Staff Association Meeting Summary
The Board met today and discussed the following agenda items:
1. Teresa McKnight, UHESA Past President, Presentation on UHESA Legislative Action and DSC involvement.
a.
Teresa gave a presentation on what UHESA is and
does [stands for Utah Higher Education Staff Association].
b. Basically – if you are on staff at any of the State higher education institutions then you are a member of UHESA – no dues required. They represent YOU.
c. They represent YOU.
d. The priorities of UHESA which were identified by the Staff Association Presidents from all 9 higher education institutions are:
Ø Compensation
Ø Benefits
Ø Job Security
Ø Administrative Support
Ø Training/Professional Development
Ø
Advancement Opportunities (if you obtain a degree – it should count for
something)
Ø Morale and Employee Satisfaction
Ø Recognition
Ø Staffing [or lack of]/ Increased Responsibilities
Ø Support from Faculty and/or Supervisors
Ø Performance Evaluations
e. The present UHESA president is Shad Sorenson (UVSC), [sorenssh@uvsc.edu] so please feel free to voice questions/concerns to him or Laurie any time. They do pass information/concerns on to the Board of Regents, Governor Olene Walker, and the Legislature, so your voice does matter.
f. UHESA is working towards unifying and being a stronger voice for the staff within higher ed.; to monitor and hold accountable all officials voted into government offices and to be an active partner with the Board of Regents and hold the Board of Regents responsible for decisions pertaining to higher ed.
g. UHESA has a new web site = www.usu.edu/uhesa. There is a link regarding the Legislature, including UHESA Legislative Workbook that you can go to from: www.usu.edu/uhesa/leg.html. This will help you to be more informed!
h. Teresa is VERY committed towards UHESA and bettering our working situations, but feels that they need to hear from you to help give them the ammunition needed to show the needs/concerns – so make your voice heard!
2.
Report on
Building Representatives/Vacancies/Consolidation
a. It was discussed that we need to hold the elections on those who have been nominated and that in some cases only one person has been nominated and will therefore, run unopposed.
3.
Report on
July meeting with President Huddleston
a. Minutes on this meeting was sent out to staff by Susan Garner already – to review them you can go to www.dixie.edu/staffassociation and click on the bottom link MINUTES OF MEETING WITH PRESIDENT HUDDLESTON.
4.
Report on
Survey
a. The survey taken to let all staff voice their opinion on the exempt
staff splitting off – was mentioned. Susan did send it out through email. [If you would like to review it let me know and I can
email you another copy of it.]
5.
Report on
Plans for Fall
a. The Board will continue to work towards a 3 month probationary period for those who move to a new position within the same department, and those who already work here but are appointed by the college President to a new position to have only 6 months probationary period.
b. Work towards having the reclassification procedure go through and working.
c. To compile a salary equity comparison.
d. To become proactive on this campus.
e. Request that the Clarion Bells be used again.
f. Have service projects for staff to be involved in [examples: help purchase/plant flowers and shrubs around campus – particularly around the “Family Statues”; and maybe donate $500 towards the ‘Angel Tree’ that the Student Body office sponsors each Christmas].
6.
New Business
a. It was decided to start up the Welcoming Committee. This group would get the list of new hires and meet with them to welcome them and also inform them of the Staff Association available to help with any future needs and/or concerns they may have. This committee will consist of Shelley Olsen, Loya Garrett and Marilyn Brockbank.
Refreshments were furnished by Laurie and Susan at no cost to the association. Thanks to them for the goodies!
The meeting was then adjourned.
NOTE:
[We were given handouts which included: Bio on Teresa McKnight; Information on the UHESA Legislative Subcommittee being formed in February 2003; R223 policy which states in R223-3.5 that - “the officers of faculty and staff associations or committees shall be allowed appropriate released time on a monthly basis to meet and conduct business.” ; and a General Legislative Information handout [including: Organization of the Utah Legislature, Flow chart entitled: From Bill to Law in the Utah State Legislature, How an Idea Becomes a Law, Glossary of Legislative Terms, Utah Legislative Process quiz, and Be An Activist], All of these handouts are available from your building representatives.
Submitted by Shelley Olsen