March 14, 2007 Provost/Vice Chancellor Meeting

Attendees:  Provost Bernadette Gray-Little, Vice Chancellor Dick Mann, Associate Vice Chancellor Carolyn Elfland, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor David Perry, Forum Chair Ernie Patterson, Delegate Chimi Boyd, Delegate Mike Hawkins,  Delegate Brian Whitling

              Called to order at 10 a.m., the group discussed implementation of the time management policy in Facilities Services, particularly the placement of swipe card stations.  Carolyn Elfland said that approximately 70 computer terminals in Facilities Services would handle the process of clocking employees in and out of work.  David Perry noted that an audit report from the State had cited the University for inefficiencies in tracking leave time. 

              Perry noted that the University had submitted an interim PACE report to the Board of Governors prior to February 16.  He described this report as illustrative rather than comprehensive.  Dick Mann noted that General Administration was not pleased with the responses from some other UNC System campuses.  Bernadette Gray-Little noted questions from General Administration as to why only 90% of UNC-Chapel Hill employees receive their checks via direct deposit.  Chimi Boyd noted that some employees keep a separate checking account because of abusive home situations.  Mann suggested that these employees obtain a separate account in their name only.  Boyd said that there is still a chance that a paper trail could place these employees in difficulty with overly protective spouses.  Perry thanked the Forum for submitting its wide range of ideas for the PACE report. 

              Mann noted the tuition benefit proposal for employees’ children that the faculty had originated.  He said that this proposal would require University Development to raise a significant amount of funds.  Ernie Patterson said that obtaining day care facilities on campus near employees’ offices remained an important issue.  He suggested that the University find money to fund need-based tuition for employees’ children first, before granting the benefit to all faculty and staff children.  He also suggested that the University impose a child care fee similar to the transit fee that departments now pay as a relatively small portion of their budgets.  Mike Hawkins raised the possibility of privatizing the child care program.  The group discussed details of after-school child care programs provided by a private company and the different ways to fund construction of a new child care facility.  Having one central location for the facility would reduce overhead, Mann said.  Patterson suggested constructing a center near park and ride lots like the one in Chatham county. 

              Patterson noted that the Forum had begun work on a document setting forth guiding principles for the University’s human resources system. 

              In the absence of further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 11 a.m.

                                                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                                          Matt Banks, Recording Secretary