Civil Service Employees Council
MINUTES
Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Sherman Hall Room 303 – Macomb Campus
I. Roll Call – Holly Fecht, Kim Sedgwick, Jessica Lambert, Karen Trusley, Wendi
Mattson, Tammy Fretueg, Bill Rupert, Charlene Hammond, Connie Upton, Alison
Shook, Stacy Dorethy, Alisha Barnett, Carla Farniok
Absent – Linda Wade, Heather McMeekan, Peter Skypkun, Pamela Bowman, Julie
DeWees, and Tammy Klinedist
II. Minutes (last meeting)
a. Motion to approve: Karen Trusley
b. Approved by: Connie Upton
III. Treasurer’s Report (Stacy Dorethy) – No Report and minutes from last month need
approved next month.
IV. Director of Human Resources (Pam Bowman) –absent
V. Vice President for Administrative Services Report (Julie DeWees) – absent
VI. Group Concerns – none
VII. President’s Report (Wendi Mattson) – Wendi states that we was at the President’s
Advisory Committee meeting this morning. The state is sticking to their payment plan
they created to this point in the year and map funding is in. Vice presidents are working
on FY15 budgets and an agreement has been reached with union regarding wages. For
prospective students who cannot afford to visit campus, WIU will be doing a program to
get students to come visit (the train ride is provided). They President is also trying to get
the word out to let everyone know to encourage students to apply for FAFSA.
The President also announces that there are four registrations holds that administration is
evaluating. He also announces that for the upcoming incoming freshman class that twice
as many applications have been denied due to increased standards, which is viewed as a
good thing to help with retention. He also reminded the group that faculty must stay in
room for total time allotted for final, and Graduate programs must increase their numbers
or risk being cut.
The President also shared that a State Pension Bill was passed. Bill said ASME and We
Are One will be getting contributions to support initiatives as the passed Pension Bill will
be taken to court. Bill also shared that the Bill calls for decreased benefits, caps on
income used for pension computations, increased age to retirement for those under 46,
and reduces COLA. Kim asks about being forced to use Obama Care in the future. Bill
also talks about that not being a factor and that current insurance options will be kept.
See the below letter from President Thomas:
As the semester draws to a close and we celebrate another graduation ceremony, I would
like to update you on our budget situation. The university cash flow continues to remain a
top focus I am pleased that we have received two reimbursements from the state for
FY2013. However, as if December 1, 2013, the State owes the University approximately
$33.3 million. This requires us to continue to conserve and spend wisely. We continue to
watch the enrollment levels for the spring and attempt new recruitment strategies in order
to grow our enrollment.
We are disappointed in several of the elements in the pension reform bill (the approach to
COLA and the cap on pensionable salaries) that has been signed into law. We believe this
will have a negative effect and impact the retirement security of our former, current, and
future employees. I will meet again next week with other public university presidents and
chancellors to discuss pension reform and other legislative topics. We will continue to
seek adequate funding for Western Illinois University and promote how higher education
contributes to the economic development of the State of Illinois.
The leadership team and I continue to meet and plan for the FY2013 budget process. We
are appreciative of the University Professionals of Illinois working with the
administration to develop and ratify a new three year agreement; This will assist the
University in addressing the financial difficulties that we face over the next few years.
We are also in contact with other collective bargaining units on campus and will continue
to discuss possible changes to those contracts as well.
We will continue to provide a great education for our students, and we will meet the
FY2015 challenges that we face. To this end, we will have an open campus meeting on
Thursday, January 23, 2014, at 3:30 p.m. During this meeting, we will provide a budget
update, discuss the challenges we face, and identify decisions that must be made with
regard to the FY2015 budget. The meeting will be held in the Heritage Rooms and video
conferenced to the Quad Cities Riverfront Campus in rooms 103 and 104.
VIII. Civil Service Employee of the Month (Alisha Barnett) – Alisha announces that the
December Employee of the Month is Robert Fields (Parking Services). Also, we are out
of plaques and need to order more from Engraving by Lin. She also states that the
Employee of the Year is Robert Fields, but that is not public knowledge until tomorrow.
IX. Employee Advisory Committee Representative (Peter Skrypkun)- absent
X. WIU Quad Cities Campus Report (Alison Shook) – There will be a graduate reception
in the Quad Cities soon. That plan is that Phase II of the QC building will be done in
July.
XI. Representative Reports to Council
a. Affirmative Action Internship Committee (Holly Fecht) –
Affirmative Action informational meeting for prospective applicants will be
tomorrow overlapping the time of the luncheon and there will be a second one in
January.
b. University Diversity Council (Wendi Matteson) – Wendi asked if Karen will be
Civil Services representative since she takes minutes for these meetings and is in
attendance already. Karen agrees to that that responsibility.
c. Website and IT Issues (Jessica Lambert) – Jessica states that everything is
updated including prizes and list for luncheon
d. Training and Development (Carla Farniok) – no report
XII. Committee Reports
a. Policy & Appeals (Bill Rupert) – no report
b. Awards and Selection (Alison Shook) –Alison acknowledges that she still hasn’t
scheduled meeting to discuss changes that we are hoping to implement, but she
needs to do that in the near future.
c. Constitution/Election (Linda Wade) –absent
d. Education (Alisha Barnett) – no report
e. Fundraising (Wendi Mattson) –
i. Luncheon Capacity
Stacy announces that we are past capacity of 184 for the Sherman
Auditorium. Stacy asks if we can make room for employee of the month
and scholarship winners if they show up since we are at capacity; it is
decided that will have a list and they can take council member slots (we
can eat elsewhere). Alisha asked about selling tickets and congestion; it is
decided that we will move down the hall to free up rooms.
Wendi goes over the Luncheon Agenda
Thank You (Wendi), Rocky Moves (Alisha), Employee of the
Month/Employee of the Year (Alisha), Best Dressed (Karen – including
members to “pick” judges at chairs). Restoration of Auditorium (Brad
Bainter – we will fit him in as needed), and Raffle Winners (Alisha
announcing/Tammy writing)
Other Luncheon items discussed
We need to have plenty of blank raffle tickets ready for sign up. We will
put check in and raffle tables on each side of the auditorium for check in.
Table staffing- we will need five at each table for check-ins and raffles (so
need ten minimum). Will need money boxes and something to put tickets
in; volunteers step forward. Stephanie talks about refunding money for
Deb McDaniel for dedication with selling raffle tickets over the years and
Wendi says that is good and we will do the same for Digger Oster.
f. Mentoring (Kim Sedgwick) – Kim states that since she was absent last month,
but here are new employees since October:
Megan Welch – Cashier II in the Union Service Center
Christina Monson- Quad Cities
g. Social Events & Development (Wendi Mattson & Stacy Dorethy) - no report
h. Open Meetings Act Requirements (Linda Wade) - absent
i. Provost Advisory Council Report (Karen Trusley)- no report
XIII. Old Business – none
XIV. New Business – none
XV. Announcements – none
XVI. Meeting Adjournment –
a. Motion to adjourn: Alisha
b. Seconded by: Holly
XVII. Next Meeting will be Thursday, January 9, 2014, at 1:15pm in Waggoner 170.