Dickinson State University
Staff Senate Minutes

August 10, 2005, 2:30 p.m.-Klinefelter Conference Room 107

Members present:  Kathy Bercier, Stacey Buckman, Rita Ennen, James Haaland, Dustin Heick, Loretta Heidt, Sandy Klein, Roberta Kudrna, Karen Madler, Twila Petersen, Cecilia Taylor, Sr. Faith Wanner

Members absent:  Laurie Beach, Michael Calhoun, Kathy Lang, Amy Markwardt, Heather Meek, Kathy Obritsch, Kim Thiel

Loretta Heidt, President, called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.

Loretta Heidt indicated there were no changes to the agenda.  Roberta Kudrna made a motion to adopt the agenda as is; Kathy Bercier seconded the motion; motion carried.

Rita Ennen made a motion to approve the minutes as written.  Kathy Bercier seconded the motion; motion carried.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Standing Committees:

Continuing Education Committee: 
Twila Petersen distributed a Staff Senate Survey.  There are 4 Staff training sessions that are funded each year.  It was decided to ask Joanne Fields to send a survey to all Staff to get an idea of what types of training sessions staff would be interested in. 

Social Committee:
Roberta Kudrna reported that 60+ people attended the ice cream social in July.  The committee will try to do something in the fall and in the spring.  Some suggestions for refreshments included hot cider, cookies, bars.

Hiring Process of Staff Committee:
Loretta Heidt indicated that there is nothing new to report for this committee.  Twila Petersen indicated a correction to this committee list - Michael Calhoun should not be listed as a committee member.

Emergency Procedures Committee:
Roberta Kudrna spoke with Dr. George McClellan regarding the Emergency Procedures.  This has been tabled by Cabinet until fall.  Twila Petersen reported she and Loretta Heidt will be getting information from Dr. McClellan, including a draft of the policy and who is working on this.  Staff Senate would like to see something more definite soon, possibly in October.

Staff Salary Issues Committee:
Kathy Bercier distributed several handouts, including a graph of 2004-05 salaries, pay increase 2004 to 2005, Dickinson Area Profile.  There was discussion of Dickinson’s job market, the possibility of getting salary information at other universities (BSC, MSU, WSC), sources of such information (Libraries, Human Resources Offices, Legislative Council, etc.).  The committee will continue to research this issue.

Bulletin Board Committee:
Stacey Buckman reported for the committee.  The Bulletin Board policy was changed at the beginning of the 2004-05 year.  University Relations deals with most bulletin board posting requests.  There was discussion of how to adjust the policy, determine designated units in each building on campus, designate a person in each building to make decisions about what can be posted on bulletin boards, date stamping of posted material, designating community bulletin boards, DSU bulletin boards, without sponsorship of any particular group, etc.  The committee will gather information about bulletin boards in the various buildings on campus, and then draft some guidelines and recommendations.  Staff Senate can make recommendations regarding the policy.  Loretta Heidt and Twila Petersen will take the recommendations to Dr. Vickers.

Job Discipline and Dismissal:

There was no report from this committee.

BUSINESS

Old Business:

(1)    Sexual Harassment Policy/Procedures:  This will be worked on after school starts.

(2)    Staff Recognition Awards Procedure:  There was discussion of proposing an increase in the award from $1000 to $1500.  There was also discussion of changing the requirement of who may be nominated.  Currently a staff member may be nominated if they are in their second full year of employment.  There was suggestion to change this so that staff must have been employed at DSU for 2 full years before they may be nominated.  Discussion also included encouraging staff to submit the required paperwork when they are nominated.  Roberta Kudrna will work on putting together a formal request to propose an increase in the award from $1000 to $1500; and to change the nomination requirement.  Staff Senate will then take the proposal to Dr. Vickers, who will take it to the DSU Foundation.

(3)    Staff Web Forms Training:  Twila Petersen reported that there was good turnout on August 4, 2005 for the training session.  The session was very informative.

New Business:

(1)    Meeting Date and Time:  The Senators agreed to hold the monthly Senate meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m.  This will be discussed again at the September meeting in case the absent Senators have conflicts with this date and time.

(2)    Other:  None

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. in Klinefelter Conference Room 107.

 

Karen Madler made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Roberta Kudrna seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m. by President Loretta Heidt.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Cecilia Taylor

Staff Senate Secretary