Wednesday, March 12, 2003
301 Bailey, Gorham
I. ATTENDANCE: The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. by Senate Chair, Rodney Mondor.
Present: Julie Archibald, Dan Axford, Donna Bird,
Norma Charette, Robin Day, Casandra Fitzherbert, Dana Gray, Eric James, Pat
Marston, Kim-Marie Martin, Susan Martin , Rodney Mondor, Michael Mullett, Kathleen
Pease, Kerry Sullivan, Nolan Thompson, Colleen White, Lisa Yaeger
Absent: Elaine O’Reilly, Pamela Roy
II. ACCEPTANCE OF FEBRUARY 12, 2002 MINUTES: Minutes were accepted as written.
III. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Treasurer’s Report- We have a balance of $734.62 in our budget.
Communications Committee- The website has been updated.
IV. GUEST SPEAKER: Kathleen Bouchard, Director of Human Resources, spoke about the Emerging Professional Staff Award. She encouraged Senators to nominate co-workers and encourage others to nominate as well. The Award Committee consists of Mike Mullett, Pamela Clay-Storm, Paul Dexter, Kim Turner and Joyce Lapping as well as the recipients of the past 4 years; Kathleen serves as the Chair. Nominations are due 3/21/03 with the application and a resume of the nominee; the two recommendation letters are due on 4/11/03. The 125th Anniversary of USM is this year. Kathleen noted that the institution has gone through many different names during that time. Due to budget constraints, the celebration will fit into events and budgets that are already planned like Convocation and Homecoming as well as an October musical performance at Merrill Auditorium. Susie Bock, the USM archivist, is planning a “So You Think You Know USM” game that will end in a Jeopardy-like tournament. An update on the PDQ process was given. Dan Rabata has been working with Dick Cottrill for USM. Questions about the process can be directed to x4777 or Kathleen@usm.maine.edu
V. PRESIDENT’S OFFICE REPORT: President Pattenaude gave
a summary of the budget situation: state revenues remain down, the System gets
half of its budget from appropriations. The fringe benefits costs are moving
from the System to each campus. He said that USM is working on a set of assumptions
that includes a 0% budget increase, recommended by the Governor, for the fiscal
years starting 2003 and 2004. Income for next year could include a 2% enrollment
growth, 4-5% increase in tuition and a $400,000 growth in grants to total a
$1.4M increase. Expenses for next year are predicted to include healthcare costs
at 12%, $300,000 in insurance, $300,000 for ERP plus 2-2.5% raises and inflation
that equal a deficit of $2M in both years. The Board of Trustees for the System
is committed to limiting tuition increases and providing raises for faculty
and staff. The $2M deficit could be defined as 40-45 jobs as 75% of our budget
is salary based. There is a President’s staff meeting on Friday- they
will put out a plan before the end of March. The Key Principles are to retain
academic integrity, increase revenue generation and protect people. The idea
of shared austerity was talked about, with discussion turning toward the theme
of sustainability: the workforce, the environment, convocation. The “elimination”
of 6-4 accounts was debated with the understanding that gift funds won’t
be touched. Morale was identified as an issue with the economy, the threat of
war, etc… The discussion then turned to the bargaining unit negotiations
with the System. Several questions were raised that Rich is going to look into.
Please contact Kerry Sullivan for an update on the status of the mediation process.
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
a. Elections Committee: Donna Bird reported the following: We received
forty nominations. THANKS to those members of the ProSen who submitted nominations,
and to those who nominated themselves for a second term! One of the nominees,
who agreed to run for a seat, had to withdraw because her job will end at the
end of the fiscal year. She offers her regrets. Another nominee isn't eligible---she
is classified staff, even though her title is Coordinator. As of today, with
several nominees not yet heard from, we have the following people agreeing to
run for office: Academic Affairs- Sondra Bogdonoff, Rebecca Warsinsky; Administration-
Dana Gray and Nolan Thompson; Enrollment Management - Mark Menezes; Student
and University Life -Mary Kay Kasper, Sheera Labelle, and Sara Treible; University
Advancement- no one as of yet---so these two seats will turn into at-large seats.
We also have agreements to run from Rebecca Hodges, Eric James, and Thomas Wood.
Becky and Tom haven't decided whether they are running for divisional or at-large
seats, and Eric is willing to run for either. All of these folks are in Academic
Affairs. Friday, March 14 is the last day we can take commitments to run from
the nominees. The ballots will go to Printing Services on Monday, March 17.
The Election Committee will meet in the Mail Room on Friday, March 21 to label
the ballots. Voting will run until Tuesday, April 22. The Election Committee
will need to meet later that week to count the votes.
b. By-Laws Committee: The following changes to the Professional Staff Senate By-Laws were read into the minutes to be voted on at the next meeting:
III. A. 3. “Each member will be elected for a two-year term, except when
elected to complete a vacated, uncompleted term.” Should be moved to III.
A. 2.;
III. A. 4. “A member may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms, where
any fraction of a term is to be considered as a whole term.” Should be
moved to III. A. 3.;
III. F. 1. “Meetings will be held monthly on dates to be determined at
the first meeting of the new term. Meetings will be held monthly between the
USM campuses in Gorham and Portland. One meeting each year will be held at Lewiston
Auburn College.”
will read “Meetings will be held monthly on dates to be determined at
the first meeting of the new term. Meetings may be held at any branch of USM
per a schedule to be created by the Senate in the July meeting. Attention should
be paid to distributing the meetings fairly among the branches when the schedule
is created.”
If a Senator is not able to make the next meeting, they should submit a proxy
vote to a member of the Executive Committee before the meeting.
c. Recognition Luncheon Committee: The luncheon will have a Spanish/Mexican theme. The committee continues to work on funding. Senators will label the invitations at the next meeting.
VII. SENATE REPORTS:
Classified Staff: Kathleen Pease reported that the Annual Classified
Staff Breakfast is on March 25th from 8-10 a.m. in Gorham. The workshops will
run from 10-noon. The topic is “Becoming a Mentor.”
Faculty: Colleen White reported that they are currently working on rewriting a draft of the student academic policy to bring it in line with the System policy. Faculty Senate awards are May 3. The CORE council has been charged with reviewing the structure of core courses for all students. The USM Core Curriculum hasn’t been reviewed in 18 years. Pamela Clay-Storm made a tobacco policy presentation.
Student: Kathleen Pease reported that there was a tobacco presentation made. Elections will be held the week after spring break. There is a new Parliamentarian and shuffling of offices has occurred. The Free Press is losing its advisor after the last issue is printed; a new one will be rehired in the summer.
VIII. OLD BUSINESS: The Goals and Objectives breakout session was tabled until April.
IX. OPEN FORUM: Pat Marston noted that the bids for the library project are going out. Construction should start May 12, 2003 and be finished by March 12, 2004.
X. MEETING ADJOURNED at 4:03 P.M. by Senate Chair, Rodney Mondor.
Next meeting: April 9, 2003, 9:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m., 170, LAC
Reported by: Lisa Yaeger, Co-Secretary
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