EVPECC Council Minutes for Aug.19th, 2005
Attendees:
Missy Brads, Budget Office
Keith A. Carter, Housing
Anna Van Clief, DPA
Alan Cohn, Human Resources
Gina Corell, OSP
Nakysha Critzer, Housing
Loretta Cronk, President’s Office
Ruby Hutchinson, P&T
Sebrina Ivey, Audit
Kathleen Jump, EVP.COO
Diane Meeker, ITC
Beth Reinhard, Human Resources
Jon Rice, Procurement
Nate Rushfinn, ITC
Mary Russell, Printing & Copying
Val Spears, Budget Office
Paulette Vining, Police
Program:
Nate Rushfinn will be replacing Bill Neibill as the representative for ITC.
The Day of Caring will be held on
Sept.21st, from
School,
Updates:
Alan Cohn mentioned that e-mail performance evaluations are due no later than Oct. 14th. Anyone hired after July 25th is not eligible for the 3% increase. Doing your own self-evaluation is a good morale booster as well as good for other departments who maybe interested in hiring you.
They are still working on the EVCC Website. One question they need answers to is “What do we want on the front page as identifying links?”
Open enrollment starts in Oct. and ends in Nov. There is an additional benefit’s fair with vendors coming in Nov. They will be able to answer questions concerning nursing care, custodial care, long-term care, etc. Linda Wilkins at 4-5482 can help with any questions regarding the benefits fair.
Nov. 10th is the Faculty/Staff fair. We need to update the information in our brochures. It would be great to get a bulletin board with council chairs listed. There is a new video coming out for the fair.
Alan will bring a list of new employee’s names to the next council meeting.
Kathleen Jump mentioned there is a new electronic site called the R25. People can make reservations for rooms available throughout the University for conferences. The site is not completely up yet.
Leonard Sandridge: Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer
Yoke San Reynolds: Vice President for Finance
We maintained our position as #2 public institution in the country this year. What individuals do on a daily bases makes a big difference over all. It is the students that evaluate the university.
Construction continues at Observatory Dining facilities. Please take advantage of having lunch there. A month from now we will be announcing events that will be held at John Paul Jones Multipurpose Arena, which opens in 2006.
In answer to the questions you proposed:
1.) What steps are being taken to ensure more public University transportation systems and less reliance on automobiles at UVA?
A.)
On grounds we are the only entity with a mass of people
using buses for transportation. Buses run every 8-10 minutes during the day and
12 minutes in the evenings. Students’ transportation needs have increased at
night from
Vans carrying up to 12
people and car pools are also being enhanced to attract employees. Gas prices
could make a difference getting more people to car pool. A parking incentive
for vanpools is getting a better parking space. There is a Ride & Share
program from
People in car pools can
also get an
2.)
When road, sidewalk, and other improvements are made to
A.)
The
The city was going to put a 4 lane rd. in and continue in to the university. This has changed to a 2 lane rd., with bike path, running path, etc. and will have good sidewalks. An extension of Stadium rd. to Fontaine will allow easier access to the bypass. This is a part of the Area B Studies with the city & county and is part of a 6 year planning bill.
3.) Why certain employees cannot be paid semi-monthly? If new
Employees are paid semi-monthly, why is this not the case for some University staff hired previously?
It would appear that the University is holding money. Can staff paid monthly elect how they want to be paid?
A.)
The problem with changing employee's payroll from semi-monthly paid-monthly
to semi-monthly is due to a technicality. We would need one extra payroll
totaling $5 million dollars at one time. The University does not hold money
for two weeks. The money comes from the state. It was assumed most people
would like semi-monthly pay although we found most people wanted to be paid
once a month. Probably not many people would choose to make a change. Beth
Reinhard works in payroll. She mentioned a lot of people are confused about
monthly pay coming with two pay stubs.
Gina Corell asked if new employees coming in are paid twice a month, could
current employees have the option to go bi-weekly? Bi-weekly is reserved for
Wage employees, not Classified or Faculty and going bi-weekly will never be
an option for those employees. Each classification has different applications
within the system (applicable benefits, retirement, etc).
4.) Employees who prefer alternative health care should have such an
alternative with regard to health insurance. The little discount on a few herbs that is offered as an alternative plan is nothing. I think the amount of money spent to insure an employee should cover alternatives, giving employees the freedom and power to make their own decisions about their own health. Alternatively, if they are unwilling to do that, I think employees should be able to have no employer-paid insurance and receive the money instead.
A.) The dilemma is how much is enough? Generally our employees will pay more to get more benefits. Most opt for the premium insurance very few people go for the lower cost. The University as an employer pays more cost than other employers. We don’t profit from it. We have good facilities to offer good care. The University is self insured company and we use Southern Health to distribute the insurance. Our insurance only covers medication approved by the FDA. We continue to evaluate herbal remedies and alternative medicine. There are two programs that offer some alternative needs. www.healthyroads.com and Commonwealth Perks card gives discounts on meds at local establishments.
5.) The only question I have received so far is concerning the $50 of base pay
per year of service plus the 3% standard raise. We get questions constantly on how the new raise is going to be handled and how the years of service is to be calculated?
A.) The state has not issued instructions yet concerning the Nov.25th raises. The $50 base pay is based on the # of years you were here and will be part of your base salary. We understand that a memo from The Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) is being reviewed in the Governors office. As soon as we get instructions from the state it will be forwarded to employees.
6.) Does the university plan to increase the amount it contributes to employees tax-deferred savings plans? Why is our 403(b) plan set up so that employees must specify a flat dollar amount for their contribution in lieu of a percentage of their salary?
The University is currently offering the highest amount of match allowed by statute: a 50% match up to $40 per month. Although the contribution is periodically reviewed by the legislature, currently the University has no authority to change amount.
A.) Regarding the 403(b) plan, our benefits group is looking very carefully to see if we can offer tax deferred savings based on a percentage of employee’s salary.
7.) Will the status of the “initiative” be discussed? Based on a letter to the editor
Written by Jan Cornell in the Daily Progress, I’ve heard some concern from employees as to who is going to be looking out for them.
A.) Our objective would be to offer Classified employees the same choice regarding defined contribution plan as faulty has. The state is doing a study to determine what kind of impact the option of a defined contribution plan for classified employees would have o n VRS. You are not more at risk. At present, you are in the VA retirement system without the option of coming out of it. By the end of Sept. or early Oct. there should be more precise info to give out concerning the progress on restructuring. Gradually over the next 3 years you will get more flexibility and benefits.
8.) Will this university take the lead statewide and financially recognize the professionalism of its landscape division by beginning an upward trend within our existing pay bands?
A.) A very high percentage of employees pulled from a landscaping position to apprenticeship in facilities are in leadership or management positions today. I for one do not want to discourage people from promoting and moving ahead. We’re better off to promote from within. You won’t find many commercial landscapers who have the benefits that our own landscapers have.
9.) Are there any plans to use new ID#’s for payroll?
A.) Eventually, students will be using student ID#’s instead of SS#’s. There will be a lot of changes in the next 5 years. The main system for ID’s is not a ghost system that would be vulnerable.
10.) Will they be working specific hours on new construction by Cabell Hall across
from B1 parking lot?
A.) This is only an 8 day project. The biggest problem is truck traffic going in & out. Community relations keeps updates on these issues and you can check their website.
Jon Rice mentioned that lots of people throughout the University who are responsible for making small-dollar purchases have expressed frustration with state regulations that require them to get bids from minority-owned and women-owned businesses. They are frustrated because of the time and paperwork involved just to make a small (e.g. $19.00) purchase.
There was discussion about adopting a family for x-mas and the need to get started earlier. Beth is checking into the different options available.
Nykki suggested a walking tour of Housing in the spring.
Our next
meeting will be held on Sept. 15th @