Staff Senate Minutes
SMB Seminar Room
April 7, 2004

Members Present: Dean Foster, Barbara James, Tina Rippa, Anita Rios, Jon Saari, Margaret Soucy, Shawn Sias, Cynthia Bettison, JoAnn Fischer, Julia Biglin, Leonor Mendoza, Virginia Manzano, TJ Robinson, and Julia Morales

Members Absent: Teresa Holguin

I. President Barbara James called the meeting to order at 10:05 am.
A. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance.
B. Roll call was taken.

II. Approval of Agenda-Senator Fischer made a motion to approve the agenda and Senator Foster seconded the motion. Motion carried.

III.Approval of March 3, 2004 Staff Senate Minutes and March 1, 2004 Staff General Assembly Minutes- Senator Rippa stated that Item III should be corrected to remove the wording the old business portion from the March 3, 2004 minutes. Senator Morales made a motion to approve the March 3, 2004 minutes as corrected and Senator Fischer seconded the motion. Motion carried. Senator Soucy made a motion to approve the March 1, 2004 Staff General Assembly Minutes and Senator Biglin seconded the motion. Motion carried.

IV. President’s Report-President Barbara James reported the following:

· President James reported that Christy Edwards, Deputy Director for New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority would be on campus April 15 and April 16 to discuss with faculty and staff the changes that will be taking place with medical insurances. President James stated that the sessions would be held at Global Resource Center Auditorium.

· Chris Casey, VPBA announced that Cimarron Medical Insurance would not be a medical provider effective July 1, 2004. NM Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Presbyterian medical plans would be the medical plans available. Ms Casey stated that staff should attend the sessions to either change medical insurance or to let their medical insurance default to the new medical carrier. Ms Casey also stated that the new medical plans would be in effect July 1, 2004 and the new medical premiums would be deducted in September. Dental and vision will have no changes to their plan.

· President James announced that May 1, 2004 will be “Clean Our Campus Day from 10:00 am-11:00 am

· President James announced that the NCATE team will be here next week and the NCATE meetings would be in the SMB

· President James announced that Mary Camarena-Hittle, Systems Analyst in IT Department, has been elected as the new Staff Senate President. Ms Camarena-Hittle will take office in October.

· President James stated that general elections would be held in September 2004.

V. Treasurer’s Report-Senator Manzano reported that the balance in the Staff Senate account is $173.42; the balance on the staff recognition account as of February 2004 is $864.48.

VI. Old Business

A. Committee Reports

1. Staff Handbook-No Report

2. Rewards & Recognition-Senator Biglin reported that her committee had met on March 16, 2004. Senator Biglin stated that she emails the notice to staff to nominate an employee for Employee of the Month.

3. Salary & Classification- No Report

4. New Employee Orientation-Senator Foster reported that his committee had met at Watts Hall on March 24, 2004 for new employee orientation. Two new WNMU employees from Watts Hall received orientation. The new WNMU employees expressed concerned on lack of training for new employees.

5. Election-No Report

6. AQIP-No Report

VII. New Business

A. Employee of the Month-April, 2004- President James and Senator Biglin recognized Angel Toyota Sharpe, employee in Child Development Center, as the April Employee of the Month.

B. Performance Measurement PMT, Dr. Kathie Gilbert

Dr. Gilbert discussed the Proposed Performance Management System Components. Dr. Gilbert stated that an Office of Data Collection, Analysis, and Research should be established. The office would report to the President. A new position would be created if the funds were available. Senator Bettison made a motion to support the Performance Measurement PMT being presented to the President and the executive council and Senator Biglin seconded the motion. Motion carried.

C. Assessment Convocation, Dr. Barbara Taylor

Dr. Taylor discussed the Convocation results. Dr. Taylor stated that faculty has an assessment committee and staff should also have an assessment committee. Dr. Taylor also stated that members to the staff assessment committee do not have to be all from staff senate.

VIII. Open Forum-Dr. Gilbert reported the AQIP committee is phasing out the funding project and the communication project will continue. Dr. Gilbert also stated that new action projects have to be determined.

The semi-annual staff potluck will be held on Wednesday May 19, 2004 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the “Old James Stadium.” Senator Soucy will be co-coordinating the potluck.

Senator Biglin stated that in May the Employee of the Year would be selected.

IX.The next meeting will be on May 5, at 10:00 am in Seminar Room of the Student Memorial Building.

X. Senator Fischer made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 am; Senator Biglin seconded the motion. Motion carried.