Miami University

Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee
April 1, 2008

Present:  Melanie Hoffmann, chair; Mary Bausano, Matthew Boaz, Janet Cox, Doug Curry, Marsha McIntosh, Karen O’Hara, Ted Pickerill, Amy Poppel, Anne Schauer, Barry Zaslow

The minutes of the March 2008 meeting were approved.

Academic Personnel (Janet Cox)

• Progress is being made on the implementation of PeopleAdmin.  Following a site visit by consultants to the project, a timeline for implementation of the program will be developed.
• Staff who process paperwork for rehiring part-time faculty have begun training on a new electronic submission feature.  It is expected that a few departments will pilot it for the fall.
• Janet reminded UPAC that April is increment process time.

Human Resources (Marsha McIntosh)

• A magnetized card for recording names and contact numbers for health care providers will be mailed to all employees at their home addresses.  The card also contains the web address of Anthem and the phone number for the 24-hour nurse line.  The card will be accompanied by a letter identifying urgent care locations.
• A Minimum Wage Committee is being established to review market data and make recom-mendations as necessary.
• Human Resources and IT are working to set up a website which will allow classified staff to view their individual job enrichment records online.
• The next Workplace Orientation Welcome (WOW) session is scheduled for April 23.  UPAC members congratulated Marsha and Human Resources for the recognition of the WOW program as a “Best Practice” by the College and University Personnel Association.

Senate (Amy Poppel)

• Senate approved a motion establishing dates for fall and spring midterm breaks.  Effective 2012-2013 academic year, fall break will occur at the completion of the first 8 weeks of the semester and spring break will begin after the first 8 weeks of the second semester.
• Senate approved new tenure guidelines for the regional campus faculty.

Academic Policy Committee (Mary Bausano)
APC forwarded to Senate for further action recommendations on:

• the number of finals a student can be required to take in a 24-hour period;
  Recommended: no more than 4.
• proposed changes in the wording of the final exam requirement in MUPIM. Recommended: “no change” in current policy.
• a common course evaluation form to be piloted in Fall 2008.

Benefits (Ted Pickerill)
The Hauser Group has been hired as consultants to take a comprehensive look at and make recommendations regarding the University’s Benefits program.  HSAs and alternatives similar to the current plan will be considered.  Possible additions include an elective enhanced dental plan and a vision plan. After the consultants’ work is finished, bid requests will go out for administrators (such as Anthem) to manage the benefits program, starting January 2009.

Networking (Doug Curry)
The spring Meet-and-Greet will be held on Friday, April 18, at the Miami Inn.  There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.  All senior-level administrators will be invited to join members of the unclassified staff for this informal gathering.

Communications  (Steve Gordon)

• Steve thanked people for their input on the last issue of the newsletter and asked for suggestions of unclassified staff to profile and topics to include in upcoming issues.
  The next issue of the newsletter will be in early summer.
• Nominations forms for membership on UPAC have been sent out.

Old Business

• Melanie reminded UPAC members that the nomination deadline in Friday, April 4.
• The recommendation on reinstating the Emeritus/a honorific for qualified retired unclassified employees is still pending.

New Business
Karen O’Hara volunteered to serve on the Vice President for IT Services search committee.

Upcoming Events
Working Meeting – April 15
UPAC luncheon with Matt Boaz – April 16;  Note new start time of 11:45.
Business Meeting – May 6

Respectfully submitted

Mary Bausano