PSO Meeting Minutes November 12, 2003
Members Present: Dave Taylor, Traci Birdsell, Jim McCracken,
Keith Johnson, Diane Johnson, Ryan Gill, Donna Callahan, Rob Lohrmeyer, Whitney Pugh, Lori Gaskill, Chet Herbst, Pat Clyde, Kristy Roberts, Linda Gallaher, Deb Mundell, Debra Lyber, Bert Sahlberg, Linda Cardwell, Savona Holmes
Minutes approved (with begrudging comments from Whitney and Ryan).
Lori Gaskill – Workplace Enrichment Committee – Lynne Bidwell (faculty) and Dawn Byers (CSO) joined the committee. Ideas that came from the committee include: receiving a floating holiday, 1/2 days on Fridays in the summer, time off for exercise and volunteering, ability to cash out vacation, monthly socials, discounts from businesses for LCSC employees. Also, a deal with World Gym for employees is in the initial stages.
Diane Johnson – Holiday Social Committee – Employees should be getting the invitations through campus mail today. Diane’s fingers were worked to the bone from stuffing envelopes. There is also a website available for more information (URL not available). Included in the prizes are two NAIA World Series tickets for the entire series. The social will be held on campus. Thanks, Diane, for trying. Diane also brought up the point that UI is getting Christmas Eve off, paid, and why can’t we? Lori will investigate.
Lori Gaskill – Benevolence Committee – no formal meeting has occurred. Lisa Horan has graciously offered to donate the proceeds from her singing engagements to the fund. PSO members discussed that we would like criteria for someone to receive benevolence, other than the people we like best. We will get more ideas from them next meeting.
Jim McCracken - PSO FARG Representatives - Representatives will meet on 11/20/2003 to discuss their groups’ findings and prepare a summary report for the president and vice presidents. Representatives for next year’s FARGs will be chosen at the June meeting. Ken Clark suggested that the groups should be renamed the Functional Area Review Teams, but it was decided that the name stunk.
Jim McCracken – Nominating Committee – If someone is interested in being on this committee, let Jim know. Nominations for 2004 officers are due before the January meeting. Elections will take place at the March meeting.
Chet Herbst – The purpose of the supervisor evaluation is to provide feedback to supervisors. It is not a report card. The supervisor merely meets standards or not. Its purpose is to illicit comments and constructive feedback. Getting approval from the President’s Cabinet is the next step. Hopefully, it will be tested this spring. Additionally, it will eventually be in electronic form. The results are confined to the supervisory chain. Lori suggested that the results should be given to the supervisor and then destroyed. Whitney expressed concerns that the evaluation process might not lead to change without accountability and that retribution was a possibility. Andy wondered if the workplace environment would suffer if constructive criticism was taken the wrong way. Chet suggested that members go back and look at the document on the intranet and talk about it at the next meeting.
Chet Herbst – Faculty and Staff Compensation – Look at PG 04-09. Even though Whitney and Dave are on the committee, PSO should have their own subcommittee to examine the issue. They need to have their word in by April. Whitney suggested looking at the plan that was put in place in 2000 as a place to start. It was moved and seconded to form an Ad Hoc Salary and Staff Compensation Committee. Andy Hanson, Diane Johnson, Ken Clark, Donna Callahan, and Dave Taylor volunteered to sit on the committee.
Traci had to leave. Jim graciously took over.
Chet Herbst (yet, again) – Unit Action Plans – Each unit will plan for a level budget and for any additional funds that may become available. Please take time to read the UAPs and feel free to give your input.
Polly Blasko and Bert Salberg – FYI –
College Advancement – Polly encourages us to dream big and communicate with her office about needs on campus so she can pass along those needs to the community supporters and donors. There are seats left at the new activity center available for $100. This doesn’t guarantee you a reserved seat but you will get a nice, shiny brass name plate. What’s better than that?
Campus Communications – Bert has already expanded the list of media contacts significantly and has a lot of insights into the kind of stories media members are interested in. He is also teaching a class through BTS that Pathfinder students can take.
Good of the Order –
President’s Council minutes are available on the web for your reading enjoyment.
Student Fee Hearing discussion – Students are concerned about their fees raising but may not be aware of the administrative constraints or budget situation. Please make efforts to explain the bigger picture so students can take action to lobby and communication with the legislature.