Minutes of Administrative Staff Council
March 6, 2003

Call to Order
Laura Emch called the meeting to order at 1:30.

Members Present
Ann Betts, Amelie Brogden, Nora Cassidy, John Clark, Wayne Colvin, Tina Coulter,
Dave Crooks, Jim Dachik, Penny Nemitz, Laura Emch, Mike Fitzpatrick, Deb Fleitz,
Dave Garcia, Brady Gaskins, Kim Grilliot, Terry Herman, Deborah Knigga, Sue Lau,
Sandy Miesmer, Emily Monago, Karen Schwab, Phyllis Short, Ron Skulas, Robin
Veitch, Barbara Waddell, Robert Zhang

Member Substitutes
Sue Tomor for Joe Luthman. Ray Buckholz for Ron Skulas. Emily Monago for Sally Johnson.

Absent
Carl Dettmer, Susan Kozal, Lona Leck, Tom Scavo, Cindy Smith.

Approval of Minutes
John Clark moved and Sandy Miesmer seconded approval of the minutes from
February 6, 2003.

Chair’s Report
The written report submitted by the Vice Chair is reproduced below:

ASC Chair’s Report—March 6, 2003
1) The Vice-Chair, Robin Veitch, and I met twice with Dr. Dobb. Topics
included the University budget, FMLA, paperless contracts, Health Center
initiatives, Crisis Management Committee, and Cultural Competence.
2) I represented ASC at the February 20th President’s Advisory Council
meeting where the topic was the North Central Accreditation Self Study.
3) The ASC Executive Team met twice and discussed a variety of topics
including FMLA, ASC Elections, ASC Scholarship procedures, ASC Salary
recommendations, and personal issues.
4) A reminder to all that our Spring Reception is on Wednesday, May 14th
from 3:30-5 at 202b Union.
5) Nine ASC members volunteered to meet with the North Central
Association Evaluation Team on March 3rd. Thank you to all the
volunteers for participating in this important event.
6) Several conversations have occurred with members of Upper
Administration on BGSU’s plan should the Homeland Security Advisory
System be under HIGH or SEVERE alert status. Each employee needs to
consider his/her own personal plan in case of unforeseen emergencies.
Help in developing your personal plan can be found at various government
web sites including:
a. www.ready.gov
b. www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/
c. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/
In addition, Laura asked for comments about the NCA visit. John Clark said he, Linda
Hamilton and others met with the members from NCA. He said they met for over an
hour and discussed general issues of strengths and weaknesses of the university. Topics
that were discussed included residence halls and multicultural interaction.
Laura also said that the university is setting up procedures that will be followed if the
Homeland Security emergency levels would go to high or severe. Central in all of the
discussions is the need for each individual to have a personal plan. She cited an example
of the University being quarantined because of biological weapons. She said each
individual would need to know who would take care of children and other personal
matters, if they were not able to leave the area.

Vice Chair’s Report
The financial report was submitted by Robin Veitch.

Secretary’s Report
Election proceedings will begin soon. Self- nominations will be solicited through the web
site, via email and through articles in the Monitor.

Committee Reports:

Amendments: None

Awards and Special Recognition:
Deb Fleitz stated the committee had met and revised the language of the BG Best award
nomination form and the information on the web site. They will be calling for
nominations in the next few weeks. The awards will be given at the ASC Spring
Reception on May 14, 2003.

External Affairs: None.

Internal Affairs:
Kim Grilliot reported that the committee will soon have a draft proposal on the mentoring
program. They hope to have a final version ready by April. In order to get feedback
from representatives, an electronic version of the draft will be forwarded for review
before the next council meeting.

Personnel Welfare: None.

Professional Development:
Amelie Brogden reported that they committee is working on the professional
development day which will take place on April 3. Some of the sessions will include
personal strategies for dealing with security alerts and persona l wellness issues in the
workplace. Ann Betts added that professional from Cincinnati that deal with weapons of
mass destruction programs will be conducting the sessions on how to rationally react to
increased security levels.

Salary: Dave Garcia reported that the committee will not be able to gather the
information from other institutions that they intended to use for a salary proposal in time
for this year’s recommendation. Instead, they will meet next week to address the issues.
They will be meeting with the Executive Council on March 18 to present their proposal.
They are looking at percentage increases versus an across the board, lump sum increase.
He stated that the across the board proposal would be less costly to administration and
would help staff in the lower brackets in reaching mid-point of their salary range. He
also stated that he has heard that faculty members will receive some sort of a raise. Laura
asked if the Classified Staff Council will be presenting their proposal. Karen Schwab
indicated that their proposal will also be recommending an across the board raise. Laura
asked if anyone had heard if other institutions such as University of Toledo are getting
raises. No one heard anything concerning other institutions. John Clark added that he
felt that it was good that the proposals from the two constituencies appeared to be similar
in nature as that might aid in receiving a favorable response by upper administration.

Scholarship:
The raffle was held on March 5. A list of winne rs is reproduced below. 2807 tickets
were sold and $1799 has been collected to date. Applications for the scholarships are due
March 21. They should be reviewed by mid-April and applicants will then be contacted
for interviews.
RAFFLE ITEM WINNER
OFFICE
$25 gift certificate from Continuing Education, International and
Summer Programs (to be used towards an Options program) Diane Witmire
Faculty Senate
$25 gift certificate from Kroger Dorothy Grassley
Graduate College
$25 gift certificate to Barnes Nursery Scott Gallaway
English
$30 debit card from BGSU Dining Services Barbara Hoffman
Health Services
A Fall 2003 (one semester) pass to the BGSU Recreation Center
(pass admits a family of four) Jean Coffield
Family/Consumer Science
BGSU Merchandise from BGSU Bookstore Cheryl Bookenberger
Postal Services
Coca-Cola T-shirt (gray) Lorraine Haricombe
Library
Coca-Cola T-shirt (gray) Jane Chang
Applied Stat/Oper Res
Coca-Cola T-shirt (gray) Charles Hoy
Telecommunications
Coca-Cola T-shirt (red) Janis Slavik
Coop Educ & Internship
Coca-Cola T-shirt (red) Diane Regan
Academic Affairs
Coca-Cola T-shirt (red) Jean Ford
Dining Services
Coca-Cola Umbrella Sara Zulch-Smith
Educ & Human Devel.
Five free visits to Lifestyles for Ladies Only (Toledo area) Mary Lynn Pozniak
Academic Enhancement
Five free visits to Lifestyles for Ladies Only (Toledo area) Jill Carr
Student Life
Five free visits to Lifestyles for Ladies Only (Toledo area) Carol White
Alumni Affairs
Five free visits to the Tanning Center in Bowling Green Susan Carlton
English
Four free tickets to a 2003 Toledo Mud Hens Game
(total value of $32) Josh Kaplan
Health Services
Four free tickets to a 2003 Toledo Mud Hens Game
(total value of $32) Nancy Colsman
Bursar
Four free visits to Lifestyles for Ladies Only (Toledo area) Cathy Wagner
Intervention Services
Four WBGU-produced TV programs (Ben Richmond –
Artist & Entrepreneur,
The Midwestern Heritage of Glassmaking,
The Blizzard of '78, Cedar Point Memories) Heath Huber
Women's Center
Four WBGU-produced TV programs (Story of the Great Black Swamp,
The 1934 Electric Auto-Lite Strike, The Schedel Gardens,
German Catholic Country in W. Central Ohio) John Eggenton
Financial Aid
Four rounds of golf with two golf carts at Forrest Creason course
($112 value) Mike McKay
Biological Sciences
Gift basket from Andersons ($50 value) Barbara Waddell
Diversity Initiatives
Hanging spider plant donated by the BGSU Greenhouse Gail Houtz
Financial Aid
One dozen Golfballs Michelle East
Dining Services
One semester reserved parking space Vickie Shields
Women's Studies
One-year family membership to Toledo Zoo ($55 value) Cathy Kutzli
Residence Life
Spring bulb garden donated by the BGSU Greenhouse Robert Cramer
Recreational Sports
Stained glass piece by Suzanne Fahrer Doreen Bateson
Dining Services
Two BGSU Men's Basketball Season Tickets for 2003-04 Martha Mazzarella
Sociology
Two BGSU Season Football Tickets for 2003-04 Lori Schumacher
Payroll
Two BGSU Season Hockey Tickets for 2003-04 Beverly Magrum
Postal Services
Two BGSU Women's Basketball Season Tickets for 2003-04 Joseph Jacoby
Sociology
Two BGSU Women's Volleyball Season Tickets for 2003-04 Maureen Casile
Management
Two season tickets to 2003-04 BGSU Theater production Diane Smith
Education
Two season tickets to the 2003-04 College of Musical Arts
Festival Series Jacqueline Nathan
School of Art
WBGU-TV gift package (one set of Do-Wop boxed CD's
valued at $70) Deb Divers
Firelands
WBGU-TV gift package (one set of Do-Wop boxed CD's
valued at $70) Linda Crawford
Health & Human Services
WBGU-TV gift package (set of ten local cookbooks valued at $100) Joanne Navin
Health Services
WBGU-TV gift package (set of ten local cookbooks valued at $100) Sandy Miesmer
Bursar

Faculty Senate Liaison:
The written report submitted by John Clark is reproduced below.
ASC FACULTY SENATE LIAISON—REPORT FROM 3/4/03 FACULTY SENATE MEETING
President Ribeau
Budget—The total budget cuts in the past 3 years (in state share of instruction) amounts
to approximately $1000 per student. BGSU has recently been ordered to cut our budget
by another $2 million, which we must make up before June 30. The state has proposed reinstitution
of tuition caps for state-funded colleges and universities, and the percentages
of allowed tuition increase would be based on enrollment figures. Our tuition cap for
2003-04 is projected at a 6% increase over present rates. The state legislature has
indicated that they “may consider” tax increases as a means of balancing the 2003-05
(biennial) Ohio budget, but only if all other means of balancing the budget have failed,
and only at the last minute (the end of June). Despite the negative economic climate,
continuation of the compensation plan remains the President’s #1 priority.
Provost Folkins
Dr. Folkins is currently serving on a state-wide review of articulation and course credit
transfer policies and procedures. Seamless transitioning of student academic credits
between state institutions is the goal. Also, BGSU is pursuing research collaboration
possibilities with Medical College of Ohio.
“ Sense of the Senate” Resolutions
After significant debate on parliamentary procedure and language used in the resolutions,
Faculty Senate passed two “sense of the Senate” resolutions. The first resolution supports
University of Michigan in its Supreme Court case regarding consideration of diversity
issues in institutional and academic program admissions. The second resolution “decries”
U.S. foreign policy with regard to potential war against Iraq and asks for consideration of
alternative solutions.
Reported by John Clark, 2002-2003 ASC Past Chair

Classified Staff Council Liaison: None

Old Business:
FMLA – Donna Wittwer, Karen Woods – Human Resources
Donna opened the discussion by stating that the intent of FMLA was to help employees
who had to care for family members for extended periods of time. Many employers did
not have sick leave or time accruals. FMLA allowed employees to be off without being
afraid of loss of employment.
Related below are the questions and answers given about the policy.
Do you have to use all sick time, vacation and then use FMLA?
Some employers will make you use all of your time before using FMLA. Human
Resources will work with employees to optimize their time usage. You can scatter the
use of your sick time during the 12 week period so at to protect your PERS credit. HR
will work one on one with staff to insure benefits are protected.
What happens when a child is born and both parents work for BGSU? Do they get
two separate 12 week periods or one 12 week period under FMLA?
The committee looking at the policy is moving toward seeing employees as separate so
that each will get a 12 week period under FMLA. Where this may prove problematic is
in smaller departments.
Is FMLA paid time?
Employee chooses whether to be paid or not. If employee uses sick leave or vacation in
conjunction with FMLA, the time will be paid. By law, FMLA is unpaid time.
What if an employee works part time?
An employee must work 1250 hours a year before FMLA can be applied. HR will work
closely with part time employees to determine their eligibility.
What about PERS?
HR will work, whenever possible, with employees to make a schedule using scattered
sick leave that will allo w PERS benefits to remain unaffected.
Were changes made to the list of people defined as “family”?
Yes. For FMLA purposes the definition is more restrictive. A broader definition of
immediate family is still used for employee sick leave. FMLA is meant to cover an
employee for the care of their immediate family. If a person is an in- law, the staff
member can use sick time, but would not qualify for FMLA.
Can you use vacation time for sick leave?
Vacation is pre-approved by an employee’s supervisor. You can use vacation instead of
sick leave if it is approved by your immediate supervisor. If the event is covered under
FMLA, you can choose how you get paid (whether you use sick leave or vacation). If
you are not covered by FMLA the use must be worked out in conjunction with your
supervisor.
If I have a lot of vacation/sick time, why go out under FMLA?
Under FMLA, everyone must be treated the same no matter what if they have eligible
sick time or not. An employee may want to use some FMLA unpaid and save their sick
time until the end of the FMLA period as sick time at BGSU affords the same protection
as FMLA. By using sick time this way, the period in which your job is protected is
actually extended.
After the twelve weeks are up, can you scatter the use of your sick time?
No. After the twelve weeks covered under FMLA, time off must fall under an existing
leave policy in existence at the university. This would need to be worked out
individually with HR if additional time is needed after the twelve week period.
When does HR need to be notified?
If you know you are going to be out under a qualifying event, you must let the employer
know. An example of this would be maternity leave. If an event happens suddenly, HR
should be notified if the employee is off longer than three days.
Is time due to a death in the family covered under FMLA?
No. That is not an FMLA event, but it is covered under BGSU’s sick leave policy.
What if you are out for longer than 3 days? Does it automatically get covered under
FMLA?
To be covered by FMLA there must be a serious health condition for which you are
receiving treatment. For example, you may be out five days with the flu. Most people do
not seek treatment. In this case it would be covered under sick leave policy but would
not be an FMLA event.
Donna concluded by stating that employees who have to turn in medical forms with a
diagnosis on it should do so in HR. That type of information is very confidential and
should be turned in directly to their office. She also stated that FMLA covers twelve
weeks in a calendar year. Once the twelve weeks are used up, it is one entire calendar
year before the employee would be eligible for another twelve weeks of coverage.
Paperless Contracts – Dr. Linda Dobb
Dr. Dobb stated that this year will probably be the first year staff receive notification
letters instead of the usual contract copies. John Clark asked if there would be a change
such that the Vice President/Dean would sign the letter as opposed to the supervisor.
Linda indicated that it would probably be changed to the signature of the contracting
officer. Linda stated that all information about conditions of employment are outlined
in the handbook and that will be the source document for that information. Title or grade
changes will receive a letter of notification at the time of the change. Linda indicated that
the form is still a draft and comments or concerns should be directed to Linda Gray
(lgray@bgnet).
New Business
University Representatives to go to Columbus - Andrew Schocket, Department of
History
Andrew is the chair of Professional Affairs, which is a standing committee in Faculty
Senate. On March 26, delegates from Bowling Green State University will be traveling
to Columbus to meet with state representatives to discuss recent budget cuts and their
impact on the quality of education provided by BGSU. Given recent budget picture,
BGSU has three options; become more efficient with the resources we have, obtain more
outside funding or generate the extra revenue needed from student tuition and state
funding. The other option is to cut the quality of education we provide. The delegation
will be leaving at 10 a.m. and everyone is encouraged to participate.
Amorous Relationship Policy – Dr. Linda Dobb
Dr. Dobb stated that a letter would soon be coming stating Bowling Green State
University’s amorous relationship policy. This is an effort to be proactive in light of
several recent incidences involving personnel at other universities.

Good of the Order
Laura Emch stated that 28 administrative staff members would be recognized for having
over 15 years of service and offered her congratulations.

Adjournment
Amelie Brogden moved and Nora Cassidy seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 3:10
p.m.