THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSE AT CHATTANOGA

Exempt Staff Council Meeting

October 29, 2002

Lupton Library, Room 208

 

 

Members Attending: Debra Anderson, Debbie Bell, Jean Dake, Tonya Pace, Mike Royster, Gwen Williams, Cynthia Wood. Janet Spraker represented Tom Ellis, Danny Grant represented Charles Scott, and Maria Derrick represented Lindsay Pardue.

 

Others in attendance: Dan Webb, Director, Personnel Services; Melanie Sadler, Administrative Secretary, Personnel Services.

 

Call to Order: Ms. Anderson called the meeting to order.

 

Minutes: Motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the September 17, 2002 meeting.

 

Guest Speaker:                 Dr. Richard Gruetzemacher, Director, Planning, Evaluation, and Institutional Research

 

§         Faculty/Staff Retention Task Force

 

Dr. Gruetzemacher is a member of the Faculty/Staff Retention Task Force, appointed by Sylvia Davis, UT Vice President for Budget and Finance, to recommend a strategy to retain highly valued faculty and staff. An interim report has already been presented to Ms. Davis. Dr. Gruetzemacher has spoken to the Employee Relations Committee and wishes to receive input from the Exempt Staff Council.

 

Based upon a study conducted by the Corporate Leadership Council, employees may leave an organization due to several factors. These include organizational commitment, job satisfaction, pay satisfaction, and external opportunities. Organizational commitment is the relationship between the employee and the organization and is influenced by work/life balance, opportunity for development, organizational vision, and relationships with coworkers. The relationship with employee’s manager and coworkers, nature of job, and promotional opportunities govern job satisfaction. Pay satisfaction is determined by internal equity and market equity, but also includes base pay, retirement, health benefits, and bonus pay. External opportunities weaken the relationship between one’s job satisfaction and the intention to leave current employment.

 

A draft of the survey will be available for review by the ESC. The survey will be distributed to employees, by job families, on all campuses and will also include several questions in addition to the survey. When asked for a timeframe for the changes, Dr. Gruetzemacher responded that Ms. Davis originally wished to make compensation changes within the next fiscal year.

 

§         THEC Funding Formula

 

THEC examines ten peer institutions from Texas to Maryland that are similar in mission, programs, and enrollment. Dr. Gruetzemacher stated that while compensation and staffing are reviewed, there is no consistency in the ways that universities are organized.

 

A formula is used by THEC to recommend funding for higher education institutions, although only 80% was approved by the State Legislature for UTC this fiscal year. Sixty-three percent of funding given is for instruction and academic support while funding for student services is based on student’s full time effort.  He added that the THEC would probably develop a different formula for use within the next five years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

§         Other Issues

 

Staff that participated in “Advanced Connections” customer service training program in May will meet on November 21st for lunch and discussion in group sessions. Staff will be asked to decide how the program can be used to serve the needs of the campus.

 

Yancy Freeman, Director of Admissions, is asking offices for their help in developing a booklet that would be  distributed to UTC personnel that will briefly explain “what your office does.” 

 

Approximately 30 issues were addressed in a previous SACS visit. SACS re-visitation was favorable with only three issues that still need to be dealt with.

 

EMG Marketing Consultants were on campus to discuss developing and marketing an image for the University. Many voiced opinions that UTC needs a separate identity and does not want to be lost in a “sea of orange.”

 

Dr. Loren Crabtree, Provost, has been named Chancellor of UT. The Chancellor’s position was eliminated by Dr. Gilley and reestablished by Dr. Shumaker.

 

Ms. Anderson would like ESC members to consider a mentoring program for new Exempt Staff employees.

 

§         Next Meeting

 

The Chancellor is scheduled to speak at the ESC meeting on Monday, November 18 at 11:00 a.m. in Lupton Library, Room 208.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Melanie Sadler

Administrative Secretary

Personnel Services