November 14, 2023 Executive Committee meeting minutes
Attending: David Bragg, Shane Brogan, Shavon Carey-Hicks, Tiffany Carver, Gabriela de la Cruz, Leslie Heal, James Holman, Rebecca Howell, Brigitte Ironside, Haydée Marchese, Arlene Medder, Katie Musgrove, Joe Ormond, Charlissa Rice, Lori Shamblin, Theresa Silsby, James Stamey, Matthew Teal, Ally Wardell, Tracy Wetherby Williams, Jacob Womack
Excused Absences: L. E. Alexander, Keith Hines, Laura Pratt, Julie Theriault
Chair Katie Musgrove called the meeting to order at 11:32 a.m. She called for a motion to approve the October Executive committee minutes. Arlene Medder made this motion, seconded by Brigitte Ironside. The motion was approved by acclamation.
Matt Banks led the committee through this month’s budget report. Banks noted the different classifications of spending, including paid expenditures, commitments to pay, and proposed expenditures. Each of these indicates a different level of commitment to spend. He noted the costs associated with the UNC System Staff Assembly and the expected refund for these charges from the UNC System Office.
The Chair noted that she had zeroed out future budget funding related to the Employee Appreciation Fair, which had passed October 20th. She asked committee chairs to reach out to her or Matt Banks for any assistance with their assigned funds this fiscal year.
The Chair noted the next item on the agenda is the December 6th social and meeting. She pledged to convene the Forum’s Membership & Assignments committee to meet and finalize catering decisions. The meeting will take place in person in the Wilson Library Pleasants Family Assembly Room. Paperless Post invitations will go out to delegates and other dignitaries this week.
The Chair recalled that the subject of community meeting planning had been discussed the prior month. She said that the Forum would pivot to holding a community meeting on the State Health Plan in the spring.
Regarding Bylaws revisions, the Chair said that she had spoken with a law school faculty member about his group resuming work on this document. She said that this group had provided similar assistance to the Forum approximately 15 years ago. She asked that delegates provide that group with a working draft of prospective changes. She said that the prospective changes document would need to be ready by January 15th for consideration by the law school group.
Jacob Womack said that he has a bit of free time emerging at the end of November. He hoped to have something ready for the end of the semester, noting that the Carolina Union is committed to remaining open to students through at least December 20th. The Chair hoped that the law school group could undertake work on internal edits of the document as of January 15th.
The Chair asked if Charlissa Rice or Haydée Marchese had any update on the timeline streamlining project. Marchese said that her office has been very busy recently with work. She planned to set up a group meeting to finish up work on SharePoint and the calendar, perhaps after Thanksgiving. Interested delegates should contact Marchese directly. The Chair offered to sit in on that meeting when it occurs.
Concerning the University Managers’ Association merger, the Chair did not know of any further updates to the initial proposal. She said once edits were completed, they would go to the Education and Career Development and Recognition & Awards committees for their consideration. Following these approvals, the proposal would then go to the full Forum and the UMA itself for final approval.
The Chair shared a draft of the December 6th meeting agenda in which the Forum would conduct an abbreviated version of a monthly meeting, with remarks from Chancellor Guskiewicz, OHR representative Vice Chancellor Menghini, and State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) representatives. She offered to add other items as committee chairs need, noting the social that will precede events from 9:30 – 10 a.m.
The Chair sought ideas for January 10th general meeting speakers. She said that she planned to invite State Relations chief Amy McConkey and Board of Trustees liaison Chris McClure to talk about the budgeting process and how it transpires. Rebecca Howell suggested that the Forum request someone from the Board of Trustees come to speak. The Chair agreed, suggesting University Affairs committee chair Perrin Jones.
Arlene Medder suggested inviting the new director of the Carolina Women’s Center to come speak in March, given that is International Women’s month. Howell asked about hearing another affordable housing update in the new year. The Chair proposed that Vice Chancellor Gordon Merklein be invited to speak with the Personnel Issues committee on this subject. She hoped that the committee could use this meeting as a basis for a draft resolution on affordable housing.
Jacob Womack mentioned the commuter survey that had recently been released to campus, which seems to tie into affordable housing concerns. He hoped that the university could have someone comment on these relationships. The Chair recalled that Transportation and Parking (T&P) is set to update the Forum on T&P’s five-year plan in March or April.
Haydée Marchese reported that students have begun asking for an increase in their wages up to $15/hour. She asked how much housekeepers earn, in comparison. Womack thought that these employees earn around $35,000-40,000 on the high end. Marchese said that this figure could impact the amount paid to students. She worried that some students would receive this higher salary but may not do the appropriate work. She said that student salaries will have a consequential impact on the salaries of other staff employees. Members speculated as to the minimum paid student and staff employees.
The Chair thought that much of this discussion will depend on the progress of the SHRA banding update process. James Stamey said that most housekeepers are now earning $36,368/year, with more for floor technicians and crew leaders. Those who did not receive these recent increases now earn $34,969. The Chair confirmed that these figures do not include temporary employees.
As a member of the Student Fee Advisory Committee, Tracy Wetherby Williams commented that the increase for student workers grew out of the Carolina Union asking for an increase in student fees. She thought that each department has the opportunity to request more money for their students In this area. The Chair added that the Board of Trustees did pass these increases along with tuition increases in its meetings this month.
Marchese recalled a Daily Tar Heel article describing student complaints about pay and working conditions and the demands of balancing school and work. Womack said that the article did not differentiate between federal work study students and otherwise employed students. He thought that much of this problem constitutes a miscommunication regarding where funding for salaries originates. He noted that students working on receipt-supported funds do not have the option of requesting pay increases as others on research grants might have. He was sympathetic to student complaints given recent inflation, but he worried where funds for these increases would come from. Womack looked forward to conversations regarding better leveraging state allocations for this purpose.
Marchese noted the creation of a Student Employee Working Conditions committee and was curious as to its progress in reaching out to other units. The Chair said that the Law School had recently raised wages for its student employees from $9.50/hour to $12/hour. She was glad that other areas of campus were focusing on providing student wage increases as well. She added that the Carolina Union and other units face the struggle of providing these increases without as much flexibility in their budgets.
Womack noted questions regarding disparity between work-study students and other student workers because of federal requirements for pay. Williams said that students are paid out of different pockets of funds. Housekeeper James Stamey said that with the recent increases, his salary is $17.48/hour, received pretax and pre-distribution. Womack observed that students do not pay health care or retirement portions, meaning their overall percentage is higher than housekeepers or other employee workers. He said that raising student salaries could result in disparities with full-time employee salaries, as now full-time employees are barely making more than students and are probably taking home less. He worried over the optics of this eventuality.
The Chair was anxious about the results of the SHRA re-banding process and its implications. Theresa Silsby thought that the re-banding process might be the source of false hope as no funding has been found to support these increases. She urged the Forum to advocate for more funding. In the absence of this funding, Silsby thought that “really talented staff will vacate the premises.” The Chair thought that finding this money for the ’25 budget process is imperative to support the re-banding processes. She hoped that units would fold these needs into their upcoming budget proposals.
Moving to committee reports, the Chair thanked the Communications and Public Relations committee for its work on the Scavenger Hunt administration and distribution of prizes. In addition, Intouch will be assembled and distributed by the end of the month.
Ally Wardell said that the Community Service committee’s food drive is still ongoing, with an end date of November 17th. Theresa Silsby shared details regarding the committee’s sponsorship of a disabled or elderly adult and two children for the holiday season. She said that the committee is seeking between $200-250 for each person sponsored in a tight turnaround window. The committee is also seeking clothing gifts and Food Lion gift cards for these folks. She will collect donations December 4 – 6th.
The Chair reported that preparations are ongoing for the Carolina Blood Drive, with parking arrangements still in process for Red Cross workers. She asked delegates to sign up for appointments and volunteer shifts.
Rebecca Howell said that the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee had experienced a very stressful month with conversations regarding the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
Shavon Carey-Hicks said that the Education and Career Development committee is processing the 62 professional development grant applications received. She noted that evaluation of these applications is due Monday, November 20th. The committee hopes to notify applicants of their status around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Tiffany Carver said that the Membership & Assignments committee continues work on the December 6th social and meeting. The committee would meet immediately following the Executive committee meeting. Carver welcomed volunteers for this effort.
Leah Hefner said that the Personnel Issues committee will hold a discussion with the university’s grievance coordinator to discuss recent policy updates. The committee will also consider how to frame affordable housing concerns into issues of cost of living and annual salary. She was interested to hear from Vice Chancellor Merklein as well. The Chair hoped to make this connection for the committee.
The Chair said that the UNC System Staff Assembly had heard from UNC System schools (Appalachian State, UNC-Wilmington, and Western Carolina) that are taking steps forward on affordable housing for their employees. She hoped to contact officials involved in these initiatives.
The Chair said that the Advisory Committee on Transportation and Parking had wrapped up work on the five-year plan’s parking permit pricing structure and was on track to seek Board of Trustees approval for the five-year plan in the spring.
James Stamey said that the Buildings and Grounds committee met October 12th and voted on the Avery Hall renovation and elevator addition, as well as South Building roof renovations. The committee also met November 2nd to discuss Pit area stormwater improvements, voting on design approval and designer selection for a translational research building. Members discussed the need for these renovations.
Lori Shamblin reported that the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council had decided that there should be no university statements other than what the Chancellor was saying regarding the situation in the Middle East.
Matthew Teal said that the next meeting of the Policy Review committee will take place Thursday, November 16th. The committee will discuss the university’s new finance policy related to IRS accountability and compliance. The university is aligning its policy with changes coming from the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR).
Members discussed prices at Student Stores and discounts for campus staff offered there and elsewhere in town. They also discussed check-out procedures at Student Stores.
Tracy Wetherby Williams said that the Tuition & Student Fees Advisory committee had unanimously approved its report to Vice Chancellor Knuffman. The committee considered only four student fee increase requests and one tuition increase request this year. The Chair shared links from the Finance committee meeting and the full board meeting on Thursday.
Matthew Teal said that the Board of Governors meets tomorrow, with one item under discussion being the return-on-investment study for every department and academic program. He advised those interested to check out the meeting online. The Chair noted that this meeting may be the debut of UNC System Staff Assembly Chair Shayna Hill.
Jacob Womack asked when the upcoming academic calendar will be released. Rebecca Howell said that the commencement committee had asked that this be delayed as long as possible given the changes to commencement coming this year. Members noted that the committee might wish to defer this approval until after commencement occurs, in order to evaluate announced changes to the weekend. Tiffany Carver said that much staff concern was raised by the committee’s consultation with directors rather than the actual staff who carry out graduation.
James Holman said that many support employees are happy that graduation will not occur on Mothers’ Day this year. He had personally missed Mothers’ Day with his late mother for many years due to work commitments. He reported that other employees are opposed to this change in date.
In the absence of further discussion, the meeting was adjourned by acclamation at 12:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Banks, Recording Secretary