PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
CLASSIFIED SENATE

Next Meeting…
April 11, 2007
1:30 p.m.
Governors Room/Student Center

***Representative Julie Menghini will speak at 1:30 p.m.***

AGENDA

1. Review of Meeting Minutes
2. Treasurer’s Report
3. Committee Reports
   1. Position Paper
   2. Election
   3. Legislative
   4. Public Relations
   5. Advocacy
   6. SB 74
   7. Other University Committees
4. Senate President’s Report from Meetings with Dr. Bryant
5. Legislative Update by Dr. Howard Smith
6. Old Business
   1. Joint Position Paper Meeting at Kansas State University on June 18
7. New Business
   1. Banquet planning committee
8. Good of the Order
9. Adjournment

Please send your agenda items to your Senator! A list of senators can be found on the Classified Senate website at http://www.pittstate.edu/csen/senators.html.

All Classified Senate meetings are open to any interested PSU employee. You do NOT have to be a Senator to attend.

President Kathi Lunday called the March 14, 2007 meeting of the Pittsburg State University Classified Senate to order in the Inaugural Room of the Overman Student Center.

Senators Present: Sue Ann Barnes, John Bartels, Kathy Benard, David Hartman, Pam Henderson, Tim James, Kathi Lunday, Leigh Ann Martin, Kathy Neely, Wendy Peterson, Joyce Row, Treva Sherman, Marty White, Heather Winzer, Mary Wolfe, Stacy Wolownik

Senators Excused: Dee Buffalo, Tracey Mussa, Trish Peak

Senators Absent: Dave Hornback, Sondra Wood

Non-Senators Present: Ruby Ashmore, Roberta Bigelow

Minutes: Motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the minutes of the February meeting.

Treasurer’s report: February budget account had a beginning balance of $1854.88, with expenses of $528.40 for Day on the Hill for an ending balance of $1311.46. Donation account had a beginning and ending balance of $30.

Position Paper: No report.

Election Committee: No report.

Legislative Committee: Treva Sherman distributed handouts regarding salary and benefit discussions in the legislature. The classified employee pay plan includes four parts:
1) 1% base pay increase
2) 5% targeted increase for classified employees who are paid at more than 25% below market levels
3) $1,450 bonus excluded from retirement calculation ($450 June 29 & $1,000 on Dec. 14)
4) $150 to match employee contributions to a pension plan.
The state salary study released in January showed a lag in state employee pay compared to similar private industry positions. For updates on the pay plan and to access a copy of the state salary study, visit Dr. Howard Smith’s website at http://www.pittstate.edu/pres/Legislature.html.

Public Relations: No report.

Advocacy Committee: David Hartman reported on the opening of the campus recycling center and discussion ensued. Student Government is taking about allocating funds for a student position for the program.

Welcoming Committee: No report.

Senate Bill 74 Research Committee: No meeting was held, so no report.

Other University Committees:
1) Energy & Resource Conservation – Stacy Wolownik read a report from Trish Peak that Phase I is complete and the center is open. Phase II and III are in the works. Phase II will be placing containers in the commons area for collection purposes. Phase III includes containers in the classrooms. For more information on the program, visit their website at http://www.pittstate.edu/erc/currentInitiatives.html.

Senate President’s Report from Meetings with Dr. Bryant: Dr. Bryant is saying that he feels the classified staff will be getting additional compensation this year, but it is still up in the air as to how much and what. He asks that we continue to support the Governor’s recommendations. There is no promise, but it looks hopeful.

Legislative Update: Dr. Smith is in Topeka since the legislature is in session.

Old Business: There has been no further contact with University of Kansas and there are no plans to visit their campus.

President Lunday updated the group on the proposal for increased vacation leave. Administration plans to sign off on the Board of Regent’s recommendations once they are completed. The proposal calls to increase classified employees vacation leave accrual up to 8 hours per pay period for 22 pay periods, which would match what unclassified employees receive.

New Business: President Lunday distributed copies of the PSU smoking policy proposal that has been revised. Student Government and Faculty Senate had to change the current policy to drop the fines. Discussion ensued as to why other tobacco products were not stated in the policy and that it just targeted smoking. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the revised proposal.

Teresa Massa, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Director, was the guest speaker and addressed raising awareness about our discussions and comments as employees regarding race, sex, sexual orientation, etc. and how they affect other employees, students and visitors on our campus. She encouraged us to do something new every week to change our habits and broaden our minds. PSU use to be known as a friendly campus because everyone said “hi” to each other when they passed on campus. She suggested everyone make an effort to do that again. The EOAA website is http://www.pittstate.edu/eoaa/ for information on policies.

Good of the Order: Classified Senate meeting minutes are currently being sent out through the “message village” and some people are not receiving them. It was decided to try sending them out by Mr. Bulk-E again.

Treva Sherman asked if we would like to invite one of our local legislators to the next meeting to update us on legislative issues since they would be on break then. The group agreed that would be a good idea.

Motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Henderson
Recording Secretary