The University of Mississippi                                   Staff Council

Minutes of the Meeting:  April 6, 2005              Union 403

 

Present:  Dotty Baker; Shannon Beeman; Debbie Binkley; David Blackmarr; Rachel Bost; Brenda Brannan; Joey Brent; Corrie Free; Cathy Grace; Mary Harrington; Carra Hewitt; Jeff Howell; Melissa Hudson; Ron Kitchens; Ardessa Minor; Patti Mooney; Jerry Moore; Susan Neal; Jennifer Pardoe; Paula Park; Ben Pharr; Deidra Phillips; Randall Pinion; Bettie Puckett; Amy Saxton; Karen Tuttle; Timothy Woodard

 

Excused:  James Akey; Pam Barefield; Debbie Bishop; Robert Bishop; Nina Cheshier; Ann Mason; Traci Mitchell; Tony Seaman

 

Unexcused:  Kim Chrestman; Judy Mills

 

Guest:  DeLain Horne

 

Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 2:29 pm by President Mary Harrington. 

 

Guest Speaker:  President Harrington introduced Chancellor Khayat as the guest speaker.  The Chancellor thanked members for their willingness to serve on the Staff Council, and thanked the Executive Council for their leadership, ideas, and concerns.  Chancellor Khayat then presented an update on current University issues:

 

·          The University has experienced budget reductions each year since 2000.  The University may lose 5% - 13% of its State funding in the next fiscal year.  Tuition has now replaced the State as the primary source of funding.  Thus, the staff has a vested interest in maintaining/increasing enrollment.  Chancellor Khayat encouraged everyone to continue to send a positive message to students, and to help reinforce the University’s commitment to its students.

·          Renovation to and addition of a number of buildings will continue.  Plans are being made to build a new Law Center on the south side of campus, and to make the old law school a classroom building.  Funds are available for the renovation of Bishop and for an addition to Farley Hall.  The University is also considering relocating the Counseling Center to make space in the health building for a clinic to serve faculty and staff.

·          A $200 million capital campaign will begin this summer to address some needs on campus.

·          Despite budget woes, jobs are secure and the University will continue to make progress on compensation.

 

President Harrington thanked Chancellor Khayat on behalf of the Staff Council for his presentation.

 

Approval of Minutes:  The March minutes were approved with no corrections. 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Rachel Bost reported that the majority of expenditures for the month of March were for name tags for new members and textbook scholarships.  There were no charges to the overhead account.  The Treasurer’s Report was approved with no corrections.

 

Staff Appreciation Week Activities:

 

Staff Appreciation Day will be held on Friday, May 20, 2005.  Debbie Binkley agreed to serve as chair of the Staff Appreciation Planning Committee.  Suggestions for increasing participation at the awards ceremony included sending memos to department heads to let them know their employees will receive awards and to encourage attendance, asking the Chancellor to send an email to encourage attendance, and recognizing new staff during the ceremony.  President Harrington stated that the Executive Committee met and received permission from the Chancellor to sponsor additional activities throughout the week, such as line dancing, badminton, or presentations on various topics.

 

Committee Reports:

 

·          Deidra Phillips will serve as chair of New Employee Welcome Activities.  Ms. Phillips reported that 68 new staff members, including temporary staff, were added between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2005.  The committee is planning the first reception to honor and welcome new staff.

·          Jennifer Pardoe, chair of the Publicity Committee, reported that new Staff Council members had recently met for a group photograph.  The photograph will soon appear in the Daily Mississippian.

·          Cathy Grace has agreed to serve as chair of New Employee Orientation.

·          Ron Kitchens, a member of the Honors Day standing committee, reminded everyone that Honors Day will be held on April 7, 2005. 

·          The Executive Committee met with Chancellor Khayat, and President Harrington reported that the Chancellor had agreed to fund four health screenings as door prizes during Staff Appreciation Week.

·          President Harrington attended the last MASCO meeting in Jackson.  Topics included organization of staff council membership election procedures and outsourcing.

 

Old Business:

 

·          Shannon Beeman presented the Council with quotes from various print shops on the cost to print 100 Staff Council t-shirts in various sizes.  The Council voted to order the t-shirts from Ink Spot.

·          Ron Kitchens reported that the committee organized to review the Staff Council by-laws found several redundant statements.  Mr. Kitchens will present changes to the committee.  Council members are welcome to make suggestions for improving the by-laws.

 

New Business:

 

·          The current list of nominees for election of next year’s Staff Council officers is:

o       President-Elect:  Ron Kitchens

o       Treasurer:  Nina Cheshier; James Akey

o       Textbook Scholarship Coordinator:  Rachel Bost

o       Secretary:  None

·          Paula Park agreed to coordinate the Spring semester exam breakfast.

 

Announcements:

 

·          By unanimous vote, the Staff Council Member of the Month for April is Mary Harrington. 

·          The next Staff Council meeting will be held on May 4, 2005 in Union 404.

 

Meeting adjourned, 3:55 pm.

 

/s/ Mary Harrington, President

/s/ Joey Brent, President-Elect

/s/ Shannon Beeman, Secretary

 

Staff Council e-mail address: staffcouncil@olemiss.edu

Staff Council Homepage: http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/staff_council

Staff Council Webmaster: dptjb@olemiss.edu