Butler University Staff Assembly Meeting

Minutes – Wednesday, December 19, 2007 – GH108

(Attendance – approximately 140)

Andy Ryan, chair, called the Staff Assembly meeting to order and welcomed everyone in attendance.

Guest Speakers                                                                                                                                       

Dr. Bobby Fong, President, Butler University, talked about the following: 

• We are 350 – 400 admission applications ahead of this time last year.
• Butler has been of ahead of Indiana University the last two years in having Lilly Scholars.
• Ground breaking for the new addition to the Pharmacy & Health Science Building should happen during spring break.  The new facility is planned to open in the fall, 2009.
• We have just gone over the $125 million goal for the Butler Rising campaign; however, the individual buckets are not all full.

Dr. Fong answered questions that had been submitted prior to the meeting:

• It is too difficult to separate fees for the aquatic center.  There is to be a $200 stipend in benefits for Butler employees participating in the Healthy Horizon program.
• Walking groups cannot use work time for this activity.
• There is not an early retirement incentive plan for staff.  This relates only to tenure faculty and used primarily for a university to rejuvenate its faculty with younger and/or new faculty.
• The staff should know the new classifications and salary changes by the end of January with there being no freezing or reduction of staff salaries.
• Conference & Event Services is looking into different venues, along with the Children’s Museum, for next year’s Holiday Party.  Since the last party held in the West Gym of Hinkle Fieldhouse to this year’s party, the attendance has risen from 750 to 1667.
• It may be timely to revisit the possibility of making Butler a smoke-free campus.

Dr. Fong then took questions from the audience.

Jennifer Griggs, Co-convener of Women’s History Month, asked for volunteers to help with some activities being planned for during March such as bulletin board displays and various awareness projects.  If anyone is interested in helping, they should contact Jennifer at jgriggs@butler.edu.

 Committee Reports                                                                                                                                              

Activities & Socials – Cheryl Jensen encouraged everyone to take items from the DVD/CD/Magazine Swap after the meeting.  There will be a Game Interest meeting on January 15, 12:00noon – 1:00 p.m. in JH046.  The Travel Network on February 21^st will feature Africa presented by Joe Lamberti.  A digital camera workshop is being planned for the spring semester along with the start of the softball league.

Communications – Jo Wagoner related that a lot of what this committee is doing relates to the other committees.  A couple of new suggestion boxes are being installed on campus.  A newsletter will soon be going up on the Staff Assembly website.

Employment Affairs – Greg Sharer announced there are two vacancies open on the committee. They have been looking at several items from the Gender Equity Commission. Campus Sweep is scheduled for April 29, 2008.

Faculty Relations – Bob Marcus told the Assembly “Who’s THAT?” is now posted on the HUB under Forums.  They are also in need of a new committee member.  He encouraged Staff to attend the Faculty Brown Bag luncheons.

Staff Development – Marc Hardy informed everyone that Connie Hindman will be the new convener for this committee.  He also encouraged anyone who would be interested in conducting a workshop to contact either Connie or him.

Staff Assembly Minutes                                                                                Page 2                                                    December 19, 2007

New Business                                                                                                                                                          

Andy announced a staff survey will be rolled out the second week of January.  He publicly thanked all those who were involved in making the Holiday Party such an enjoyable evening.  Ryan also reported the Executive Committee is working on some changes on the Bylaws and a resolution will be presented to the Assembly at the January meeting.

New staff members were introduced and welcomed to Butler.  Door prize drawings were held at the conclusion of the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

                                                                                                         Mary Ellen Weitekamp

                                                                                                         Secretary/Treasurer