Tulane University
Staff Advisory Council
Minutes of Wednesday, September 16, 2010
ATTENDEES
ATTENDEES
OFFICERS
UPTOWN CAMPUS
Gwen Chavez, Chair
Laurie Orgeron, Vice Chair
Rob Platner, Election Coordinator
Linda Cantero, Recording Secretary
Miriam Espinosa, Corresp.Secretary
Aaron Martin, Member At Large
Excused
Present
Present
Present
Present
DOWNTOWN CAMPUS
Tanya Ambrose
Susan Barrera, Immediate Past Chair
Linzi Conners
Amber Douet
Michael Heisser
Tami Jenniskens
Christopher Lane
Merisa Pasternak
Allan Slatkin
Excused
Present
Absent
Present
Present
Excused
Present
Absent
Present
Patsy Stewart
Shirley Tubre
Present
Absent
Present
Kay Legar
Kathy Bourgeois
Sheri Bouyelas
Mike Griffith
Michael Harrison
Alysia Loshbaugh
Suzanne Lossi
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Excused
Present
Louise Murphy
Lisa O’Dwyer
Patrick Randolph
Whitney Richards
Celena Trahan
Kimberly Vega
Judy Vitrano
Ronald Cram (proxy)
Simon Dorfman (proxy)
Joseph Halm (proxy)
Ryan Henne (proxy)
Jane Johnston (proxy)
Kady Weingart (proxy)
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Excused
Absent
Absent
Absent
Absent
NORTHSHORE
Scott Goings
Corrie West
Desiree Waguespack
Present
Present
Present
INVITED GUESTS AND VISITORS
Junius Kaufman (Stud. Employ)
Kelly Furlong (WFM0 BENEFITS)
* Via teleconference
All Officers are serving the Staff Advisory Council term 2010 – 2011
Present
Present
TU Staff Advisory Council Meeting
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Call to Order: Laurie Orgeron, SAC Vice Chair, called the September, 2010 meeting of the
Staff Advisory Council to order at 3:30 p.m. and was held at the Tulane Health Sciences
Campus and Satellite Offices.
I.
Review and Approval of the Minutes
Vice Chair, Laurie Orgeron called for a motion to approve the September 16, 2010 minutes and
the minutes were approved.
II. Report of the Chair, Gwen Chavez
Vice Chair Orgeron welcomed everyone to the Health Sciences Campus for Chair Chavez
III. WFMO Liaison
Junius Kaufman (Student Employment) and Kelly Furlong (WFMO) attended the meeting.
Junius Kaufman has the following responses to questions:
Working from Home? No policy
Children at the work place? No policy.
Evaluating Supervisors by their supervisors?
Kelly Furlong addressed the issues of domestic partners and discussed analysis on same sex
benefits, such as tuition waiver, sick leave and bereavement. Proof, such as financial dependent
on each other such as mortgage, phone bill will have to be provided to receive benefits. They
looked at other universities for their process. Emory and Rice require notarized affidavits.
Health benefits: Legislation being passed soon, January 1, 2011 including dependents up to
Age 26, had to be covered on medical plan regardless of education.
IV. Officer Reports
A. University Senate
Incoming freshmen applications were a little over 1600, which was more than expected.
Next year’s expectation is that it will equal this year which means less accepted
Rumors of football stadium
-cannot keep playing in the superdome- insufficient funds.
-they are looking at options of playing on or off campus, accommodations to the end of
the year.
-A proposed site is where the practice field is now.
- Zoning concerns
B. Board of Administrators
No report.
V. University Senate Committee Reports
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1. Benefits
Health Insurance increase dependent on salary range: Annual salary under $64,000,
increase of 10%; Annual salary over $64,000, increase of 13.5%
-October 25, 2010, two (2) week open enrollment period.
-wellness group asked to come and speak.
-Increase is due to increase in number of chronic conditions.
-Two (2) plans-announcement to come October 11.
2. Budget Review
No report.
3. Information Technology
No report.
4. Equal Opportunity
No report.
5. Physical Facilities
No report.
6. Social Issues
-Good response for online health screening; 160 started, 116 completed.
-strides with senior management needed.
-Dr. Gourmet
-new web site for TU Wellness
-Planning for programs in 2011
-Workshops and safety guidelines.
-Concerns expressed on where to get ready for work after workout.
COMMUNITY ISSUES:
-School Supply Drive, $285 raised plus a van full of supplies
-Toys for Tots Drive
-Considering requesting Ellen DeGeneris’ involvement.
Need Bins, preferably collapsible bins; St. Tammany Parish is in need of books more than toys
and athletic equipment.
VI. SAC Sub-Committees
1. Election Committee
No report.
2. Electronic Technology and Information
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No report.
3. Staff Appreciation
Date of March 19, 2010
Discussion of hiring a band.
4. Staff Issues
No report.
5. Health and Wellness
The committee is reminding employees to fill out their UHC on-line health assessment and
get their incentive. The start walking program is over. We had 160 people registered. Our
next program is the Biggest Winner – a four person team weight loss competition that runs
from September 20th – November 12th. President Cowen recorded a nice video for the TU
Wellness website emphasizing the importance of exercise and healthy eating.
6. Community Service
No report.
VI. Old Business
Football tickets still not picked up
Volunteer Day of Friday, August 27, 2010 pros and cons:
-Con: Work Day in August;
First week of classes
However, Tulane ranked 19th nationwide in Public Service.
New Dean of Law School, he “rocked” because he worked like a dog.
VIII. New Business
Smoking Ban and possible ways to enforce:
-Fines, while still using word of mouth first.
-Form health and wellness site.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, October 14, 2010
at the School of Public Health Dean’s Conference Room in the Tidewater Building, 3:30.
I0X.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
TU Staff Advisory Council Meeting
Linda Canzoneri-Cantero
Recording Secretary
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