ADVISORY COUNCIL OF CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

Minutes of Meeting

June 20, 2002

West Virginia State College

Institute, West Virginia

The Advisory Council of Classified Employees met at 10:12 a.m., Thursday, June 20, 2002 in Sullivan Hall - Room 115 at West Virginia State College, Institute, WV.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

MEMBERS ABSENT

GUESTS:

Representatives from West Virginia State College: Patricia D. Kline, Lillian White and James R. Buchanan.

The Chair, Ms. Pitzer, called the meeting to order and welcomed representatives from West Virginia State College to the meeting.

Approval of Minutes: The April, May and June 2002 minutes will be distributed to ACCE members via the list-serve for approval in order to save time for the discussion of agenda items.

Liaison Report: In the absence of Ms. Buttrick due to June 20 being a state holiday, no report was given.

Review of Institutional Performance Evaluations:Copies of annual evaluation forms for classified employees were distributed for Concord College, Fairmont State College, Marshall University (including the Marshall University Graduate College), Potomac State College, Southern WV Community & Technical College, West Virginia University, WV Northern Community College, WV State College, West Liberty State College, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, and the WV Higher Education Policy Commission. There was much discussion concerning the merits, or lack thereof, of the various forms and what ACCE members would like to see in the evaluation of classified employees as well as what defines merit and unmeritorious service. Ms. Pitzer encouraged each ACCE member to go back to their respective campuses and talk with their Staff Councils and Presidents concerning the concept of merit and to report back at the July 30 - 31, 2002 ACCE meeting along with at least three ideas on how to define and implement a policy on merit. The Benefits committee (consisting of Harper Grimm, Betsy Crouch, Lisa Reel, and Valeria Barfield) was assigned the task of coordinating an official statement on merit for ACCE approval.

ACCE Retreat: The Advisory Councils annual retreat is scheduled to be held July 30 - 31, 2002 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Heritage Farm and Museum, Huntington, WV. Ms. Neal will send information regarding the Heritage Farm to everyone next week.

Dialogue with Chancellor Mullen: Chancellor Mullen addressed the group concerning areas of interest to classified employees. Ms. Pitzer told him of our discussion concerning institutional performance evaluations and our concerns about the lack of uniformity, the fact that not every campus makes annual evaluations mandatory, evaluations not necessarily being linked to an employees PIQ, the need for training for supervisors and employees in completing evaluations, etc.

With regard to the salary schedule, the ACCE is concerned about the lack of uniformity in funding of the schedule. The Chancellor indicated that there needs to be a way to keep the salary schedule up-to-date so that institutions do not always have to play catch-up. He indicated that between now and the 2003 Legislative session, that there needs to be discussion concerning the following salary issues:

1. Cost of living adjustments to the salary schedule.
2. Movement on the schedule to allow for merit based on performance evaluations.
3. Adjustments necessary in order to keep the salary schedule current.
4. Definition of basis for movement on the salary schedule.

The Chancellor indicated that approximately 20 - 25% of all classified employees statewide may be retiring within the next five years and we should keep this in mind as well as the fact that FY 2004 the state of West Virginia is anticipating a shortfall in revenue for state government, mostly due to increasing health care costs, BRIM payments, and commitments made within the past couple of years.

Salary Implementation Plans FY 2003: While most Institutional Governing Boards have approved of any salary increases FY 2003, some still have not. Some institutions are giving raises effective July 1, 2002 while some will not occur until October 1, 2002. The ACCE is concerned how varying plans can be considered to be fair and equitable to classified employees on a state-wide basis.

Video Conference: The ACCE is sponsoring a video conference on issues concerning classified employees scheduled to be held August 1, 2002 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Marshall University will be the host site for the video conference. Four different letters of invitation to panelists were distributed for the ACCEs review and comment. Mr. Martinelli will prepare letter two, with minor adjustments, on behalf of the ACCE for mailing June 21, 2002. Responses are requested by July 8, 2002.

A committee consisting of Zac Wycherley, Fred Hardee, Betsy Crouch, Jenny Fertig, and Lisa Reel is working on questions for panel members. Sandy Shriver and Debi Cruse are working on promotional materials for the video conference which will be distributed by each ACCE member on their respective campuses.

WVNET Reorganization: Mr. Grimm addressed the issue of the HEPCs agenda item concerning reorganization at WVNET. It is anticipated that four employees will be taking advantage of a severance plan that was approved by the Joint Committee on Pensions and Retirement on May 21, 2002. The reorganization will result in a number of services being discontinued to include all mainframe services, training and the training lab, grants, and various support systems. The discontinuance of these services will have a direct effect on some of the smaller institutions.

Announcements: Ms. Pitzer requested that agenda items for the retreat be emailed to her at pitzer@concord.edu.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 3:32 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

STEPHANIE A. NEAL
SECRETARY

AMY PITZER
CHAIR