Advisory Council of Classified Employees

Minutes of ACCE Meeting

October 25, 2007

West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Parkersburg, West Virginia

ATTENDANCE

Members in attendance:

 Robert A “Zac” Wycherley, West Virginia Northern Community College

 Amy Pitzer, Concord University

 Robert E. Long, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

 Fred Hardee, Bluefield State College

 Ellen Moore, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

 Larry Bloom, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College

 Mary Alltop, Glenville State College

 Lisa Penix, Marshall Community and Technical College

 Mike Dunn, Marshall University

 Mary M. Igo, New River Community and Technical College

 Beverly Jones, Pierpont Community and Technical College of Fairmont State University

 Deborah Cruse, Potomac State College of West Virginia University

 Kenneth Harbaugh, Shepherd University

 Verne Britton, West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing (WVNET)

 Lee Ann Porterfield, West Virginia State Community and Technical College

 William Porterfield, West Virginia State University

 Timothy Beardsley, West Virginia University at Parkersburg

 Sid Cooper, West Virginia University Institute of Technology

 

Excused:

 Mary Ann Edwards, West Liberty State College

 Evonne Masters, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

 Paul Martinelli, West Virginia University

 Johnna Beane, West Virginia University Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center Charleston Division

 

Unexcused:

 Cathy Stevenson, Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology

 Janene Seacrist, Council for Community and Technical College Education

 Harmony Hutchinson, Fairmont State University J. Christopher Gray, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College

Guests:

 Violet Mosser, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Board of Advisors Representative

 Rodney Parker, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Staff Council Chair

CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson, Mr. Robert A. “Zac” Wycherley from West Virginia Northern Community College, convened the meeting at 9:12 am. Mr. Wycherley introduced Mr. Timothy Beardsley, ACCE representative from West Virginia University at Parkersburg who introduced Mr. Rodney Parker, Chair of Staff Council at the institution and Ms. Violet Mosser, Board of Advisors representative for classified employees at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Mr. Wycherley requested individual ACCE representatives introduce themselves to the two guests.

APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER MINUTES

 Mr. Robert E. Long, Secretary from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, distributed copies of the draft minutes from the September meeting that was held at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He reported that the draft minutes had initially been distributed via the ACCE LISTSERV on October 18th and the current draft reflected suggested changes that had been received. Ms. Amy Pitzer from Concord University made a motion to accept the minutes. Mr. Fred Hardee from Bluefield State College seconded the motion.

 MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CAMPUS CONCERNS

 The new grievance process was mentioned. Ms. Pitzer reported that she had filed a grievance and had received a docket number from the Grievance Board. Mr. Wycherley reported that he had submitted an appeal to Level II but had as yet received no reply from the Grievance Board.

 Mr. Kenneth Harbaugh from Shepherd University reported that supervisor training had been conducted at his institution and that it was his opinion that the training had been a success. He also distributed copies of of a booklet that contained the members of several important committees of both houses of the legislature. The committees were the Education Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Constitutional Revision Committee/Government Organization Committee. Finally, he mentioned a report “Transforming Higher Education National Imperative-State Responsibility” issued by the National Conference of State Legislatures Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education. Senator Robert Plymale, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, is a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission.

The lack of training for members appointed to Boards of Governors continues to be a major concern of the ACCE membership. Mr. Mike Dunn from Marshall University reported that Staff Council is considering the issue of PEIA insurance for retirees. He also addressed an issue involving required overtime for certain classified employees. Mr. Long reported on an issue at HEPC that related to the hiring of a temporary employee when there was an employee on the recall list. Ms. Pitzer addressed the issue of advertising a position with the same duties as the current position and then modifying the duties once the position is filled to enable an upgrade to occur. Implications for current employees are such employees are being denied upward mobility.

OLD BUSINESS

 Mr. Harbaugh raised the issue of the approval of the higher education Master Plan 2007-2112. Ms. Pitzer responded by stating she thought the HEPC Board had approved the Master Plan. Assuming such approval has taken place Mr. Harbaugh expressed grave concerns over the Plan’s failure to incorporate any reference to either classified employees or the Personnel Study. Ms. Pitzer reinforced that position by expressing her frustration over the lack of recognition and support of the Personnel Study.

 Mr. Long updated the members on his presentation of the proposed Grant Program changes to Staff Council at West Virginia University. He stated that both Mr. Terry Nebel, Chair of the Staff Council and Mr. David Kirkpatrick, West Virginia University Student Body President, had sent complimentary remarks on the presentation. In addition, Mr. Andrew Lohmann, Public Relations Specialist at the West Virginia University News and Information Services wrote an article on the presentation to be placed in the campus newspaper, Mountaineer Spirit.

 Mr. Wycherley reported on the Personnel Study update presentation that was given by Mr. Dennis Taylor, Vice Chancellor for Administration at HEPC/CCTCE to the Joint Committee on Education, Subcommittee B Higher Education. He stated that Mr. Taylor emphasized to the legislative members and their staffs that the various committees that had been formed were all inclusive-made up of classified and non- classified personnel. Mr. Taylor also reported the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the market study is near finalization for issuance.

NEW BUSINESS

 Ms. Mary Alltop from Glenville State College reported on lodging for the November meeting of the HEPC Board at Glenville State College. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 30th with ACCE meeting the day before. She stated only ten (10) rooms, four (4) smoking and six (6) non-smoking remain at the Best Western which is located within a few miles of Glenville. In calling indicate group 53.

WORK SESSION FOR CCTCE PRESENTATION

 ACCE members began the process of reviewing and updating the material to be presented on the next day to the CCTCE Board. There being no further business to come before the members Ms. Deborah Cruse from Potomac State College of West Virginia University made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Timothy Beardsley from West Virginia University at Parkersburg seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 3:12 pm. While the formal part of the meeting ended, many members remained to finalize the ACCE presentation to the presented during the CCTCE Board meeting on the next day.

 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

Robert E. Long, Secretary

 APPROVED MINUTES ON NOVEMBER 29, 2007