NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY

Fringe Benefits Committee

Meeting Minutes

Thursday, September 21, 2006

 

 

Members Present:  Cathy Thomas, Kari Bachman,  Gretchen Van Doren, Cherri Lambeth (Chairperson)

 

Members Absent: Charles Pfeifer, Jim Anthony, Richard Waugh, Brenda Garcia

 

Ex-Officio Members:  Janet May

 

Ex-Officio Members Absent:  Diana Quintana, Tina Byford, Tammy Anthony

 

Visitors Present:  Deb Weir, Employee Benefits

 

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The regular meeting of the Fringe Benefits Committee was convened on Thursday, September 21, 2006, at 1:30 p.m..

 

A Motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes from the April 20, 2006 meeting with no changes.  The Motion passed.

 

old business

 

Kari Bachman and Gretchen Van Doren presented information on their research into Professional Sabbaticals at land-grant institutions; a brief synopsis is available on request.  Currently, the institutions contacted -- Univ. of Missouri, Univ. of Arizona, Louisiana State Univ., Oklahoma State Univ., and Univ. of Arkansas -- do not support professional sabbaticals.  Individually, they have some form of leave policy that supports the continued professional or academic education of their exempt non-academic staff.  An application for Professional Leave was available from Washington State Univ. but no response as to the direct purpose of the application was received in time for the presentation.

 

As part of the synopsis and review,  a brief discussion was held on paid-time-off as it applies to the commercial work setting.  Due to ERB requirements, this would not be feasible at NMSU.

 

A Motion was made to make the following recommendation to ACAP

 

“The Fringe Benefits Committee recommends a review by Administration of NMSU Policy Manual sections 7.20.35, “Leaves-Educational –Without Pay,” and 7.20.60, “Leaves-Professional (Without Pay),” to include a policy for professional/exempt leave with full or partial pay.”

 

A call for a vote was made,  and the Motion passed.

 

new business

 

There was no new business requested by ACAP.

 

Ms. Deb Weir/HR Employee Benefits was introduced to the committee.  She is replacing Angela Velasco and is available to the committee for any questions.

 

next meeting

 

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2006, at 1:30 pm in Room 333, Breland Hall.

 

A Motion was made to adjourn the meeting; seconded and passed.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

 

Minutes Respectfully Submitted by Gretchen Van Doren