Southwest Texas State University
Staff Council Annual Report:
September 1997 - August 1998
The Southwest Texas State University Staff Council presents its sixth Annual Report to Southwest Texas State University President, Dr. Jerome Supple, summarizing Staff Council activities during its first academic-year meeting schedule from September 1997 to August 1998. Details of Staff Council meetings and activities are available on the Staff Council Web Site - http://www.txstate.edu/StaffCouncil.
Issues of Concern / Special Projects
· Staff Council presented a position statement to the President's Cabinet concerning adjustments to the University Pay Plan as recommended by the Personnel office which resulted in adjustments to Pay Plan minimums for some titles and an increase in classified pay Ranges from 70 to 100 steps.
· Staff Council requested that Staff be notified of Board of Regents Rule changes. Rules change notification now mentioned in Personnel Bulletin and updates posted on TSUS System WEB Site.
· Staff Council initiated and completed a campus-wide survey of Staff Employees.
· Staff Council requested and received criteria from President's Cabinet regarding Staff Performance Awards, clarifying how bonuses will be awarded.
· Staff Council lobbied successfully at University Council to maintain Summer Hours.
· Staff Council voted to support Faculty Senate University Club Subcommittee’s proposal for improvements to University Club.
· Staff Council provided input to Registration Coordinating Committee's Calendar Subcommittee regarding academic and holiday calendar scheduling.
Communications
Staff Council continued to communicate with SWT Staff Employees and the University Community during this report period through the dissemination of meeting minutes via all-subscriber's e-mail, Staff Council Notes in the Personnel Bulletin, regular updates to the Staff Council WEB Site and personal contacts. Staff Council also conducted its first campus-wide Staff Survey for the purpose of measuring Staff Employee satisfaction with working at SWT and identifying issues for Staff Council consideration. Finally, Staff Council received mention during this year in the University Star and the San Marcos Daily Record. The University Star story concerned Staff Council’s comments on the University Mission Statement revision. The Daily Record article quoted Staff Council Chair regarding questions about SWT Staff compensation and benefits.
Guest Presentations
In an effort toward mutual cooperation and information sharing, Staff Council invited the following guests to share information with Staff Council: Dr. Jon Bible, Faculty Senate Chair, discussed the history and current concerns of Faculty Senate. Dr. Susan Griffith explained the strategic planning process. Mr. Lance Moore, Associated Student Government President, suggested ways Staff Council might work more closely with ASG. Ms. Ruth Rayburn encouraged participation in the Annual Fund Drive. Ms. Birdie Bertelsen explained discontinuing the use of Social Security Numbers on University ID cards. Mr. Don Volz discussed WEB and e-mail privacy issues. Mr. Steve Prentice presented a proposal aimed at improving campus parking. John McBride, Director of Personnel, regularly attends Staff Council meetings to help Staff Council understand the sometimes complex issues of salary, benefits and other personnel matters.
Internal Committees
· The Public Relations Committee (Bonnie Ferguson - Chair, Mike Aleman, Martha Nipps) prepared 242 welcome letters for new Staff Employees and organized several informal get-togethers for Staff Council members.
· The Perks Committee (John Parker - Chair, Diana Richards and George Livingston) maintained the SWT Advantage, a list of on and off campus benefits available to SWT employees.
· The Compensation Committee (Emily Ando - Chair, Joan Heath, Sarah Garrison, Donna Bourke and Robert Niemietz) with assistance from Birdie Bertelsen, representing the Salary Equity Committee of the Advancement for Women in Higher Education organization, drafted position statements addressed to the President’s Cabinet regarding the University Pay Plan update and implementation of the latest salary survey.
· The UPPS Committee (Donna Bourke - Chair, Amy Galle, Barbara Hewitt and Galye Maltby) managed the review of and/or comments on fourteen University Policy and Procedure Statements including: Personnel Policies and Procedures, Sexual Harassment, University Leave Policy, Threatening Illness Guidelines, Smoking Policy, Contract Labor, Illegal Discrimination, Closing of Campus, Retirement Programs, University Classification and Compensation Policy, Employee Safety and Health Program, Staff Employee Grievance and At Will Employment, Affirmative Action Program and Professional Development and Educational Opportunities.
· The Elections Committee (Carolyn Sue Wells -Chair, Michelle Massey, Cindy Kruckemeyer, Oscar Flores, Mary Alice Urbizu) ran a smooth election for the 1998 -1999 Staff Council.
· The By-laws Committee (Vincent Morton - Chair, Terry Taylor, Rosie Farias, Jane Hughson) completed the Staff Council Committee standing rules, now posted on the Staff Council Web Site.
· Finally, the Executive Committee (Mark L. Carter, Sarah Garrison, Donna Bourke, Emily Ando, Terry Hernandez, Jane Hughson) met each month to set the meeting agenda and assign administrative tasks.
External Committees
Staff Council provided representatives to several University-wide Committees including: University Council (Mark Carter, Jane Hughson), SACS Steering Committee (Mark Carter), Centennial Celebration Committee (Mark Carter) Transportation and Parking Committee (Mike Aleman), Registration Coordinating Committee (Sarah Garrison), Insurance Committee (Emily Ando), Faculty Senate Facilities and Environment Subcommittee (Jane Hughson), Faculty Senate University Club Subcommittee (Robert Niemietz). Staff Council Chair also attended President's Cabinet, Board of Regents meeting preview discussions and served on the University Council Executive Committee.