December 3, 2013
Highlights from the Nov. 6 Classified Senate meeting
Here are the highlights from the Nov. 6 Classified Senate meeting. A draft of the meeting minutes is available here.
Rebecca Gould, director of the Information Technology Assistance Center, and Zac Burns, systems administrator, spoke about the move to Office 365 in January 2014. They are encouraging everyone to attend one of the training sessions.
President Janice Taggart installed three new members to the Classified Senate: Heather Tourney, Connie Kissee and Emily Johnson.
Gary Leitnaker reported open enrollment is over. Flex schedules should be determined between employees and supervisors. (Based upon comments from President Schulz at one of the town hall meetings, flexible schedule policies will be reviewed.) If the vote to go to university support staff is affirmative, training will start ASAP for university employees and he has prepared a budget for the vice president for administration and finance regarding extra support his staff will need.
Janice Taggart attended the President’s Advisory Council meeting, which heard a presentation about the airport expansion; major capital projects were discussed; received an update on institutional analysis. She also attended the legislative update meeting and the campus tour on Oct. 29, and attended a meeting on Nov. 4 with the Kansas Board of Regents and the executive members of Faculty, Classified and Student senates, where discussion included working with the Legislature and status of ASC.
Standing Committee Reports:
Campus Affairs Committee — Carol Marden reminded new senators to have their pictures taken and submit bios for the website. Pictures can be taken at Dole Hall, Nov. 19 and Dec. 2 and 17.
Legislative Affairs Committee — Lesa Reves reported Pizza and Politics will be Nov. 14 at the Alumni Center. Regarding the position paper, committee members will be on a conference call tomorrow to finalize the details. At one on the town hall meetings an issue was brought up and she is preparing a response to that person.
Public Relations Committee — Lindsay Thompson thanked everyone for their input to the recent publication of the ROAR.
Classified Employee Opportunity Fund — Annette Hernandez reported three Meritorious Service Awards were granted.
Under Old Business, Reves reported that as of last March there were 87 outstanding classified employee performance reviews, 59 from unclassified supervisors, 18 from classified supervisors and 10 employees did not have a supervisor at the time evaluations were due.
Campus Committee Reports:
2025 Sustainability Committee — nothing to report.
Budget Advisory Committee — Taggart reported the charge was received from President Schulz on Oct. 25.
Climate Survey Committee — Kerry Jennings and Pam Warren reported they met and discussed vendors. Open forums will be conducted on what the survey should include.
Council on Parking Operations — John Wolf said that at the last meeting discussion was held on how to handle parking around Weber.
Faculty Senate Fringe Benefits — Jennings reported they are looking for an alternative compensation plan and ideas on handling overload pay and uniformity across colleges.
Peer Review — Reves reported there was a hearing on October
Recreational Services Council — Will meet next month.
Recycling – Jen Schlegal was just appointed to the committee.
Service and Maintenance — Meeting had been canceled.
Search Committees — Reves reported the vice president for research committee received its charge on Nov. 1. Dale Billam said there are four candidates interviewing during the next two weeks for the vice president for administration and finance position. Warren said they have started their second search for a department head.
Alternative Service Committee:
• Marden encouraged attendance at the town hall meetings on Nov. 15.
• Be sure to vote Nov. 19–21. The electronic ballots are secure and IT professionals are available in the library to help with resetting passwords. They will step away once your password is set.
• They have had an information booth outside the food court in the K-State Student Union.
• The president’s office will announce the results of the vote Nov. 22.
The Dec. 4 meeting will be at the Frith Community Center starting at noon.