UST Exempt Staff Council

1
UST Exempt Staff Council

• A series of forums for exempt staff to discuss a
  proposed new university committee
• Richelle Wesley, Associate University Registrar
• Sarah E. Spencer, Assistant Director,
  International EducationLisa Burke, Director,
  Web Initiatives, College of Business

2
Agenda

• Introductions
• History
• Process to date proposal overview
• Discussion
• Contact information

3
A Bit of History

• Last 20 years
• Strategic planning process

4
UST Employee Data
2001-2002 2001-2002 2002-2003 2002-2003 2003-2004 2003-2004 2004-2005 2004-2005
Total Employees 1823 1839 1833 1845
Total Faculty 775 42.5 782 42.5 782 42.7 774 42.0
-Tenured Faculty 225 12.3 231 12.6 233 12.7 236 12.8
-Tenured Track 92 5.1 116 6.3 129 7.0 130 7.0
-Limited Term 69 3.8 55 3.0 43 2.3 36 2.0
-Adjunct 389 21.3 380 20.7 377 20.6 372 20.2
Total Administration 1048 57.5 1057 57.5 1051 57.3 1071 58.0
-Exempt Administration 617 33.9 625 34.0 625 34.1 609 33.0
-Hourly Administration 431 23.6 432 23.5 426 23.2 462 25.0
(From IRPs Five Year Snapshot, 2001 2006,
http//www.stthomas.edu/irp/quickfacts.htm)
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Exempt staff by division
Academic Affairs 30
College of Arts Sciences 23
College of Business 79
School of Divinity 10
School of Education 8
School of Engineering 2
School of Law 21
School of Prof. Psychology 1
School of Social Work 6
Division of Human Resources 9
Division of Student Affairs 70
Division of Finance Administration 74
Division of Information Resources Technologies 101
Division of Institutional Advancement 55
Enrollment Services 39
Office of Mission Diversity 8
Office of the President 1
6
Process to date

• Presentations to Executive Vice Presidents,
  Academic and Administrators Leadership group, and
  Presidents Staff
• Communication with exempt staff about proposed
  council
• Call for volunteers to serve on one year working
  group
• Formal proposal to presidents staff for
  approval, spring 2007
• Hold elections for new exempt staff council,
  summer 2007

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Why do we need this council?

• Perceived need for individuals with common terms
  and conditions of employment to come together
• Faculty Affairs and Staff Council represent other
  employee populations
• Consultation with current staff council
  determined employee types different enough for
  distinct councils
• Venue for raising issues of common interest and
  concern, and building community
• Way to engage exempt staff in university-focused
  dialogue rather than unit or position focused

8
Proposal

• Purpose of the Exempt Staff Council
• Serve as a forum to foster communication at all
  levels of the institution, to advise in
  decision-making processes affecting its
  constituents, and, in general, to focus on
  cooperation, working conditions, morale and
  advancing the mission of the University of St
  Thomas.
• Work to promote understanding and fairness with
  regard to benefits, employment, and other areas
  of concern, as well as to promote opportunities
  for exempt staff development.
• Appoint exempt staff as appropriate/requested to
  serve on standing committees of the university,
  task forces and ad hoc committees that support
  the educational mission of the university.
• As employees in higher education, exempt staff
  have a unique opportunity to contribute to the
  mission of the university in collaboration with
  faculty and non-exempt staff.

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Proposal

• Exempt Staff Council Membership
• Employees of the University of St Thomas who are
  classified as exempt according to the regulatory
  provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards
  Act, with the exception of employees at grade 24
  and above (including deans, associate vice
  presidents, vice presidents and executive vice
  presidents) and employees whose primary
  affiliation with the university is as faculty.
• A proportional number of voting members, elected
  by exempt staff from divisional work units and
  members at large representing different campuses.
  At writing, it is envisioned that the council
  shall consist of no fewer than eight members, and
  no greater than 15 members.

10
Prospective role of council

• Populating tasks forces and committees
• Interdepartmental/interdivisional communication
• Opportunity for like-positions to connect
• Professional development and service projects
• Gap resolution in process and policy formation
• Goal To develop a productive, collaborative, and
  solutions-oriented council that provides
  leadership in times of change

11
Not perceived as role

• Replacing channels and processes already in place
  (grievances, etc.)
• Developing opportunities for collective bargaining

12
Examples of similar groups

• University of Minnesota - CAPA
• Central Washington University
• College of St. Catherine
• Others.

13
Discussion topics

• What do we have in common as exempt staff?
• How could this council support us as a body of
  staff?

14
Discussion topics

• Does it make sense to exclude exempt staff who
  are members of senior administration?
• Should other positions be excluded?

15
Discussion topics

• How could a group like this support the
  mission/strategic directions of the university?
• How can we ensure this group is seen as an
  effective forum by the university administrators?

16
Discussion topics

• Would you be willing to serve on an exempt staff
  council?
• Would you be supported by your department/division
  ?

17
Next steps

• Make the case to Presidents staff (proof of
  concept)
• Establish a working group
• Propose and approve bylaws
• Elect staff council
• Promote ongoing dialogue future blog and
  website, email, paper, sidewalk conversation,
  anything!

18
Thank you for your support!

• Richelle Wesley, Associate University Registrar,
  x2-6705, rtwesley_at_stthomas.edu
• Sarah Spencer, Assistant Director, International
  Education, x2-6452, sespencer_at_stthomas.edu
• Lisa Burke, Director, Web Initiatives, College
  of Business, x2-5143, lkburke_at_stthomas.edu
• For ongoing discussion and other resources, see
  http//blog.stthomas.edu/exemptstaff/