10.1.20 Meeting Minutes

by | Nov 6, 2020 | 2020, Minutes

ACU Staff Senate Agenda, Thursday, October 1, 2020, 9-10 a.m.

Samantha Adkins, Tyson Alexander, Sheila Barton, Lauren Boyles, Arthur Brandt, Amber Bunton, Caddie Coupe, Crystal Cox, Scott Delony, Cara Flanders, Karen Gililland, Susan Hardcastle, Krista Heath,  Randy Motz, Deborah Niccum, Sherita Nickerson, David Scott, James Scudder, Tamaria Tuttle, Titus Vesel 

  • Call to Order 9:05am
  • Welcome new member Krista Heath (replaced Cory Driskill)
  • Prayer – Titus Vesel 
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Titus Vesel and Tyson Alexander moved to approve
  • Old Business
    • Executive Committee –   Beginning in October, a new procedure will be in place for the Secretary to send the minutes to Sam Adkins and/or the Exec. Comm. to review before they are posted by Amber Bunton for the blog.
  • Committee Updates
    •  Nominations and Elections – Deborah Niccum, nothing new to report.
    • Communication – Krista Heath, new Senator, will join the communications committee to replace Sam Adkins, who will step out to be available as needed on other committees.
    • Benefits and Advocacy   – Karen Gililland asked if there are any suggestions                        
      • New tuition benefit for ACU Dallas
      • Retirement – Kevin Campbell sent an email explaining how the    University will be withholding employee’s retirement until Spring.  (see the excerpt below)
      • Comp & Class raises vs bonuses (see excerpt below from Kevin Campbell’s email)
      • Still some confusion as to the requirements for the wellness credits despite the frequent communication in the MyACU newsletter.  Crystal and Karen will meet to discuss any changes to benefits for the next meeting.
    •  Service – Crystal Cox, nothing new to report.
    • Development and Recognition – Arthur Brant, will be sending out an email today detailing the John C. Stevens award ceremony.
    • Goals for the year – Sam Adkins; as a committee, please be thinking about your goals for your committee this year.  Are there areas/items that we could improve for your committee?   Have this information ready to discuss at the next meeting. 
  • Guest speakers/groups for the year – Stephanie Hamm spoke last month and did a superb job.  What are some other topics/ideas that you would like to hear about?
    • Kelly Young, updates and timetable on the Allen Ridge project
    • Cory Ruff or Scott Duncan, updates on Campus construction and new projects.
    • Linda Bonnin and IT, to discuss the new ACU website being released in January 2021.
  • Thank you for cleaners- Thank you to HR for sending a gift (neck gaiter) to the cleaners across campus to say thank you for your time. Are there additional ways we could say thank you at the end of this semester?  Or the end of next semester?  Several ideas:
    • Nothing bundt cakes (small)
    • Small seasonal items? Food? Cost-effective?
    • What about the Christmas lunch at the Bean?  No decision has been made at this time if we are going to be able to have it this year.
    • Staff Senate has available funds to assist with HR in a project for the campus. 
  •  New Business
    •  Faculty/Staff Meeting – Most of the questions were answered well at both meetings. 
    • There was some confusion concerning the staff returning to campus following the Thanksgiving break.  Staff will be expected to return to campus with business as usual following the break. 
    • Raises and bonuses – see information above
  • SLT Updates
    • Final decisions are being made for the spring study abroad
    • Retirement – see information above and email below from Kevin Campbell
    • They are reviewing the policy in place for campaigning on campus
  • Announcements
    • Care Coordinators – They are still needing more people who are willing. For the most part, it is an easy process on this side of things.  Trying to keep people from getting burned out, but keep the students in touch with people on campus.
    • Steven’s Award presentation – Monday, Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. (Hunter Welcome Center Patio)
  •   Open forum for questions and comments:
    • Krista Heath – read through the bylaws, and had questions on when/how often are they updated.  What is our current process?Response:  Cara Flanders, Chair-elect will form an Ad Hoc committee that consists of herself, Krista Heath, and Titus Vesel to review the bylaws more thoroughly and recommend changes and updates.
    • (One suggestion was made earlier this year; that we look into the nomination process so that we can have more of an accurate cross section of staff across campus, with no more than 1 person from an area, building or department so that we can have a broad representation of staff by the elected Senators)
    • Sam advised that all reviews, changes, and updates be added to the current staff senate google drive so that it can be tracked and saved for future senates.
    • Tamaria Tuttle has taken the duty of sending the monthly cards.  As far as the Lipford family, it was noted to please send a sympathy card to Suzanne Allmon and the theater department.
  •   Homecoming
    • Be watching the MyACU newsletter for updates and family activities for Homecoming
    • The homecoming musical will be Cinderella and will be a movie.

Meeting adjourned at 10:03am   #DOYOURPART

 Sept 22nd email from Kevin Campbell

  Retirement match

 Earlier this year, ACU made the decision to cease employer retirement contributions for June – September 2020. The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) has decided that ACU will continue to withhold employer contributions through May. However, our desire and plan is to retroactively contribute the employer contribution for October 2020 – May 2021 at the end of the fiscal year, provided classes do not move online either later this fall or next spring. Moving online would require ACU to refund student room and board charges, impacting our ability to provide employer-matching retirement contributions.

 If we are able to retroactively contribute to the plan, the employer contribution will be made based on the employee’s contributions during the same time period. Therefore, to be eligible for the retroactive match, you must have contributed to the employee portion of the retirement plan during the period October 2020 to May 2021. Should you need to adjust your contribution, please complete this form.

 

 

Pay increases

All full, reduced and half-time staff who were employed prior to June 1, 2020, and have not received a raise in pay since June 1, 2020, will receive a one-time bonus on their October 30th paycheck. 

Faculty who have earned a promotion in rank will see those salary increases on the October 16 payroll. This increase will be retroactive to August 16.

Faculty who are receiving raise dollars will see that raise on the October 16 payroll, and it will be retroactive to August 16.

Faculty who are above their CUPA comparison will receive a one-time bonus on the October 16 payroll. 

Other universities have had to furlough or lay off employees, or reduce their pay; we are blessed not to be in that situation. We are glad enrollment was strong this fall, and we can provide additional pay to our faculty and staff. Without you, ACU could not fulfill its mission, and we would not have been able to open so successfully this fall.

We appreciate your daily contributions and, while we wish we could do more for you this year, we hope these increases will benefit you and your family during this challenging and unexpected season.