Administrative and Professional Assembly

February 20, 2007

2:30 p.m.

Room 213 Foy

 

Meeting Minutes - Approved March 21, 2007

 

Call to Order

            Drew Burgering, Chair of the Assembly, called the meeting to order

at 2:33 p.m.

 

Roll Call

Representatives Present: Pat Deery, Kristen Perkins, Barnese Adair-Wallace, Gary Wittekind, Mark Wilson, Julie Nolen, Katie Mantooth, Vivian Miller, Lisa Fleming, Greg Ruff, Teresa Logiotatos, April Staton, Ellen McManus, John Owen, Jane Hoehaver, David Hennessey, Todd Storey, Drew Burgering, Harriette Huggins and Maria Folmar (20)

 

            Representatives Absent: Latresha Brady-Pinkston, Mark Wilson and

Tony Ventimiglia

 

            Number of A & P Members Present: 21

 

Approval of Minutes

            The minutes of the following meetings were approved:

                        November 14, 2006 – as corrected (Regular Meeting)

                        November 28, 2006 – as written (Called Meeting)

                        January 23, 2007 – as written (Called Meeting)

 

Comments from the Chair

Drew Burgering indicated that he had attended the recent Board of Trustees meeting held in Montgomery, Ala. He noted the following items which were discussed at the meeting:

 

·        Pay raise recently given to the President. This was to bring the salary in line with the expected salary for the next President.

·        New signage is going up around campus. This is part of a new design and look being implemented for Auburn University.

·        Presidential Search is progressing. Finalists are expected on campus by spring break.

 

Drew also attended the recent Senate meeting on campus. He noted the following items which were discussed:

 

·        The state has a good tax stream this year. The funding for next year looks very good. Auburn and Alabama are partnering to support higher education.

·        K-12 is expected to ask for a pay raise next year.  

·        Campus Planning Committee is being reworked into two other committees: Master Plan Committee and the Design Review Committee. We will have an

A & P Representative, who will serve a three-year term, on the Master Plan Committee. Drew read to the group the charge of the committee, which is to “review(s) development of all land holdings of Auburn University and makes recommendations regarding facilities planning, transportation planning, land planning, infrastructure and site development activities. The Committee oversees the continuing administration, maintenance, implementation, change and update of all Auburn University master plans and supporting documents, including design guidelines, The Image and Character of Auburn University and the Auburn University Comprehensive Campus Master Plan.” Meetings will be held “once per semester, more or less, as agenda dictates.” Anyone interested in serving may submit their name to apnecom@auburn.edu .Verbiage from the memo from John Mouton regarding these committees is noted below:

 

2/12/2007

 

To:                  Auburn University Central Administration, Deans, VP’s and Provosts

 

From:              John C. Mouton

                                    Senior Advisor to the President

 

            Subject:           University Committees

 

The President received a proposal last fall regarding the formation of two new University Committees to replace the existing Campus Planning Committee (University Committee.) On November 10, 2006 a letter was sent to the Administration, Deans, VP’s and Provost’s describing the purpose of these committees and the proposed composition.

 

At the University Senate’s request, revisions have since been made to the composition of these committees to include an additional Faculty member on a 3-year term.

 

The Master Plan Committee formulates/adopts institutional plans and guidelines and keeps them current. The Design Review Committee ensures compliance with institutional plans and guidelines.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office.

 

 Information Item

Bob Ritenbaugh, Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services, gave an overview

of the Campus Safety Task Force. This task force was formed when Provost

John Heilman and Executive Vice President Don Large asked Mr. Ritenbaugh and Dean Tim Boosinger to join forces to address several safety concerns on campus. Representatives from various units around campus then came together to form the task force, which has presented eleven areas and topics for review and evaluation:

 

(1)      Police Role (AU and City) – Re-evaluate the three-year agreement; better define performance

(2)         Police Presence on Campus – Desire stronger presence of these officers around campus

(3)         On-Going Communication – The Office of Communications and Marketing is putting information together to heighten safety awareness on campus

(4)      Protecting Intellectual Property

(5)      Enhancing Information Systems on Campus

(6)         Human Resources – Working toward more thorough and “deeper” background checks; Will revisit drug testing

(7)      Video – Need a comprehensive program; Need a surveillance policy

(8)         Hiring a Security Consultant – Need Information Technology consultant, as well as a physical security consultant

(9)         Student Safety Awareness – Work to enhance student awareness of surroundings and offer them better opportunities to report crimes, etc.

(10)     Continually Evaluate Security on Campus

(11)     Clearance Certificate – Ensure that employee who are no longer with  the University have left keys, etc. upon departure

           

Several questions were asked by Assembly members and representatives regarding speeding on campus and clearance, network security and the like. Mr. Ritenbaugh addressed each question, thanked the speaker, and assured the group that these issues will all be addressed by the Task Force.

 

Action Items

Elections

Elections were held to select officers for 2007-2008 for the positions of Chair-Elect, Secretary and At-Large Executive Committee members. Nominees were as follows:

 

Chair Elect                   Secretary          _____        At-Large Exec. Committee Members (3)

Lisa Fleming                 Lisa Fleming                       Barnese Adair-Wallace

Todd Storey                 Katie Mantooth                  David Hennessey

                                                                              Greg Ruff

                                                                              April Staton (nominated from floor)

 

Each nominee for Chair-Elect and Secretary was given an opportunity to speak about his/her qualifications and interest in the respective position.

  

Paper ballots were distributed and then tallied by members of the Nominations and Elections Committee. The following officers were elected:

 

Todd Storey – Chair-Elect

Katie Mantooth – Secretary

Barnese Adair-Wallace, David Hennessey, and April Staton –

At-Large Executive Comm. Members

 

Drew congratulated these new officers.

 

Constitutional Updates

Drew mentioned that he sent the request for the Constitutional updates to President Richardson. Drew is awaiting the President’s response on these amendments. Verbiage from that memo is noted below:

 

February 19, 2007

 

      To:      Dr. Edward R. Richardson        

                  President, Auburn University

 

      From: Drew Burgering

                              Chair, Administrative & Professional (A & P) Assembly

 

CC:     A & P Executive Committee

 

Re:      Approved Revisions to the A & P Constitution

       

At its November 14, 2006 meeting the Administrative & Professional Assembly passed a motion to amend Article 4 Section 1F of the A & P Constitution dealing with Absences. During this same meeting the attached Resolution was also passed to amend Article VI – Grievance Policy. As required by the A & P Constitution all A & P employees were given notice of the proposed amendments and a vote for approval was taken at a called meeting on January 23, 2007. Both amendments were approved by the ¾ required margin.

 

On behalf of the A & P Assembly I am submitting for your approval, as required by the A & P Constitution, the following approved amendment to Article 4 Section 1F, to read as follows:

 

Article 4 Section 1F. ABSENCES –

 

An Assembly member who misses more than two of the six scheduled meetings per year will be removed from the Assembly and replaced in accordance with Article II Section 3e. 

 

Representatives are encouraged to enlist a substitute to attend any meetings missed in

order to provide for continuity of communications. “

I am also submitting for your approval the amendment of Article VI, as noted in the attached Resolution, to read as follows:

 

Article VI -- Grievance Policy

 

The Administrative and Professional Grievance Procedures can be found in the Auburn  University Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 8.6, March, 2006, or in such location as deemed appropriate by University Administration. It is understood that Administrative and Professional employees will be afforded the opportunity to review, comment, and endorse proposed changes to the Grievance Policy and Procedures prior to such changes taking effect.

 

Please inform me of your decision to grant approval on these two amendments so I can notify the Assembly and make the needed changes to the Constitution and our website.

 

      Professional Development Committee

John Greene came forward to present the Professional Development Committee’s recommendation for a consulting policy for A & P, as there is currently no such

policy in place. Dr. Greene explained that he became chair of this committee in

November 2006. One action item was to recommend a consulting policy, as this           

issue has been discussed on campus for many years, but no such policy had yet been approved.

 

Dr. Greene met with Jenny Swaim, then-Chair of the University Staff Council, who indicated that staff members do not feel the need to have such a policy. The faculty members have a consulting policy in place.

 

The Professional Development Committee then went to work to create a proposed policy for A & P members. Dr. Greene explained that policies from at least three other SEC institutions were reviewed in creating the proposed policy for Auburn. He added that the wording in the policy is designed to protect the University and use of University materials. Dr. Greene made a motion to accept the consulting policy as approved by the Professional Development Committee. No “second” is required for a motion coming from a committee.

 

Proposed Consulting Policy

 

CONSULTING POLICY
FOR THE
ADMINISTRATIVE & PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES
OF
AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Auburn University recognizes that professional service outside the University can enrich academic programs, research, and extension, as well as benefit a variety of organizations, both public and private. Therefore, the University permits Administrative and Professional (AP) employees to engage in external consulting.

 

Consulting Defined

Consulting refers to activities outside the University in which an AP employee provides expert advice and/or counsel of a non-continuous nature.  Consulting should provide professional enrichment to the employee, and consequently, benefit to the University.  Therefore, the consulting activity the employee engages in should be related to their area of expertise or specialized knowledge relevant to their employment with the University.  Consulting may or may not result in financial payment to the employee.  Consulting activities may include (but are not limited to) the following: providing advice regarding computer systems, designing accounting systems, conducting seminars, designing an electrical system, etc.  

 

The primary criteria in determining whether a particular consulting activity should be encouraged or permitted are 1) the effect of the activity on the individual and the University, and 2) the extent to which the activity will complement the University’s programs or interfere with the effective discharge of the employee’s responsibilities to the University.

 

Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when the private interest of the employee conflicts with their responsibilities as a University employee.  Such conflicts occur in situations where an employee makes a decision based on personal factors which may not be in the best interest of the University. Employees should avoid both actual conflicts of interest and disclose situations where there is an appearance of a conflict of interest to their supervisor.  Some examples of conflicts of interest may include:

                        a.         Use for personal gain of privileged information acquired in connection with the employee’s University responsibilities.

                        b.         Transmission of nonpublic information to an outside source with which the employee consults.

                        c.         Consulting with an outside vendor for which the University employee makes purchasing or contractual obligations on behalf of the University.

 

AP employees may on occasion be involved in sponsored research.  Such research may present unique situations where conflicts of interest can occur. These employees should consult with Auburn University’s Faculty Handbook with respect to conflict situations in sponsored research.

 

Procedures

Full time employees may be allowed to consult and/or be involved in appropriate continuing education and public service activities in the areas of their expertise for a maximum of one day per work week, with a maximum of 16 days per calendar year, with the consent of their department head and appropriate dean or director. Exceptions to this must be approved by the appropriate Vice President upon recommendation of the department, dean or director.  Consulting and internal activities for extra compensation will be counted against this maximum of four days per month; travel days must be counted as consulting time.  This policy is not intended to limit consulting activities of employees outside the normal work day, during vacation leave, leave without pay, or during the summer for nine-month employees not employed by the University for the summer quarter.

 

A formal application, Auburn University Application for Approval to Engage in External Consulting AP-10, must be filed at least ten days in advance for permission to engage in extramural activities other than the traditional functions in professional, scholarly, or honor societies. The AP-10 shall be maintained in a central file in the Office of Planning and Analysis and in the employee’s file at Human Resources.

General Considerations

Auburn University will assume no responsibility for the competence of its employees with respect to the performance of extramural professional activities, except those carried out under the auspices of established programs operated by the University.

In connection with extramural professional activities arranged outside established University programs, the name of Auburn University shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes or in any report or statement that implies approval or endorsement by Auburn University.

No Auburn University stationery or forms may be used in connection with external consulting work or professional practice. The employee shall use his or her home or other off-campus mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number on correspondence and advertising. Employees should not commit specialized University facilities and equipment or other resources to external consulting projects unless such use is specifically approved in writing in advance by the department head or other appropriate administrator.  Employees will be expected to reimburse the University for the use of specialized equipment and facilities as well as materials. Use of University computer facilities for consulting will also require prior written approval and will be reimbursed at the external user rate.  Approval or reimbursement will not be required for the use of the library.

Employees should keep in mind that this University policy is a benefit and any abuse of this policy may result in disciplinary action.

 

Administrative and Professional Assembly

AUBURN UNIVERSITY
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL
TO ENGAGE IN EXTERNAL CONSULTING

Administrative & Professional Employees

1. Name

2. SSN

3. Title

4. Department/Unit

5. Type Appointment: 9 mo.  /  12 mo.

6. Describe nature of work to be performed, location, and for whom.

7. List dates and number of hours of proposed activity.  Indicate travel time separately if involved.

8. Explain arrangements you have made to ensure that the proposed activity does not interfere with other University responsibilities, such as ensuring that job flow continues.

CERTIFICATION: I will abide by the guidelines set forth in the Consulting Policy for the Administrative & Professional Employees of Auburn University. Signature of Applicant Date

APPROVED: Department Head or Immediate Supervisor     Date Vice President Date Dean/Director Date Human Resources Date Planning and Analysis Date

DISTRIBUTION:

 

Drew Burgering explained the history of A & P and the need for a consulting policy. He indicated that the A & P group was formed when former staff and

non-tenured faculty came together. Some of these employees lost benefits in the merge. This consulting policy would both protect the University and assist employees in their professional growth. The goal was to have a policy which was in line with the faculty consulting policy.

 

Discussion was held regarding the pros and cons of having a consulting policy in place. After several minutes of conversation, a vote was held on whether or not to approve the consulting policy as presented. There were four “nays” and 16 “ayes,” therefore, the motion passed. There was a second motion, which was seconded,

to present the policy proposed by the Professional Development Committee to the President by way of Lynne Hammond, Assistant Vice President/Human Resources.

It was agreed that the proposed policy, with minor changes, would be sent to

Ms. Hammond (Those changes are: (1) Use “term” instead of “quarter” or “semester” (2) Remove statement about nine-month employees; There are no longer nine-month appointments among A & P employees.)

 

Drew then raised a motion (which was seconded) to consider a second option, which was to send a revised version of the first policy to Ms. Hammond. After further discussion, a vote was held. There were no “ayes,” so the motion failed. The originally proposed policy will be sent forth after changes are made.

 

Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business brought forth.

 

New Business

New officers were asked to stay after the meeting for a group photo.

 

Open Forum

The open forum was offered, but there were no participants.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by the Chair at 4:17 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Julie Nolen, Secretary