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Minutes

Staff Council Meeting
June 30, 2005

Council Chair Jenny Swaim called the meeting to order shortly after 10 when she introduced the morning’s first speaker, Director of Human Resources Development Mr. Pat Deery.  

Mr. Deery outlined the three steps AU employees need to take to utilize the employee tuition waiver program. 

1. Employees should discuss how to fit the class into their work schedule with their supervisor.

2. Become a student.

3. Register on the first day of classes that semester.

WHAT THE BENEFIT COVERS:

Five hours per semester for employees.

Includes the $395 registration fee and $95 per credit hour (cost will increase approximately 4% in Fall ’05). 

No forms to fill out.

Once an employee becomes a student they will receive an identification number which will enable them to register.

(NOTE:  Employees who pre-register will waive the tuition portion of the benefit)

Employees don’t have to pay student fees, they are required to pay $8 per hour course fees.

Available for both graduate and undergraduate courses.

Employees are eligible to use the benefit at AUM.

CHILDREN OR SPOUSES:
Children or spouses of employees are eligible for a 50% tuition waiver Children and spouses of employees must pay both student and course fees.

Step children are eligible for the benefit if they are dependants, and that can be determined by whether they are eligible to be covered by the employee’s health insurance and be claimed on their health insurance.

There are some night classes available, though they are not as extensive as at schools like Auburn University Montgomery or Faulkner University. 

Children of employees are eligible for the benefit till they are 24, and there is no age limit for spouses

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS and Other Information:

Does taking classes help employees in their job?

Response by Mr. Deery:  For the employee's current position more than likely not, since minimum requirements would have already have been met.  However, it is important to take classes that are related to the field you are trying to make a career in.

Employees are eligible to audit classes.

Employees whose dependants are eligible for financial aid should speak to someone in the Financial Aid Office to find out how the benefit will affect loans, scholarships and grants.  Deery pointed out that any student is eligible for scholarships, though most scholarships require full time attendance.  External scholarships are available also.

The number of employees who take advantage of the benefit varies from under 100 in some semesters, to near 200 in others.   

The second guest speaker AU Asst. Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Dr. John Fletcher, stated he received  his PHD while taking advantage of the waiver.

Dr. Fletcher spoke  that “if you’re not enrolled, I look at you as a potential student”.  He said that AU had 22, 928 students last year, 19,780 of whom were undergraduates.   He said he was pleased that AU has an 84% freshman retention rate (till sophomore year). 68% graduate within six years.

He then presented a power point presentation outlining the steps to becoming a student at AU.

STEPS TO ENROLL:

1.  Complete an application, with paper applications being available at the quad center, as well as online applications.

2.  Send transcripts from the student’s high school or from previous college work. 

3.  The student will need to take either the ACT or the SAT, though they may take a test administered by AU that can’t be used for admission at other schools.  Standardized tests aren’t necessary for transfer students, even those coming from junior colleges.

Standardized tests are required in order to determine a student’s likelihood of success at AU according to Fletcher.  He said that in some years minimum requirements are not enforced, often during summer semester.  That won’t be the case this fall as AU will welcome 4200 new freshmen.

Dr. Fletcher pointed out that “if you’re not taking advantage of enrolling, you’re not taking full advantage of your benefits.”  He said that he before coming to AU he took advantage of a similar benefit while attending the University of Tennessee.

WHERE DO I GO FOR HELP?

Mr. Fletcher stated those with questions should go to the Office of Undergraduate Recruiting in the Quad Center where they can either get answers to their questions, or directions to the person who will give them answers.

Help can also be found in the Office of Student Financial Services, and once enrolled, students to a Dean’s Office, where they will go for academic advice on courses to take.

If all else fails, Dr. Fletcher said to call him at 844-6428.

WHAT CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE?

Dr. Fletcher said that there are 130 different majors and three academic terms.  Registration can be done via the web.  There are three terms during summer semester, spanning five, six and ten weeks.

Dr. Fletcher said that staff members are required to pay lab fees, but that a portion of the course is paid for as part of the tuition waiver.  If there are additional fees it is the responsibility of the staff member to pay.

The next portion of the presentation was “Value of a college degree … Is it worth it?”

The answer? Absolutely!

Studies indicate that the average high school graduate will earn $1.2 million, while someone with an associate degree will earn $1.6 million, and someone with a B.S. will earn $2.1 million.  “Only you can make it happen!” said Fletcher, pointing out that it is his honor and pleasure to announce the names and shake the hands of all AU graduates at the ceremony.

In response to a question, Dr. Fletcher said that those wishing to enter the graduate school must first take either the GRE or GMAT.  He said that those desiring help preparing for the ACT or SAT may wish to go to the Sylvain Learning Center, and pointed out ACT and SAT preparation materials are available.

He said that the minimum for admission at AU was a 16 on the ACT combined with a 3.0 high school GPA, or 17 on the ACT with a 2.5 GPA.  The Auburn Public Library has standardized test preparation material for free.  Those passing 32 hours at a Junior College with a 2.5 GPA are eligible for admission, though high school transcripts may be necessary for a lower JC GPA.

Dr. Fletcher said that the national trend towards higher enrollment levels for over traditional age students was not as prevalent at AU.  He said that prospective graduate students should start by meeting with academic advisers in their departments.  He said that he didn’t know whether career counseling services were available for staff members.

Elective courses were less likely to transfer than core courses.

Dr. Fletcher recommended Southern Union Junior College as an “excellent resource” for prospective AU students and recommended the Successfully Orienting Students program (SOS) for transfer students.

He called the employee tuition waiver program “a tremendous benefit I hope you take advantage of” before he pointed out that a person’s ability to learn didn’t decrease before age 75.

UPDATE:

Jenny began by encouraging those in attendance to take advantage of “A Train,” the online registration system for training courses at AU.  She said it is hoped that all training classes will be in the system by fall.

Ms. Swaim reported that the Intimate Relations Policy was being reviewed by the University Senate and that this would not affect staff and A&P members since they were already protected with the regulations in our respective handbooks.

Ms. Swaim said that the Compensation and Classification Project was still moving forward, and that all the questionnaires had been completed, and that they were in the process of being sorted through in an effort to reduce the number of classifications to 700.  The forms are still in draft form, and all of the “quirks” will need to be removed before they will be brought to us.  Jenny said that she expects Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Ms. Lynne Hammond will come speak to the council “in a month or so” about the progress of the project.

Next Ms. Swaim spoke about recent developments pertaining to the Multicultural Diversity Commission, and its effort to define diversity, develop a job description for the associate provost who will be in charge of diversity issues, and the effort to merge the Strategic Plan with a document prepared by the Black caucus which outlines African-American concerns.  The goal is for the document to be adopted by the board and enforced.

Also discussed was the Electronic Privacy Policy, which will mean that those whose e-mails are being monitored will be notified. 

Strategic Plan Initiative, which Dr. Sauser has been working on with the president and is hoped to help guide the university for the next five years.  Dr. Sauser hopes to have it completed and delivered to the president by November of this year.

Ms. Swaim also said that there is an ongoing effort to clarify the Grievance policy in order to develop a consistent policy and procedure for both A&P and Staff employees.  She encouraged Staff Members to review the webpage and look at the policy.

Ms. Swaim closed the meeting after responding to a question that the goal for implementing the Classification and Compensation project is the first of the year.