Administration & Student Life
Employee Relations Committee
Thursday, April 20, 2017 1:30-3:00 pm
405 Student Services Building, Housing Conference Room
MEETING MINUTES
Present
Ann Atchley, Amy Bruner, Linda Chatham,Frank Cuevas, Dorothy Dyer, Reggie Hemphill, Mike Herbstritt,Mike Jordan, Armintha Loveday,Dan McGuffey, Mark Paganelli, Lynette Russell, and Leslie Valentine
Absent
Tammy Berry, Shannon Bruce, Robin Cabraja, James Holloman, Donna Holton, Mary Lucal, Jill Marling, Beth Paton, and Christopher Wright
Welcome
Dan McGuffey, HR Generalist, welcomed everyone to the monthly meeting.
New Business
- From the Division of Student Life – Frank Cuevas, Associate VC & Executive Director of UT Housing
Dr. Cuevasshared that the Student Life awards recognition presentation was held on Monday, April 17. On April 19, seven students received the Torchbearer award during the Chancellor’s Honors Banquet. Destination Imagination (DI) will be held in May and will bring a large crowd of participants to UT campus.
The Student Union phase two is underway.When completed, it will include a large auditorium, a large ballroom for events and banquets, and additional meeting rooms and office space.It also will extend the building’s footprint westward toward Volunteer Boulevard.The Student Union will be closed from May 15 to May 17 due to the construction needs. From mid-May through mid-August the side walk on the Cumberland Avenue will be closed.
2.System and IPS Update – Mark Paganelli, Executive Director of Treasurer
Mr. Paganelli shared that it appears that there will be a 3% salary pool but this still needs to be approved by the legislature and the UT Board of Trustees.
Mr. Paganelli also shared that UT has changed the procurement card provider from Bank of America to U.S. Bank. Approximately 2,000 new procurement cards have been issued. The old cards have been deactivated.The new UT ContractManagement system has been created. Training videos are available online, please view full details at training is also available at request.
- Human Resources Update - Mike Herbstritt, Executive Director of Human Resources
Dr. Herbstritt shared that from April 1through June 30, Sick Leave Bank will be accepting applications for new enrollees from the Knoxville-area and Institute of Agriculture. If you are an active bank member, you do not need to re-enroll during the open enrollment period. All enrollment applications will be processed the first week of July. To learn more about the sick leave bank, please visit
Chancellor Beverly Davenport hosted Picnic on the Plaza on Wednesday, April 12to thankfaculty and staff for their service to the university. Knoxville-area faculty, staff, and retirees came together at Thompson-Boling Arena to celebrate.
3.Nails Found in Tires– Reggie Hemphill
Q: Staff found nails in their tireswhen parking in lot 37 due to the Orange and White hall construction. The lotsalso need to be repainted.
Dr. Cuevas: Messer is the contract company that is working on the construction project. We have talked to Messer in regards to better cleaning of the area.
*Jack Stallings, Maintenance and Operations Manager of Parking & Transit Services, provided more information after the meeting: We will send a maintenance crew to lot 37 on the morning of April 20 to clean up the parking lot before the staff arrives for the day. Regarding the painting, although some lots are re-painted during Spring Break, Parking & Transit Services typically paints lots after commencement in May or early June as the temperature needs to be right and the lots are less crowded.
4.Food Spills – Reggie Hemphill
Q: Aramark keeps spilling food near the Stokely Residence Hall compact areas, causing employees to clean up on a daily basis.
Dr. Cuevas: I will discuss this issue with Jeff Maples. Mr. Maples is the Sr. Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration.
- Divisional Golf Carts Parking in the Middle of the Sidewalks – Amy Bruner
Q: Some divisional golf carts are being parked in the middle of the sidewalks under the breezeway of the Tower plaza area. This causespotential safety issues for staff and students who have to walk into the street area to get around the golf carts.
Dr. Cuevas: The golf carts have designated parking area located in the parking garage. I will mention it to the group that is in charge of the golf carts.
*Emily Simerly, Policy Deputy Chief of UT Police Department, provided more information after the meeting: Please call Parking Services and have those golf carts ticketed. These devices are all now required to be registered with Parking Services. Please view full details at
Old Business
None
Announcements & Other Comments
Chancellor Davenport’s Visit
Dr. Davenport will visit the Administration and Student Life ERC on Friday, May 26, 2017. Please send your questions for Dr. Davenport to Dorothy Dyer at no later than Thursday, May 18, 2017.
Fall ERC Elections
The fall ERC elections will be held electronically.
Distributions
Agenda