Board of Trustees Staff Representative Message - October
Dear Fellow Employees,
Attending my first UK Board of Trustees meeting was an eventful experience. The President’s annual performance evaluation generated lively discussion in the Executive Committee meeting on Monday and during the full board meeting on Tuesday. The President made it very clear in the Executive Committee meeting (and then later again in the full board meeting) that he would not accept any bonus, because salaries for staff and faculty have not been raised for the last two years. While board members respected the President’s view, many felt that formally approving such a bonus would be appropriate, as the President’s contract called for certain levels of compensation, based upon certain performance metrics. I did not oppose the motion, as my own view was more in line with the President’s decision.
More generally, board members expressed concern for the President’s low base salary. Just as many of us want staff to be paid competitive wages, board members want the president – who received an annual evaluation score of 96 out of 100 – to be paid a salary that is competitive with his peers across the country. At the same time, many board members are mindful of the current salary constraints generated by a 13% decline in state funding over the last decade. Also note that during the recent Governor’s Postsecondary Education conference, Governor Beshear cautioned that the state must brace for another round of revenue shortfalls in 2012 unless the economy picks up and/or more stimulus money is provided.
Another area of ongoing discussion is identification of annual institutional goals and evaluation of the President. The recommendations that I have submitted to the Chair for next year’s evaluation include the following:
- Evidence of competitive salaries for faculty and staff
- Evidence of continuous improvement in faculty and staff job satisfaction and engagement
- Evidence of increased physical space and technical services for educational, research and support purposes
In addition to the full board meeting I attended the following committee meetings:
- Board Orientation for New Board Members
- Healthcare Committee
- Student Affairs Committee
- Investment Committee
- University Relations Committee
UKStaff Listserv
After the recent flurry of postings about Express Scripts, many of us realized that Russ Williams “owned” and managed the UKStaff Listserv. After some discussion, I have asked for and have received ownership of the listserv, setting the precedent that the Staff Representative of the BOT always own and manage it. IT is willing to provide ongoing technical support while HR Communications is willing to provide consultations on any matters regarding HR policy and benefits to whomever holds the office.
Staff Representative to Board of Trustees Activity Report
- Governor’s Conference on Postsecondary Education, September 11
- BOT orientation and committee meetings, September 14
- BOT board meeting, September 15
- Meeting with Ernie Yaneralla, September 23
- State of the University of Address, September 24
- Meeting with College of Education employees, with Mike, Bryan and Holly on September 25
- Meeting with Mira Ball, September 29
- Signed “topping off” beam for new Chandler Hospital, during annual Healthcare Employee pic-nic, September 30
- Welcome reception for the dean of the College of Communications and Information Studies Dean H. Dan O’Hair, September 30
- Hall of Fame Awards, University of Kentucky School of Human Environmental Sciences, October 2
Sincerely,
Robynn Pease
October 9, 2009
