Miami University

Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee
September 4, 2007

Present: Melanie Hoffmann (Chair), Mary Bausano, Matthew Boaz, Janet Cox, Doug Curry, Stephen Gordon, Scott Lessing, Marsha McIntosh, Karen O’Hara, Amy Poppel, Anne Schauer, Barry Zaslow

Guest:  Dawn Fahner, Manager of Benefit Services

Academic Personnel (Janet Cox)

• Academic Affairs will be reviewing four units during the 2007-2008 academic year.  The areas under review are:
  University Libraries
  Institutional Research
  Honors and Scholars
  Provost’s Office

• A new initiative for special academic experiences over the winter break is under consideration.

Human Resources  (Marsha McIntosh)

• Benefit Fairs are scheduled during the month of October as follows:
  October 3 – Oxford campus
  October 10 - Hamilton campus
  October 11 – Middletown campus.
  UPAC will staff a table at each campus.
• Open Enrollment will occur during October 8 – 31 (estimated dates).
• The annual Miami University Field Day, coordinated by Jay Kimiecik, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 9 on the Oxford campus.
• All campuses of Miami University will be smoke-free, effective August 2008.

Committee Updates
Senate (Amy Poppel)

• No-smoking policy (see above) is being formalized by University counsel.

Networking (Doug Curry)

• Committee is in the process of setting up the UPAC networking luncheons for the coming year.

Communications (Stephen Gordon)

• The fall issue of the UPAC newsletter will be published soon.

Old Business

• Dawn Fahner (Human Resources) responded to questions about the recent changes for employees covered by an alternative retirement plan. For employees covered by an alternative retirement plan, the percentage of Miami University’s compensation to the state retirement system, rather than to the alternative plan, has increased to .54%.  The maximum amount set by Ohio law is 6.00%. Dawn directed UPAC’s attention to two web sites which cover alternative retirement plans: www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Directory.jsp and http://codes.oho.gov/orc/3305.
  UPAC had questions about what could be done at the state level to address concerns about this. Marsha will contact Randy Thomas to see if this would be an appropriate issue for him. Dawn will provide Marsha with the number of Miami employees affected by this change. If possible, Marsha will report on his response at UPAC’s next business meeting.
  In addition to the change itself, members expressed concerns about the letter employees received notifying them of the changes. Many felt the letter was ambiguous and vaguely worded. UPAC asked to preview letters sent to employees regarding important benefit changes.

• The By-laws subcommittee requested that any corrections, additions or other changes be submitted to Mary Bausano by Friday, September 28.

• Mark Walker has volunteered to help us make changes in the UPAC website. Suggestions for the site will be discussed at the next working meeting. Anne Schauer and Shahla Mehdizadeh will work with Mark on the website.

• Melanie is looking at a time for a joint meeting with CPAC.

New Business

• Motion was made (Farr, Zaslow) and  unanimously approved to recommend to President Hodge the appointments to UPAC of Shahla Mehdizadeh, replacing Amy Lauer, and John Burke, replacing Brad Farr.
• Motion was made (Curry, Schauer) and unanimously approved to name Matt Boaz as Vice-Chair of UPAC.
• Other appointments:  Matt Boaz as UPAC’s representative to the search committee for Vice President of Student Affairs and Anne Schauer as UPAC representative to the Women’s Center Council.
• Discussed the reinstatement of emeritus status for unclassified personnel who retire in good standing.  Janet reported that unclassified staff who retire are eligible to join the Association for Retired Employees through University Advancement.  She suggested that UPAC inform unclassified employees about that association and the benefits it provides.
• The UPAC budget shows a balance of $2500.
• Melanie suggested that UPAC participate in a team building activity.  She suggested participating in Miami’s Field Day.  Members will check their schedules.

Next meetings:
Working Meeting – September 18
Business Meeting – October 2

Meeting was adjourned at 10:10 A.M.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bausano