Staff Advisory Committee to the President
January 9, 2003, 1:30 p.m.
Members Present: Wanda Carpenter, Kathryn Choate, Sherild Jackson, Nancy Jared, Dianne Klein, Shelia McNeal, Gina Padgett, David Walker, Debra Walker
Others Present: President Robert Bell, Paul Crouch, Sue Pogue, Terri Watson
President’s Comments
President Bell reported that Tech received ratification of elimination of the low producing programs as recommended to TBR. Tech phased out fewer programs than any other university in the state in the mandated review process.
Awards
Tech was the recipient of the first "Spirit of Geier" award presented at the December Tennessee Board of Regents meeting. President Bell commended the personnel responsible for making this award possible for Tech.
Also at the December TBR meeting, Mr. Harry Stonecipher, 1960 TTU physics graduate and recently retired Boeing Company president and vice chairman, received the first award for "Excellence in Philanthropy." Mr. Stonecipher did an excellent job representing Tennessee Tech at the meeting.
Ambassadors
Congratulations to the following Tech Ambassadors:
December 2002, Dr. Eston Evans, professor in Foreign
Languages Department
January 2003, Ms. Wanda Maxwell, secretary in the Chemistry Department
Retirements
President Bell recognized the following University retirees:
Ms. Peggy Cooper, Counseling and Psychology, December 2002
Ms. Judy Gann, Office of Teacher Education, January 2003
Ms. Betty Hunter, Financial Aid, December 2002
Mr. Bobby Langley, Decision Sciences and Management, December 2002
Mr. Rick Maxwell, Civil and Environmental Engineering, January 2003
Ms. Judy Stafford, Post Office, January 2003
Alumni Satisfaction Survey
The results of TTU’s recent alumni survey on the level of alumni satisfaction and academic experience may translate to greater state funding for TTU. The state’s nine four-year public universities can earn up to 5.45 percent over their annual operating budgets through THEC’s Performance Funding program. On a four-point scale, TTU alumni ranked their overall college experience at 3.24; the state average was 3.12.
Online Calendar System
The newest feature on tntech.edu is a comprehensive calendar system that allows users to see everything on campus in one location, and to tailor the information to their own interests or needs. This system brings all University scheduling together and should help resolve future scheduling conflicts.
Campus and
University officials are launching a campaign to increase awareness of safety issues and pedestrian responsibilities also.
Town Hall Meeting
On Saturday, January 11, 6-7 p.m., Tennessee Tech will host key figures of the state’s lottery task force in the Derryberry Hall Auditorium. To be held on the weekend before the state legislature reconvenes on January 14, the town hall meeting format will allow audience members to ask questions and will offer an opportunity for panel members to discuss issues. The discussion will be broadcast live to the mid-state by Channel 4. State lottery task force member and President Emeritus, Angelo Volpe; Executive Director of the THEC, Richard Rhoda; and other state leaders will speak to an audience of about 800.
New Year, New State Leader
Governor-elect Bredesen has surfaced many ideas to
get
Question Review
The following represents questions/suggestions received in the suggestion boxes:
Question—Why didn’t the University issue a memorandum with reference to how the equity raises were calculated? The last time an equity raise was given, a memo was issued prior to the payday.
Response—During the development of the clerical and support equity model, the staff advisory committee made information available to employees about the process and the model. As the equity increases given followed the model precisely, it was felt that there was no need to send an explanatory memo.
Question—Where there are raises to be given out, why can’t the C & S staff receive the larger of the percentages, rather than the lowest percentage? After all, when a C & S staff receives a 3% pay raise versus a faculty or AP member’s raise, the raise differential is quite considerable in the paychecks. We deserve to be compensated for our service to the University. We get no recognition for our years of service in our paychecks. "Commensurate with qualifications and experience" doesn’t even come into consideration when we apply for positions on campus. When one of us gets a promotion, our prior years of service are ignored, with respect to our salary – we just get the bottom of the scale. This is really sad that C & S staff are thought of with such low regard.
Response—Clerical and support staff did not receive the lowest percentage. In fact, historically it has not been uncommon for C & S personnel to receive the highest percentage. During the recent equity adjustments, the equity pool for all categories of employees was based on the same average percentage for all groups. This is also true of the across-the-board increases occurring this month. Years of service is a factor in all the equity models. Additionally, longevity pay also recognizes and rewards years of service. When a clerical and support person receives a promotion, he/she receives a salary increase to the start step of the new position or 5%, whichever is greater. The alternative 5% recognizes that employees may have increased their salary in their previous positions
such that they already exceed the start step in the new grade, and therefore, they are not required to start at the start step. Clerical and support employees are an important part of the success of the university and as such, they are certainly not thought of with low regard.
Question—Can the University somehow protect the clerical and supporting staff’s salary with respect to the rising health care premiums? In the pamphlet we received at home from the Division of Insurance Administration, there was an article stating that our premiums will continue to rise and our coverage decrease (reduction of benefits), which means a higher co-pay and out-of-pocket expenses. My question: "Is it possible to have the employees (Administrative and Faculty) on campus, who earn way more than we
(C & S) do, pay a higher premium to offset ours?" It’s not really fair that when the University gives us a pay raise that it coincides with a rise in our health care premiums. We appreciate the raise to offset the rise in health care premiums, but there really isn’t much of a raise to see. If I get a raise, I would like to see a raise.
Response—Health care coverage and health care premiums are determined
by personnel in the Division of Insurance Administration in
The meeting adjourned at 2 p.m.
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Last Updated: March 09, 2004
For more information, contact TWatson@tntech.edu
