(This meeting was held in two sessions, from 5:35 to 6:25 and from 8:07 to 8:35. Additional people joined for the second session and are listed in that part of the minutes.)

Chair Cheryl Harris called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. Present were Carol Whitcomb and Ramona Hasan from Georgia State University, Vickie Phillips and Carla Spivey from Darton College, David Baugher from Kennesaw State University, Peggy Inman from North Georgia College and State University, Ainsley Eubanks from Georgia College and State University, Alberta Cook and Dottie Maiuro from Southern Polytechnic University, Bill Filtz from Valdosta State University, Cheryl Harris and Tonya Morrow from Gainesville College, Cheryl Players from Augusta State University, and Brenda Keen as alternate for Linda Slaney from the University of Georgia.

When the minutes from the May 22 meeting were discussed, Bill Filtz noted that Linda Slaney had told him that the University of Georgia portion of entry #9 should be changed to read that employees must be accepted in a degree-seeking program to be eligible for tuition remission. Ramona said that is not a Board of Regents policy and that is not a requirement if a class is needed for an employee's job. Peggy moved that the minutes be accepted as amended; it was seconded and the minutes approved.

• Southern Polytechnic has a new telecommunications and computer technology program, a new academic building, and new residence halls. Staff was represented on the search committee for a new director of human resources.
• North Georgia College and State University is making headway on compensation problems and four staff members have been appointed to the committee working on pay issues. There is also a staff representative on the presidential search committee.
• Georgia College and State University has a new president as of a year and a half ago and a new vice president as of July 1. The chair of the GC&SU Staff Council had to resign because of health problems, so they have a new chair and a new chair-elect.
• The Kennesaw State University campus is continuing to grow. The KSU Staff Council raised $6,000 and donated $3,000 to Project Open Gate, which helps children's shelters. They want to take a more active role in working with children during this Year of Service.
• Darton College has constructed sidewalks and is working on building renovations. Their Staff Professional Development Committee is striving for more staff participation. Their president is backing them on many issues, and staff should take full advantage of it.
• Georgia State University has been dealing with semester conversion and budget issues. Their Staff Development Committee bestowed over $6,000 as Staff Scholarship Awards. They have been asked to provide two representatives to sit on the search committee for a new ombudsman. There have been several requests for staff to sit on Senate committees. The seventh Staff Information Day is October 15 and all departments will have exhibits and giveaways. The Recreation Department has contacted them to participate in Red Ribbon Week to increase alcohol and drug awareness.
• Augusta State University got money for two new classroom buildings and construction has started on one. A new student center will be funded by raising student fees, and students who graduate before it's completed will be able to use it after graduation. Staff Council is growing. It has increased to 14 members and added a faculty advisor. They started a Mentoring Committee that has been well received. They also have representation on all staff-related committees. They meet with their president once a month.
• The University of Georgia's Classification and Pay Committee will be looking at pay equity and salary compression issues. Staff has been represented on search committees for the new provost and human resources director.
• Valdosta State has a new library addition and other construction. Staff has worked getting ready for the statewide conference.
• Gainesville College is revising their staff evaluation forms. The president asked Staff Council to form two task forces, one for support staff and one for professional staff, to submit recommendations for evaluation revisions. Many recommendations were not followed, but they will have an opportunity to submit others and will resubmit some recommendations before the form is finalized. They held a Staff Forum and had a good turnout. A new president was inaugurated this year. Staff is represented on several committees for hiring new positions. They have a new fitness center and center coordinator. They have an ongoing project with an elementary school as Partners in Education.

The next conference will be held at Georgia College and State University on Friday, October 8, 1999. The committee has met and things are in progress.

Bill noted a survey went out several months ago asking whether there were problems implementing tuition remission but nothing has been done since then and he doesn't know what happened to it. Ramona said they are continuing to ask that staff be allowed to register for classes at the regular time, but so far that has been unsuccessful. Peggy said some staff had been allowed to register at the regular time but they were later dropped for nonpayment.

Cheryl asked whether anyone had gotten their president to write to another president in support of establishing a staff council. Carla said their president said he would handle it on a personal basis. Bill said they were waiting to put forward their request. Cheryl said we can list this issue as ongoing.

Cheryl asked whether Ramona had contacted Louise McBee regarding one-for-one credit for unused sick days. Ramona replied she is working on it and has gotten a political science professor to bring in legislators to meet with and discuss the issue. She suggested staff members get in touch with alumni legislators from their institutions for help and information.

Ramona said she has not contacted Don Davis regarding clarification of the Board of Regents' Family Leave Policy. She said she will discuss it with Dr. Dunning. She said she researched the issue and it is illegal to deny the use of sick time.

Cheryl suggested the meeting be adjourned so representatives could attend the conference session already in progress. It was agreed to resume the meeting after the conference session ended.

Representatives present at the first session were joined by the following people: Anita Thomas from the State University of West Georgia, Jean Fuller from Georgia Tech, Quint Hill from Atlanta Metropolitan College, Joan Dial and Robyn Hubacher from Waycross College, Denise Lee from Fort Valley State University, and Elizabeth Harris from Georgia Perimeter College.

Cheryl welcomed the new representatives and noted the meeting is to finalize remaining issues. She reminded representatives of the USG-SC mentoring program; mentoring institutions are listed on the May 22nd minutes.

Cheryl noted there was discussion earlier about redoing evaluations and suggested that recommendations of the Board of Regents' Policy Directive Committee be included in revisions. Ramona said the system would benefit if Staff Councils combine energy rather than separately trying to draft a form.

Bill asked whether the group wished to gather a list of questions to ask Dr. Dunning on the following day. It was agreed that the person with a question could best ask it.

Bill reported the Chancellor has been visiting system institutions and saying that salaries paid to faculty and staff are second in the southeast only to Virginia. Bill said he'd like to know the staff portion of that and how that was determined. Several representatives said when he visited their schools he said only "faculty" and others reported at theirs he said "faculty and staff". Bill said he would ask Dr. Dunning for clarification.

Jean asked whether USG-SC had taken a lead in tuition remission. Ramona replied yes; they wrote letters, she attended the Policy Directives Committee meetings, and they responded to a letter requesting feedback. Delayed registration is still being discussed. She reported Dr. Patton raises the issue each year when system presidents meet. Elizabeth asked whether staff registered as students are included in the counts that determine how much money a school will get. Ramona said yes. There was some discussion about whether counts are going down and whether that could cause layoffs. Bill reported students were being encouraged to enroll for 12 hours and get an additional 3 hours free. Others said their schools were doing the same thing. Some representatives reported their schools asked employees to volunteer to call some students who had applied but didn't enroll.

Cheryl asked whether bylaws should be changed to reflect the semester system. It was agreed the group should continue to meet four times a year. The next meeting will be Friday, February 19, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sigman Building in Macon. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Submitted by Brenda Keen, The University of Georgia