Staff Senate Meeting
November 1, 2006
Minutes
Members Present: Margaret Soucy, Vangie Chapin, Tina Rippa, JoAnn Fischer, Michele Rorabaugh, Maria Dominguez, Mary Hokom, and Deb Cosper-Hughs.
Proxy: Adele Springer and Julia Biglin
Members Absent: Kelly Riddle, April Hanson, Armando Salaiz
I. President Margaret Soucy called the meeting to order. The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance. Roll call was taken.
II. Approval of Agenda: Senator Rorabaugh made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
III. Approval of October 4, 2006 Minutes: President Soucy stated that we do not need to include the person who seconded a motion and asked that Deb Cosper-Hughs’ second be removed in the last paragraph. Senator Fischer made a motion to approve the minutes as revised. The motion carried unanimously.
IV. President’s Report: President Soucy reported the following:
· A new program in Applied Technology was discussed in Cabinet yesterday; it will be a program for executive assistants in the medical, legal and general office areas.
· The governor has a new concurrent high school cyber academy to offer concurrent students on-line courses. Tularosa, Lordsburg, Gadsden and Santa Teresa are interested in on-line courses for their students.
· An on-line Interdisciplinary Master’s program is being developed.
· Strategic planning meetings begin tomorrow afternoon and continue on Friday.
· A report from the marketing consultants has been received and will be placed on the Web eventually.
· There is a meeting of the New Mexico Higher Education Staff Association tomorrow in Las Cruces that she will be attending. Their focus will be on compensation.
· There will be a Staff General Assembly meeting on Monday, December 11, at 10:00 a.m. in the Student Memorial Building Seminar Room. Senator Fischer asked if the meeting could be broadcast via ITV to the branch campuses. President Soucy said that there had not been much participation from the branch campuses in the past but she would consider it for the next quarter’s General Assembly meeting.
· She will not be here on Wednesday, December 6, and Vice President Cosper-Hughs will run that meeting.
V. Treasurer’s Report:
· The beginning budget for the regular account was $215.00. Name plates cost $88.70, and $143.52 is encumbered for travel leaving a negative balance in the account of $145.22. President Soucy stated that a separate account is going to be set up for travel expenses.
· The Staff Recognition account at the Foundation has a balance of $762.59.
VI. Old Business
A. Committee Reports
1. Staff Handbook: Senator Rippa reported that she and Senator Cosper- Hughs met to select committee members. All areas will be represented except Skilled Craft because the three skilled personnel are unable to attend committee meetings.
2. Rewards & Recognition: Senator Dominguez reported that a resignation from Fred Flores has been received; his last day will be November 30. Barbara Flores is retiring at the end of the year. Senator Dominguez will make plans for recognition of both employees at separate occasions.
3. Salary & Classification: No report.
4. New Employee Orientation: No report.
5. Elections: Senator Fischer stated that the transition election committee consisting of herself, Past President Mary Hittle, Senator Springer, Senator Rippa and President Soucy, met to discuss election issues. Senator Rippa provided the ballots and information used in the prior election, and she generated ballots to staff members in the Administrative classification. The votes have been counted but the newly elected staff member has not yet been contacted. She attended a Maintenance meeting yesterday to pass out ballots; the deadline for receipt of ballots is Friday and votes will be counted on Monday.
VII. New Business: There was no new business.
VIII. Open Forum: The following items were mentioned in the open forum.
· Senator Cosper-Hughs stated that the women’s volleyball team is hosting the RMAC conference with games beginning on Thursday. She suggested that we all offer our congratulations to Coach Callender.
· Katherine Aguirre asked if someone would again be selecting an employee of the month. President Soucy replied that there should be one chosen for December.
· President Soucy stated that approximately 150 staff members attended the picnic. Senator Dominguez stated that it had received good coverage in the newspaper.
· Senator Hokom mentioned that a Challenging Child Conference will be held on November 10 and 11 and that an internationally-renowned speaker will be making a presentation. The conference is free.
· Senator Dominguez said that the Day of the Dead is tomorrow. Offrendas have been built by students and staff. It begins at 5:30 tomorrow with dinner at 6:30. It is free. There will be live music by Jessica Juarez and Oscar Pena. It is being held at the McCray Gallery.
IX. Senator Rorabaugh made a motion to close the open meeting. The motion carried unanimously. President Soucy asked everyone except the Senators to leave the meeting for a closed session.
X. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. in the Student Memorial Building Seminar Room.
XI: Once discussions in the closed forum were completed Senator Rorabaugh made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.