April 18, 2007
Staff Senate Meeting Minutes
April 18, 2007
10:00 – 12:00 p.m. - ECC 1775
Present: Neely Benton, Rita Brenes, Karen Carmichael, Maria Corral, Gabriela de Anda, Crystal Dootson, Beatrice Henson-O’Neal, Florante Ibanez, Elmo Johnson, Jim Kelly, Janet Lee, Nora Jayne Mallen, Elmira Melgoza, Mary Moore, Gwen Part, Renée Sikes, Tangee Smith-Hill and Terri Taylor
Absent: Mike Carty, Alexis Dolan, and Faith Sauerwald
I. Call to Order• President Henson-O’Neal called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
II. Approval of February and March Minutes – President Henson-O’NealBecause of guest speakers, this item was tabled for a vote by email. The minutes for February 21 and March 21 were approved unanimously by email vote on April 19, 2007.
III. Special Benefits Presentation – Margaret Halm, Work/Life Resource Counselor and Heather Alexander, Director for Human Resources/Benefits• Summary of Staff Benefits handout was disseminated to the Senate. Included within the handout were the names of the plans and the contact telephone numbers.
• Vision Coverage - The Senate was informed that the co-payment for vision coverage had increased. In exchange for the increased co-payments, staff is able to seek eye examinations and get glasses/contacts once a year, rather than every 2 years as it was established previously.
• CNA (Parent/Grandparent Health Coverage) – Although enrollment is closed, CNA packets are still available in the Human Resources Department for those people that would like to review the information.
• EAP (Employment Assistance Program) – All employees are eligible to use this program, which is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. These services are provided by licensed professional counselors at Robert T. Dorris & Associates to assist with personal and family concerns. This program is strictly confidential and no information is disclosed to LMU. All employees are allowed 3 visits every 6 months.
• 403B Plan – An extensive review of this plan is being conducted and changes are expected to be made by approximately the fall semester, AY 2007-2008.
• Tuition Remission – Full-time, permanent employees are eligible after 3 months of employment, including LMU Extension. After 9 months of employment, the employee is eligible to take graduate courses.
o Concerns regarding the payment of the taxes for the graduate tuition remission were expressed. Employees are not made aware that taxes are paid in 3 consecutive pay periods, which in some cases is a reduction of almost 50% of the employee’s paycheck. A request was made to Margaret Halm to please look into this matter and help provide clarification about this process so that employees, going forward, are aware of what they will need to pay. It was also requested that tax payments be spread out throughout the year to assist the employee.
• Sick Time – Employees accrue 1 day a month. Sick days may be accrued without a cap. Supervisors are allowed to ask the employee to provide proof of medical appointment.
• Vacation Time – There is a cap in accruing vacation days. Employees are allowed to accrue twice their allotted vacation a year. Vacation time is allotted based on status (exempt or non-exempt; director level or below) and years of service.
• Holidays – All employees receive 16 paid holidays. In addition, the university provides 1 week of vacation during the Christmas holiday.
• Flexible Schedules – For non-exempt staff, it is a legal requirement that 9/80 schedules must be voted on by the entire department before they can be implemented.
• Retirement Policy – Employees are eligible for full retirement benefits when they reach the age of 65 and have 10 or more consecutive years of regular, full time Loyola Marymount University service.
• Silver Card Proposal – This proposal would have to be presented to the Cabinet, not Human Resources.
IV. President’s Report a. Resignation of Reuben Gutierrez, Treasurer
• The Senate needs to elect a new Treasurer. Elections will be held after the Staff Appreciation Picnic, possibly in the month of July. We will consider graduating the Senators 1 year early to help them become eligible to apply for Treasurer.
b. Meeting with Vicki Graf, Faculty Senate President
• The E-Board will be meeting with Vicki Graf on Friday, May 11, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
c. Responsibilities of Committee Chairs
• Committee Chairs will form the Committee on Committees.
d. Committee on Committees
• Beatrice Henson-O’Neal will be working on an ongoing basis with Mary McCullough to establish all university committees and encourage the placement of staff senators on these committees.
e. Benefits Fair
• The Benefits Fair went well. The Staff Senate became very visible at the fair. Contact information for each Senator was provided as well as a list of goals and items that the Staff Senate is currently working on.
V. Liaison Reports (2-5 Minute Senator Divisional Reports) • In interest of time, the Liaison Reports were tabled for the next meeting.
VI. Committee Reports• In interest of time, the Committee Reports were tabled for the next meeting.
VII. Old Businessa. University Standing Committees – pending
b. ManeGate Senate Group – Maria Corral and Janet Lee
• Janet Lee and Maria Corral prepared a presentation for the Senate and went over ManeGate Group set-up. Currently, only a few Senators have been authorized to make changes or add information to the Staff Senate Group site.
• President Henson-O’Neal requested that all Senators be given authorization to add and information to group sheet as well.
• Any suggestions on the links should be forwarded to the E-Board, Maria Corral and/or Janet Lee.
VII. New Business a. Staff Senate Open Forum
• The Staff Senate Open Forum is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 23, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., at St. Robert’s Auditorium pending approval from summer conferences and scheduling. The forum will be an open dialogue to discuss concerns.
• Talking Points and Forum Agenda will be tabled until Senators can provide feedback.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
Prepared by: Rosa Calderon
Submitted by: Gwen Part