12/3/04 Administrative Council Meeting Minutes

In attendance: Dr. Claudia Limbert, Dr. Sam Gingerich, Nora Miller, Dr. Bucky Wesley, Perry Sansing, Dr. Mark Bean, Patsy McDaniel, Mary Margaret Roberts, Anika Perkins, Susan Sobley, Wahnee Sherman, and Dana Vaughn.

Absent: Scott Rawles and Dr. Lea Helen Evans.

Dr. Claudia Limbert called the meeting to order.

The minutes from 11/5/04 were approved.

General Updates:

Perry Sansing said the part of the Staff Classification Plan that involves placing employees into categories is almost complete. He said the goal is make the classification as consistent as possible. The next step will be to assign salary ranges. He mentioned that the IHLs were included in the bond bill during the recent special legislative session. MUW received $7 million for renovations to Poindexter and $1 million to equip Martin Hall and South Callaway Hall. Another bleak year is predicted for the legislative session beginning in January 2005. One prominent legislator has been quoted as saying services will have to be cut even with a tax increase.

Dr. Sam Gingerich noted that preregistration is complete. Advisors are contacting students who are here this semester but haven’t preregistered for next semester. The December Graduates’ Recognition Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, at 6 p.m. in Rent Auditorium of Whitfield Hall. He encouraged members to attend. The reorganization plan was submitted to him in mid-November. He has met with the faculty regarding the plan and has a follow-up meeting scheduled for December 8. He will make a recommendation to Dr. Limbert by the end of the semester.

Susan Sobley mentioned that some staff are concerned they will be restructured out of a job.

Dr. Gingerich said no positions will be lost, and he encouraged Ms. Sobley to ask these staff members to see him if they have further concerns. Some support staff attended the previous meeting, and they are encouraged to attend the December 8 meeting too. The committee working on the Academic Master Plan are establishing working groups to study the different areas.

Wahnee Sherman said the Columbus Christmas Parade is set for Monday, December 6. If it rains, the parade will be held on Thursday, December 9. MUW is participating in the parade with the theme of “Twas the Night Before Exams.” The Festival of Trees is set for Tuesday, December 7 from 5-7 p.m. It will be held in the Hogarth W Room due to the threat of rain. The Hearin Leadership Scholars delivered the canned food baskets to needy people in the community following a successful campus canned food drive. The Hearin Leadership Conference “Parade of Leadership” is set for January 21-23.

Dana Vaughn announced that SGA has started a recycling program. There are recycling bags located throughout campus for white paper. The bags are collected once a week. A meeting will be held next week concerning the designated smoking areas on south campus.

Dr. Mark Bean said the W 2009 plan is up for comments. The PIE Council will discuss it, and then it will go to the President’s Cabinet.

Nora Miller reported that the first meeting of the One Card Committee has been held. They are researching how other universities use the cards, and they are trying to decide whether to get proposals or bids. The demolition of the warehouses on 11th Street is going well. Bids will be done soon for the construction of the new Physical Plant facility. Bids were opened for the Pohl and Recreation buildings last week. It is an agenda item for this month’s IHL Board meeting. She is meeting with the architect and the contractor for the Fine Arts project. There have been some FEMA delays, but she hopes to start some work soon. This project needs to be completed so the Fine Arts employees in Shattuck can be moved before the Poindexter renovation project begins. There is an open position at Plymouth Bluff. MUW wants to more actively promote Plymouth Bluff.

Ms. Sobley said Staff Council is making the final preparations for the Staff Holiday Party. There will be a toy and change drive. In addition to concern about the Academic Reorganization Plan, she said the staff is anxious to see the Staff Classification Plan completed.

Anika Perkins noted her office is putting together press packets with various information about the university. Visions is out, and they are working on the next issue.

Patsy McDaniel said chapter meetings have been held in Clay County, Little Rock, Lowndes County, Western Hinds County, Jackson Metro, and Shreveport in the last three weeks. A meeting is scheduled in Baton Rouge tomorrow. The classes of 1951 and 1995 held mini reunions in Columbus recently. Frances Ann Dornbusch, class of 1955, will represent MUW at the inauguration of Dr. Blandina Cardenas as the seventh president of the University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. Jane Dearing Dennis of Little Rock, class of 1980, was named a distinguished club president by Civitan International. She served as president of the Little Rock Civitan Club. Staff Sgt. Andy Thaggard, class of 1994, has been awarded the Bronze Star medal for exceptional service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is married to MUW alumna Jennifer Allmon, class of 1999. Amy Lee Topik, class of 1995 and first Eudora Welty Scholar, has been named to the Mississippi Business Journal’s 12th Annual Top 40 Under 40. She is an attorney in Jackson. The Alumni Office is collecting birth and death announcements and classnotes information for the next issue of Visions.

Dr. Bucky Wesley reminded the members that Scholar’s Day is this weekend. Approximately 75 are registered this year completed to just over 50 last year. Chris Holland, the new Director of Residence Life, will start soon.

Mary Margaret Roberts announced that the Donor Christmas Party is set for December 8. The university has received another $2 million in federal money ($1 million to renovate Eckford for the Campus Health Center, $500,000 for the Southern Women’s Institute, and $500,000 for renovations at the Plymouth Bluff Center. The MUW Foundation recently received a $100,000 scholarship endowment and a $20,000 gift. They are expecting a large gift from a donor in California. The Development Office is working on a report to scholarship donors. The Call Center has exceeded $78,000 in donations. The students will now begin calling alums who have never given.