Spectrum - Volume 17 Issue 13 November 17, 1994 - Commission discusses AY appointments

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Commission discusses AY appointments

By Clara B. Cox

Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 13 - November 17, 1994

An ad hoc committee on academic-year (AY) appointments has held its first meeting to begin setting guidelines before the appointments are applied to the classified staff, Wyatt Sasser told the Commission on Classified Staff Affairs at its November 9 meeting.

Sasser, who represents the Staff Senate on the ad hoc committee, said the group will be looking at such issues as voluntary versus mandatory AY appointments and changes needed in the payroll system.

"We want (the AY appointments) to be voluntary but realize it may have to be mandatory," Sasser said. He also said that Culinary Services will be the primary user of the AY appointments and that about 20 positions have been readily identified.

Ann Spencer, associate vice president for personnel and administrative services, said that "senior management is in general agreement that they would like to implement AY appointments on a voluntary basis and only mandate it in areas with continuous budget problems; and then only to avoid layoffs."

She said AY appointments would benefit employees of Culinary Services, allowing them to get benefits during the summer months when they are not working.

"Academic-year appointments could have a positive or negative affect on staff members, but it seems to be a positive thing for Culinary Services," commission chairman Fred Phillips said.

In other business, Spencer updated the commission on decentralization. The Department of Personnel and Training, she said, is "working on a coordinated response to our decentralization plans."

Three state agencies have had pilot decentralization projects approved, but none have been approved in higher education, she said.

The commission also discussed recommendations of the governor's Blue Ribbon Strike Force and expressed frustration at learning about the recommendations piecemeal through the media.

Sasser told the group that the Staff Senate has formed an ad hoc committee to review the Strike Force report. The committee, he said will "break out those parts related to the staff."

In other action, Mary Rhoades volunteered to represent the commission on the Benefits Committee.

The commission will meet again on December 14.