WCU Staff Senate Meeting Agenda
June 14, 2012 (8:30-10:30 am)
Dogwood Conference Room (University Center)
Members
Tammy Ammons-Hagberg
Present
Excused
Not Excused
x
Suzanne Baker
Kay Benson
Paula Carnes-Ashe (new)
x
x
x
Michelle Cooper (new)
x
Mike Corelli
x
Keith Corzine
Wiley Danner (new)
Pam DeGraffenreid (new)
William Frady
Phyllis Franks (new)
Sheila Frizzell
Leah Hampton (new)
Homer Harris
Robin Hitch (new)
Alison Joseph
Jason LaVigne
Amy McKenzie (new)
Jen Nickel (new)
Caden Painter
Joseph Philpott (new)
David Porter
Kathleen Prindiville
David Rathbone (new)
Will Shivers
Carrie Shuler
Jeff Tatham
Walter Turner
Andy Voelker (new)
Shawna Young
Dianne Lynch (Ex-Officio Member) – David Belcher
Kathy Wong (Ex-Officio Member)
Erin McNelis (Faculty Senate Chair – ex-officio)
Alecia Page (SGA President-ex-officio)
I.
II.
III.
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Approval of the Meeting Agenda (Jason LaVigne)
Motion and approved
Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Jason LaVigne)
Motion and approved
Old Business (Jason LaVigne/Jeff Tatham)
Explanation of the role of the Staff Assembly delegate and time commitment.
a. Open Nominations for Staff Assembly Delegate and Alternate
IV.
V.
Nominees: Joe Philpott, David Rathbone, Andy Voelker
Michelle Cooper: How often do the delegates rotate?
Jason LaVigne: 1-2 positions will be open each year but we need to better define our nomination
process for these positions.
b. VOTE Staff Assembly Delegate and Alternate
Michelle Cooper: Do the new senators vote?
Jason LaVigne: If you are rolling off, don’t vote.
Leah Hampton: Can the candidates express why they are interested in being Staff Assembly
delegates?
David Rathbone: I’m interested in learning more about our state government and how the UNC
system works. It’s also a great opportunity for me to grow and do more for WCU.
Joe Philpott: I work with many people across campus as well as with people in the GA. This will
allow me to share information from the staff senate to the GA.
Andy Voelker: It would be a great opportunity for me to represent the staff. It’s also a great
opportunity to work for the students and staff.
Vote for delegate: Andy Voelker is our delegate; Joe and David will be alternates
External Informational Reports
a. Office of the Chancellor Updates (Chancellor Belcher/Dianne Lynch)
Not present
b. Human Resources Report (Kathy Wong, ex-officio member)
Not present
c. Faculty Senate Report (Erin McNelis, ex-officio member)
Not present
Internal Informational Reports
a. Chair Final Report (Jason LaVigne)
In September we created 4 goals for the senate:
1. Build community: We built relationships with the Faculty Senate, SGA and Full
Spectrum Farms
2. Impact morale: We partnered with the Faculty Senate on the Suggestion Box
and, by doing so, we were able to give staff and faculty a voice; fundraising for
the Staff Senate scholarship increased so we were able to award the largest
scholarships in the history of the Staff Senate; we participated in 2020
Commission
3. Increase visibility: We created the Staff Senate newsletter which is sent out
every other month, we now send out welcome emails to new hires; we hosted
a meet the Staff Senate social in fall 2011
4. Increase influence: Dr. Belcher is a very inclusive leader and the Staff Senate
has had representatives on all of the major campus committees over the last
year
b. Treasurer Report (David Porter, Treasurer)
No updates; but we have the appropriate paperwork to transfer Treasurer access and
responsibilities to the 2012-2013 Treasurer
c.
Staff Assembly Report (Jason LaVigne)
SB 575 didn’t get voted on and will be considered in the long session; person who championed
the bill is not seeking re-election and the bill will need to find a new sponsor if the matter is to be
pursued in the future. We will continue to work on the issues related to SB 575 but work isn’t as
urgent
The legislature is considering giving state employees a 1.2% salary increase. It is still under
consideration by other bodies – no agreement at this time, but it’s positive that they are talking
about salary increases.
UNC schools are participating in a golf tournament to raise money for a Staff Assembly
scholarship for UNC staff members. The tournament is being held at NC State. WCU is being
represented by alumni and Robert Edwards.
VI.
Updates from Sub-committees
a. PR Committee (Alison Joseph)
i. Next Meeting – June 27 3:00pm Scott East Conference Room
Plans for next year: streamline newsletter production process, new employee email, social
event and open forum
b.
Scholarship (Will Shivers)
i. Next Meeting – July 10 2:00pm 225 Killian Annex
Not present
c.
HR Committee (Jeff Tatham)
i. Next Meeting
No updates at this time; work we’ve been doing has been focused on SB 575
d.
Resources and Environment (Homer Harris)
i. Next Meeting
Not present
e.
Governance (Caden Painter)
i. Next Meeting
Jason LaVigne: Proposed by law changes (copied from document Jason shared at the
meeting):
Proposed By-Law Changes – 6/11
Provision for On-Line Voting
Current wording
Quorum and Voting: Fifty percent (50%) of the Staff Forum of its committees shall constitute a quorum, excluding
ex-officio members. A simple majority (anything more than 50 percent) of representatives present is required to
rule on a measure except amendments to the bylaws, which require a two-thirds vote. The Chair shall abstain
from voting except when necessary to break a tie. Any member of the Forum may request a vote be taken by
paper ballot. Amended 12/08
Proposed wording
Quorum and Voting: Fifty percent (50%) of the Staff Forum of its committees shall constitute a quorum, excluding
ex-officio members. A simple majority (anything more than 50 percent) of representatives present is required to
rule on a measure except amendments to the bylaws, which require a two-thirds vote. The Chair shall abstain
from voting except when necessary to break a tie. Any member of the Forum may request a vote be taken by
paper ballot. Online Voting is permissible in lieu of a special in-person meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the
Executive Committee. Online voting is not allowed for use in voting for officer elections, Staff Assembly delegate
elections, and/or by-law changes. Provisions must be made to minimize the opportunity for voting fraud.
Amended 12/08
Past Chair
Current Wording
3.
Past Chair: The term shall be no more than one year. The duties of the Past Chair shall be to act as
liaison to the Chair. Must sit out one full-year at the end of this term before being re-elected to the
Staff Senate unless completing an incomplete term to which they were elected.
C.
Ex-Officio Members: The Chancellor or his/her designee and the Director of Human Resources shall
serve as ex-officio non-voting members of the Senate. They shall function as a liaison between the
university administration and the Staff Senate.
Proposed Change
3. Past Chair: The term shall be no more than one year. The duties of the Past Chair shall be to act as
liaison to the Chair and to be an ex-officio member of the Staff Senate Executive Committee. If at the time the
Past Chair is no longer on Staff Senate the Past Chair shall remain on Staff Senate with ex-officio status.
Also
C.
Ex-Officio Members: The Chancellor or his/her designee and the Director of Human Resources shall
serve as ex-officio non-voting members of the Senate. They shall function as a liaison between the
university administration and the Staff Senate. The Past Chair shall also act in an ex-officio capacity if
said Past Chair is no longer a member of Staff Senate.
Role of SGA President and Faculty Senate Chair
Current Wording
C.
Ex-Officio Members: The Chancellor or his/her designee and the Director of Human Resources shall
serve as ex-officio non-voting members of the Senate. They shall function as a liaison between the
university administration and the Staff Senate.
Proposed Wording
C.
Ex-Officio Members: The Chancellor or his/her designee, the current Chair of the Faculty Senate, the
current Student Government Association President, and the Director of Human Resources shall serve
as ex-officio non-voting members of the Senate. They shall function as a liaison between the
university administration and the Staff Senate. The Past Chair shall also act in an ex-officio capacity if
said Past Chair is no longer a member of Staff Senate.
Alison Joseph: We might want to add that the Faculty Senate and SGA chairs can send designees if they can’t
attend Staff Senate meetings.
Leah Hampton: Does the Faculty Senate have a Staff Senate member as ex-officio?
Jason LaVigne: No, they don’t.
Leah Hampton: Maybe we can work toward that for next year.
Walter Turner: it would be a positive gesture if FS would include SS as ex-officio
VII.
Old Business
a. Full Spectrum Farms – volunteer opportunity update
Jason LaVigne: It was a positive experience and a good opportunity to work together. I would encourage the Staff
Senate to continue the relationship.
Alison Joseph: There was a total of 8 people who volunteered.
Jason: we have a message from Keith Corzine appreciating his time while on the SS
David: As Parlimentarian do I need to be part of the Staff Assembly?
Jason LaVigne: The Staff Assembly has its own Parlimentarian but you should be on the Governance committee.
VIII.
New Business?
Alison Joseph: Does the volunteer work with Full Spectrum Farms fall under a sub-committee?
Jason LaVigne: That’s unclear (discussion and review of the role of each of the sub-committees: Governance, PR,
Human Resources, Resources & Environment and Scholarship)
Carrie Shuler: PR might be the best fit.
Alison Joseph: PR is happy to take on service projects especially since it is in the description for the sub-committee.
Shawna Young: Following up on Leah’s comments at the last meeting, we might also want consider developing a
new sub-committee related to 2020 strategic plan.
Leah Hampton: Yes, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the strategic plan and it will be important for
Staff Senate to have continued representation as the strategic plan unrolls.
Andy Voelker/Robin Hitch: The strategic plan crosses all of the sub-committees so it might be that each subcommittee is responsible for monitoring /making recommendations on the strategic plan as it relates to each subcommittee.
Jason LaVigne: This can be something decided at the Staff Senate Executive committee meeting – it has
representation from each of the sub-committees.
Adjourned: 9:20
Next Staff Senate Meeting:
8:30 – 10:30 July 12, 2012
UC Cardinal Room