 |
|
First Annual UNM Staff CouncilNew Mexico Higher Education Staff SummitThe Working Voice of Higher EducationOn the University of New Mexico Campus in Albuquerque Thursday, July 27 and Friday, July 28, 2006 Summary and RecapRegistered Attendees: Huie Brown, ENMU; Felicia Casados, NMSU~Grants; Elsie Baldwin, UNM~Gallup; John Whitman, SFCC; Margaret Soucy, WNMU; Natalie Sanchez Campos, College Success Network; JoAnne Salome, NMIMT; Karin Retskin, UNM; Tim Nesbitt, NMSU; Rhonda Jesko, CNMCC; Jose Griego, NNMCC; Alice Letteney, UNM~Valencia; Christina Chavez Kelley, NMSU; Kathy Casados, UNM~LA; Kathleen Ferris, UNM; Susan Dugan, SFCC; Richard Goshorn, UNM~LA; Mimi Swanson, UNM; Diana Quintana, NMSU; Laurie Mellas, UNM; Ron Ortiz Dinkel, College of Santa Fe; Smith Frederick, UNM; Rena Garrerr, ENMU; Steve Borbas, UNM; Tom Rabadeau, NMSU; Kate O'Neill, UNM~Taos; David Groth, UNM; Sabra Basler, UNM; Shirleen McDonald, UNM~Valencia; Nanci Nielson, UNM~Valencia; Carlos Ramirez, UNM LA and Emmett Vicenti, UNM. Speakers: David Harris, President, UNM; Dr. Evalynne Hunnemuller, Executive Director, ERB; Paul Swanson, ERB; Carlos Rey Romero, Associate VP, UNM Government and Community Affairs; Susan Carkeek, UNM HR Vice president; Sabra Basler, HED Advisory Board Staff Representative; Dr. Beverlee McClure, Cabinet Secretary, NM Higher Education Department. Guests: Jennifer Velasquez, College of Santa Fe; Paul Swanson, ERB; Vanessa Shields, Juan Larranaga, Greg Johnston, Hanh Nguygen, Shelley Rael, Christine Mermier, Susan Moczygemba McKinsey, Bill Bloom, Beth Silbergleit, Anne Munson and Caroline Gonzales, all UNM. Thursday, July 27::Call to order: UNM Staff Council President David Groth called the summit to order at 1:45 with opening remarks from him and UNM President David Harris. Attendees from each institution introduced themselves as well as co-workers present. Dr. Evalynne Hunemuller and Paul Swanson: "New Mexico Educational Retirement Board"(handout available from UNM Staff Council Office) Attendees were updated on: stats on members in system, history of funding, increased liabilities, contribution levels-employee and employer, proposed legislation affecting ERB, retirement formulas, retirement options and return to work options. Dr. Hunemuller suggested that membership on the ERB might be opening up, and someone from higher education would be good to have as a member. She also shared a drafted example of a media release showing many groups coming together to support a particular initiative and encouraged unification of the summit attendees, with a larger voice for use in Santa Fe, on issues that affect us all as members of the same educational retirement system. Carlos Rey Romero: "Advocacy: Helping to Shape Public Policy" Carlos spoke on ways that the group can advocate for issues that we all face, offering suggestions for working locally and then on the statewide level. He enumerated various state legislators that attendees knew from their districts and encouraged greater efforts to get to know them and interact with them all year round. He suggested that as a formal, cohesive organization we could become part of a larger solution for our mutual issues. Friday, July 28::Call to order: UNM Staff Council President David Groth at 8:45 AM. Susan Carkeek: (handout available from UNM Staff Council office) "Issues Facing Higher Education Employees" Susan spoke to interesting facts and stats, benefits and career development. She discussed related issues such as today's family, work + life balance, aging population and aging workforce and the shrinking workforce. In benefits she discussed healthcare costs -under funding of Medicare and Medicaid, the fact that providers are shifting costs to employers and employers are shifting costs to employees; also addressed were prescription drug costs and the ever present rising cost of health care. The #1 cause of rising healthcare costs is obesity.…and stated that if increases in costs continue at the current rate, total cost of health insurance will be 65% of direct pay. Current trends in benefits include targeting prevention and wellness, CDP-consumer directed plans, the uniqueness of NM having the only 24 hr/365 Nurse Hot Line for anyone in the state to access, establishing flexible benefits/lifecycle plans, rethink benefits for new (read: younger) workforce and phased retirement. She shared stats on career development such as, on the average, an employee stays in the job for 3.5 years and had 6 careers in a lifetime with 3 to 4 jobs per career. She suggested starting with career planning, professional development, mentoring/coaching and implementing flexible work practices/reduced hours. Sabra Basler: "HED Advisory Board Role & Responsibilities" Sabra gave a brief overview of activities she has participated in as the staff member on the board; she stated her term is 4 years and that she represents the voice of higher ed staff all over the state and asks that attendees contact her with issues, ideas, and solutions.
Dr. Beverlee McClure: gave a brief overview of the state of education in NM; she stated that success in college was predicated on success in K~12 and that some students are getting shortchanged on subjects that really provide the foundation for higher education…and that we must all work together for resolution. The secretary stated that in 2004 NM was graded in a nationwide survey called "Measuring up 2004-State Report on Higher Education". That study gave NM an F for preparation of high school students for college; an A- for getting students to enroll in college; we were graded F in affordability and a D in completion and retention rates, with benefits graded at C+. The state received an I for incomplete for data on "learning" not made available for the survey…as we all realize, these scores are unacceptable and form the basis for the governor forming a cabinet level position to begin to make corrections and changes to our state education system. She gave an overview of various programs and initiatives from her department, including initiating a faculty and staff compensation study to review the funding for faculty and staff salaries at state-funded public higher education institutions. The results will be reviewed in context of the national perspective regarding impacts on salaries, and with consideration for cost of living and other factors. (Editors note: see May 15, 2006 updates from HED www.hed.state.nm.us , click on Cabinet Secretary, then updates, scroll to May 15, 2006). The survey is ongoing at this time. Institutional Challenges and Concerns Group Discussion: Participants discussed concerns and challenges in higher education. Key points were: compensation, rewards and recognition, achieving equity between institutions, grant and contracts, staff and career development, health insurance, retirement, the representation of higher education in the legislature and IT full funding. Facilitated Participant Discussion: David Groth led the discussion and presented the draft of a constitution for attendees to consider. After much discussion it was determined that a need for unifying our voices was real, that we could empower ourselves to advocate for mutually related changes at the legislative level and that attendees were interested in moving forward and forming a statewide organization. Constitutional particulars like the objective, membership, officers, meetings and other details were hammered out via group discussion and input. At the end of the discussion, the revised constitution was approved unanimously. David announced that attendees could look for the constitution, as well as meeting summary, in the very near future…and that we have taken the first step and are now ready for the next. The First Annual Higher Education Staff Summit has resulted in the formation of the New Mexico Higher Education Staff Association and the summit was adjourned at 2:00 PM. Submitted by: |
|
![Dr. Beverly McClure [photo by Greg Johnston]](images/2006_mcclure.jpg)
