Miami University

Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee
February 6, 2007

Present:  Cheryl Newton, Chair; Mary Bausano, Matthew Boaz, Janet Cox, Doug Curry, Melanie Hoffmann, Scott Lessing, Marsha McIntosh, Barry Zaslow

Guests: Mr. Richard Norman, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Services; Dawn Fahner, Manager of Benefit Services

Annoucements and Guest Reports

• Cheryl announced that Karen Denzler has resigned from UPAC.  Karen’s seat on UPAC will remain unfilled until the appointment of new members in June 2007.  The committee noted, with appreciation, Karen’s years of service on UPAC.

• Dawn Fahner presented information about a new, voluntary life insurance plan offered by Liberty Mutual to Miami University employees.  Printed information to all benefit eligible employees will be distributed in mid-February.  This life insurance is intended to supplement the basic life insurance which the University already provides employees.

• Richard Norman spoke with the committee about the University budget for the next several years.  The final state budget for FY 2008 is not expected until late June 2007.  Many funding-related issues at both the state and the University level are expected to impact the budget.  Mr. Norman stressed the importance of each unit keeping a closer, more conservative, eye on its own budget, the importance of meeting enrollment goals, the need to improve retention rates, and the need to control benefit costs as critical factors.

Personnel (Marsha McIntosh)

• Marsha announced the Celia Reuss has resigned from Miami University.  Dawn Fahner is now Manager of Benefit Services and Becky Dysart is now manager of Staff Development. Dawn and Becky will report to Marsha.

Academic Personnel (Janet Cox)

• Kelly Cowan has been appointed Regional Campus Dean (Middletown) effective February 1, 2007.

• Technology changes continue in the Academic Personnel office.  A new Banner version has been installed.  The office continues to work toward implementation of electronic approvals and electronic management of workflow.

Networking and Communications (Melanie Hoffmann)

• The next UPAC networking luncheon is scheduled for Februrary 13 with John McCandless. Melanie requested door prizes and Doug Curry offered passes to the recreation center.

• Melanie requested ideas for articles for the next newsletter which will go out in March.  The UPAC nomination form will be included in the newsletter.  The nomination form will also go out in a separate mailing.

Key Contacts (Matthew Boaz)

• Matt has examined the key contact list and noticed some “gaps” in the areas that are represented.  Janet volunteered to help create a spreadsheet to more accurately identify areas that need representation.

Website Update

• In Brad’s absence, Cheryl shared his observations that the website needs to become more flexible.  The question is whether or not the UPAC website should be managed by a UPAC member or whether someone else in the University can manage it.  This issue will be discussed at a future meeting.

Smoking Policy Committee

• Brad Farr and Amy Poppel have agreed to serve as UPAC’s representatives on this committee.

New Business

• The April 3 meeting of UPAC will be held in the 1968 Room on the Hamilton campus.
• The committee discussed holding a Spring breakfast meeting for all unclassified personnel. Mid-April seemed to be the most favored time for this event. Topics suggested were the budget and/or benefit changes.  Details of the meeting will be discussed at the next working meeting.

• Bill Heck announced his retirement from Miami University in early April.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bausano