Back to Top

Minutes of the Meeting of Tuesday, May 9, 2000

Minutes of the Meeting of Tuesday, May 9, 2000, 2:00 p.m., Octavia II

PRESENT:

  • Jay Calamia
  • Catherine Comiskey
  • Debbie Diliberto
  • Bob Gross
  • Dave Huffman
  • Avia Morgan
  • Paula Ruiz-Saurage
  • Jay Sonier
  • Arthur Stern

ABSENT:

  • Al Alcazar
  • Michelle Andrews
  • Gail Howard
  • Charles Marshall
  • Robert Reed
  • Karen Shields
  • Germayne Turner

I. Arthur Stern called the meeting to order at 2:09 p.m.

II. Approval and/or correction of the Minutes of the April 11, 2000 meeting

MOTION was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the April 11, 2000 meeting. MOTION passed.

III. Old Business

A. Review of senate suggestions re: proposed letter about work-study situation

Mr. Stern had asked the senators to bring their questions to this meeting, but will wait on sending the letter until more information is learned from our guests.

IV. New Business

A. Review of budget (Knoth) query/ (Danahar) letters

Mr. Stern reported that he did a little research on the Senate’s budget and believes that there is enough to publish the proposed Newsletters, plus yearly office expenses using the current $400 allocated.

The letter to Dr. Danahar is to ask for expense money for John Sears to get information on staff salary comparison. This letter is also to request funds for the survey directed by Dr. Voigt for Performance

Objective #5. Mr. Stern will have a draft of the letter at the July meeting.

B. Committee Reports:

1. Election - C. Comiskey reported the results of the election for new senators for the 2000-2001 year. Jay Calamia and Dave Huffman were reelected to serve Business & Finance, with Donna Goforth as the alternate; Bob Gross and Trish Moser were elected for Institutional Advancement, with Angela Anthony as alternate; Michelle Andrews will serve for Student Affairs, with Cecilia Sun as alternate, and Al Alcazar was reelected in the Academic Affairs Division, with Elizabeth Kordahl to serve as their alternate. A full list of all senators and the year their terms expire will be sent along with the constitution, by-laws, and meeting dates to all senators before the July 11th meeting.

MOTION was made to accept the results of the election as reported.

Dave Huffman said he was asked about the need for a signature directly on each voting ballot. Ms. Comiskey responded that other methods have been tried and rejected, and that the members of the election committee are trustworthy. The current method has been successful and ensures that only one vote is cast per ballot.

V. Guests - Donna Goforth, Coordinator, Employment and Training, and Wally Boudet, Director, Financial Aid

Mr. Stern welcomed the guests and explained that they were invited to answer questions concerning the work study problem so that an informed letter of concern could be written, and to find out if there is a possible solution.

Mr. Boudet began by explaining the source of the funds. Loyola is awarded federal funds for work study. Loyola must match 25% of the total amount earned by all students each year. In the past, Loyola has contributed up to 50% of the total. But Loyola’s contribution has decreased considerably during the last three years. Awards for work study are need-based, and students must work a certain number of hours. Performance objectives have been implemented to monitor the students’ work, and continuing awards are based on previous work experience and the timely filing of their Financial Aid forms each year.

Ms. Goforth added that annually, about 1,000 students are awarded work study, but only 500 students actually accept it. She said that she understands our concern because for the past two years, the number of placements depends on how many students take advantage of the program. Loyola has expanded services, and there is more area to cover with the same number of students. In the Fall of 1997, the federal minimum wage increased to $5.15 per hour and Loyola could not offer more than the minimum pay as it had in the past.

Some departments at Loyola hire Work Study Students or Student Assistants at a higher rate than the minimum wage because they want to be assured of good workers. Ms. Goforth added that some universities have tutoring jobs that pay higher rates, depending on skills, and some raise rates to students each year for merit. Ms. Goforth mentioned again how difficult it will be to cover the expanded areas of the computer lab in the new library, the operation of all four residence halls, and that we must do community service hours in the Boggs Literacy Center. Work study students must be provided for the "America Reads" program or federal awards may be forfeited. Ms. Goforth said she would like to continue the conversation regarding different wage rates per hour. Mr. Stern asked her if she would bring comparison information from other universities.

Mr. Stern asked Bob Gross if he would please compose the letter for the group concerning the work study problem when all information is gathered, and he agreed.

IV. New Business (cont.):

B. Committee Reports (cont.):

1. Election (cont.) - The MOTION to accept the results of the election was seconded and passed.

The Executive Secretary, Avia Morgan, will contact the new senators and inform them of their win. The new senators are to be in contact with the staff members in their Division to find out if anyone is interested in serving on a committee. At the first meeting of the new year, on July 11th, election of the new Executive Committee is held, and the new Chair takes over the meeting. Elections for membership on other committees take place. Any administrative staff member may be the representative on a committee.

2. Fringe Benefits - J. Sonier said the next meeting will be on May 10th, but she reported on the Walk for the Hungry, held in April. There were about 2,000 walkers. The group from Loyola all seemed to enjoy the event.

3. Senate subcommittee - no report

4. Rec Sports - Coach Hernandez has announced that the NCAA has placed a two-year moratorium on admitting any new schools to Division II.

5. Parking - no report

6. Jesuit/Catholic Identity - Mr. Huffman stated that this committee of the Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet on May 10th.

7. UPT - R. Gross reported on the last two UPT meetings, which concerned Annual Objectives 1 through 5. There were reports on enrollment, academic quality, scholarly production, and on campus infrastructure and building audits. The objective on strategic compensation system was reported by Fr. Knoth, who said a committee will be created, consisting of himself, 3 faculty members, and probably an outside consultant, but no staff member. For 2000-2001, some objectives have been changed. Some new objectives will be program review, and the integrated communications and marketing plan.

C. 1999-2000 wrap-up/looking ahead

1. Mr. Stern distributed a document that will be included in the upcoming Loyola Today. This will also be the basis for his end-of-year letter to Fr. Knoth.

2. Nan Davis, the Chair of the Fringe Benefits committee and one of the Senate’s representatives, has asked our group to change the time in which the election is held for representatives to this committee. She has asked that all five of the Senate’s representatives continue to serve through December 2000, as all of the important decisions to be made concerning insurance will occur in the fall. The members of the Fringe Benefits committee agreed to continue their service. The election for the Fringe Benefits members will be held in December of each year.

3. The next Senate meeting will be held in July. All materials will be sent to new senators before the meeting date. Elections for committee appointments will be held, and a tour of the renovated Biever Hall is scheduled.

4. Suggestions for possible speakers next year include: Julia McSherry on the Integrated Marketing Plan and Richard McCarthy on the Farmer’s Market, along with Fr. Knoth, Rhonda Cartwright, Debbie Stieffel, and Chris Flynn.

VI. Open Forum

Mr. Stern announced that Catherine Comiskey has been named Director of the Annual Fund.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:03 p.m.