IFO Board of Directors Minutes

September 14-15, 2006                                             SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

Roseville Radisson

 

Present: Steve Bohnenblust, Mike Ruth, Wayne Alexander, Cindy Phillips, Mary Kesler, Cindy Killion, Kerry Williams, David Bouchard, Tricia Young, Jayantha Herath, Andrew Larkin, Vicky Brockman, Annette Schoenberger, Georgia Holmes, Roger Severns, Derek Webb, Elizabeth Dunn, Jauneth Skinner, Fred Hill, Valerie Geaither, George Seldat

 

Also Present:  Cindy Finch, Debra Japp (part of Thursday and part of Friday), Russ Stanton (part of Thursday), Pat Arseneault (part of Thursday and Friday), and Donna Blake (Friday only)

 

Called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Steve Bohnenblust.  For the first hour of the meeting Nancy Black was at the hospital tending to one of the negotiators who became ill.

 

Additional Agenda Items:

“The MnSCU Fan Club” was added to the agenda.

 

One university FA bought some fixed assets according to the summer EC minutes and he needs clarification.

 

Approval of the Agenda:

Carried

 

Board Introductions:

We have nine new Board members this year including: Kerry Williams (Winona), David Bouchard (Metro), Tricia Young (Mankato), Vicky Brockman (Southwest), Roger Severns (Mankato), Jauneth Skinner (Bemidji), Elizabeth Dunn (Bemidji), Valerie Geaither (Metro), and Fred Hill (St. Cloud).

 

Election of IFO Officers:

Annette Schoenberger resigned from her role as the IFO Treasurer.  The Executive Committee recommended the following individuals for Board approval:  VP (Cindy Phillips), Secretary (Elizabeth Dunn) and Treasurer (Cathy Summa).

 

A motion was made to approve the EC recommendation.  Seconded Carried 

 

Cindy Phillips chaired the meeting after the Board appointed her to the Vice President position.

 

Executive Committee Update:

Alexander asked about the common start date issue in April.  Schoenberger said it’s a done deal and currently in place except for St. Cloud; it will be in full effect for FY08. 

 

Job Description Changes:

Cindy Finch has been coordinating our membership database and we need to recognize that in her job description.  In doing that we thought it was important to take some things out of the description.  Presented at the meeting were the changes that have been reviewed with Cindy, her union has seen them, and the EC is recommending to you the approval of the revised job description for the Administrative Assistant and Membership Coordinator.  A motion was made to approve the changes.  Moved Seconded Carried

 

The Confidential Assistant position held by Donna Blake has been revised as presented to the Board.  The Board approved a job description for this position last spring.  Since Donna Blake has come on board and we’ve made changes to the Administrative Assistant job description, we felt it was important to slightly revise the position description for the Confidential Assistant.  Donna agrees with the changes, and the EC approves of the changes.  A motion was made to approve the changes.  Seconded Carried

 

Staff MOA:

In recognition of adding additional membership responsibilities for the Administrative Assistant (Cindy Finch) we’ve entered into an MOA with the IFOSA subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  A motion was made to approve the MOA.  Seconded Carried

 

Board Liaisons on IFO Committees:

We have several vacancies.  Phillips asked the Board for volunteers for the following positions:  GRC, FIC, AAC, MIC and Action Chair.  There were no volunteers for the following:  GRC, FIC, or Action.  Schoenberger volunteered for the AAC and Killion volunteered for the MIC.  We will need to revisit these vacancies shortly.

 

MnSCU Committee Appointments:

For several committees with IFO representatives, MnSCU does not assign term limits.  The EC at their June 14-15 meeting as shown in the minutes given to the Board, recommended that those committees be assigned two year appointments unless there is clearly something else in the charge document.  We want to establish this as a policy -  terms lasting two years unless otherwise agreed upon.  Moved/Seconded If we have faculty serving as IFO representatives on the MnSCU committees then it needs to be approved by the Board.  This is for all IFO appointees to MnSCU committees unless otherwise agreed upon (there is nothing that prevents someone from serving more than one term).  Carried

 

DCR Advisory Committee:

Two volunteers came forward and two volunteers were needed.  Motion to appoint the two people on the DCR Advisory Committee: Michael Wilson (Metropolitan) and David Kesler (Winona).  Seconded Carried

 

Biosciences Education and Research Work Group:

Four volunteers were needed and we had two volunteers.  A motion was made to accept the two volunteers Michelle Malott (Moorhead) and Gregg Marg (Mankato) and we will continue look for two more volunteers.  The Executive Committee will appoint the others so this does not need to come back to the Board.   Seconded Carried

 

Assessment for College Readiness:

Five volunteers were needed and we had two volunteers.  A motion was made to appoint the two volunteers Mark Zuiker (Mankato) and Sandra G. Johnson (St. Cloud) and the EC can appoint the other three volunteers so this does not need to come back to the Board.  Seconded Carried

 

Academic and Student Affairs Policy Council:

No volunteers came forward.  A motion was made to authorize the Executive Committee to appoint since we have no volunteers today.

 

PSEO Working Group:

Two volunteers were needed and we had four volunteers.  A rank choice vote took place for the following individuals:  Southwest - Doug Binsfeld, St. Cloud - Michael Connaughton, Metro - Frank Schweigert, and Mankato - Sherrise Truesdale.  The two volunteers with the most votes were Truesdale and Connaughton and were appointed to the committee. Carried

 

Systemwide Technology Strategy Council:

We need one volunteer and four people have volunteered.  A rank choice vote took place for the following individuals:  William Brauer - Bemidji, David Bissonnette - Mankato, David Bahn - Metro, and Paul Safonov - St. Cloud.  The one volunteer with the most votes was Bahn.  Bahn was appointed to the committee.

 

Nancy Black arrived.

 

Approval of April 20-21 Board minutes:

A motion was made to approve the minutes.  Seconded Carried

 

Larkin had a question on the letter to the Sr. Vice Chancellor pertaining to competitive compensation (IPESL).  We called our attorney Greg Corwin who met the Negotiations Team and MnSCU. Outrage was expressed.  We did get an additional $500,000 for the membership not tied to IPESL and we got more control over what the campuses choose to do with their funds.

 

IFO Meetings Schedule:

There are six Board meetings this year.  In the interest of economy, if you aren’t going to be here, please contact Cindy Finch.  Make sure you let your FA President know if you can’t be here as well.

 

MnSCU Board of Trustees Schedule and Update:

Nancy attended the BOT orientation for the four new Board of Trustee members.  The roster and schedule of the BOT were distributed and reviewed.  Nancy encouraged the IFO Board to be more visible at the BOT meetings.  At most we have four Trustees who are sympathetic to faculty, ten others are Pawlenty appointments and these are the people who are pushing the pay for performance.  Nancy encouraged Board members to contact the Trustee(s) in their district.  Students have an enormous amount of power and visibility on the BOT meetings.  We need to become more visible.  The BOT tapes their contract bargaining strategy sessions for their meetings.  Bouchard suggested that the IFO BOD have a similar policy in reviewing MnSCU BOT policies similar to the IFO GRC’s strategy development.  Nancy said we need action chairs on the campuses to be more visible as well. 

 

ASA 2006-2010 Target Setting for Action Plan:

Nancy gave a verbal report.  The system has five strategic goals for their action plan for the next two years.  They emphasize online programs, customized training, and the MnSCU Foundation.  The FA presidents called to Nancy’s attention earlier this fall that every state university president received a packet from the Chancellor’s office that included baseline measures for performance.  It gave the strong impression that the MnSCU system is really based on community colleges.  We need to educate the Board of Trustees as to what students need on the university level.

 

Release Time for Rod Henry, IFO Chief Negotiator:

Last year in October the Board voted and approved three (3) credits of release time for the chief negotiator.  This year we are asking for four (4) credits of release times for Rod Henry.  He attends health coalition, board meetings, action, and reviews LOUs and MOAs for the office on a regular basis.  A motion was made to approve four credits of release time for Rod Henry.  Seconded Carried

 

Negotiations Report:

At 8:30 Rod Henry and the Negotiations Team were present to give a report.  The Team was meeting in conjunction with the Board.  Rod introduced the team members who were present: Bill Langen, Chris Brown, Brent Jeffers, Oscar Flores, and Gary Starr.  Rod reported that the Team has had a lot of discussion on where we need to be with the BOT and our membership.  They listened to the BOT strategy tapes which are open to the public.  Those tapes told us what we need to do to change the dynamic that’s been set up.  We need unified action and to be ready to use every tool we have if we’re going to have an Agreement.  The MnSCU Board of Trustees doesn’t understand our demand for changing workload and we’re not making progress toward the 80th percentile along with a variety of other things that would greatly improve the quality we deliver to our students.  The Negotiating Team stated they want to work with the IFO Board this year to help move negotiations forward. 

 

The history of the IPESL process was briefly reviewed by the Team. At the conclusion of the last round of negotiations, MnSCU essentially did not achieve their goals so they tried to impose competitive compensation on us.  This is the new paradigm.  Gary Starr pointed out that when MnSCU refers to the legislature; they are often making incorrect references or misinterpreting language.  Rod encouraged the need to change our vocabulary; there is no such thing as release time but rather its reassigned time. 

 

Academic Affairs Report:

Debra Japp, IFO Academic Affairs Coordinator, gave a report.  The AAC last met on April 21 in conjunction with the IFO BOD.  The committee discussed the process of doctoral program curriculum approval.  Of particular concern to the committee was the process of approval for collaborative programs between two or more universities.  The AAC made the following recommendation for approval to the IFO BOD:  That the program application process for collaborative doctoral programs include written documentation that faculty at each of the collaborating institutions approved the final curriculum through the local campus approved curriculum process.  A motion was made that the IFO Board of Directors supports the recommendation of the AAC and asks that this recommendation be taken to MnSCU.   Seconded Carried

 

Graduate Council:

There was discussion on doctoral programs - what institution grants the doctorate in nursing practice degree and the nursing program.  Annette Schoenberger read the contract language on graduate credits.  Each campus has reps on the MnSCU Graduate Council (a roster was in the BOD packet) and the Directors were encouraged to talk to their reps. 

 

Legislation said we are to treat transfer students the same as students who have not transferred.  There is some continuing discussion at the Transfer Oversight Committee with discrepancy on D grades being transferable. 

 

GRC Report:

Russ gave a verbal report based on his written report to the BOD.  The following is a brief summary of the legislative outcomes since the April 2006 IFO Board meeting:

 

During the summer MnSCU began the process of developing an appropriation request to the 2007 legislature.   In the first stage of the development process, student, faculty, and administrative participants were divided into three task forces centered on goals that were predetermined by the MnSCU Board.  The recommendations of the task forces will be forwarded to a leadership steering committee (made up of senior MnSCU administrators) and then will go to the MnSCU Board for approval before being sent to the Department of Finance, the governor, and the legislature.

 

Nancy Black, John Palmer, Gregg Marg, Barb Matthees, and Russ Stanton represented the IFO on the task forces, and used the proposed budget approved by the IFO Board last spring as guidance for their input.  They also worked very closely with the student groups.   The task force recommendations generally reflected IFO’s budget priorities, and include:

 

 

Staff 401 (k) & 401 (a) Adoption:

The IFO hired a benefits attorney, Wendy Bunnel, to work with Russ Stanton, the current Plan Administrator, to bring the IFO into compliance with federal regulations by insuring that all of the IFO staff welfare documents were in place.  There were three plans that needed to be reviewed: the staff pension 401k and 401a; the staff employee welfare benefit plan; and, the third is the staff Healthcare Reimbursement Account (HRA).   This information was sent to the Board members via email in advance for their review.

 

Ms. Bunnell drafted a resolution for BOD acceptance of the employee pension plan - 401(a) and the 401(k) plan.  A motion was made to accept the 401(a) and 401(k) plans and the IFO Secretary, Elizabeth Dunn, signed the prepared resolution and it will be scanned and saved in the appropriate IFO files.  Moved to approve the resolution document prepared by our attorney.  Seconded Carried

 

Russ Stanton, the current Plan Administrator, explained that when Wil Harri, the previous Plan Administrator, left the IFO Russ took over on a temporary basis as Plan Administrator for the Employee Benefit Plan, which covers staff health care for the HRA plan and the pension plans.  Russ discovered that the IFO is mandated under federal law (ERISA) to have a plan document in place which is in the bylaws that govern the benefits.  Our documents were very out of date, and we were not in compliance. 

 

A motion was made that the IFO approve the Plan Document for the Inter Faculty Organization Employee Welfare Benefit Plan (number 501).  The plan became effective as of January 1, 1994 and the document is reinstated as of January 1, 2006.  Seconded Carried.

 

A motion was made to approve the Plan Document for the IFO Healthcare Reimbursement Account.  The Plan was effective as of July 1, 2005.  Seconded Carried

 

Russ took over when Wil left as plan administrator and now we need to appoint Donna Blake as the Plan Administrator for the IFO welfare benefit plan, 401 (a) & (k) and HRA plans.  A motion was made to appoint Donna Blake as the Plan Administrator for the Employee Welfare Benefit Plan, the 401(k) and 401 (a), IFO Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Plan, and the IFO HRA plan.  Seconded Carried

 

Since Wil Harri’s departure from the IFO, Russ Stanton has also served as the Lobby Fund Treasurer but now we have Donna Blake who handles these matters and she should be appointed as the treasurer.  A motion was made to appoint Donna Blake as the IFO Lobby Fund Treasurer to replace Russ Stanton effective immediately. Seconded Carried

 

Adjourned 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 14.

Called to order 8:35 a.m. on Friday, September 15.

 

Donna Blake was introduced to the Board.

 

Executive Session:

A motion was made to move into Executive Session.  Seconded Carried 8:36 a.m.  The Board moved out of Executive Session at 8:57 a.m.

 

Campus Reports:

Each Faculty Association gave a campus report.  Some of the points made were:

 

Pandemic planning – faculty were told at Moorhead that they should not be involved in the planning process until the administration works it out.  St. Cloud has a website with a message board for faculty on this subject. This will be a statewide meet and confer item.

 

There was concern expressed over the understanding of IPESL as it pertains to duty days and stipends and how it is being handled on each campus.  It appears that what is happening on the campuses is not what was mutually agreed upon between the IFO and MnSCU.  It was recommended that this issue be discussed further at next week’s Executive Committee meeting.  It was noted that a stipend requires an MOA. 

 

The evaluation process of adjuncts at St. Cloud was discussed.

 

Grievance Report:

Pat Arseneault gave a confidential grievance report by fiscal year.

 

Executive Session:

A motion was made to move into Executive Session to discuss the particulars of a sensitive grievance.  Seconded 10:00 a.m.

A motion was made to move out of ES. Seconded 10:17 a.m.

 

IFO GLBTA Committee:

The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Allies Issues Committee is tentatively scheduled to meet on October 6, 2006 on St. Cloud’s campus from noon to 4:00 p.m.

 

IFO FIC Committee:

The Feminist Issues Committee does not have a meeting date scheduled. We are looking at November 17, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the IFO office.

 

IFO MIC Committee:

The Multicultural Issues Committee is tentatively scheduled to meet on November 3, 2006.

 

Diversity Matters:

1.  MnSCU systemwide diversity conference planning committee.

IFO President Nancy Black received a letter from MnSCU’s Director of Diversity Programs Ka Vang inviting the IFO to appoint two representatives to a planning committee for a systemwide diversity conference planning committee scheduled for “early 2007.” Ms. Vang advised that the committee will meet on September 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and that most of the committee work will be done through teleconferencing. We provided Ms.Vang’s letter to the MIC, and asked committee members to advise if they are interested in serving on the committee and their ability to attend the September 19 meeting as an Interim representative for the IFO.   Of the MIC members polled, Debra Leigh from St. Cloud advised that she is interested in serving on the planning committee, and also is willing and able to attend the September 19 meeting as an interim IFO representative.  Phyllis May Machunda from Moorhead and Michael Chen from Southwest both expressed interest in serving on the planning committee as an elected IFO representative, but could not attend the September 19 meeting as an interim representative.

 

The Board felt it important to put forward an interim representative since this meeting was fast arriving so we temporarily appointed MIC member from St. Cloud, Debra Leigh.  A motion was made that the Board authorizes the Executive Committee to appoint our reps to this committee.  Seconded Carried

 

2.   Keeping Our Faculties IV Symposium April 12-14, 2007, hosted by U of M

Sponsored by MnSCU, Call For Abstracts. An announcement was made and a handout given.

 

Salary Equity:

Pat Arseneault reported that the joint MnSCU IFO Salary Review Committee (SRC) met on June 29, 2006. At the request of the SRC, the consultants from the 2002 study gave a presentation to the committee on addressing the problems discovered in the 2002 study and made recommendations for writing a new RFP for the next study.

 

The IFO Salary Equity Committee (SEC) also met on June 29, 2006. Mandy Wick announced that she was resigning as SEC (and SRC) chair. The SEC elected Cathy Summa as Chair. The SEC discussed how to draft a new RFP.

 

The joint SRC met on August 17, 2006 to draft an RFP for the next salary study, to be conducted on the 2005-2006 salary data for all non adjunct faculty. At our August 17 meeting, Mandy Wick announced her resignation as SRC chair. Cathy Summa was selected as the new SRC chair.

 

The RFP was posted on September 5. Proposals are due on September 29. At our October 6 meeting, the SRC will review proposals and make a decision on interviewing applicant consultants or a recommendation on hiring a consultant. If needed, the SRC will convene on October 20 or 27 to interview applicant consultants.

 

The IFO SEC met on September 8, 2006 to review campus salary issues in preparation for the next study.

 

The joint MnSCU IFO SRC also met on September 8, 2006. The SRC is conducting the FY06 Annual Review of faculty hired in academic year 2005-2006 and faculty awarded a terminal degree between October 1, 2004, and October 1, 2005. Faculty members who were hired in 2005-2006 will be sent a letter containing the data used by the SRC in the annual review (expected to be sent mid to late October).

 

MnSCU 1B.1 Review Committee:

Pat Arseneault reported that the MnSCU Board of Trustees adopted a revised MnSCU Board Policy 1B.1 effective November 1, 2006, copy provided as Attachment C.

 

The MnSCU 1B.1 Review Committee completed its draft revisions of the MnSCU Board Procedure 1B.1.1, a handout was provided. MnSCU is in the process of presenting the draft Procedure at M&Cs, and plans to adopt the new procedure by November.

 

MnSCU Nepotism:

Pat Arseneault reported that MnSCU’s Nepotism Procedure 4.10.1 was approved by the Chancellor in late May 2006, and became effective as of July 1, 2006. A handout was provided.

 

HRA Plan Document Amendments:

The Health Reimbursement Account Plan Document was amended effective June 30, 2006, to document the change for administrative expenses to be paid by exclusively by the employer and to include faculty on USERRA qualifying (military) leave as eligible participants. A handout was provided.

 

Communications with the IFO:

Nancy urged Board members to be sensitive for the next two weeks that unless your issue is urgent, please do not contact Pat and Tiffany.  We are there for you but we need consideration right now while we have a heavy workload including grievance preparation for early October.

 

Faculty Step/Pay Increases:

Seldat noted that there is an issue with peoples’ pay and that with the new one/two-step increase people are complaining that the amount equals $2 and some odd cents per pay check.  Nancy reminded the Board that the raises would not be going into effect for the first pay period of the academic year and that they should review the second paycheck they receive to make sure the amount is correct.  The campus HR offices should be contacted first if there are problems.

 

Audit Update:

Donna Blake gave an audit report.  Larsen Allen, our auditors for the past fiscal year, came to our office at the end of July and did a paperless audit and finished in two days.  This week we got the rough draft of the audit.  We hope to pass out a copy at the next Board meeting.  Donna will be meeting with the FA Treasurers and staff to discuss having a quarterly report vs. annual reports.  She will also propose standardized forms, monthly bank statements, asset inventories, and standards for record keeping.   She has met with Metropolitan State.

 

Fixed Assets:

Per Wayne Alexander’s inquiry at the beginning of the meeting under additional agenda items, Donna explained that any items purchased by the IFO that over $500 in value are considered fixed assets.  Fixed assets (i.e. computer equipment) were acquired by a faculty association, and Donna has made note of this information.

 

Financials:

A financial report was given by Annette Schoenberger. 

 

IFO Treasury Ad Hoc Committee:

The Treasury Ad Hoc Committee comprised of Cathy Summa, Wayne Alexander, Andy Larkin, Annette Schoenberger, Nancy Black and Donna Blake is meeting tonight and tomorrow with five banks to see if we are handling our money in the best manner.  They will report back to the Board with their recommendations. 

 

Condo Update:

We have sold the condominium!  We purchased the condo in 1996 in the amount of $100,393 and now since selling it we have gained a net value of approximately $77,000. The condo was sold at $193,500 and we are closing on October 3.  The estimated closing costs were $16,000 including 7% of the selling price to the realtor. 

 

Campus Allocations:

Your treasurers should now have received your first installment of the quarterly allocations in the mail today. 

 

Cindy Phillips reviewed the EC minutes from August 9, 2006, in which the following recommendation was made for Board approval:  The Executive Committee recommends to the Board that the allocations for the 07 fiscal year be made on the basis of the membership numbers as of June 30, 2006 calculated on the base of one for each full time member of the unit, one for each part time unit member, and 1/3 for each adjunct unit member and that if this amount is less than the figure distributed at the 06 Delegate Assembly, that higher number should be used to hold the campus harmless.  In addition, the $10,000 campus supplement to Mankato and the $15,000 campus supplement to St. Cloud shall be added.  For fiscal year 08 the same methodology shall be used accepting that the figure shall be increased from $44.16 per member to $47.00 per member with no hold harmless.   

 

It was noted that the preliminary numbers presented to the BOD for FY08 will depend on the membership at the end of FY07.  Donna is sending out a summary sheet so each campus understands the amount they are receiving for their allocation.  There was a motion at the DA requesting a study of the campus allocations and this still needs to happen.  Budgets drive action, and we want to make sure each FA is being treated equitably.  A motion was made to approve the Executive Committee’s recommendation for campus allocations.  Seconded Carried without opposition.

 

Membership Report:

Cindy Finch presented a membership report for the current fiscal year as well as comparison from years past. 

 

LOUs:

Rod Henry presented two LOUs to the Board that were reviewed by the Negotiating Team and prepared by Pat Arseneault.  The early separation incentive LOU was the first discussed and the negotiating team recommended the LOU.  The second LOU is in regard to salary equity for faculty who are promoted and have earned terminal degrees.  The Negotiating Team carefully reviewed this draft LOU as it pertains to negotiations but also the SRC.  It was noted by Pat after a discussion with Chris Dale that if the university does not implement what the SRC recommends, it is grievable. 

 

The settlement proposal for the ESI grievance is both LOUs and was originally presented in one LOU but we wanted to do it in two separate LOUs. 

 

Break for Lunch 12:00 and returned at 12:45 p.m.

 

Executive Session:

A motion was made to enter into Executive Session to have an open discussion on the two LOUs. Seconded 12:50 Carried

 

A motion was made to move out of Executive Session and report out the two LOUs as approved.  We will redact the names of the individuals in the ESI LOU.  Seconded Carried

 

Moved we move out of ES. Seconded Carried

                                                                                       

Moved that we approve the LOU with regard to the ESI.  Seconded Carried

 

Moved we approve the salary equity LOU.  Seconded Carried

 

Negotiations and Action:

The Negotiating Team is tentatively scheduled to meet on October 19-20.  Rod encouraged the campuses to have Action Coordinators in place who are ready to go as well as Negotiators on their campus.

 

Meet and Confer:

The Chancellor had to change this meet and confer date from September 29 to September 22 so he could attend a close colleague’s memorial service in Pennsylvania.

 

The meet and confer agenda was discussed. In addition to the D2L lawsuit with Blackboard, another issue associated with D2L is Pandemic Planning as it relates to the common start date.  The IFO remains concerned if this common start date will overload/crash MnSCU’s system (D2L) on the first day of the semester. 

 

We’ve had 44 failed faculty searches, but this MnSCU report does not record the data if we’ve gotten our third choice or for other reasons.  Failed searches are down from last year.    With regard to failed searches, do we specify if no one applied for the position?  Nancy will send out to the campuses the report on the failed searches. 

 

According to the public Board of Trustees tapes, the LRPTF (Labor Relations Planning Taskforce) was responsible for creating the pay for performance model for the system.  It was noted that there is no state university representation on this taskforce but rather only two year college representatives as well as other Office of the Chancellor personnel.  When asked we were told by Mary Leary, Associate Vice Chancellor for Labor Relations, that this committee does not pertain to the state universities. 

 

Pat Arseneault noted that 1.b.1.1 will be added to MnSCU’s agenda. Nancy is meeting with Mary Leary and Sr. Vice Chancellor Linda Baer on Tuesday to discuss the agenda.

 

The MnSCU Fan Club:

Here’s the website:  www.fan.mnscu.edu

 

MnSCU will do a mass mailing to faculty to try to gain support for the MnSCU Foundation.  Nancy has been approached by Bob Erickson, head of the Foundation, and we have voiced our opinion that our alumni and faculty do not have any particular will to support MnSCU as a system as opposed to our individual universities.  MnSCU is aware of every faculty member who has donated in the past and they are seeking them for additional support.   

 

Sandy Smith is politicking this new “grass-roots initiative” coming from the Government Relations Department at the Office of the Chancellor.  Mary Kesler read an email from Jerry Janezich and Michael Dean who had visited Winona to build support for the legislature and also system fundraising. 

 

According to Bob Erickson, the MnSCU Foundation is a slush fund for the Chancellor.  George Seldat says Southwest Minnesota State University is having a capital campaign to gain support from people in the region and this effort by MnSCU only diffuses what is happening locally; where are people supposed to give?  This appears to be a contradiction.  You can personally choose to ignore or support this cause.  This will be put on the meet and confer agenda.

 

IFO Operating Procedures:

The Executive Committee carefully reviewed the entire Operating Procedures and made recommendations to the Board of Directors.

 

A motion was made to accept all of the proposed Operating Procedures.  Seconded Carried

 

A motion was made to separate the alcohol policy section and other expenses on that same page (45) from the motion.  Seconded Carried

 

Move alcohol shall not be reimbursed at all (Meals a2ii) Seconded

 

Discussion: how do we separate alcohol charges on receipt - ask for separate receipt if you go to bar for a drink?

 

Motion to close debate.

Motion not to reimburse alcohol carried by a show of hands.

 

Move that receipts are required for meal reimbursements in excess of 10 dollars, (second sentence of other expenses page 43). Seconded

 

Discussion: how would auditors view this with no receipts?

 

Motion carries

 

Motion to separate out page 19, committee appointments, B2,

Motion to adopt alternative B, seconded, discussion, motion to close debate, seconded, motion carried

 

Page 48, 3b, motion to separate out, discussion to leave as is

Vote for adopting all IFO Operating Procedure changes with the modifications that were discussed and agreed upon today, motion carried

 

The changes made to the Operating Procedures as well as the legislative version will be attached to this file for the record.

 

Motion to adjourn. 2:20 carried