UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
STAFF ASSOCIATION MEETING MINUTES
September 9, 2015 – GSU 345 – 1:00 PM
Present:
Jessica Abbott, Chris Adams, Carol Buckheit, Jennifer Carr, Judy Denny, Alex
DeVivo, Meagan Fazio, Lynn Galvin, Valerie Gilleran, Traci Giovinazzo, Jenn Keyo,
Ellen Levasseur, Cheryl MacMath, Aubry McCarthy, Lindsay McKeegan, Therese
Morris, Cindy Oppenheimer, Flo Polek, Toni Robinson, Catherine Rose, Sharron
Sterling, Bonnie Taylor, Linda Zigmont
I. Discussion/Approval of Minutes of the 13 May 2015 meeting.
Jessica Abbott moved approval of the minutes as written of the July 8, 2015
meeting. Seconded and Approved.
II. University Committee Reports
Budget Advisory Team: Discussion items for 2016 are planning for
equipment purchases and funding of strategic planning, merit increases and
Athletics. The 12 million freed up by refinancing bonds will be used to help fund
Library renovation and Gengras renovation. Enrollment is up 184 .
Benefits Taskforce: Reviewed the current plan and the cost of health
claims and how the university did. Reviewed United Healthcare website and
looked at possible improvements and different wellness options.
Presidential Commission for the Status of Women: The response to the
survey was excellent and the comments were well thought out. The committee
will be having brainstorming sessions and hope to have Town Hall meetings.
Wellness Committee: This fall there are 3 different wellness exercise
classes and there will be a flu clinic in October.
III. Staff Association Reports
Web Advisory Committee: No Report.
Faculty Senate: No Report.
Treasurer’s Report: The beginning balance was $476.91, we had income of $607,
expenses of $333.78 with a ending balance of $750.03.
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Membership Director Report: Membership stayed the same at 126. Ellen
is sending emails to all new university employees.
IV. Old Business
The BBQ was a success in large part due to Christine Adams and all the help
she brought, especially Jen Carr who manned the grill. It was suggested that we
get a committee together for this event. There was a discussion on fundraisers,
plant sales, bake sales, chocolate bar sales were suggested as possible
fundraisers.
V. New Business:
Thanksgiving Luncheon – staff will have to pay the price that Aramark
charges us, SA can no longer afford to subsidize the cost. It was suggested to do a
raffle again since it was so successful at the BBQ.
Universal Menu for Commencement – Lynn Galvin submitted a proposal
that the university offer and support the cost of providing a universal menu for
commencement. Attached is the proposal.
Expand Recognition Day – Lynn Galvin submitted a proposal to expand
recognition day to include staff/faculty who would be retiring from the University
that year. Attached is the proposal. Lynn Galvin, Jenn Keyo and Valerie Gilleran
formed a committee to look into this proposal further.
Due to time constraints we tabled discussion on two proposals, post
commencement party for staff and mingle after hours until the October meeting.
VI. Meeting Speaker – Flo Polek, Payroll Manager
The new EmCenter Time and Attendance System is going very well, most of
the campus is now on the system. Email reminders were not sent out this past
pay period to remind people to submit their timesheet but they will be sent out
the next pay period. Holidays will be input into the system automatically.
Employees can now update their direct deposit via the self-service center.
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The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 pm.
Next scheduled meeting to be held: October 14, 2015 at 1 pm in GSU, Lisa Condon
from Procurement will be the speaker.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Zigmont
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