REVISED
Minutes of Faculty Welfare Committee, Thursday, November 11, 2010, 3:30 p.m.

 

 

Regular, voting members present (7): Katrina DuBose, chair, John Reisch, Andrada Ivanescu, Ken Ferguson, Louis Warren, Michael Hartley, acting secretary.

 

Regular, voting members absent (1): Christine Avenarius

 

Ex-officio, voting members present (2): Jonathan Dembo (Representative of the Chair of the Faculty) Susan Simpson (Representative of VC for Health Sciences), and Chris Locklear (Representative of the Chancellor).

 

Others present (1): Lori Lee

 

October 14, 2010 minutes. Michael Hartley motioned to approve the October 2010 minutes. Susan seconded. All were in favor.

 

November 2, 2010 Faculty Senate Report. John Reisch reported that Faculty Senate made 3 resolutions related to the FWC committee:

 

1.  Moved Part VI. Section I. B. Collection Money to Part V Section I.L Ordering Textbooks and Collateral Material.

 

2.   Removed Part IV Section I. Employee Policies, Subsection C. Employee Involvement in Political Candidacy and Office Holding. Tabled by Faculty Senate with the Faculty Governance Committee asked to review proposed revisions prior to action by the Faculty Senate.

 

3.  Approved Part VI Section VI. Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action policy.

 

Faculty Manual Items Left to Review:

    1. Part VI Section I Part E. New Faculty Orientation (AI, MH). Michael Hartley and Andrada Ivanescu will edit and bring revised version to December 2010 faculty meeting for a vote.

 

    1. Part VI Section III Part R. Tuition Privileges (KD). Michael Hartley motioned to approve the following language. John Reisch seconded. All were in favor.

 

Revise and keep in the Faculty Manual.

“Tuition Privileges for Faculty

In accordance with the North Carolina General Statute, East Carolina University faculty are eligible to take classes at a reduced cost.  See http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/financial_serv/cashier/Tuition-Waiver.cfm for more information.”

 

    1. Part VI Section I Part J Salary Policies (KD, AI). This item still needs to be reviewed by a subgroup of the EPA policy committee. At this time, FWC Committee decided to shorten up the section and add more links. Ken Ferguson motioned to approve the following language. Louis Warren seconded. All were in favor.

 

Revise and keep in the Faculty Manual.

“Salary Policies

Faculty annual salaries are paid semimonthly. New employees receive the first check on the last work day of September. When the 15th or last day of a month falls on a non-work day for the business office, distribution of checks will be made on the last work day prior to that day.  Arrangements must be made with the payroll office to have checks deposited in a local bank to the faculty’s account. Salaries for summer term I teaching are paid in three installments. Salaries for summer term II are paid in two installments, and salaries for 11-week summer term are paid in five installments. 

 

Federal and state income tax withholdings are based off information furnished to the payroll office on the US Treasury Department Form W-4 and North Carolina Department of Revenue Form NC-4, respectively

 

For a more detailed description on Salary Policies (e.g. overloads, summer overloads, research/creative activity, less than full time employees, etc.) see the following resources:

ECU Policy Manual: http://www.ecu.edu/prr/, Human Resources: http://www.ecu.edu/hr/, Financial Services (payroll): http://www.ecu.edu/cs-admin/financial_serv/payroll/index.cfm.”

 

    1. Part VI Section I Part L. Travel and expense allowances (KD, AI). John Reisch suggested changing period of “thirty days” to a “in a timely manner.” Chris Locklear is going to check if approval for travel is required even if there is no reimbursement. There may be a Worker’s Compensations requirement if faculty want travel to fall under “business related.” FWC will return to item in the December 2010 meeting.

 

    1. Part VI Section VII Part A. Substance Abuse Policy (LI, JR). Discussion included removing first sentence of original language, leaving links, and addressing inconsistent language between “academic community” and “university community.” Michael Hartley motioned to approve the following language. Katrina DuBose seconded. All were in favor.

 

Revise and keep in the Faculty Manual.

“A. Substance Abuse Policy

The highest standards of personal and professional conduct must be maintained by faculty, staff, and students. Illegal or abusive use of drugs or alcohol, referred to in this policy as substance abuse, by members of the university community adversely affects the mission of the university and is prohibited. A substance abuse policy adopted by  the East Carolina University Board of Trustees, consistent with the UNC Board of Governors' Policy on Illegal Drugs, is intended to: prevent substance abuse through a strong educational effort; encourage and facilitate the use of counseling services and rehabilitation programs by those members of the university community who require their assistance in stopping substance abuse; and discipline appropriately those members of the university community who engage in illegal drug or alcohol related behaviors.

 

The substance abuse policy of East Carolina University is located at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/ugcat/policies.cfm. The UNC Board of Governor's Policy on Illegal Drugs is located at http://www.northcarolina.edu/policy/index.php?pg=dl&id=300&inline=1&return_url=%2Fpolicy%2Findex.php%3Fpg%3Dvb%26tag%3DChapter%2B1300.”

 

 

    1. Part VI section I Employment Part I. Retirement (JT). Tabled until December 2010 meeting.

 

    1. Part VI Section I Part H & I Phased retirement/ retirement part 2 privileges (JT). Tabled until December 2010 meeting.

 

    1. Report on Part V – Section G. Faculty Absences & Part VI Section I  Part D Leaves of Absence (JR, LI). FWC committee recommended separating the illness and personal leave with business leave and short and long-term leave. Also recommended checking if department chair is allowed to approve the “acceptability” of leave and making sure language is consistent with Family Medical Leave Act. John Reisch will edit and bring revised version to December 2010 faculty meeting for a vote.

 

    1. Part VI Section II Parts A-M Welfare Benefits and Leave (CL, JT, JD). Ken Ferguson motioned to approve the following language. Michael Hartley seconded. All were in favor.

 

Revise and keep in the Faculty Manual.

“II.      Welfare and Benefits and Leave

A.  Hospitalization Insurance Benefits

B.  Disability Income Plans Workers’ Compensation

C.  Mandatory Enrollment in Group Life Program Vacation and Sick Leave

D.  Group Insurance Plans Faculty Serious Illness and Parental Leave Policy

E.   Social Security

F.   Deferred Compensation Plan

G.  Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of NC (401K)

H.  Tax Deferred Annuity

I.    US Savings Bonds

J.    Unemployment Compensation Benefits

K.  Vacation and Sick Leave

L.   Workers’ Compensation

M.  Flex Reimbursement Accounts

 

II.  Welfare and Benefits and Leave

A.  Benefits
A variety of benefits are available to permanent employees of ECU, based on specific eligibility criteria.  All benefits are subject to state regulations, university policies and procedures, and individual plan documents. Employee benefits are subject to change and reasonable notice is provided to employees by Human Resources when changes occur.  Information about these plans may be obtained from the University Benefits Office in Human Resources.  See the University Policy Manual for more information.

B.  Workers’ Compensation

All university employees, including paid student help, are covered by workers' compensation that provides for certain benefits in the event there is an on-the-job accident, causing injury. If and when an on-the-job accident causing injury should occur, it should be reported immediately to the supervisor who will notify the appropriate university offices. For additional information about workers’ compensation and for related forms, see the University Policy Manual.

C.  Vacation and Sick Leave

Faculty with professorial rank who have twelve-month employment contracts may earn leave as authorized by the vice chancellors and chancellor. Teaching faculty who have a nine-month employment contract do not earn any vacation or sick leave. 

D.  Faculty Serious Illness and Parental Leave Policy

This policy provides leave with pay for eligible faculty for cases of serious health conditions, maternity leave, or parental leave as defined by the Family and Medical Leave Act.  See the University Policy Manual for more information.

 

 

    1. Part VI Section VII Part B Weapons Policy (KF,MH). FWC committee recommended an appreviated version. Ken Ferguson will edit and bring a revised version to December 2010 faculty meeting for a vote.

 

    1. Part VI Section III Part I Grants, contract and cooperative agreements (CB, JD, JT). Discussed need to collaborate with the Research and Graduate Studies programs. Item tabled until December 2010 meeting.

 

Meeting ended at 5:45pm