VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
STAFF SENATE

Minutes of the Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 19, 1995
Room 102, Phase II, Vet Medicine

Senators Present:  Spencer Allen, Shelia Blankenship, Joyce Bohr, Phoebe
Crofts, Judy Davis, Betsy Davis-Jones, Marge Dellers, Debra Duncan, Wanda
Grubb, Patti Hall, Cindy Harrison, Delbert Jones, Julia King, Joyce
Longrie, Richard Lovegrove, Bhaba Misra, Eileen Moccia, Valerie Myers, Mary
Pennington, John Peterson, Bill Ranck, Wyatt Sasser, Widget Shannon, Karla
Soukup, Tony Sutphin, Virginia Viers, and John Wooge.

Alternates and Guests Present: Danny Belcher for Billie Cline, Barbara Hise
for Matt Gart, Netta Smith for Tom Hergert and for Spectrum, Shari Settle
and Larry Moore, guest speaker.

The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by President Sasser. Sasser
introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Larry Moore, department head in Plant
Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science, who gave us an overview of shared
governance and the Senate's role in shared governance.  The idea of shared
governance came out of the University's self-study that was done in 1988
which pointed out the importance of having the classified staff,
professional and administrative faculty, graduate students, and others
represented in the governance system.  Under Dr. McComas' leadership, the
University worked towards having a shared system where everyone would work
together for the benefit of the whole group.  On July 1, 1992, the Board of
Visitors approved the Staff Senate Constitution which brought staff into
shared governance.  He explained that before that time, staff had not been
represented on any committee or commission, nor was there a Commission of
Classified Staff Affairs.  Moore explained that all items of policy are
developed and set forth in the commissions through the University Council
and the process through which policy changes occur.  He also explained that
each commission and committee has complete representation of each
governance group.  Moore expressed the importance of staff  continuing to
be actively involved in the governance system by their serving on different
committees or commissions, which is where decisions and policies are made.
Moore took the members through the steps of academic policy changes.  He
explained that the change or policy came from any of the following:
college commission/committee/associations, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate,
Graduate Student Assembly, Student Government Association, a university
standing committee or a member of University Council to the appropriate
university commission which prepares a resolution and passes it on to
University Council for approval.  When approved, they forward it on to the
president who then forwards the change on to the Board of Visitors for
their final  approval.

He strongly encouraged each member to become actively involved in the
commission they serve on because it is through that commission that policy
is made.  Members are actually the "watch dogs" of the University and
should not take their responsibilities lightly.

Moore then opened the floor for questions.  Senator Shannon asked at what
point does the president of the university have the right to make a
decision without going through the proper commission.  Moore responded that
the president has absolute control.  He also pointed out that for as long
as he has been at the University he has never known a president to not take
the recommendation or vote of the University Council.  Senator Sutphin
asked Moore what he recommended to help people get involved.  Moore
responded by saying that the classified staff needs to sell shared
governance to their supervisors and to also sell shared governance to other
staff members who are not involved.  Several different avenues that could
be used are one-on-one interaction and persuasion through the university
president and deans.  President Sasser asked what role do staff
associations play in shared governance.  Moore answered that they play a
very important role.  They are the "feeder" group into the Senate.  Senator
Harrison asked if a brochure printed by the Staff Senate might be helpful
to educate the local associations.  Sasser commented that this might be a
very useful tool.  Senator Davis inquired if there is a written rule that
addresses when associations, Staff Senate committees, or University
committees must meet.  Moore responded that he would take that question to
the Commission on Classified Staff Affairs and ask them to report back
about this issue.

President Sasser thanked Larry Moore for sharing his information on shared
governance.  In announcements, Sasser reported that he had received the
university restructing report that was sent to SCHEV.  Spectrum will print
the e-mail address where an electronic copy of the report will be
available.  Sasser also announced that on October 24 from 8:30-2:30PM in
Squires Student Center, there will be a Commonhealth Benefits Fair.  He
encouraged members to attend.  Sasser extended his appreciation to the
Business Affairs Staff Association for getting the U.S. Postal Service to
place a postal box near Southgate for Virginia Tech employee's outgoing
personal mail. Sasser also pointed out the there is a University policy in
place which prohibits Virginia Tech employees from placing their personal
mail into campus mail.

The September 21, 1995 minutes were then approved with corrections.

Sasser then called for Senate Standing Committee Reports.  Senator Davis
reported that the Elections & Nominations Committee met on October 10 to
assemble the fall mail-out.  Davis  encouraged the members to complete the
report asking for nominations for University Councils, Commissions, and
Committees and send back to her by November 30.

Senator Longrie reported that the McComas Leaderhip Seminar Committe had
its first organizational meeting on September 27.  They are in the process
of planning next year's seminar.

Senator Dellers thanked the Committee for their attendance at the focus
group meeting and last month's meeting.

Sasser then called for reports from the University Council, Commission, or
Committee.  Senator Misra reported that University Council clarified that
students could chair a University Commission.  Misra also reported that the
Commission on Student Affairs is drafting a resolution to change the
University Council's constitution and bylaws to have a student chair the
commission.  He reported that there is not a lot of support for the passing
of this resolution at University Council.  Senator Davis reported that the
chair of the Commission on Student Affairs gave the commission the
impression that it was accepted pretty well when it was taken forward.  The
deans have promoted the resolution.  Misra reported that he thought that
their concern was they don't want students directing faculty members.

There was then discussion about the October 23 report from the Employee
Benefits Committee.  Senator Belcher reported that the Employee Benefit
Committee will meet on October 23, 1995.  President Sasser reported that
the Commission on Classified Staff Affairs has forwarded a request to the
Employee Benefit Committee to review the possibility of the University
providing wage employees with affordable health insurance.  He stated that
it is not expected that the University co-pay on premiums but through the
buying power of Virginia Tech that they will try to make affordable
insurance available to those who would want health insurance.

Senator Shannon announced that she has been elected chair of the
Transportation/Parking Committee.

President Sasser gave a brief report on the Advisory Council-Strategic
Budgeting & Planning held a four-hour seminar on how to develop a focus and
direction for the University.  The Advisory Council is developing criteria
for selective allocation of funds and how to deal with programs that may or
may not be strongly supported.  He reported that the Rector of the Board of
Visitors has asked Dr. Torgersen for our restructuring plan revisited
before next year.  The Advisory Council-Strategic Budget and Planning
committee must have a completed plan by the end of February to give the
Board ample time to act on the plan before the end of the Rector's term.
Sasser reported that it will have an impact on how the University proceeds
in the next three or four years.

Under Old Business, President Sasser asked for comments from the membership
concerning the possibility of closing Spring Road. Senator Shannon
commented that the Transportation/Parking Committee discussed this
possibility.  She also solicited comments from her staff association and
will submit them to President Sasser.  Senator Ranck commented that the
closing of Spring Road will directly affect him.  He stated that it would
make his commute longer and believes it will make it harder getting onto
campus from outlying areas.  Ranck also expressed concern about the
Buildings and Grounds vehicles having to go through neighborhoods to get to
their destination.  There were concerns that closing Spring Road could
possibly cost emergency vehicles critical response time.  Sasser commented
that closing Spring Road would impact the operational cost (gasoline and
time) of Physical Plant.  One senator pointed out that if Spring Road is
closed, it would increase the traffic on the Plantation Road area.  After
lengthy discussion it was decided that the comments made at the meeting
along with the written comments received from Senator Shannon or others
would be forwarded on to the appropriate individual.

President Sasser then turned the meeting over to Senator Davis who
presented the slate of nominations for Vice President and opened the floor
for nominations.  Those who were nominated were Senator Valerie Myers and
Senator Chuck Shorter.  There were no nominations from the floor and after
voting, Senator Myers was elected Vice President of Staff Senate.

Under New Business, one senator commented that events from staff
participation seemed to be scheduled without thought of what staff
activities are going on at that time.  In particular, the Commonhealth and
Benefits Fair which was scheduled on the last day for students to turn in
their opscans for registration for Spring 1996 semester.  It is virtually
impossible for some staff members to participate during "peak" times.
Senator Dellers suggested that Senate draft a letter and send to Bridget
Mitchell asking that she consult the University and student calendars when
scheduling events which might conflict with staff activities. President
Sasser will compose a letter expressing the concerns and send it to Bridget
Mitchell.

President Sasser reported that he received a letter from Dr. Torgersen
asking for a staff member to serve on the President's Award for Excellence
committee.  Senator Sutphin was nominated and elected to serve on this
committee.

A senator asked if there was any truth in the University being closed
during the Christmas holidays and staff being asked to be on
leave-without-pay status.  President Sasser responded that at this point it
is a rumor and nothing official has been received concerning which days the
Governor is granting besides Christmas day.

President Sasser reported that the Commission on Classified Staff Affairs
forward to the EOAA Committee a request that they review the sexual
harassment e-mail policy.  He received a note back from Elizabeth Holford,
Director of EOAA and a member of the committee, which stated that the
sexual harassment policy, even though it does not say specifically about
e-mail, that it deals with being sexually harassed and doesn't need to be
identified how it is done but if it is done, then it is covered under the
policy.  Senator Sutphin reported that the individual who had sent the
e-mail note has been severely punished and the issue has been resolved.

There being no further business, Staff Senate was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by:


Patti Hall, Staff Senate Secretary