Classified Senate Meeting Minutes • February 20, 2020 Call to Order Jacob Jakuszeit, Chair of Classified Senate, called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM on February 20, 2020. Roll Call Classified Senate Members in Attendance: Angie Brock, Tina Brucker, Pat Bungard, Tyler Bump, Virginia Ferrell, Jeff Fulk, Heather Gould, Jacob Jakuszeit, Marilyn Maher, Theresa Meyer, Melanie Quolke, Teresa Smith Classified Senate Members Present via Webex: Dave Jezewski Classified Senate Members Absent: Amanda Graham Guests in Person: Jalyn Bolyard, Megan Collins, Dylan Thompson Guests via Webex: Nickie Bailes, Adam Grimm, Kalan Greiner, Pam Harvey, Carrie Linscott, Noel Payne, Susie Pitts, Allison Weber, Tammy (no last name given) Secretary Report – Marilyn Maher . The January minutes were approved and posted to the website . Please send committee reports to Marilyn if you have not yet done so Treasurer Report – Theresa Meyer . The February report was reviewed . There is an unknown postcard stamp charge that Theresa will try to get more information about Chair Report – Jacob Jakuszeit . Jacob reviewed the points of the letter that was crafted by the Senate Executive Committee and delivered to President Nellis and Jennifer Kirksey on February 13 o Jacob is waiting to hear from Jennifer about when Senate will get a response from Dr. Nellis to the letter o Dr. Nellis is scheduled to attend the May Senate meeting o The updated letter and enclosures are attached to the end of the minutes . Jacob and Melanie met with Colleen Bendl on February 11 o They asked for an update on the status of the Leave Donation Policy There will be no changes to the proposed policy other than edits to grammar typos HR is waiting to implement the policy until policies 40.029 and 40.030 are addressed, to avoid a potential “windfall” Administrators lost 21,000 hours of vacation time from FY 19 to FY 20 Jacob reviewed the background of the Leave Donation Policy Heather asked about the processes involved in the policy • Jacob indicated that processes are intentionally left out of policies by HR Virginia asked, what are the benefits and drawbacks of being able to donate to an individual versus a bank? • Jacob reviewed the benefits and drawbacks of both aspects Pat asked if the policy is just for Classified employees, or if it is also for administrators and faculty • Jacob indicated that anyone who is eligible to accrue vacation and sick leave is eligible to participate • HR claims it is an administrative burden to have separate pools by classification Theresa commented that policies at other universities in Ohio require employees to have “donated time” to be eligible to “receive time” Senate gave comments on the policy because we are reviewers on the policy o Jacob and Melanie asked Colleen about employees signing up for online courses The supervisor should not be required to approve these courses Colleen indicated that HR does not have a mechanism to track this As a side note, Jacob commented that HR also does not have a mechanism to track performance management ratings from last year Jacob emphasized that employees should reach out to Senate or to their HR Liaison if the employee’s supervisor will not sign off on online classes Virginia asked about educational benefits being changed . Heather reviewed the BAC discussion last Fall o 5 year Market Study – HR will not call it “Comp 2019” – went to Total Compensation Committee for final approval They will review the results of the study . Transportation and Parking Committee – nominees sent to President’s Office o Marilyn was invited to serve on the committee for 3 years and accepted the invitation Committee Reports Classified Senate Committees Policy and Procedures Committee – Amanda Graham (Chair) . Jacob and Melanie gave the report . Working on handbook with HR . Need to revisit bylaws Professional Development and Relations Committee – Jeff Fulk (Chair) . Customer Service Workshop was February 11th o The workshop had 25 attendees. Robin Ambrozy was the presenter . Employee positive note update: o We have the new positive notes and magnets. They should be ready to go out this month. We are finalizing details with mail services . Start planning meet and greet by planning unit or college o We are sending out an email to a couple of small departments to gather information about their preferences for a meet and greet. To determine date, time, location. We are planning to hold the first small meet and greet in early March . Newsletter o The committee is meeting next week to work on the newsletter Scholarship Sales and Recognition Committee – Pat Bungard (Chair) . Valentine’s Sales o 1 bobcat, 2 totes, 3 pint glasses, 7 pairs of earrings . Next planned sale is Mom’s Weekend, then Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement . Met today (February 20) to do inventory . Jacob emphasized the need for members to participate in sales . EOTM o One pending nomination o Flyer will go out soon as well as digital ad in Baker o Need nominations Ohio University Standing Committees Committee on Committees – Jacob Jakuszeit . Have not met Diversity and Inclusion Committee – Pat Bungard and Janet Russell . Have not met Intercollegiate Athletics Committee – Jacob Jakuszeit . Rich Franchak, Chief Financial Officer/Senior Associate Athletic Director gave a financial overview of the Department of Athletics. The PowerPoint is attached to the end of the minutes. Kennedy/Frontiers in Science Lecture Committee – Sharon Romina . No update provided University Library Committee – Jeff Fulk . Have not met Post Publishing Board – Theresa Meyer . Met on January 30. Attending: Hans Meyer, Theresa Meyer, Andrea Lewis, Chelsa Moran, Ellen Wagner . Follow up from last meeting o None . Business Manager’s Report: Andrea Lewis o Post Financials (see attached report) The numbers the board reviewed included what will be billed the first of February to accurately reflect all gains in January The Post has a net deficit of $16,373.82; however, last year at this time, the Post had a deficit of $22,395. Also remember this deficit includes a carryover from last year of $12,894.53. This means without the deficit the Post would break even before Spring Break. Andrea said she remains confident the Post will post a profit of $1,030 by the end of the semester. This includes other expenses not posted last year as well, so the Post is in good financial condition. New businesses signed to contracts are Papa John’s and Hilltop Gun Club. o Advertising / Marketing efforts o Staffing 2 New employees. 1 is continuing. Editor’s Report: Ellen Wagner o Digital Traffic (see report) Anytime David Dobrik is in the news, the Post sees a huge increase in the numbers of people viewing its blog post about him from Oct. 2018. The Salary Guide continues to draw large numbers. The Post’s coverage of Joe Burrow has also received a lot of visits and attention. Other top performing stories include a report on a man masturbating in the library and the culture story about the school’s party reputation falling o Staffing Hired new longform editor. She is working to get more production from the senior writers. Only one story has been turned in so far. Noah Wright has joined the staff as the new assistant opinion editor. The opinion staff is now editing 16 regular columns each week. o Goals, challenges, plans The diversity team held its first meeting. More and more people are getting involved. They plan to have a separate week ahead meeting looking just at diversity. The Post has started a TikTok account. This will be more of a fun thing they will integrate with Facebook. Plans for the alumni reunion are getting set. Ellen was not sure who the keynote speaker will be, but there will be a sports panel on Friday of Post alumni, a Happy Hour at Uncorked and Newsroom in the Morning, where alums can talk with students about jobs and internships. The Post is also starting a mentorship program with alumni. Board Charge: o Next year’s editor Only one person applied to be editor next year. The board reviewed her resume and cover letter and decided to invite her to speak at the next board meeting. While there were some concerns only one person applied, Ellen assured the board she is a good candidate. The lack of applications is probably because the newsroom does not have a lot of juniors right now, but has plenty of sophomores and freshman to ensure the Post’s future. This year’s news editors have also asked if they can stay on another year. The Post also has a recruitment plan in place with the School of Visual Communications to try to find more coders and designers. All of the current designers are graduating. o Membership We haven’t heard from the President’s Office about new members. I’ll bug them again o Critiques of journalistic quality and specific content Keep up budget coverage Ellen deserves congratulations for being so willing and helpful in submitting Post content to contests. Board member news/announcements/questions . Future meeting dates/times are Feb. 27, March 26, April 23 at 4 p.m. Sorority and Fraternity Life Committee – Vacant Sustainability Committee – Heather Gould . Heather accepted a 3-year term on the Sustainability Committee . They meet twice a year and the next meeting is March 16 Transportation and Parking Committee – Marilyn Maher . Have not yet met Ohio University Ad Hoc Committees and Councils Benefits Advisory Council – Heather Gould . Our most recent meetings have been cancelled but a select group of us are participating in the RFP finalists for health insurance. The medical portion has been scheduled with Medical Mutual, Anthem BCBS and United HealthCare for 2/24 & 2/25.