The Employee Relations Committee (ERC) has approved for distribution the
minutes of their regularly scheduled meeting which convened Thursday,
February 18, 1999, in the Personnel Training Room of the Administration
Building, 400 Palmetto Street, at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Bill Stacey, Chancellor,
was the special guest at the meeting.
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UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA
Employee Relations Committee Meeting
February 19, 1999
Representatives/Alternates present:
Phyllis Adams, Teresa Adcox, Elizabeth Bailey, Sue Carroll, Julia Cronin,
Pat Jackson, David King, Beverly McGowan, Nancy Neal, Martha Rawlings, Judy
Short, Cynthia Stanley-Cash, Ita Thompson, Barbara Verhine, Redeitha Weiss.
Other Attendees:
Dr. Bill Stacy, Chancellor; Dan Webb, Director of Personnel Services;
Suzie Weber, Administrative Secretary.
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order by ERC Chair, Teresa Adcox.
Old Business:
Mr. Webb recognized Heather Grothe of the English Department as February's
Blue Ribbon Award recipient. He also thanked Dr. Stacy for the luncheon
and awards to last year's Blue Ribbon Award recipients.
General Discussion (ERC Retreat Issues):
Dr. Stacy explained the significance of the SACS accreditation process for
UTC and described the functions of the committees responsible for various
aspects of the accreditation process. He also stated that goals and
objectives are being established for the upcoming 5-year plan (June marks
the end of the current 5-year plan). Dr. Stacy briefly discussed the
ongoing process for putting together the institutional budget for fiscal
year 1999/2000. Dr. Stacy stated that among his top priorities is the
improvement of staff salaries.
Mr. Webb reviewed a summary report on the ERC retreat in January, focusing
on the five principal institutional objectives for UTC outlined by Dr.
Stacy. There followed a discussion of some of the issues, concerns, and
suggestions described in the report and displayed on flip-chart pages
posted on the walls of the meeting room.
Mr. Webb remarked that concern about staff compensation had been an issue
frequently arising during the retreat. Ita Thompson commented that the
need for better staff training and development opportunities was also
important. Discussion focused on the need to foster a sense of ownership in
one's job. It was suggested that such a sense of ownership might be
encouraged among custodians by the posting of a plaque or picture
identifying the individual responsible for a particular building.
Elizabeth Bailey felt more time was needed for the Retreat, and that more
discussion on certain topics was needed.
David King asked how salaries are being compared. Mr. Webb responded that
comparisons are made based on various local, regional, and national salary
surveys. The geographic region for salary comparison depends on the normal
recruitment area for a particular position. For a senior administrator
position, recruitment would normally be national and salary comparison
would use national salary figures for similar positions at institutions
comparable to UTC; whereas, the recruitment area for a skilled crafts
position would typically be local or regional and the salary comparison
would be based on local or regional survey information.
Cynthia Stanley-Cash remarked that new employees are sometimes hired at
rates only a few hundred dollars less that the salaries of long term
support staff. Discussion ensued regarding the problem of salary
compression on this campus. Dr. Stacy stated that the issue of staff
salaries should be thoroughly researched, appropriate internal and external
salary comparisons made, and such information reviewed by the ERC with a
view to making recommendations regarding ways to address this significant
concern. The Chancellor reminded the members that the ERC chair, Ms. Adcox,
serves on the budget review committee as representative for non-exempt
employees regarding fiscal issues and that the administration values the
perspective of staff regarding how staff salary funds should be allocated.
Barbara Verhine asked if the ERC Committee could get some hard figures to
review relating to staff salaries as compared to the appropriate survey
information. Mr. Webb responded that he would gladly provide such
information to the ERC subcommittee on staff compensation.
Mr. Webb suggested that the retreat report be accepted as minutes for the
January ERC meeting and be submitted to the Chancellor's Executive
Committee for their information regarding issues of concern and
recommendations that emerged from the retreat. The suggestion was made
that the committee members be given some additional time to review the
contents of the report, with recommendations for revision to be submitted
to Mr. Webb or Suzie Weber by February 24.
ERC Subcommittees
Pursuant to recommendations from the retreat regarding the formation of
subcommittees, Mr. Webb indicated that Personnel Services could send out a
memo to ERC representatives and alternates describing the various
subcommittees and requesting members to contact Suzie Weber regarding
their area of interest. Five subcommittees had been proposed at the
January retreat:
1. Salaries/compensation
2. Equipment needs
3. Communications (to include possible attitude/opinion surveys)
4. Picnic
5. ERC Effectiveness
Staff and Faculty Picnic:
In response to a question about the prospects for a staff/faculty picnic
next year, Dr. Stacy remarked that last year's picnic was well received and
expressed the desire that this event be repeated next year. Ms. Adcox
noted that the procurement of a few tents for shelter from the sun at the
next picnic would be welcome. Ms. Adcox suggested that the Picnic Committee
should include individuals outside the ERC, in order to ensure enough help
to plan and put on the picnic. It was noted that, according to ERC
guidelines, non-ERC members may serve on ERC subcommittees. She indicated
a subcommittee to begin planning for next year's picnic would be convened
before the next ERC meeting.
Filling Vacant ERC Positions:
Mr. Webb asked the committee to review the roster provided and advise of
any changes, corrections, or additions. He noted that Groups 8, 9, and 16
are in need of alternates and explained how vacancies are handled. Martha
Rawlings, representative for Lupton Library, indicated that Shirley Manning
had been nominated by the Library non-exempt staff to serve as alternate
for the remainder of this term (end of 1999). Mr. Webb indicated Ms.
Manning's name will be added to the roster. Personnel Services will send
ballots to the other areas for the selection of alternates.
UTC Personnel Practices
Mr. Webb indicated that Personnel Services would no longer send "regret"
letters to unsuccessful job applicants. He explained it has been standard
practice for some time that, upon filling a vacant staff position, an
individual letter was mailed by Personnel Services to all applicants who
were not selected for that particular job. Such mailings could involve 50
or more letters for each job, with a significant total cost in labor and
postage. Surveys have shown few organizations that follow this
practice. Departments will be requested, upon filling their vacant
position, to notify those individuals interviewed but not selected.
Personnel Services will provide addresses, form letters, and other
assistance to the hiring department.
Mr. Webb reported on the progress of the EDE Review Team. The team is
developing a report for the Executive Council regarding the current process
for staff performance review, including recommendations for process
improvement. The team anticipates developing a pilot program, which will
be used in a few areas on a trial basis with eventual revision of our
campus EDE procedure.
Budget Hearings
Ms. Adcox discussed the budget hearing schedule (provided to each member
present), and encouraged members to attend these open hearings. She
pointed out the budget hearing for the Administration and Finance Division
is scheduled for March 8. She suggested that ERC members attempt to attend
the hearings for the areas in which they work. Dr. Stacy also encouraged
attendance, which would help employees gain a better understanding of the
budget process.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Suzie Weber
Personnel Services
Suzie Weber
Personnel Services, Dept 3603
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Phone: (423) 755-4729
Fax: (423) 755-4574
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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