ASSOCIATION OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES  - MAILSTOP 1010        

MINUTES – March 11, 2004

 

ACE members present:  Karen Killmaster, Guen Johnson, Nancy Rountree, Mike Dome, Bonnie Killian, Rex Hadley, Connie Charlton, Rita Nuxoll, Valencia Garrett, Reida Bow

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes from the January 2004 meeting were distributed. It was MSC by Rountree/Killian to approve them as presented.

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  Per bylaws, accomplishments of ACE year to-date were determined for review at the General Meeting and Luncheon. Included will be:  a) the Goodwill Project (including an update on revenue received and numbers of applicants, etc); b) participation in the health fair and the manual given to employees; c) collaboration with HR; d) Paint the Town and Rake Up Boise participation; e) pro-activeness with the legislature; and f) collaboration with faculty and professional senates.  (Note: Reida Bow suggested the professional, faculty and ACE presidents continue to collaborate). 

 

HR ISSUES: (items employees would like to see go forward to HR and/or President’s Cabinet)

           

Fee Waiver – ACE discussed a proposal to alter the fee waiver so that it could be designated for anyone in the employee’s nuclear family rather than just the employee’s spouse. This is not an internal BSU decision, it is a State Board of Education issue and we could end up losing the perk if we bring it forward. Most state employees do not get this perk, and could be very vocal as to why not. It was felt best to leave this item as is for now.

 

Transfers/Promotions – Concern that an employee may be prevented from transferring to another job on campus because the starting wage is lower than the current wages came to the attention of the ACE senate. Discussion ensued about this matter, and the HR department has been consulted to clarify the points of the discussion. In a recent e-mail (3-31-04) Jane Buser, Director of HR, states, “Depending on whether it's a new hire, a promotion, transfer (internal, external) etc., there are different policies……The University's current policy does not allow the manager to hire at any level they want (for new employees it is typically the minimum of the range unless there is a demonstrated recruitment problem) - but, for instance, if a current BSU employee wanted to transfer to another department, the manager would not have to offer to that person to pay his/her current salary.  The manager might want to offer a lower salary because of potential equity issues.” (Note: This rarely happens according to Viola Boman, lateral transfers almost always stay at the same pay rate. An employee taking a position that is in a lower paygrade [voluntary demotion] would have their salary reduced.). Bow and Rountree will bring this matter up at the HRAC April meeting for further clarification and report back.

 

PSP Recognition – There is a suggestion that certification programs such as the Professional Standards Program through BSUAOP should have some kind of on-campus recognition, possibly a certificate awarded at the ACE luncheon. This would be a morale booster. Charlton will follow up as appropriate.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• General Meeting and Luncheon – Garrett stated the event would be Thursday, April 8^th.  Kathy Kustra will be the speaker. The cost is the same as last year:  $3 for classified, $4 for temporaries, and $10 for everyone else. Garrett was asked to add a vegetarian option on the flyer and to add a paragraph about release time having been granted for the event.
• Goodwill Project Committee – Treasurer Garrett stated that to date we’ve had $422 in cash donations, and $95 on payroll deduction (with 17 people currently helping with that method). The balance in the fund is $2,394 and 74 classified employees have been helped to date. Bow suggested that if we wish to keep this fund going, a small portion should be set aside, i.e., always leave 20% in the fund. It was suggested that a donation basket be available at the ACE luncheon. Rountree offered to get the basket. Concern about the number of people requesting help was raised. Criteria based on hourly wage may have to be instituted to keep the fund viable (with extenuating circumstances taken into account). Criteria and guidelines will be developed as warranted.  Charlton stated that employees could ask for a maximum of two meals per pay period, but the committee has awarded one meal per week for each month so that more applicants can participate.   Applications must be submitted each month.  (See note below*)
• Outstanding Classified Employee – Rountree stated nominations were arriving and that the deadline for submission, March 12, had been extended to March 19^th. She is waiting to hear back from vendors for donations for gifts, and that she had a letter to go to the president’s office.

• HRAC – Rountree stated that Pre-paid Legal Services might be a benefit in the future for BSU employees as a volunteer program. This is a program where an employee uses payroll deduction to pay for legal services (cost might be $15 per month for coverage). Two companies have presented proposals and a decision should be made in the next few months whether  to present this to the administration.
• Parking and Transportation – Bow circulated a written parking report that addressed student concerns about the West Stadium parking lot modification and late busses; permit changes on prorated permits, eliminating permits for Sundays and after 10 p.m. weekdays; proposed carpool program for 2004-2005; traffic signal installation on University Drive held up due to lack of access to materials until later this year; and expanding parking spaces in the Royal and Lusk lots.

 

OTHER:

 

• Custodians:  Question was raised how ACE can help custodians with the workload.
• Emeritus:  Charlton to ask Buser to see if staff could be reminded what Emeritus status is, and why one would want to apply for it. Most don’t know enough about it when retiring to understand that they should or could apply.

 

NEXT MEETING: The General Meeting and Luncheon takes the place of a regular ACE April meeting.   The Senate will convene again on May 13 with a regular board meeting.

 

*NOTE:  People interested in contributing to the ACE Goodwill Project can do so by sending a check payable to ACE to Mail Stop 1010, or you can contribute by payroll deduction (Application forms are available on the HR and the ACE websites, from any ACE Senator, or by calling HR at ext. 1616).

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.                                          Guen Johnson, Recording Secretary

 

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