Wright State University Staff Council Minutes

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The WSU Staff Council met on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, at 2:30 pm, in Room 267 University Hall.

Present: Council Members: Mendy Beverly, Barbara Bullock, Linda Dunbar, Diane Hamilton, Joanie Hendrix (new CSAC Chair-elect) Fran Keeley, Greg Kojola, Jill Oroszi, and Micki Stamps

Others: Bill Rickert

1.     WSU Budget

Bill Rickert spoke about the budget, since Keith Ralston, Associate Vice President for Budget Planning & Resource Analysis, could not attend the meeting.  He said the State of Ohio is deciding how much of the budget will go to the state universities.  The universities were asked to postpone finalizing their 2007-08 budgets until the decision was made.

 

Bill said that WSU will have a 3% raise pool for staff, which amounts to 1.75% merit plus 1.25% across-the-board.  Bargaining unit faculty members will receive 1.5% salary increase across-the-board plus 1.5% merit.

 

Bill Rickert, then briefly went over the budget presentation that was given to the Board of Trustees and deans by Matt Filipic, Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs.  He said that education affects income.  Ohio has a deficit of college graduates, and the average income in Ohio has been going down.  In 1980, for every dollar of tuition, the State contributed $2.14.  Now for every dollar, the State contributes $.64. 

 

The new Governor, Ted Strickland, proposed a 5% increase in funds to state universities in the first year of the biennium; while tuition was to remain unchanged.  In the second year, there would be another 2% increase in state funds; while tuition could be increased by 3%. 

 

Bill also said that Anthem premiums will be going up for 2008, but WSU benefits remain strong and at a reasonable cost.

 

Bill summarized that the budget presentation showed real signs of hope for increased help from the State.  He also said that the state will expect the university to be even more efficient, and we will be looking for efficiencies.  There is a State mandate that each vice president and dean is to show ways to be more efficient and show savings by adding value for the dollars we have, not by cutting spending. 

2.  Civil Service Reform

We are expected to hear more this summer about the changes to the Ohio Revised Code for classified staff.  Fundamental protections will not be changing.

3.  Agenda Items

 

Bill asked for suggestions for agenda items for Staff Council meetings in 2007-08: 

• more time off – bereavement, week between Christmas and New Year, converting sick leave to personal days, combining sick and vacation leave for paid time off, and short term disability. 
• staff development release time. 

4.  Updates

A.  The summary of the Classified Survey results should be available shortly. 

B.  Human Resources has hired a Director for Organizational Development and Learning, who will start on July 1, 2007. 

      His name is Albert Bondurant, and he will be invited to a Staff Council meeting next year.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 pm.  The next meeting of the WSU Staff Council will be on Wednesday, June 13, 2007.  The agenda will include updated budget information and a wrap-up of 2006-07.