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Minutes

Staff Council Meeting Minutes
June 29, 2004
(by Jenny Swaim)

 John Varner, Chair, introduced himself and stressed the importance of communication.  He encouraged and stressed the importance of the staff to know who their representatives are.  John indicated his goal was to strengthen the council as an institution by improving communication. 

 John Varner announced that there will be a newsletter being distributed soon and indicated updates of the council.  There is a new listserv which the Staff Council has set up for council representatives, announced that the webpage is being updated, recognized the active participation of past Chairs and encouraged them to stay involved, and praised Don Large, as our liaison, for being a good friend to the council.

 Guest Speakers were introduced.

 Interim President Richardson

Topics:  SACS –

            1. Problems
                        a. Commitment to accreditation

                        b. Influence the Trustees have over the University

                        c. President being in charge of Athletics

SACS Probation reflects on all of us.
                         Impacts students attending the University

                         Impacts Federal funding available to the University

Auburn University has submitted information to SACS. 

            2. Money Problems.

                        a. Nationwide state/federal funding for higher education
                             is decreasing. 

 Choices the University must face:

• Increase of tuition.  The University is trying to avoid a level of tuition that people will not be able to afford.  The University’s goal is not to increase tuition more then 5%.
• Auburn University in the past has received less funding than other Universities throughout the state.

Options for Auburn University:

• Look for ways to decrease expenditures.

Example: Combining the University Police Department with the City of Auburn’s Police Department will save $400,000 the first year and $1.2 million over the next several years.  All employees in this Department will have a position and most of the same faces will be seen on campus. 

• Research Park is on the table for this fall.  This will be a revenue source for the University and create additional funding for the University.
• Auburn University will manage the development of the Resort Park on the Gulf of Mexico.  Auburn University will receive a portion of this revenue and will benefit with the expansion of Hotel Restaurant Management studies.

What the future holds:

• In the next 10-15 years major changes in Higher Education will result from funding issues.
• Dr. Richardson is looking at cost savings throughout the university and has started with Samford Hall and the Athletics Department.
• Dr. Richardson is looking at part time employees being paid full time salaries.
• Dr. Richardson is looking at individuals who are in the wrong positions.  Goal: to place individuals where their talents are.
• Dr. Richardson is looking at non-productive employees.
• Dr. Richardson does not foresee a significant increase in employees.
• Dr. Richardson is looking to reward the employees who do a good job. 
• There is no talk of any type of buy out at this time.
• In the next 1-1/2 to 2 years the Trustees should start a search for a new President.
• Staff representation on the President Search committee will be the decision of the Board of Trustees.

An attendee to the meeting asked if the University follows OSHA regulations.  Dr. Richardson was not sure on this, but indicated he felt we should be in full compliance.  If anyone is aware of any situation which endangers an employee or individual it should be brought to his attention immediately and he will address the issue.

Dr. Richardson stressed that he is fully aware of what the Staff does in a day to day role for this campus and it is critical to the operation of the University.

Dr. Curtis -  Parking Issues and Changes.

Dr. Curtis explained the reason for changes and where changes were being made.  She indicated the number of spaces being changed and indicated Haley Center A & B lots would be replaced by the Jordan-Hare Parking Deck.  She also indicated the deck would have special permits with a higher rate.  She indicated the northern part of campus does have fewer B zone.

The Parking Deck will be funded 1/3^rd by the Students, 1/3^rd by the General Fund and 1/3^rd by the Athletic Department.  The cost is approximately $10 million at a cost of $13,000 per space.  She reviewed the hangtag fee change and the violation/citation fee increases.  The parking permits will increase for B zone from $20 to $30 and for A zone from $30 to $60.  These fees will be pre-tax, so this will be a benefit to the staff.

John Varner said, after both guests spoke, that he felt the Staff were not adequately represented in the Traffic & Parking Committee and that Jenny Swaim voiced her concerns but did not have a voting seat on this committee.  This has changed and she is now able to vote on behalf of the staff.

Concerns of the Staff Council include: additional increases in fees, increase of the cost of the parking decks spaces.  This will be watched carefully as this structure is developed.

John Varner states:  Dr. Curtis responded to one question by stating that Dr. Large had reported at a recent Board of Trustees meeting that our salaries were at the regional average.  Assuming that we get the raises which the president recommended to the board, and the regional average doesn't go up more than anticipated, FACULTY salaries may reach the regional average.  Staff salaries are based on what they call the "local market value", which according to a study the university paid a consultant to do a couple of years ago, staff salaries were at 95% of the market value.  This raises the question in John’s mind that if our salaries are compared to what they pay similar positions at places like Uniroyal and Briggs and Stratton, should not our parking fees be similarly based?  John plans to pursue this in future meetings.

NEXT MEETING:

Special Called Meeting to be held on July 21, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. in Foy Union Room 217.  The purpose of the meeting will be for the council to take a position, per the Provost and President’s instruction, on the Intimate Relations Policy (see below) passed by the University Senate on March 9, 2004.

All staff members are invited to attend and are encouraged to share their views with their representatives.  Council Representatives are asked to attend or send someone in their place.  Please notify your supervisor in advance that you plan to attend.

[Policy as passed by the Senate]

Auburn University prohibits all faculty, administrators and supervisors, including graduate teaching assistants, from pursuing or engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with students, both graduate and undergraduate, whom they are currently supervising or teaching.  Auburn University also prohibits all faculty, administrators,and supervisors from pursuing or engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with employee subordinates whose work they supervise.  Violations should be promptly reported to the University's Affirmative Action Office.  Violations of this policy will be addressed through appropriate disciplinary action.

(For a list of Facilities Division Representatives, contact Jenny Swaim, at 4-9142 or swaimje@auburn.edu)