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Deans/Directors
Meeting |
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Minutes
April 23, 2007
ATTENDING:
Kent
Hoblet
George Hopper
Melissa Mixon
Reuben Moore
Julie
Rester (guest)
Lynn Reinschmiedt
Judy
Spencer (guest)
Vance
Watson
Bob
Williams
Agenda
Item: Drug
and Alcohol Testing
Discussion: A
copy of the Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Policy was distributed
by Judy Spencer. The target date for implementation
is July 1, 2007.
Action: Employees
in the division should be made aware of and familiar with
this policy.
Agenda
Item: Criminal Background Check
Discussion: A
copy of the Pre-employment Criminal Background Screening
Procedures was distributed by Judy Spencer. The policy
is designed to help make better decisions with new hires.
The target date for implementation is July 1, 2007.
Action: Division
supervisors should be familiar with this policy.
Agenda
Item: Compensation
Discussion: A
copy of the Overtime/Compensation Time Policy and Procedures
was distributed by Julie Rester. The policy establishes
guidelines to comply with Federal and State laws regarding
overtime and compensatory time off. The revised policy
became effective on January 10, 2007 with the President’s
signature.
Action: All
non-exempt employees and their supervisors should be familiar
with the revised policy.
Agenda
Item: Extension/Research
Associate Advertising Procedures
Discussion: In
determining the level (I, II, III Associate) that Extension
and Research Associates are hired, Human Resources will review
the paperwork and assist in determining the appropriate level. This
will be done after the applicant to be offered the job is
identified. This should improve the process and help
alleviate problems after the associate is hired.
Action: Hiring
managers should be aware of this new procedure.
Agenda Item: BOB Request for FY09
Discussion: A
copy of the FY09 Capital Improvement and Repair and Renovation
request was distributed and discussed. The material
was submitted to IHL and the Bureau of Buildings in mid-April. The
requests will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees at one
of their upcoming meetings. The resulting priorities
will be the basis for our legislative requests beginning
in January 2008.
Action: None
Agenda Item: Budget
Process
Discussion: The
budget process for the year beginning July 1, 2007 is underway. Because
of the good growth of the Mississippi economy and the positive
response by the 2007 Legislature to our requests, the appropriated
funds available in the new year are above those of the current
budget year. For the four separately budgeted units,
the increases were among the highest ever. Because
of that a 5% raise pool will be available for each unit. Specific
details of the process will be distributed to the budget
managers in the next few days. As that process moves
forward, Dr. Mixon will be the main contact in the Vice President’s
office.
Action: As
the process advances, timely responses by the units in
the division will help facilitate approval at the Vice
President’s level and at the President’s
office.
Agenda
Item: MAFES
Logo/Web Presence
Discussion: With
the assistance of the Ag Communications Department, MAFES
has developed a new logo. You can view this logo by
going to the MSUCares website and clicking on the Experiment
Station. MAFES units are encouraged to use the new
logo where appropriate.
Action: None
Agenda
Item: Bid
Threshold and Contract Changes
Discussion: House
Bill 1012 (March 20, 2007) increased the bid thresholds as
follows:
- $5,000
and below: May be made without advertising
or requesting competitive bids
- $5,000 – 25,000:
May be made from lowest and best bidder with at least
two competitive
written bids
- More
than $25,000: May
be made from lowest and best bidder after advertising
for competitive bids.
Additional
details relative to bids and contracts are shown in the
attached “Dawg Bones” from Don Buffum’s
office.
Action: None
Agenda Item: Federal
Appropriations Process
Discussion: The
process of submitting proposals for federal earmark funds
will be handled through the Vice President’s office
as in the past. The process should probably begin in
the August/September time period so the prioritized list
of federal requests can be delivered to the President’s
office in December. Additional details will be available
as we approach the August/September time period.
Agenda
Item: CFR/FWRC
Update
Discussion: With
the departure of Dr. Keith Belli, the following appointments
have been made in CFR/FWRC:
- Interim
Associate Dean – Dr. Richard Kaminski
- Interim
Associate Director – Dr. Liam Leightley
- Interim
Department Head of Forest Products – Dr.
Rubin Shmulsky
Action: None
Agenda
Item: Approved IHL Board Policies
and Bylaws – Section 900
Discussion: At
the February IHL Board meeting, Section 900 of the Board
Policies and Bylaws was amended. Some of the major
points from the amended policy are as follows:
All construction and repair and renovation projects with
a total budget under $250,000 may be approved by the IEO.
- The Commissioner, after consultation with the IEOs, will
prepare an annual request for capital improvement and repair
and renovation projects for approval by the Board prior
to its submission to the Legislature.
- Projects not approved by the board shall not be submitted
to the Legislature by any institution.
- Prior to the commencement of construction, the board
must approve the exterior design of all major buildings
that have an aesthetic impact on the overall campus, regardless
of the cost of the project.
Additional details and regulations are available in the
Board Policies and Bylaws, Section 900.
Action: None |
