University of Southern Maine
Professional Staff Senate Minutes
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Husky Hut, Gorham
I. Attendance
Present: Donna Bird, Joy Britting, Robin Day, Cassandra Fitzherbert, Dana
Gray, Anita Higgins, Becky Hodges, Eric James, Joyce Lapping, Pat Marston,
Mark Menezes, Kathleen Pease, Pam Roy, Tom Wood
Excused: Julie Archibald, Sheera LaBelle, Sandra Bogdonoff,
Absent: Daniel Axford, Norma Charette
Guest: Beth Shorr
II. Acceptance of June11, 2003 Minutes
Minutes were accepted as written
III. Updates from the Senate Chair
Robin Day attended the Board of Visitors Meeting and met chairs from different
senates and remarked that it offered an opportunity for “cross-polarization”
with other committees. She also remarked on President Pattenaude’s speech
at the meeting. The President spoke about budget cuts to health care, a 20%
increase in health costs, and a 7.5% increase in tuition dollars to equal
an additional $150.00 per student. The President also talked about the purchase
of a new building at Lewiston/Auburn College. In addition, there was discussion
concerning Permanent Faculty vs. Adjunct Faculty. He was also mentioned of
tuition refunds for students.
IV. President’s Office Report
The area called Gateway Commons on the Portland Campus will now be called
University Commons due to a neighboring community known as Gateway Commons.
University Commons is hoped to help unify the Portland campus. Annual funds
exceeded the goal of $750,000, raising $812,000. Alumni gifts increased by
2%. The Opening Breakfast is scheduled to be in the Field House on August
29th. All USM staff and faculty, including classified staff, are to be invited.
Accommodations will be offered to staff who must keep essential offices open.
This will give both President Pattenaude and Provost Wood the opportunity
to address the USM community as a whole. They are expected to reflect on USM’s
past 125 years and where the University is headed for the future. At the breakfast,
the new USM logo will be officially introduced. The logo is hoped to offer
the need for better recognition of the University of Southern Maine. Plans
are underway for the 125th Home coming/Family Festival on September 19, 20,
and 21. Reception is on Saturday for Alumni and friends. The University Review
& Improvement Committee is scheduled to meet for the first time on July
10. The role of the committee it to: rethink, reconsider, and redesign. A
goal is to save $550,000 in year two of the budget. Attention will be paid
to focusing on core values and insuring their consistency when making these
budget changes. Pat Marston asked if a representative from the Library is
on the committee. Beth responded, saying that a representative from the Library
may be on the Academic Advisory Committee yet to be formed. Kathleen Pease
asked if a member of the Student Senate might also be on the committee.
V. Executive Committee
Treasurer’s Report : Professional Senate Luncheon cost $1047.00. June
expenses totaled $74.95. Year end balance is $228.43. To date, budget for
2004 is unknown.
Communications:
Senators’ bios need to be submitted to Becky Hodges for production on
the web. Bios are to be available and on record. Archived files still need
to be obtained.
VI. Committee Reports/Updates
Elections Committee:
Colleen White’s resignation left an At Large Senate seat to be filled.
The election committee reviewed the list of people who ran in the last election
but did not obtain enough votes to get a seat. Kat Gowen was contacted and
agreed to fill the vacant seat. The senate voted in favor Kat Gowen filling
the seat.
Executive Committee: The Senate Bylaws indicate that the Executive Committee
of the Professional Staff Senate must be made of of 5-8 members with one representative
from each of the five voting divisions. Robin Day, Pat Marston, Becky Hodges
and Mark Menezes are on the executive committee as Chair, Treasurer, and Co-Secretaries.
Kathleen Pease and Anita Higgins volunteered to also be on the Executive Committee.
Bylaws Committee: Robin Day brought up two issues. Not all university departments
are truly represented by the current five divisions. The second issue is that
divisions are not equally represented. Divisions vary greatly in the number
of professional staff contained within each division. It may be necessary
to rewrite the bylaws to better reflect the number of professional staff in
each division. Dana will pull the Bylaws committee together.
VII. Senate Reports
a. Classified Staff: New Senators were welcomed at the last meeting. They will continue to meet on the third Wednesday each month from 2pm-4:30pm. Retreat is scheduled at the Stone House in Freeport.
b. Faculty: No report
c. Student: No report
VIII. Open Forum
2003-2004 Meetings: The senate voted in favor of meeting the first Wednesday of each month from 2-4pm. The bylaws state that meetings shall be scheduled on all campuses. Joyce questioned the cost effectiveness of meeting in Lewiston and Augusta. Virtual meetings were proposed by Tom Wood as an alternative. The Executive Committee will make a recommendation to the Senate about the meeting locations for 2003-04.
Awards Committees: Kathleen Bouchard called Robin to make sure HR reviews the loyalty award list for accuracy. Robin suggested the Emerging Professional Staff Award Committee is changed to the prior 2 recipients and 2 at large members instead of prior 3 recipients and 1 at large.
Space Committee: Jenny Nelson has served on the Space Planning Committee. It was asked whether there are or should be term limits for people serving on committees. The Senate would like to receive regular reports from staff who serve on such committees. The Bylaws committee was asked to look at term limits for committee appointments.
IX. Old Business
The senate received a request from the Professional Development program for $250 to support the Annual Professional Development day. It was agreed to postpone voting on this until September when the budget for 2003-04 is available.
X. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:30am.
Next Meeting is August 6, 2-4pm at 11 Baxter Boulevard, Portland
Reported by Mark Menezes, Co-Secretary
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