Meeting of the
University of Alaska
System Governance Council
Thursday, April 1, 1999
2:30pm - 4:30pm
via audioconference
Draft Minutes
1. Call to order and roll call
Patti Thorne called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm.
Members Present
Patti Thorne, Interim Chair; Vice President, UAA Assembly
Janet Dye, Chair, UAS Faculty Council
Shannon Christensen, President-elect, UAF Staff Council; Chair, Staff Alliance
M. Hilary Davies, President, UAA Assembly
Josh Horst, President, United Students of UAS-Juneau
Stacey Banks for Jean Richardson, President, Associated Students of UAF
Betty Dupee, President, Statewide Administration Assembly
Others present
Pat Ivey, Executive Officer
Members Absent
Rob Fitch, President, Kodiak College Student Association
Ron Gatterdam, President-elect, UAF Faculty Senate
Tish Griffin, President, UAS Staff Council
Josh Hunter, President, Union of Students of UAA
2. Adopt agenda
MOTION: Moved by Christensen, seconded by Davies, passed without objection
"The University of Alaska System Governance Council hereby adopts the agenda for its April 1, 1999 meeting as amended. This action is effective April 1, 1999."
3. Approve February 25, 1999, minutes
MOTION: Moved by Davies, seconded by Christensen, passed without objection
"The University of Alaska System Governance Council hereby approves the minutes for February 25, 1999 meeting. This action is effective April 1, 1999."
President Hamilton hoped people would not get down over the recent events in the subcommittee and larger caucus; that their actions validated the university's need at $16.3 million. It should be considered a real victory.
The fight will end up being in the full finance committee. We now need a call to action; we need cards and letters to those who influence this process. Make an investment in Alaska's future: that has really got to be our message. Legislators are getting tired of hearing just President say it, we need more voices out there in legislative ears and on desks and answering machines and so forth. We're in a really good position to pull this thing off.
We haven't lost anything; we've won a very powerful validation that the university has asked for the appropriate amount of money. Go Pres! Was the response.
5. Old Business
5.1 Education benefits for retirees
One concern was a definition of retirement status. What does space available basis mean and who is going to monitor that? Is the benefit retroactive to those who have already retired? Does this mean retirement just from the U of Alaska or from any PERS/TERS employer? Does this require continuous or cumulative service for fifteen years? It should be cumulative service, not continuous.
5.2 Other old business
There was no other old business.
6. New business
6.1 Make Students Count award
The president sent out a news release this morning. The Staff Alliance has been promoting the nomination process.
Staff governance groups at the campuses were reminded to have students involved in reviewing nominations. please make sure that you have students involved in the process. Shannon Christensen passed out buttons and nomination forms to UAF administrators gathered here recently. Other packets of information were sent to extended campuses.
The President made reference to his award during his state of the university address in Fairbanks.
The UAF Staff Council plans to send all nominations forward with recommendations on its top three choices for the president to decide. All nominations should go forward.
6.2 Other new business
There was no other new business.
7. Legislative Update
Details of what happened in the finance subcommittee were published in newspaper articles. The House Finance subcommittee wanted to give the university subcommittee $5.6 million increment in the general fund operating budget. The House Finance Chair, Eldon Mulder, appointed himself to be a part of the university finance subcommittee and as a result, the budget was passed out of the finance subcommittee with no new general fund dollars for the university.
The House Finance Committee will be taking testimony on the overall state budget. Individuals will get one minute; groups of five or more will receive three minutes. This is a wonderful time to go down to the Legislative Information Office and voice your support for the university. Postcards and letters are also very effective.
A letter from the president and a publication on the state budget is being distributed by University Relations to UA supporters. We feel that the public generally supports the university. Legislators need to hear from UA supporters.
The Senate Finance Committee will start their close-outs on April 5, 1999.
8. Governance Reports
8.1 Faculty Alliance
The Faculty Alliance failed to meet due to lack of a quorum. The Alliance is considering the Student Organizations Policy recommendations.
8.2 Staff Alliance
The Staff Alliance has been working on the grievance and health benefits issues. There will be a Staff Alliance retreat in Juneau on April 13-15. They will be helping out with "University Week." The Make Students Count Award has been a big project.
8.3 Coalition of Student Leaders
The Coalition is working on the Student Organizations Policy. A final draft hasn't been sent to the coalition yet. A question remains as to whether or not it will be approved at the upcoming board meeting or not.
The U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear a Wisconsin case that covers issues regarding student fees. The Student Dispute Resolution Regulation has had some changes that need to be reviewed also.
7.4 UAA governance groups
The UAA Classified and APT Councils had joint meetings recently. They discussed some major projects, such as adopting Goose Lake Park, clean up the street through campus, and to participate in an UAA end-of-the-year picnic.
9. Other items of concern
There were no items of concern.
10. Comments
There were no comments.
11. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:30 pm.