Present: Julia Biglin, JoAnn Fischer, Mary Hittle, Elaine Howard, Leonor Mendoza, T.J. Robinson, Adele Springer, Sylvia Villegas

Proxy: Amy Baca, Julia Morales, Anita Rios

1. Open Meeting
1. President Hittle called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Secretary/Treasurer Springer took attendance of senators present.
2. Approval of Minutes

Senator Howard made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted with Senator Fischer seconding. Motion carried.

3. President’s Report
1. Staff General Assembly was held on March 14, 2005, at the Global Resource Center. At the meeting, nominations for President of Staff Senate opened, with Mary Hittle being the only person nominated for President.
2. New AQIP Teams—President Hittle will be asking for volunteers for the three new teams.
3. Board of Regents Meeting—April 5^th Update

• Tuition and Fees will increase 6.55%; total fee amount is $379.50 which is an increase of $5.00
• Next year’s budget will include two equipment funds ($50,000 and $41,000) and funds for improvements to the M.E.Ch.A building ($110,000)
• Assessment Day will be held in January next year
• The election ballots for Faculty Senate President are due on April 12^th.
• Rotary Auction raised $40,000 (1/3 will go the School of Education for scholarships)
• Document Imaging Hardware and Software has been installed and staff is in training this week. Senator Fischer asked, "What document imaging is, and how will it affect us?"
• Building Renewal and Replacement—Business Affairs has awarded the lighting contract for the football field; the new bleachers are being installed; the Martinez-Phelps Dodge addition is finished; and Harlan Hall modifications are being designed.
• Academic Affairs is currently hiring faculty for 2005-06 school year. Currently, four people have been hired for faculty positions.
• Tony Trujillo is the new President of the Board of Regents. Noreen Scott is the new regent replacing Robert Collard.

1. Meeting with Union Representatives—The meeting will be held on April 20^th in the GRC. Times will be announced at a later date.

1. Old Business
1. Committee Reports—
1. Staff Handbook Committee—Fischer—There was no meeting of the committee in March. The next meeting will be April 25^th at 9:00 in AV2.
2. Rewards and Recognition—Biglin—Vice President Biglin passed out the most recent version of the Sick Leave Bank Policy. An allocation must be put into the budget to cover the cost associated with this plan. Senator Fischer made a motion to approve the Sick Leave Bank Policy with Senator Springer seconding. Motion carried. President Hittle will now forward the policy to Dr. Counts. If approved, the policy will go to the Board of Regents.

Employee of the Month—The Employee of the Month for April was selected at the last meeting of the committee. The staff member chosen was Rosemary Martinez of the Child Development Center.

2. Union Issues—
1. President Hittle will ask Media Services to tape the meeting with the union representatives, so that those who cannot attend will be able to watch it when it is available.
2. The State Labor Board will meet again on April 22^nd.
3. June Meeting with WNMU lawyer and Union Representatives—President Hittle is exploring the idea of having another meeting in June.

Senator Fischer stated the WNMU lawyer will only be at the meeting to tell us about how WNMU does things.

The questions that were submitted to union representatives will be responded to in written form also. President Hittle asked for an electronic copy.

2. Open Forum—
1. % of Raise for 2005-06—Currently, the percentage of raise will be 2%, with faculty senate pushing for higher percent.
2. % of Increase in Insurance Premiums—Senator Robinson stated at a meeting he attended it was stated that insurance would increase 3%. Senator Fischer reminded people that are going into higher percentages of their part of paying insurance that they would get hit twice because of the higher percentages (once in July and then again in October when insurance new rates go into effect).
3. % of Staff Living below Poverty—Senators Fischer and Robinson agreed to find out this information for Staff Senates review.
4. Assistance of Human Resources with staff contracts—It was suggested that the Human Resources office provide employees with information to staff, when signing contracts, on how the budget affects our salary.
5. Domestic Partner Benefits—President Hittle asked if any senators had feedback on these benefits. Senators Fischer and Springer stated all the feedback that they had received had been negative, because of the impact on the salary pool. Senator Fischer will send out another request to all staff for additional feedback.
3. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be May 4^th at 10:00 in the Seminar Room.

4. Adjournment