CEA Minutes for Tuesday, April 25, 2006

2:30pm in B&E 140

I.                    Welcome/Approval of February 2006 Minutes - Jeff Jenik welcomed the Assembly to the fourth and final meeting of the academic year.  He called for approval of the February 15, 2006 minutes, and with no changes, the minutes were unanimously approved with a motion from Braden Hosch and a second from Corey Feraldi.

II.                  Announcement of new CEA Members - Mr. Jenik then noted the two new CEA members as listed on the back of the newsletter and recognized Belinda Rouse, new to the Records office, who was in attendance. 

III.                Report from Senior Administration, Ginger Hudock - Ms. Hudock spoke intially on the budget noting that the SC House and Senate are still working out differences in the budget.  The Senate has new appropriations in the amount of $185,000 for USCA, and the House has noted $599,000 for USCA.  Both versions of the state budget include a 3% salary increase for CEA members that will go into effect on July 1, 2006, and both budgets also note fully funding health insurance increases. 

She also noted that there would be a ten cent increase in mileage reimbursement, from 30.5 cent per mile to 40.5 cent.  Mr. Jenik asked if travel funds would be increased due to the increase mileage reimbursement rate.  Ms. Hudock noted that department’s will have to work with the new mileage reimbursement within the current travel budgets.  No travel budget increases are likely.  There will likely be an 8.8% tuition increase for the 06-07 academic year, but the increase will not go beyond 10%. 

IV.                Department Update – Len Engle (See Handouts) - Len Engle, USC Aiken’s Environmental Health and Safety Manager, spoke on OSHA’s five areas of safety concern including overexertion, loss of balance, being struck by an object, repetitive motion and fire, and vehicle crash. Each CEA member was provided with a powerpoint handout addressing each of these areas along with ways to reduce these risks.  Mr. Engle noted that by applying the “USCA” method, which includes Understanding, Seeing, Coaching, and Acting/Attitude, USC Aiken will be a safer place. 

Many CEA members provided first hand experience with several lack of safety instances on campus, and Maria Chandler noted that Mr. Engle has conducted defensive driving training and ergonomic information in meetings for the Human Resource staff. Mr. Engle encouraged the CEA to schedule meetings for him to come and address safety issues with departments.

CEA members were also provided with handouts on various safety concern areas which contained true/false quizzes, and a USCA Safety Survey to complete.  All CEA members completing this process were entered into a drawing for an iPod, and Cheryl Fogle was the lucky winner.

V.         Committee Updates

The FUD committee did not have an update. 

The Enrichment Committee report was given by John Hutchens.  He noted that the Employee of the Month program is receiving more nominations than previously.  The Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon will be held on May 5th and will have a luau theme.

The Advisory Committee update was given by Carla Hayes, who noted that feedback has been minimal for the CEA of the Year Awards process, but that her committee met and discussed every aspect of the awards process.  Ms. Hayes noted that after much consideration, the committee has several recommendations for the CEA to vote on at the first meeting of the 2006-2007 year.  These include:

·         nominees will still have to write a letter about their work,

·         all nominees will be notified of nomination even if they are not eligible,

·         the external selection committee will still be used to remove any bias,

·         only ten nominees will be sent to the external selection committee instead of twelve,

·         the external selection committee should contain five members instead of four,

·         the internal and external selection committee should use a ranking system for the final ten nominees instead of the current 1-5 scale,

·         the nomination form will allow 250 words or less instead of 100,

·         better clarification of who is eligible is needed,

·         more marketing of the nomination process is needed to create more diversity in nominees.

Ms. Hayes noted that the CEA should continue to send her recommendations and comments through the summer, and she reminded members that they could review the current process online at http://www.usca.edu/cea/Award/awards.html .

The Nominating Committee, led by Sarah Keeling, provided ballots for everyone present to use for voting on new committee members.  Absent CEA members will receive an email ballot allowing them to vote until Friday at 12noon.

VI.  Announcements from the Floor

Carla Hayes asked the CEA to please note the three upcoming workshops located on the back of the newsletter.

Everyone was reminded that Administrative Professionals Day is tomorrow.

Jamie Raynor reminded the CEA to RSVP for the upcoming Senior Salute on May 3, 2006 at 12noon by emailing Jenny Horn at jenniferh@usca.edu.

Joann Williamson noted that the computer system would be down from 10pm on May 4th through 8am on May 5th.

Jeff Jenik and Tony Ateca noted that tours of the Convocation Center were available on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, and those interested to email Mr. Ateca.

VII. Adjourn  - With a motions from the floor, the fourth CEA meeting of the 05-06 academic year was adjourned at 3:45pm.

CEA Meeting Attendees:

 

Nick Shrader

Sandy Besley

Carla Hayes

Jeff Jenik

Len Engel

John Hutchens

Sarah Keeling

Joann Williamson

John Blair

Ashley Ball

Angela Taylor

Jody Yates

Sherene Power

Lib Thomas

Barbara Henkes

Gail Ratchford

Belinda Rouse

Jeff Crosby

Jeanie Griffin

Rebecca Shrader

Jodi Herrin

Jennifer Lake

Kim Durden

Sue Boatright

Maria Chandler

Ginger Hudock

Gina Buckley

Cheryl Fogle

Cheryle Ehmke

Braden Hosch

Darlene Smalley

Tiffany Coleman

Jeff Mastromonico

Kathy Brantley

Janet Joy

Annette Beeler

Corey Feraldi

Corine Simmons

Sylvia Williams

Ruby Turner

Mary Claire Millies

Catrena Cheston

Cindy Gelinas

Andrew Hendrix

Karen Morris

Mike Lemons

Kathy Simmons

Sandy Dewitt

Karen Morris

Sheri Jenik

Tony Ateca

Donna Howell

Miriam Toole

Jamie Raynor