
7. Travel Regulations and Per Diem Rate for Same Day Travel
Pat Pitney explained that the travel committee had discussed the concept of per diem for same day travel and were split on the issue. The committee has ceased meeting until December. This item was placed on the October SAA agenda for further discussion.
8. IT Merger
http://www.alaska.edu/itmerger/
Lori Merdes reported that the IT Merger was proceeding on schedule, introduced the IT merger consultant Glenn Wilde, and outlined activities over the next few weeks. Reports are being prepared and a communications plan is being drawn up. Presentations of the reports will be made at Schiable Hall and anyone who is interested may attend. Merdes will send out the notice to all statewide employees.
9. Revised Shuttle Bus Route
This item was postponed until the September 14 meeting, pending receipt of the revised
shuttle bus route. Gunderson will call UAF and find out who is on the parking committee that can speak to the issue.
10. Other Items of Interest
Vince Yelmene asked about the duties of the employee communications specialist. Sporleder responded that the position was focused on human resources issues and communicate them to employees.
It was noted that on the IT side the departments often do not play well together. Merdes responded that some have expressed the opinion that if they don’t get what they want out of the merger they will move on and that is okay. It is hoped that the merger process will alleviate many of the pockets of resistance.
11. Agenda Items for the Next Meeting – Wednesday, September 13, 2005
Agenda items for the next meeting may include, but may not be limited to IT Merger, revised shuttle bus route, senior tuition waiver regulation, Thanksgiving and Christmas potluck dates, Love Inc., annual canned food drive, and other items of concern.
12. Member Comments
There were no additional comments.
13. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 11:55am.