Civil Service Employees Council
MINUTES
Thursday, March 5, 2015 in the President’s Conference Room
Present – Wendi Mattson, Stacy Dorethy, Connie Lincoln, Chris Staley, Gail Ault, Debbie
Collins, Robert O’Bear, Alison Shook, Alisha Looney, Steve Whan, Karen Trusley, Heather
McMeekan, Tammy Klinedinst
Non-voting members: Julie DeWees, Peters Skrypkun
Absent – Butch Smith, Charlene Hammond, Neal Thurman
Non-voting members: Pamela Bowman
I. Vice-President Joe Rives
Vice President Rives indicated that the University initiated peer groups for nonsalary comparisons 10 years ago. These peer groups are used in benchmarking
student enrollment, retention, graduation, and other Higher Values in Higher
Education performance indicators. In the last decade the University has advanced in
national ranking systems, and Dr. Rives indicated an updated peer group will
continue to support university improvement in best serving students with a more
contemporary peer group.
The University used to compare itself against the following universities:
Appalachian State University
California State University, Chico
Central Washington University
College of Charleston
Eastern Illinois University
James Madison University
Missouri State University
Montclair State University
Sam Houston State University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of Northern Iowa
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Western Illinois University
Western Kentucky University
Western Washington University
The President's Leadership Team (President Thomas and the Vice Presidents) have
been carefully studying potential peer groups for the Western Illinois University-
Macomb Campus according to host community population sizes, institutional
rankings, student quality and diversity, and whether the university has a branch
campus, documented enrollment group, retention and graduation rates higher than
projections. As a result the following institutions were suggested as benchmark
institutions:
University of Northern Iowa
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Grand Valley State University
Eastern Illinois University
Montclair State University
Central Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Western Illinois University
University of Central Missouri
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Ferris State University
The Council approved this selection, and Dr. Rives thanked and promised to come
back if other campus governance groups had a difference of opinion. He also
indicated that updating of the Quad Cities benchmark institutions will be completed
after the Macomb Campus update in complete.
II. Director of Human Resources (Pam Bowman) – absent
III. Vice President for Administrative Services Report (Julie DeWees) – We are looking at
a possible 31% ($16 million) cut in appropriated budget for next year. They are still
holding the remaining 25% of this year’s budget and there is a good chance it will not be
released. They will accept any suggestions regarding budget
IV. Group Concerns –
V. Minutes (last meeting)
a. Motion to approve: Stacy Dorethy
b. Seconded by: Alisha Looney
i. All approved.
VI. Treasurer’s Report (Stacy Dorethy) – Stacy shares the following reports:
1. Motion to approve Treasurer’s Report: Alison Shook
2. Seconded by: Gail Ault
a. All approved, motion carries. Holly will get the letter out by the end of the
month.
VII. President’s Report (Wendi Mattson) – no report
VIII. Civil Service Employee of the Month (Alisha Looney) – Matt Housewright from AIMS
is employee of the month.
IX. Employee Advisory Committee Representative (Peter Skrypkun) – discussed
emails/letters he shared with us.
X. WIU Quad Cities Campus Report (Alison Shook) – phase 3 is still unknown. They
have lots of weekend events. WQPT is holding their imagination station at the WIU QC
campus on the 20th and 21st.
XI. Representative Reports to Council
a. Affirmative Action Internship Committee (Butch Smith) – no report
b. University Diversity Council (Karen Trusley) – no report
c. Website and IT Issues (Connie Lincoln) – no updates yet
d. Training and Development (Gail Ault) – Intermediate Zimbra TrainingMarch 11th; Twitter Training-March 26th, Sherman Hall secrets-March 31st
XII. Committee Reports
a. Policy & Appeals (Christine Staley) – no report
b. Awards and Selection (Alison Shook) – the application has been posted and
shared.
c. Constitution/Election (Butch Smith) – Updated membership list was
handed out and discussion followed regarding the upcoming election.
i. Notice of Election will go out in Campus Connection on March 19th
ii. Statement of Candidacy needs to be returned to Wendi by April 8th
iii. Election ballots out by April 19th
iv. Election ballots need to be returned to Wendi by April 23rd
v. May meeting will be the 1st official meeting for new members and will
also be the day we elect officers
vi. Human Resources will have absentee ballots
d. Education (Alisha Barnett) – no report
e. Fundraising/Social Events (Karen Trusley) – cupcakes &/or cookies will be
donated
f. Mentoring (Connie Lincoln) –
i. McKenzie Price, Office Support Assistant/Health Sciences & Social
Work, start date: 3/2/15
ii. Donald Alveshere, IT Support Associate/Libraries, start date: 3/9/15
iii. Nancy West, Office Support Specialist/Mathematics, start date:
2/18/15
g. Open Meetings Act Requirements (Christine Staley) – looking into problems
with the training module
h. Provost Advisory Council Report (Karen Trusley) – no report
XIII. Old Business – none
XIV. New Business – Benefits committee consist of David Louke, Debbie Collins, & Amy
Chambers
XV. Meeting Adjournment – Adjourned 3:15
a. Motion to adjourn: Steve Whan
b. Seconded by: Gail Ault
XVI. Next Meeting will be Thursday, April 2, 2015 in the President’s Conference Room.