Staff Council Meeting Minutes
JUNE 26, 2014
Attendance
OFFICERS
Amanda Lippincott, Tim Clark, Karenn Reeter, Colleen Clark, Mark Ross, Mary Knapp
REPRESENTATIVES
Jeff Brittingham, Kat Burton, Craig Canfield, Jean Celeste-Astorina (Jean’s proxy: Beth O’Connell),
Rosemary Cobane, Will Dawes, Peter Earle, Jan Favaro, Jill Fisher, Gary Goss, Christine Gregory,
Christine Haase, Joan Hurley, Michele Lang, Kristin LiBritz, Clint McCartney, Brenda Mikula (Brenda’s
proxy: Sheryl Manciocchi), Kristin Morse, Suzette Moschetti, Virgilio Pinto (Virgilio’s proxy: Maggie
Young), Kelly Rafferty, Sean Reilley (Sean’s proxy: Megan Wagner), Beth Reynolds, Michelle RiosDominguez, Chris Rogers, Victor Rosa, Candy Ross, Mark Ross, Laurie Shaw, Cindy Smith, James
Underwood, Jeff Wright.
GUEST SPEAKER
Eric Maguire | Vice President for Enrollment and Communication | http://staff.ithaca.edu/emaguire/
Opening of Meeting
 Meeting called to order by Amanda Lippincott at 2:15pm.
Announcements
 Welcome and introductions for new and returning representatives and proxies
 Election updates (full listing of officers and representatives on website.
Expectations and Responsibilities for Representatives
 Introductory handouts were distributed and discussed regarding the staff council constitution,
mission, responsibilities, committees, meeting attendance and agendas.
 Executive committee is compiling binders for distribution at the September 18 retreat, which will
include and expand on the above-mentioned documents. The binders will also contain handouts
from the staff council professional development series facilitated by Jane Ray, HR Specialist |
Employee and Organizational Development during the 2013-14 term.
 The July 17 staff council meeting will take place in the Williams 319 computer lab. ITS staff will be
present to help representatives set up email groups to facilitate communication with their
constituent groups and to assist with developing website staff bios. Reps may bring a photo file or
have their photo taken during the lab session for use on the website and the promotional posters.
Committee Reports
 Caring and Sharing – Next meeting is the week of July 7th. New members are welcome. Interested staff
may contact committee chair, Michelle Rios-Dominguez, for information. They are planning to launch a
fundraising appeal.
JUNE 2014 MEETING MINUTES

Benefits – The newly formed committee is reviewing recently obtained minutes from the former
Faculty/Staff Benefits Committee before creating a formal plan of action. They wish to identify a liaison
in the Office of Human Resources. Suggestions are welcome. New members are welcome. Interested
staff may contact committee chair, Sean Reilley.
 Blood Drive – The next blood drive is scheduled on July 8 from 10a – 5p in the Fitness Center. Please
contact committee chair, Cindy Smith, if you are interested in volunteering for an hour to serve
beverages and snacks to donors during the afternoon.
 Picnic – Committee chair, Tanisha Graves, reported that the picnic was a resounding success. They are
always looking for new ideas and feedback in order to keep improving the event, so feel free to contact
her.
 Veteran’s Day – Holly Covert and Sue DuBrava were co-chairing this committee. Sue has left the
college and Debbie Gregg is the new co-chair with Holly. The meeting schedule has not been set at this
time. Please contact Holly or Debbie if you are interested in assisting with the annual IC Veteran’s Day
Celebration.
Executive Committee Report
 Update on smoking policy – discussions are continuing with Nancy Pringle and Tom Rochon. We are
looking into what other colleges are doing and discussing possible changes/options. Enforcement has
been acknowledged to be a difficult issue among institutions.
 Staff Council promotional poster. A draft was presented of an 8.5” x 11” color poster to promote area
reps to their constituents. Each rep will have a poster with their photograph and contact information
to distribute electronically and to post on bulletin boards in their area(s). We want staff to recognize
who represents them on council and feel comfortable communicating with them.
 Walkabouts with Tom Rochon. Opportunities will continue for representatives to host the president to
visit their department in order to highlight activities, accomplishments, and challenges. We will reach
out to the president’s office for available dates and invite representatives to sign up.
 Retreat Planning for September 18. We’re checking multiple options for a convenient and affordable
venue off campus. We welcome ideas regarding retreat topics. Planning meetings are scheduled
throughout July and August for the executive committee to organize the event.
New Business
 Topic: Overtime/Additional Payments and TIAA-CREF –
o Background information: In 2007 the Ithaca College Faculty and Staff Benefits Committee
recommended that Ithaca College offer two choices to TIAA-CREF eligible employees.
 Option A: Employer contributions stay as they currently are. No changes to the
employee contributions. Contributions are still based on regular pay/standard work
week.
 Option B: Employer contributions stay as they currently are. Employee TIAA-CREF
contributions be based on total gross pay, included but not limited to overtime and
inconvenience pay for staff. For faculty it would include chair pay, overload, additional
and summer advising payments. To take advantage of this option, it would be the
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JUNE 2014 MEETING MINUTES
employee’s responsibility to sign up.
o General information provided to council with this request:
 Employee contribution from overtime is not regulated by the IRS (up to the yearly
maximum)
 TIAA-CREF has institutions currently participating in Option B
 Option B could put employees in a better financial picture at retirement
 According to TIAA-CREF, if an employee reaches their yearly maximum contribution,
Ithaca College’s contribution continues
o Following a discussion, Staff Council passed the following motion:
Staff Council Executive Committee will bring this concern to Mark Coldren and Nancy Pringle
in order to address whether the issue was resolved and how. If it was not resolved, Staff
Council Executive Committee will share provided information to the Staff Council
representatives to vote on a motion to proceed with reactivating this issue for further action.
Presentation by Eric Maguire: 2014 Early Enrollment Picture – The Fall 2014 goal of 1700 students is
approximated to fall short by 150 students. We had record applications (a little over 18,000) with accepted
applications totaling ~10,700. We maintained our discount rate, but returned a lower than expected yield and
are projected to come in at approximately 1550 students vs .1700 students with an expected budget short fall
of ~$3 million in tuition revenue. Many colleges are experiencing similar situations. Enrollment management
is reviewing our data to determine why this may have happened for us and to strategize improvements to our
model.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned by Amanda Lippincott at 3:22pm.
NEXT MEETING:
July 17 @ 2:00 - 3:30pm - Williams 319 (computer lab)
ACTION ITEMS being TRACKED
 SUBJECT: Smoking Policy Review
Assigned to Mary Knapp on 23-FEB-2014
PENDING XX .. CLOSED ..
TASK: Forward motion to Nancy Pringle for Advisory Committee on Campus Security/Campus Life
DESCRIPTION: Motion Passed by Council 2/20/2014
Staff Council requests that Nancy Pringle, Linda Koenig, and Terry Stewart fast track review of the Ithaca
College Smoking Policy for clarification and consistency, in all respects, including enforcement, and report back
to Staff Council by the end of this Spring 2014 semester.
NOTES: Nancy Pringle met with the executive committee and discussed the issue. Staff council provided her
with list of specific grievances for her review and consideration.
 SUBJECT: Qualified Domestic Partner Benefits
Assigned to Sean Reilley|Chair, Benefits Committee on 20-FEB-2014
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JUNE 2014 MEETING MINUTES
PENDING XX .. CLOSED ..
TASK: Review policy and make a recommendation to staff council
DESCRIPTION: the following proposal was presented and discussed at Staff Council and referred to the
Benefits Committee:
 Qualified Domestic Partner: The College recognizes "qualified domestic partner" or QDP as "Same-sex sole
domestic partners who are jointly responsible for each other's common welfare and share financial
obligations." (http://www.ithaca.edu/hr/benefits/faqs/faq/554/). Those who fall under QDP category are
offered medical, dental, vision, and accidental death insurance. QDPs are also allowed to partake in
educational opportunities at the college.
Now that same-sex marriage is legal in New York (assuming this is the reason why QDP had been
established), I would like to propose QDP be equally extended to opposite sex partners who fit this
Action Item CLOSED X ..on 12DEC2013. Staff Council received the status update requested.
 SUBJECT: Abandoned Campus Life Committee Recommendation for Sub-Committee on Smoking
Policy
Assigned to Mary Knapp on 18-APR-2013
TASK: Forward motion to President’s Council
DESCRIPTION: Motion passed by Staff Council on April 18, 2013 for President's Council.
Staff Council requests that the President's Council provides us with a status update regarding the Campus Life Committee's
recommendation to set up a subcommittee to address the Campus Smoking Policy. We have been informed that the Campus Life
Committee has not met since the departure of Brian McAree.
NOTES:
 April 2013: SC assignment pending for new President’s Council liaison, following retirement of Carl
Sgrecci.
 July 2013: Nancy Pringle | VP for Human Services & Legal Affairs, assigned as Staff Council’s new liaison
to Presidents’ Council.
 October 2013: Motion emailed to Nancy Pringle.
 November 2013: SC responded to a request from Nancy Pringle for background information regarding
the origin of the smoking issue.
 December 12, 2013: We have been informed that the Campus Life Committee is obsolete. There is now
an ADVISORY COMMITTEE on CAMPUS SECURITY/CAMPUS LIFE. Staff Council verbally requested that the
advisory committee form a subcommittee to review the smoking policy, per the official 2012 recommendation
of the Campus Life Committee.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CAMPUS SECURITY/CAMPUS LIFE
Co-Chairs:
Linda Koenig, Assistant Director, Housing Services and Communications, Residential Life
Terri Stewart, Director, Public Safety and Emergency Management
Members 2013-2014:
Steve Gordon, Faculty Representative
Julie Dorsey, Faculty Representative
Elizabeth Hall, Faculty Representative
Athena Zhang, Faculty Representative
Katelyn Madison, Student Representative
Joshua Couce, Student Representative
Jamila Carter, Student Representative
Melinda Carmichael, Student Representative
Nancy Reynolds, Staff Representative
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JUNE 2014 MEETING MINUTES
Zach Newswanger, Staff Representative
Rory Rothman (Ex Officio), Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life
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