AUBURN UNIVERSITY
STAFF COUNCIL

Minutes

General Staff Meeting

October 17, 2007
Foy Union

I. Call to order

Wendy called the meeting to order at 9:30 am and reminded Representatives to
sign the attendance sheet.

II. Attendees

No general attendance was taken.

III. Presentation by Jay Gogue

a) Appreciates what staff does. It is noticeable what the staff does. The
people of Auburn were the reason that he graduated.

       b)      After Auburn Pres. Gouge and his wife went to Michigan State for 12
             years the US Dept. of Interior, one of those was spent at Texas A & M.
             Later they spent 9 years at Clemson, followed by 5 years at Utah State
             and 3 ½ years at New Mexico State. He then went to Houston which
             was not a land grant institute.

c) The following are items that Dr. Gogue has been working on since he
arrived.

1. Campus Security – not just because of VA Tech. Increase and better security is a part of our life. When parents are asked if additional funds were available what should it be spent on, security is a prime concern of parents. Data indicates that Auburn is a safe campus. Statistic don’t really mean anything when parents are considering safety of children. One big debate is whether to have thumb locks on the doors of classrooms. Contract for Campus security is being studied. Desire to have security provide information not just policing. Increased visibility.

2. Health and Wellness – Breast Cancer Screening and wellness checkups. Because AU is self insured, how can we use Nursing Program, Counseling Program and Pharmacy programs as a mini health center to help employees make better choices, change in life styles that would be healthier.

3. Strategic Plan – Auburn University can do anything that it wants to do, but it can’t do everything it wants to do. How do you reach a consensus on those “anythings” that we think are really important and that we realy want to do. There is an effort underway for all employees to be involved. Some information will be given, and there will be a series of questions that you will be asked. This will help us focus on the future. There will be about 20 workshops with 20 people each to discuss those issues. Then the same discussion will be held with various focus groups across the state. The hope is that about 20-30 things that we know will make AU a better place.

d) The following are questions posed by the staff:

Question – Where is the university in the Compensation and reclassification
appeals process?

     Dr. Gouge deferred to Wendy Pechman for the answer. Lynn Hammond indicated
      to Wendy that the process would be completed by next month. Letters would be
      mailed to those who had appealed.

Question – Is there any programs or plans for Auburn University to work with local
emergency response systems?

      Center for Governmental Services representative described various on line courses
      available through the university that are available to individuals of local city and
      county personnel.

      Question – Is there are any plans to ease the traffic and parking problems on
                         Magnolia at Donahue, especially with the opening of the Engineering
                         Building?

       Deferred to Jenny Swaim on the Parking Services committee to answer. The
       university is working with the city of Auburn regarding putting in a turning
       lane at the intersection. The problem is that space is limited and if we limit
       cars coming in to the campus there is not space to turn cars around.

Question – Is there plans for a parking deck?

Dr. Gouge – If a remote lot is made, the cost is $4500 per parking spot. Nice parking decks are about $11000. Plan parking decks are about $6000. But if you consider the cost of lighting, shuttle buses, salaries for bus drivers, and security, over the life of a parking lot the cost is comparable to a deck. Dr. Gouge is pushing for parking solutions. Walking campuses are nice, but it is important to have parking closes enough for employees to reach there jobs.

Question – Is it true that Auburn City police cars are not allowed to get
out of their cars to do things?

Dr. Gouge – No that’s not entirely true, but that entire contract is being reviewed.

       Question – It has been said that the employees at the vet school are
                          going to be made to work over the Christmas Holidays.
                          Have you heard anything about that?

Dr. Gouge – Federally we are probably required to provide 24 hour care for
the animals.

         Wendy Pechman – stated that if you are required to work the university will
         either pay over time or give you compensatory time, but at present she did
         not know of any plans to change the current system.

End of Question Session

IV. Payroll & Employee Benefits –

a) There is a low participation in the Flex Plan and the tax deferred annuity.

V. Presentation by Teresa Coker and Cathy Colquist

Presentations were given by Teresa Coker and Cathy Colquist on the
Flex plan and the tax deferred annuity program.

VI. Adjournment

Wendy Pechman adjourned the meeting at 11:00 am.

Minutes submitted by: Nancy Griggs