Salisbury University Staff Senate
Full Senate Meeting
May 13, 2002
Welcome and introduction of Senators by Linda Beall, Staff Senate President.
OPENING REMARKS BY LINDA BEALL
Good Morning,
This is our last Open Staff Meeting for this academic year.
This makes me both happy and sad. Being in the position of Staff Senate President has made me
feel very connected with Salisbury University. This I will miss, but I have one year remaining as
a senator so I will continue to represent contingents and grants staff. We still have much work to
do.
When President Janet Dudley- Eshbach gave her state of the University Address, she mentioned
staff many times throughout her speech. Her remarks included “THINK OUTSTANDING
FACULTY AND STAFF,” “ BOARD OF REGENT’S STAFF NOMINEE AWARDS,” “ THE
REPUTATION THAT SALISBURY UNIVERSITY ENJOYS TODAY IS DUE TO THE
LONG STANDING COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK OF OUR FACULTY AND
STAFF,” THINK SHARED GOVERNANCE, THINK COMMUNITY,” SALISBURY
UNIVERSITY WAS CITED BY THE COUNCIL OF UNIVERSITY SYSTEM STAFF AS
ONE OF THREE EXEMPLARY SYSTEMS OF SHARED GOVERNANCE IN A RECENT
REPORT TO THE USM BOARD OF REGENTS,” AND THINK EXCEPTIONAL
STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF AND ACCOMPLISHED ALUMNI,”
I am mentioning this to you today, because our President recognizes what staff does and the hard
work we do. She knows we are in the trenches everyday to make Salisbury University a better
place for students and faculty. Our President believes in Shared Governance. When she
highlighted, “THINK SHARED GOVERNANCE, THINK COMMUNITY,” she mentioned,
OURS IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, A COMMUNITY THAT WORKS TOGETHER.”
“WHILE THE IMPACT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS UNCERTAIN, OUR CAMPUS
IS ENJOYING A PERIOD OF RELATIVE HARMONY.” “ THE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY
ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS HAVE REAFFIRMED OUR
BELIEF IN SHARED GOVERNANCE. YES, THERE HAVE BEEN SETBACKS AND
BUMPS IN THE ROAD, BUT I AM FIRMLY COMMITTED TO OPENNESS AND
COLLABORATION WITH ALL THREE CAMPUS CONSTITUENCIES.”
Surrounding me in this room are the senators who represent you. Take a hard look at the senators
that represent your constituency. Do you know who they are? I am stating this because each
senator present is your voice. We have twenty senators who represent this campus and we have
the same mission, to serve you the best we can, to bring your issues to the table and to represent
our peers. We don’t always agree and that is okay.
In closing, I want to thank you for allowing me to be your Senate President this year. I
can tell you, I took my position seriously and did the best job I could. I also want thank all of the
senators. They too took their positions seriously and did an excellent job. The fall of 2002 will
mark the beginning of the third year of the Staff Senate. We are still learning our roles, and next
year’s senate will even be stronger.
With the beginning of collective bargaining, we did not accomplish all that we wanted to
do. Our role of the staff senate will be changing, but we have no intention of going away. We
simply can’t. Our voice is being heard and the needs of all staff are being addressed. We still
have much work to do. Elections are coming up and if you want to be a Salisbury University
Senator, turn in a nomination form. The Salisbury University Staff Senate needs Staff like you.
Thank you
INTRODUCTION OF PRESIDENT JANET DUDLEY-ESHBACH BY LINDA BEALL
President Dudley-Eshbach congratulated the staff who were nominated for the Board of
Regents’ Staff Awards this year. They are: Karen Penuel, Lawanda Dockins-Gordy, Melanie
Stefursky, Ruth Baker, Regina Holmes, Marylane McGlinchey, Donna Test, Judy Lowe, and
David Duitscher. She thanked all staff for their good work this year, and hopes that everyone
will get a break this summer. The President deeply regrets not being able to give salary increases
this year. Due to budget constraints, she will also not be able to convert Contingent II
employees as planned this year; but she wanted all staff to know that this is still a high priority
with her.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CUSS Report
This is a summary of what has been discussed at the Council of University System Staff
(CUSS) for this semester. Also, we want to share a letter from the President of CUSS clarifying
what CUSS’s role is for the future.
CUSS Benefits and Compensation Committee:
1.
Continuing to work on an Employee’s Assistance Program (EAP) for all institutions.
Reasons for Program: Mandated by Policy
Employee Health & Welfare
Efficiency and morale of the work force
2. The PMP evaluation process will be an ongoing project.
3. USM Best Program which is a staff employees training and development program.
4. As we all know, because of the budget cuts, the 2-1/2% merit was not realized.
This committee wanted exempt employees as well as non-exempt employees to
receive the 2-1/2 %. The merit could come with a delay of ten months in the form of
a one time bonus.
5. Health Benefits increase in cost. The average breakdown on the state &
employees’ share of the costs of health benefits is: State 80%, employee 20%. The
increases in cost are attributed to the vendors raising their prices.
6. Everyone received the 4% COLA starting in January. The System HR Office is
sending a reminder to those employees that are eligible to put some money aside for
the match under the supplemental retirement program. “Take care of yourself first”.
7. Picnic in July for all CUSS members, past and present.
CUSS Communications Committee
vThree models of Shared Governance were sent to the Board of Regents (BOR). And for
those who haven’t heard, Salisbury University was one of the schools whose model was sent
forth.
CUSS Community Development Committee
A plaque was given to Chancellor Langenberg at the April Picnic meeting to thank him for
all of his support to CUSS. Chancellor Langenberg retired on April 31st
The winners for the Board of Regents Staff Awards will be announced in July.
Additional topics that have been discussed:
vDomestic partners. Admiral Larson, from the BOR, has asked CUSS to focus on
specific issues of same sex partner benefits and opposite sex partners living together
and not married. Opposite sex Domestic Partner issues will be addressed at a later
time.
vAlcohol & Substance Abuse - August Draft
Collective Bargaining.
Updates on the ongoing process at the time were discussed including status of
voting
Regulations were adopted.
De-certification language of current regulations
 CUSS’s Role – Letter from President of CUSS
Minutes of the CUSS meetings are available on their Web site.
Look for the CUSS Newsletter that will be distributed to staff on campus in the very near future.
SALISBURY UNIVERSITY STAFF SENATE COMMITTEES
Compensation and Benefits Committee - Judy Lowe and Donna Test, co-chairs
Committee members were introduced and thanked for their hard work this year. The
current committee members are: Maggie Cohea, Lisa Gray, Dave Gutoskey, Charlene Matthews,
Lee Townshend, Tammy Trivits, and Linda Shipp
The Committee primarily focused on the Shift Differential Policy and completed a final
draft. Because of the Collective Bargaining Process, this policy could not be moved forward.
The Committee held discussions on a Contingent Grievance Policy, but have not made
any formal recommendations at this time.
Given the purpose of this committee, and being mindful of Collective Bargaining, the
committee has not continued to meet.
Membership and Elections Committee - Vaughn White, co-Chair
If you have not received nomination forms, please contact Ross Leisten or Vaughn White for
those. There will be 10 seats open on the Staff Senate. Once the elections are held for the
Senators, we will need staff to fill the Standing Committees of the Senate. The charge for each
of the committees was read.
Staff Development and Training Committee Marylane McGlinchey and Nancy Isaacs, co-chairs
Committee Purpose:
This committee is responsible for monitoring and making recommendations to the Human
Resources Division as well as working with HR in helping to develop, sponsor and implement all
staff development opportunities. The committee remains alert to other development training
opportunities made available system wide.
For the 2001-2002 Academic Year, this committee has:
1. Participated in the selection process for the Special Assistant to the President for
Diversity;
2. Recommended the following staff training opportunities that were implemented in
January and February 2002: basic computer training, stress management, conflict
resolution, diversity, anthrax, and safety training;
3. Recommended the expansion of staff recognition among all university departments.
It has been a privilege to serve the staff of Salisbury University.
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Communications Committee - Mike Burton, Chair
Thanks to the Membership and Elections committee, we have strategically located memo
boxes for supplying information to the campus community. We have continued to work hard to
try and share when and where the meetings are through the SU news, emails, memo boxes,
posters, and word of mouth by visiting the departments. We had limited reporting this past
semester, due in large part to the collective bargaining elections. Specifically, the lack of
resolution has limited what aspects of our work that we can address. Once there is resolution, it
will be much easier for the staff senate to be productive. Keep in mind the elections. Think of
yourself on the communications committee..helping to spread the word.
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Human Resources Announcement - Sharon Gosczynski
Due to budget constraints, the supplemental retirement match has been reduced from
$600 to $500 for this year.
CLOSING
In closing, Linda Beall introduced Alan Selser as next year’s Staff Senate President.