Draft Minutes

 

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Fairbanks location:  Butrovich Building – 212B

Anchorage location: ULB Videoconference Room

 

President Sporleder was recovering from surgery and unable to attend.  Vice President Merdes conducted  the meeting.

 

1.          Call to order and roll call

 

Members Present:

 

Lisa Sporleder, President (absent, excused)

Lori Merdes, Vice President

Isabel Martinez, Secretary

Betty Dupee

Larry McGrady

Mike Molnia

Barb Rusher

Ajay Nautiyal, Alternate

 

Others Present:

 

Jodi Bailey, Administrative Coordinator, SystemGovernance

Pat Ivey, Executive Officer, System Governance

Joe Hayes, Director of UAF Alumni Association

Mike Humphrey, Director of Benefits

Debra Carter, Employee Communications Specialist

 

2.          Adopt agenda

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/agendas/2006/4-12.htm

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/agendas/2006/4-12.pdf

 

MOTION:   Passed without objection, moved by Betty Dupee and seconded by Barb Rusher.                   .

 

“The Statewide Administrative Assembly moves to adopt the agenda for April 12, 2006 meeting.  This action is effective April 12, 2006.”

 

3.          Approve minutes of March 8, 2006 meeting

http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/minutes/2006/3-8.htm

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/minutes/2006/3-8.pdf

 

MOTION:   Passed without objection, moved by Barb Rusher and seconded by Betty Dupee.                  

 

“The Statewide Administrative Assembly moves to adopt the minutes from the March 8, 2006 meeting.  This action is effective April 12, 2006.”

 

4.          Guest/Public Comments

 

            There were no guest or public comments.

 

5.          Grounds keeping and Building Assessment                                  

http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/2006-04-06.ButroSpaceAssessment.html

 

Pat Ivey informed the group that the attachment is an email from Richard Schointuch requesting department heads to do an assessment of their current and future space needs.  The responses are due by April 28.

 

6.          Staff Alliance Update – Lori Merdes

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session=24&bill=hb365&submit=Display+Bill+Root

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=HB0368A&session=24

http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?session=24&bill=HB366

 

Lori Merdes stated that the last meeting was held in Juneau April 4 and 5. The Staff Alliance members met with their legislators during that time to promote the University and the budget needs.  Pete Kelly and Wendy Redman attended the meeting to discuss what topics needed to be discussed at the Capitol.  Pat Ivey stated the atmosphere was cordial, but that the capital budget was not discussed because the capital budget will probably not be taken up until late April. Staff Alliance members met with the Governor and the main topic for discussion was the PPT proposal.

 

7.          Legislative Update – Joe Hayes, UAF Alumni Association                  

 

Joe Hayes stated the Board of Regents put forward a $32 million request and the House Finance approved $31 million but the Senate approved $34 million.  Pete Kelly had asked thank you notes to be sent to members of the House Finance committee and especially Senator Wilken.

 

The University’s capital request is $331 million and $150 million of it is UAF’s deferred maintenance costs.  The state, excluding the University, has $2 billion in deferred maintenance.

 

8.          Open Enrollment – Mike Humphrey                     

 

            Mike Humphrey stated that open enrollment will be April 17 to May 16.  He also stated the rural campuses will have a difficult time receiving the materials, but they will be posted online for their convenience.  He had hoped to have open enrollment online but other IT projects superceded it, but he is hoping it will be operating next year.

 

Mike stated the health insurance rates have reduced substantially and the supplemental life benefit rates have gone down by 10%.  He also stated that they rebid all the health benefit plans and they will stay with Blue Shield/Blue Cross but the pharmacy benefit will be operated by PharmaCare.  They are known for their exceptional customer care for the employees.  Switching to PharmaCare will save the University around $350,000 a year. 

 

Lori Merdes asked what the difference was between using a mail order pharmacy or a local pharmacy for prescription drugs.  He stated there is a 30 day supply limit on medications when using a local pharmacy, but when a mail order vendor, you can receive up to a 100-day supply. 

 

Betty Dupee expressed her concern and frustrations with the lack of automation of coordinating benefits which only affects employees with double coverage. 

 

Humphrey also informed the group there will be a 2% pay increase becoming effective in July. 

 

Humphrey discussed the Wellness Plan and how it has created enthusiasm around the various campuses.  The Human Resources department is currently discussing the idea of creating a position, Program Coordinator for the Wellness Plan, who will coordinate all of the initiatives and track their progress because of the popularity of the program. 

 

He also stated that there will be a Walking for Wellness website going live May 1st.  It will allow employees to create a profile and use the website to track their fitness progress.  Human Resources will promote the website by rewarding participants with gifts once they reach a certain goal and with every goal reached, there is a difference gift.  The President and the three Chancellors from the major MAU’s, are the leaders to allow the employees to compete against them.  The Human Resources department is also talking with Weight Watchers to see if they would be willing to go on the various campuses to promote their program. 

 

UAA and UAS are having health fairs this month and UAF is working on expanding their employees lunch hour to allow them enough time to go to the Student Recreation Center.  Mike also stated the UAF Student Recreation Center is discussing the idea of changing their life plan to either extend the hours or combine the two plans already provided.

 

Beginning  July 1, all new UA employees will be urged to enroll in NORP.  The vesting period is three years.  

 

9.          Proposed Revisions to Travel Regulations – Valerie Amarillas                                 

http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/2006-03-15.TravelRegTransmittal.pdf

http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/2006-03-30.BC-TravelAdmin.pdf

http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/2006-03-30.BC-TravelRegs-1.pdf

                http://www.alaska.edu/bor/contents/pt5.xml  

 

Barb Rusher stated all the information regarding the possible travel regulation changes were included with the packet.  The changes will become effective mid-May but only if the changes have to be approved by the Business Council.  Some of the major changes were the per diem rate increased from $40 to $44 a day and if the traveler is in travel status over two hours, then they will receive per diem as well.

 

10.        Noon Bus Use Update – Isabel Martinez

 

Isabel Martinez stated that staff members use it regularly and are happy with the new service and hope it continues.  Betty Dupee did state the only complaint she heard was from an employee who was upset the service was created because he believed the shuttles were funded by students.  The shuttles are actually funded in part by employee and student parking fees.

 

11.        SAA Elections Update – Larry McGrady                                      

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/elections/2006/election-timeline.pdf

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/elections/2006/2006-nomination-form.pdf

 

 

            Larry stated the elections are currently posted online and ready for employees vote.

 

12.        Employee Awards Update – Mike Molnia                                    

http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/awards/2005/2006-02-01-timetable.pdf

            http://gov.alaska.edu/saa/awards/2005/2006-02-01.announcement.pdf

 

Mike informed the group that there were 20 nominations and they had made their decision after an hour-long discussion.  He prepared and sent a letter to the President with the proposed nominee’s and just received a letter yesterdays tating that all the nominees were approved.

 

13.        Employee Service and Recognition Event Update – Amy Gould     

 

Amy informed the group that the event has changed from a luncheon to a dessert event and this was because of funding issues.  The Fairbanks event will take place on April 26 and the Anchorage event will take place on April 28.  She also stated that President Hamilton will be at both events this year. 

 

14.        Executive Session - Staff Make Students Count Award                 

http://gov.alaska.edu/staff/studentscount/2006/factsheet.pdf

            http://gov.alaska.edu/staff/studentscount/2006/nom-form.pdf

 

MOTION:  SAA received two nominations for the Staff Make Students Count award.  SAA moved by acclimation to send the nominee forward to President Hamilton. 

 

“The Statewide Administration Assembly moves to approve Rhonda Ooms as the Staff Make Students Count award nominee.  This action is effective April 12, 2006”

 

15.                Agenda Items for the Next Meeting – Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Items may include the June 5 annual meeting

 

Agenda items include tuition waivers, it consolidation, butro space and grounds issues, legislative update, the annual meeting, election update, open enrollment and benefits

 

16.        Member Comments

 

            There were no additional member comments.

 

17.                Adjourn

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:17 am.