CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES COUNCIL
October 2, 2008
Horrabin Hall 60
Minutes
I.
Roll Call
Present: Suzanne Boussaard, Jim Buffalo, Laura Caldwell, Hilary Churchill, Amber Dodds, Richard Hamilton, Ed
Lavin, Greg Phelps, Lois Retherford, Bill Rupert, Kim Sedgwick, Jamie Shuda, Martha Youngmeyer, Pam Bowman,
Sheila Kirby, Jackie Thompson
Excused: Carla Farniok, Dan Rathjen
II.
Guest – Dr. Goldfarb
He gave the State of the University Address at the Founder’s Day Luncheon on September 23.
Thank you for passing the Pay for Exceptional Performance. Thank you, Suzanne and Ed, for all of your hard work.
He is working with COAP, Human Resources, and the Vice Presidents to get an implementation plan that will work.
This year’s budget was a relatively good budget with a 2.7% increase but with the economic times it is hard to tell
what will happen with the increase. He has held 2% back institutionally for potential issues or call backs. He is trying
to increase the departmental budgets by at least 3% in January if there is no Physical Plant or fiscal crisis prior to
that time.
The student funded projects are moving forward on campus which includes the Multicultural Center and the
expansions of the Rec Center. The Multicultural Center should be complete by the end of next spring. The Rec
Center is coming along and should be open within the next month.
The capital bill should come up for discussion again in November. Hopefully it will go through soon so we can
concentrate on the New Performing Arts Center and the new Quad Cities building.
There are two new degree programs that will be going to the Board of Higher Education. They are the four year
Nursing degree which will complement the 2 year completion degree we already have and the Engineering Program.
This will allow the Pre-Engineering students to stay here and finish there last 2 years in the Quad Cities and
complete the program in 4 years instead of transferring to University of Illinois to complete the degree in 5 years.
This will also allow the students that received an associate’s degree in engineering to complete the four year degree
at the Quad Cities campus.
Museum Studies program is operating in the Quad Cities. The two year nursing completion program had its first
students attending this semester. We will also have Doctorial Students graduating this December.
Enrollment is slightly down by 1% total enrollment. We were 100 students short of the Freshman target . One of the
key issues is that this is becoming more of a competitive market. Student enrollment is very important. The state
allows for 50% of the budget and student tuition covers the rest. Transfer, Extension, Quad Cities, and BOT are all
up along with the retention rate.
The Capitol Rooms now have the CODEC connection. They are looking into making more of the classrooms hightech.
The manufacturing companies are very supportive of the new engineering program.
III.
Minutes (Carla Farniok) – A motion was made to accept the minutes and Greg seconded. The motion carries.
IV.
Treasurer’s Report (Jamie Shuda) – All of the reports were wiped out because Jamie’s computer got the virus so the
Treasurer’s Report is in a new format. She handed out 2 reports. The $1,500.00 PCard transaction was for the Red
Cross which was then paid off with the donations.
V.
President’s Report (Ed Lavin) – No Report
VI.
Civil Service Employee of the Month (Laura Caldwell) – Duane Sidwell with the Physical Plant is the October Employee
of the month. His presentation is October 10, at 10:00am in the Physical Plant training conference room.
VII.
Vice President for Administrative Services Report (Jackie Thompson) – Western Walks is October 6-10 and We Care
is October 13-16. There will also be We Care held at the Quad Cities Campus.
There is discussion about moving the tree planting from the Fall to the Spring. There are some advantages to doing
this. The program will continue but the timing might change.
VIII. Director of Human Resources (Pam Bowman) – Health and Wellness is the University theme this year. The brochures
that are being handed out at the meeting were mailed individually to all employees. Western Walks is next week and
they would like everyone to participate in Western Walks. There are some neat giveaways to register to win. There will
be three walks a day except for Friday. Friday is walk your dog day. You can bring your dog and scooper after work
and participate in Western Walks. This is just the beginning. There is a wellness committee that is made up of males
and females to make sure that programming is provided to everyone.
Pam will be attending the EAC meeting in the Quad Cities on Friday.
There is a new employee in Human Resources which is Leslie Apel. She replaced Renee Edwards.
IX.
Employee Advisory Committee Representative (Sheila Kirby) – Sheila is hosting the EAC meeting in the Quad Cities
on Thursday and Friday. They meet 10-4 on Thursday and 9-1 on Friday.
The information the Sheila has been putting out about having a new State Constitution has been very helpful. The
articles that some have been reading do not mention that it could put the employees pensions in jeopardy.
X.
WIU Quad Cities Campus Report (Lois Retherford) – We Care was held at the Quad Cities campus on October 1. SGA
held a blood drive on October 1, also. Construction continues on the front steps and sidewalks. Hopefully, in the
next week or so the front entrance will be totally accessible.
XI.
Representative Reports to Council
1. Affirmative Action Internship (Amber Dodds) – They are looking into new internships otherwise no report.
2. Accreditation Committee (Martha Youngmeyer) – No Report
3. Women’s Center (Martha Youngmeyer) – No Report
4. Web Page (Jim Buffalo) – Updates are slow. If you have anything that you want to get up on the web page,
email it to Jim Buffalo (JW-Buffalo@wiu.edu) or Scott Lawson (ST-Lawson@wiu.edu). May want to do extra
promotion to get people to go to the website. It is possible to have the webpage displayed at the luncheon to let
employees know that it is there. The website can also be posted on the Bulletin Boards with a message saying
to see the minutes from the last meeting you can go to the CSEC homepage at www.wiu.edu/csec or
//wiu.edu/csec/publicfiles.php#documents directly to get the minutes.
XII.
Committee Reports
1. Appeals (Greg Phelps) – The committee got together and heard one appeal and it was denied and forwarded
on to the appropriate parties. If an employee files a grievance and they do not like the outcome, they can bring
it to the appeals committee. Every non-negotiated employee has the opportunity to file a grievance. It is heard
within the department and in Human Resources. If it is an unsatisfactory conclusion, it goes to the Civil Service
Appeals Committee and then the President’s office. The President is the determining factor. Would it be
possible to take it outside the council and make it more University wide? The real concern is the confidentiality
and hearing the appeal in a timely manner. Suzanne made a motion for a committee to look at these issues
and bring a proposal back to the council. Hilary seconded the motion and the motion carries. Greg volunteered
to chair the committee.
2. Award Fund (Amber Dodds) – No Report; Ed updated everything that needed to be updated in the Civil
Service Handbook including the amounts and number of awards given. There should be 1 member from each
group, the President along with the chairperson. There needs to be a decision made if we want to keep it how it
is and make changes in the constitution.
3. Award Selection (Dan Rathjen) –No Report – Ed received a phone call from a retired employee that was
wondering if their child would be eligible for the award. Retired employees dependents are eligible for the
award as long as they are a dependent within the IRS regulations. The information needs to be updated.
4. Constitution / Election (Jim Buffalo) – No Report
5. Education (Hilary Churchill) – No Report
6. Mentoring (Kim Sedgwick) –
Leslie Apel,
Office Support Associate
Human Resources
Kristin Spain
Office Support Associate
Engineering Technology
7.
8.
9.
Everything seems to be running smoothly. The letter looks good and also gives the new employee a contact at
Western.
Salary (Suzanne Boussaard) – The training for Pay for Exceptional Performance and the evaluation process
will kick in this year and the program will begin in FY10. Evaluations will be done at the end of each fiscal year.
Vacation days will still go by your anniversary date.
Social Events & Development (Jamie Shuda) – The luncheon is December 12 from 11:30-1:00. The WII is not
easy to get a hold of. Jamie is looking and trying to get one. Jamie is going to try and get the WII Sport and the
WII separate. She has not been able to locate the bundle. A veggie tray has been added which brings the
price up to $10.40. Jackie said that they would take care of that part of the luncheon. A speaker is still needed
for the luncheon to talk about health and wellness. Ideas are still needed for a center piece giveaway. Prizes
will still be a hangtag and the WII and whatever else is donated.
Committee on Committees (Richard Hamilton) – No Report
XIII. New Business:
Committee - Ed received an email from Faculty Senate. We need to have a Civil Service representative on a search
committee. It needs to be someone from the College of Business and Technology and they are wanting ballots
made up for an election. The council can vote electronically. An email can be sent to the civil service employees in
the College of Business and Technology to see if there is anyone interested in being on the search committee.
Food Drive - Martha was contacted by Eva with Sodexo about a food drive. They are doing Cans Across America
and they would like us to join with them. Go West is also going in with them along with some other groups. The food
does stay local. It usually goes to Loaves and Fishes. The food drive is November 12. Greg made a motion to join
the Civil Service Employees Council food drive with Sodexo. Rich seconded and the motion carries. Martha has
volunteered to be on the committee.
XIV. Old Business:
1.
2.
3.
XV.
Blood Drive – October 31 at the Rec Center. There is a student group that will possibly co-sponsor the event.
Please encourage other employees to donate. The goal for the last blood drive was exceeded. The goal for
this drive is 54 units.
Homecoming Parade – Ed is donating a banner for the Civil Service Employees Council. It is 8ft wide and 3 ft
high. An email needs to go out to other civil service employees and retirees to invite them to walk in the
parade.
New Shirts for CSEC – Some of the shirts are in. They need to go up to Lil’ Stitches to be embroidered.
There will be the Western Logo and Civil Service Employees Council embroidered underneath.
Group Concerns:
XVI. Announcements: Next meeting: November 6, 2008 in Horrabin Hall Room 60.
Jamie made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Laura seconded