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Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee
October 2, 2007

Present: Melanie Hoffmann (Chair), Mary Bausano,  Matt Boaz, John Burke,  Janet Cox
(ex-officio), Doug Curry, Stephen Gordon, Marsha McIntosh (ex-officio), Scott
Lessing, Shahla Mehdizadeh, Karen O’Hara, Ted Pickerill, Amy Poppel, Barry
Zaslow

Guests: Maureen Kranbuhl, Oxford Area United Way of Oxford, Rick Herrin, Director Career Services

The minutes of the September meeting were approved.
Maureen Kranbuhl distributed information about 2008 Oxford United Way campaign which is chaired by Oxford residents Marvin and Janet Wilhelm, and honorary chairs David and Valerie Hodge. The 2008 campaign goal is $200,000.  Members of UPAC viewed a promotional video prepared by Miami University to be used to increase awareness about the United Way and the agencies it supports.  Copies of the video can be obtained from Maureen Kranbuhl.

Academic Personnel (Janet Cox)

• COAD and department chairs are discussing new guidelines for faculty workload.
• Guidelines for student employment, hiring procedures, and need for confidentiality statements are being discussed.
• Effective Fall 2008, The School of Education and Allied Professions will become the School of Education, Health and Society.

Human Resources (Marsha McIntosh)

• Open enrollment for benefits starts October 3 and continues through October 31. 2007.  Employees were mailed a summary of their individual benefit packages.
• Benefit Fairs are scheduled for October 3 (Oxford), 10 (MUH), and 11 (MUM).
• The Oxford Field Day, sponsored by Employee Health and Well Being, is scheduled for October 9.

University Senate (Amy Poppel)

• Dr. Hodge met with Senate for a Q and A session regarding Dr. Hodge’s 5-year goals for the University.

• The “Top 20” construction projects on campus for the next 20-25 years have been identified.  Construction status reports are available on the construction web site: http://www.pfd.muohio.edu/construction

Academic Policy (Mary Bausano)

• Academic Policy is facilitating the development of a university-wide course evaluation form with help from Dr. Ann Frymier (Communications) who will be developing a new course evaluation form this year.

Networking (Melanie Hoffmann)

• UPAC lunches have been set for the coming year.  See New Business for dates and speakers.

Communications (Stephan Gordon)

• The first issue of the UPAC newsletter is being proofed and will be out soon.

Weather Policy (Scott Lessing)

• By the first of November, the committee hopes to issue a “Weather Letter” detailing a comprehensive inclement weather plan.  It was noted that improved communication with employees during weather-related crises would be a part of that plan.

Old Business

• Motion was made (Boaz) and seconded (Burke) to approve the UPAC By-laws.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Melanie met with Mark Walker to discuss UPAC Website updates.  Changes will include the new MU web template, updated UPAC information, short bios and pictures of UPAC members, and a relevant question on the front page to which visitors can respond.

• Matt Boaz and Melanie Hoffmann met with Steve Snyder to discuss the awarding of emeriti status to retired unclassified employees.  Mr. Snyder suggested UPAC research the history of the honorific and, if appropriate, use the results of the research to support a request to reinstitute the designation for unclassified staff.  Guest Rick Herrin shared his thoughts about the use and history of the term at Miami University.
  A motion was made (Burke) and seconded (Boaz) to investigate the issues surrounding the use of the term “emeritus” and to draft a recommendation from UPAC regarding the awarding of emeritus status to recommended unclassified staff. Motion passed unanimously. 
  John Burke, Matt Boaz, and Shahla Mehdizadeh volunteered to research the issue.

• Marsha reported that Richard Norman felt it was not appropriate to ask Randi Thomas to hear employees’ concerns about recent changes in ARP contributions. Instead, employees affected by the changes in employer contributions to their retirement plans should contact their state representatives directly if they so desire.

New Business

• The following individuals will be speaking at UPAC lunches during Fall Semester 2007:
  October 17: Rod Nimtz (MUM)
  November 14: Randi Thomas (Institutional Relations)
  December 19: Kristen Evans  (Women’s Center)
  Tentatively scheduled speakers for Spring Semester are Anthony Azama (Intercollegiate Athletics), Jason Elwood (DARS), and Dion Tron (University Communications) or Janet Whitehead (University Advancement).

• UPAC members should check the UPAC website and come up with new FAQs to replace some of the current FAQs that are outdated.  Members are also encouraged to submit short bios and a picture of themselves to Melanie for the website.

Upcoming Meetings:
Working Meeting October 16, 2007
Business Meeting November 6, 2007

 

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bausano