Unclassified Staff Senate Meeting
December 1, 2011
I. Meeting called to order at 3:03 p.m. by President B.B. Stotts.
II. Approval of minutes – M/S/P (Carter, Stewart)
III. Announcements
a. Student Senate – No representative present
b. Classified Senate – No representative present
c. Faculty Senate – Email report from Hazel Coltharp provided by B.B. The
faculty senate is in the process of updating bylaws as a result of the
Learning Resources Information Systems Task Force study. The Learning
Resources Committee will be renamed with the changes to its charge, plus
other changes. The Information Systems committee will also have a few
changes. Academic Affairs has endorsed common elements for all syllabi
on campus. (A brief announcement about a syllabus supplement that was
also recommended was discussed.) If anyone teaches a course at PSU,
these common elements should be included in their syllabi. Sample syllabi
templates/examples will be coming. A revised definition of on-line and
hybrid courses was recommended.
d. President’s Council Liaison – Shawn Naccarato not present
e. HLC Committee representatives Michele Sexton and Mindy Cloning
reported that our accreditation year is approaching (March 2013). Our
institutional report is due December 2012.
i. Previously the process looked at what PSU has accomplished during
the past 10 years. The new process looks forward using five
criterion that are still be determined by HLC. PSU is one of 14
institutions that is pioneering the new process. The new process
will use technology to provide evidence of our progress toward the
goal criterion. While much of the assurance portion will involve
academic departments, all PSU employees should be aware of the
process. The pathways make up our goal areas – Writing, Math,
Communication, and Co-curricular areas (looking at ways students
learn in programs that occur outside of the classroom).
ii. The co-curricular areas initially selected were Career Services and
First Year Programs. The process was formalized after these two
departments worked through development of student learning
outcome assessment and a Co-curricular Assessment Academy was
established to bring additional departments into this process in a
structured manner.
IV. Executive Committee Reports
a. President B.B. Stotts reported that there is an Unclassified Staff Council at
the state level and she will be seeking clarification regarding the purpose,
leadership rotation, meetings, or possible bylaws that exist so that PSU’s
U.S.S. will have guidelines for working with this broader group at the
request of the executive committee.
b. President-elect – no report
c. Secretary – no report
d. Treasurer – no report
V. Committee Reports
a. Adhoc Bylaws committee chair Ron Womble reported that the committee
has worked on one issue so far – the responsibilities of the secretary.
i. The committee has reworked the content of this area of the bylaws
and will bring recommended changes for first reading at the
January meeting.
ii. The other issue to be addressed is attendance at Senate meetings.
The committee would appreciate some feedback from Senators
regarding addressing attendance at Senate meetings. It was noted
that it will be difficult to define “excused” absences. Quorum is not
defined within the bylaws. It was suggested that the bylaws of the
other groups at PSU, as well as on other campuses, be reviewed
for policies related to this issue. A professional expectations
statement may be a good compromise.
iii. Additional issues would be replacement of Senators and/or
executive committee members who leave during their term.
b. Adhoc Professional Development committee chair Amanda Williams
reported that the committee has developed a professional development
survey that will be sent to all unclassified staff. It addresses access to
professional development and funding sources for that professional
development. It requested information about required certifications or
licenses that must be maintained and institutional support for that
maintenance. The goal is to identify need areas for our group to be able
to request financial support for professional development needs. The
survey will go out next week and then again in January.
VI. Old Business
a. U.S.S. Operating Budget – B.B. reported that we do not have a budget for
FY2012. The executive committee believes that we should focus on a
request for FY2013 as our expected expenses for FY2012 are only two
additional meetings.
b. Spring campus event to recognize U.S.S. and all unclassified staff – We
will be having a soup, salad and dessert potluck on Friday, January 6 at
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. at the Alumni Center. Mindy Cloninger will be sending
the e-vites to all unclassified staff with an RSVP deadline of December 20.
The executive committee will be providing beverages and table service. It
was recommended that we have nametags available for all in attendance.
VII. New Business
a. Pitt State’s response to the recent events at Penn State – Dr. Scott sent
an email to B.B. (and all Senate presidents). Jamie Brooksher, University
General Counsel, will be developing a comprehensive summary of
reporting requirements for crime on campus. A committee will review this
summary to determine if there are any weaknesses in current policies and
procedures.
b. No other new business was brought before the Senate.
VIII. Meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Heather Eckstein
U.S.S. Secretary
Debbie
Cathy Lee
Jon
Misty
Ellen
Mindy
Susan
Jean
Heather
Rita
Lindell
Jenny
Barbara
Jamie
Missi
Holly
Andrew
Shawn
David
Jim
Tim
Paul
BB
Lauren
Amanda
Ron
Amershek
Arcuino
Bartlow
Button
Carter
Cloninger
Dellasega
Dockers
Eckstein
Girth
Haverstic
Hellwig
Herbert
Jones
Kelly
Kent
Myers
Naccarato
Nance
Otter
Pearson
Stewart
Stotts
Werner
Williams
Womble
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5/3/2012
4/5/2012
3/1/2012
1/2/2012
1/5/2012
12/1/2011
11/3/2011
10/6/2011
9/1/2011
5/18/2011
Unclassified Staff Senate Attendance
2011-2012
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